The TV Chick

Fall TV is a magical time. Old shows are back and better than ever, and there are new ones to capture my attention. However, with Fall TV comes inevitable cancellations (some surprises, some not so much) and shows that are in danger of getting the axe. This TV Chick invests a lot of time into television, and sometimes, her favorite shows are on the bubble of renewal and cancellation. This year, I only picked up a small handful of new shows. In my opinion, it was a rather weak freshman pack, but there are a few that I want to stick around. There are also a couple of shows in their second season that I want to be given a back 9. So without further ado, here’s my list of what I want to be renewed. Feel free to weigh in with your choices as well!

Life Unexpected, Tuesdays at 9 PM, CW: I’ve been singing this show’s praises since the series premiere last year. It’s a little show that could about 16 year old Lux, who finds her birth parents in order to get emancipated from the foster care system, and somehow they all become a family. In its second season, Life Unexpected has really expanded in terms of stories and cast, and last week was a fun crossover musical episode with One Tree Hill. This show has a ton of heart and really represents quality drama. There are no gimmicks or crimes to solve, just great characters and writing. The CW would be foolish to not give this show a proper 2nd season and order the back 9.

Parenthood, Tuesdays at 10 PM, NBC: Lauren Graham can do no wrong in my eyes. Whether she is playing quirky single Mom Lorelai Gilmore or Sarah Braverman, she can truly carry a show. Parenthood is in its 2nd season and each week, I fall more in love with the Braverman clan. I like that they’ve added a love interest (or two?) for Sarah and we are learning more and more about the kids. It doesn’t get the most amazing ratings week to week, but it still pulls in a pretty sizable audience. NBC expressed that they wanted to reinstate the 10 PM drama last year after all the Late Night madness, and Parenthood truly deserves a full 2nd season. I’ll even go out on a limb here and say I’d like to see it get at 3rd season and beyond. I just like Parenthood that much.

Hellcats, Wednesdays at 9 PM, CW: We all know how much I love television geared towards the teen demographic. Hellcats started off as a fairly strong pilot and has quickly become a show I look forward to week after week. I think Aly Michalka is a great leading lady, and Ashley Tisdale is a star. The show is full of quirky dialogue and lots of cheering, and I think it’s one of the surprises of the season. I’m not saying this show is for everybody, but if you like a good CW drama, this show is for you. It fits right in with CW’s target audience and they should give it a full season order soon.

Nikita, Thursdays at 9 PM, CW: I love the CW, what can I say. However, I wasn’t sure about Nikita after the pilot. It seemed like one of those shows that was good in theory but not in practice, and maybe a little too kick-ass for me. However, after I let a couple episodes pile up on my DVR, I had a mini Nikita marathon. It got really, really good. The characters are becoming incredibly complex and well developed and while there is a sort of case of the week feel to it, I think it’s very different from a typical procedural drama. I really enjoy Nikita and it’s getting good ratings for a CW show so I think it should be renewed.

Better With You, Thursdays at 8:30 PM, ABC: I have only really stuck with one new comedy this year, and that’s Better With You. [Ed Note: I will catch up with the FOX comedies Raising Hope and Running Wilde soon.] I was pleasantly surprised when the pilot episode made me laugh out loud on several occasions. The creator of this show was a co-executive producer on “Friends” (Shana Goldberg-Meehan), so I shouldn’t have been so surprised. Better With You centers around three couples — one older married couple, one couple who has been together for nine years but have chosen not to be married, and one younger couple who are newly engaged. Of course they are all related, and this makes for some hilarious moments. Despite the limitations of multiple cameras and a laugh track, I think Better With You is a refreshing change to the typical sitcom. It has an interesting premise and good acting, and I think it deserves a full season.