The top ten returning shows I’m looking forward to this season

Yesterday, I looked at the five new shows that I’m most looking forward to this season. It’s a pretty short list, unfortunately. Heck, I only had one on the “Honorable Mention” list. Thankfully, there’s quite a bit of good stuff returning to the network schedule this season. I could, however, come up with just as long of a list of stuff that I wish was coming back that’s not. I should, as Brett has been known to tell me, “shut up and quit my whining” (my words, not his).

First, a cheat. I know I said that this was about the upcoming TV season, but we cover Web Shows here on the ‘Clack, so I’m taking a (very appropriate) liberty. The third season of The Guild started this week (or last week, if you’re an Xbox Live Gold Member), and I can’t wait. I only found The Guild after Dr. Horrible introduced me to Felicia Day, but I’m glad that I did, as it’s one of the most consistently funny things out there on any medium. The addition of CliqueClack favorite (and my hero as a kid) Wil Wheaton to the cast is only going to ramp things up for the third installment. If you haven’t seen it, head to www.watchtheguild.com right away.

10) The death of The Unit is my loss, but Lie to Me’s gain. Show-runner Shawn Ryan joins the FOX drama that I thought was already pretty good last season (especially Tim Roth), but additions like Ryan and Mekhi Phifer are really going to drive this show over the top this season. Plus, Kellie Williams deserves a winner after making it through thirteen episodes of Medical Investigation.

9) My favorite surprise from last season was Castle. Don’t get me wrong, I love Nathan Fillion, but I doubted Stana Katic from the way her character was written in the pilot script I read in advance. Thankfully, I was wrong about that. Plus, they tweaked the character over time. I think they’ll build nicely on the first season. And hey, I’ll bet the poker games are back!!

8) Three shows on this list had incredible finales , but I don’t think any of the endings on TV last season could compare to the mind-frak that was Fringe . Between the revelation that Peter Bishop, at least ONE Peter, had been dead for a while, and the fantastic voyage that must have been Olivia’s elevator ride, I was left speechless — or as close to speechless as I could be at any given time. The show started slow, but definitely finished strong. One can only speculate what is going on in J.J. Abrams’ latest world.

7) Chuck was one of two renewals that, honestly, I just didn’t see coming. Not that I’m not glad … far from it. I just lost so much faith in NBC with this whole Leno thing, that I figured the spy comedy would have its bubble burst. Now we get to see how the crazy happenings in the finale will continue to change the life of Chuck Bartowski.

6) Next on the list of great cliffhangers last season was NCIS. Ziva, separated from the team, was sent undercover, and the final shots were of her getting tortured. There’s a good concern about how splitting the crew (for the new NCIS: LA) will affect show quality this year, but I’ve got faith that it will be another great season.

5) Dollhouse‘s renewal came as an incredible shock to anyone who can read the daily ratings report. At first thought, I figured it might have been FOX’s way of apologizing to like every fan of Firefly, Wonderfalls, The Inside, and every other cult show they ever canceled. Then, the world was able to see “Epitaph One” (My review, Brett’s review), which I think was the decision maker, and a great setup for the second season.

4) Once, there was this incredibly badass super agent named Jack. Then, after awhile, he turned into a more reflective version — some would even say a ” wimpy Jack,” though he still did manage a perfectly executed “Bauer-Slide” during the First Husband rescue. I think this might be the last season of 24 for our favorite CTU agent, and if the new characters don’t catch on, I say dump them all next year, and just give us Chloe saving the world!!

3) It’s funny … I almost never gave Bones a chance. Procedurals, especially in the CSI vein, aren’t really my cup of tea, or at least weren’t at the time. But, thanks to a little rule I have about actors/writers from my favorite show, I’ve watched. Thank goodness, as there hasn’t been better chemistry between two leads since Moonlighting.

2) We won’t get to see the final season of Lost until January, but it’s probably, in general, the most anticipated show on TV this year. There was such an incredible ramp-up in both pace and story at the end of last season, and it literally ended things with such a bang that you can’t help but be dying to know what happened to Juliet, and the rest of the gang.

1) If I were a betting man, I’d lay down money that How I Met Your Mother will probably pay off two long running bits this season. Obviously, the time is nigh for Barbin? … Robney? … Swarl-in? And if you don’t think the idea of the domestication of Barney is funny, then, well, you just don’t get good comedy. Plus, I think all of the pieces are in place for us to finally meet the titular mother. We know she is in Ted’s class this year, and I think it’s now only a matter of time before the audience gets clued in.

(Honorable Mention: Friday Night Lights, the first two episodes of Grey’s Anatomy, NBC’s Day One, watching Heroes hopefully not fail, wishing I won’t hate the “new” Scrubs, and maybe a little bit of The Mentalist).

Which shows are you looking forward to most? Wondering when they premiere? Check out CliqueClack’s guide to the 2009-2010 fall season for all the info.

Clacked by Ivey West
on Sep 03, 2009 @ 12:00 EST5EDT