Fall TV Preview » New Shows

Born Dealers

boates — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 15:32:23 +0000

What’s It All About? Another series capitalizing on the “Pawn” and “Picker” successes. This series follows Jerry and Jeremiah Pasternak, a real-life Sanford and Son who buy, sell, trade and bargain. Basically, they do anything they can to get their hands on cool, old stuff that they can sell for a profit.

Bordertown: Laredo

sharrison — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 20:44:45 +0000

What’s It All About? Going behind the lines of the war on drugs, this 10-episode real-life series presents a no-frills look at a group of narcotics officers working in Laredo, Texas, which is a hotspot for marijuana, cocaine and methamphetamine trafficking. Much of their work is done undercover, and all the officers use aliases on camera. While a cops-based reality series is nothing new, Bordertown: Laredo wins points for its matter-of-fact portrayal of the goings-on, which feel even more authentic as we get to know the officers, their work ethic, and their dark senses of humor that keep the job from getting to them.

Scouted

jpfeiffer — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 13:46:46 +0000

What’s It All About? This reality series follows the personal stories of aspiring models plucked from obscurity and put to the test in New York’s ultra-competitive, high-fashion, professional modeling industry. It visits the small towns where new talent is discovered. Each of the eight episodes focuses on different models who make it through various stages of the discovery process.

American Hoggers

jpfeiffer — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 21:19:25 +0000

What’s It All About? This real-life series from co-executive producer Thom Beers (Storage Wars, Ice Road Truckers) follows the Campbell family and their struggle to rescue Texas residents and ranches from the devastating chaos caused by millions of invasive wild boars.

Each episode follows legendary hog hunter Jerry Campbell, 64; his level-headed son, Robert, 28; and firecracker daughter, Krystal, 23; as they respond to those threatened by feral hogs. Located in the heart of Texas, the family dedicates itself to the front lines – riding horseback, driving a custom-rigged Jeep, using highly trained dogs with GPS tracking systems and employing good old-fashioned know-how to help those endangered by these destructive beasts. Clad in chaps and cowboy boots, the family sets out in each episode to square off against these extremely intelligent animals that are terrorizing helpless landowners.

Clean House New York

jpfeiffer — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 21:00:38 +0000

What’s It All About? This spinoff of Clean House is, obviously, set in New York, where hosts Nina Ferrer and Michael Moeller — top New York designers and former HGTV Design Star competitors — transform the Big Apple’s messiest dwellings to create chic and inviting rooms. Ferrer and Moeller are joined by appraiser Elyse Luray and auctioneer Duncan Schieb.

In the series premiere, the team looks to help Brooklynite collectors who are ruining their marriage by blaming each other for the uncontrollable mess in their home.

Rock Center With Brian Williams

jpfeiffer — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 19:41:45 +0000

What’s It All About? NBC News’ first new primetime broadcast in nearly 20 years, this newsmagazine is led by anchor and managing editor Brian Williams, and will feature Harry Smith, Kate Snow, and other NBC anchors and correspondents, including Meredith Vieira, Dr. Nancy Snyderman, Richard Engel, Matt Lauer and Ann Curry. Broadcast live from Studio 3B in Rockefeller Center, the weekly, hourlong series will be built around the week’s most provocative events and newsmaker interviews.

Would You Rather? With Graham Norton

rberenz — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 13:15:25 +0000

This comedy panel series is hosted by Graham Norton, and forces celebrities and comedians to discuss ridiculous scenarios. From BBC America: “Based on popular British panel-style shows, each week celebrities and comedians are asked to contemplate and discuss ridiculous predicaments and moral quandaries. Would you rather permanently lose your thumbs or a cousin? Would you rather land a plane on ecstasy or diffuse a bomb with a hangover? Would you rather eat dog food for a year or get shot in the knee? After a hilarious and candid debate the panelists must ultimately decide what they’d rather do and Graham picks his favorite response.” The first group of celebrity panelists include Whoopi Goldberg, Cyndi Lauper, Stanley Tucci, Alan Cumming, Scott Adsit and Judah Friedlander.

Bomb Patrol: Afghanistan

jpfeiffer — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 16:45:05 +0000

What’s It All About? G4 teams with the United States Navy for this new documentary series that embeds viewers inside the military for a first-person war zone account of the most dangerous job in the world, in one of the most dangerous places on earth. The show follows the U.S. Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), the world’s premier combat force for countering Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) and other types of weaponry, as they patrol war-torn battlegrounds of Afghanistan to search for and disarm explosives. Over 15 cameras, including both helmet and body-mounted, were used to capture the eight-man team’s five-month tour.

The unit is composed of the following sailors:

∙ John Groat (44 years old): Chief Petty Officer, Platoon Leader from Silverdale, Washington. Joined EOD in 1998 with 24 years of service and five prior deployments.

∙ Ricky Thibeault (35 years old): Petty Officer 1st Class, Lead Petty Officer, Team Leader from Lafayette, Louisiana. Joined EOD in 2004 with 15 years of service and three prior deployments.

∙ Brad Penley (26 years old): Lieutenant Junior Grade, Platoon Leader from Hickory, North Carolina. Joined EOD in 2007 with eight years of service and one prior deployment.

∙ Jeremy Stein (27 years old): Petty Officer 1st Class, Team Leader from Stewartstown, Pennsylvania. One prior deployment and seven years of service.

∙ Brendan Schmutte (30 years old): Petty Officer 2nd Class, Team Member, Robot Driver, EOD Tools Specialist, Communication Equipment Manager from Cincinnati, Ohio. Joined EOD in 2008 with six years of service.

∙ Matt Rayl (34 years old): Petty Officer 3rd Class, Team Member, Robot Driver, EOD Tools Specialist, Intelligence Manager from Annandale, New Jersey. Joined EOD in 2009 with five years of service.

∙ Sam Durham (29 years old): Petty Officer 3rd Class, Team Member, Robot Driver, EOD Tools Specialist, Supply Manager, Hazardous Material Manager from Georgia. Joined EOD in 2009 with five years of service.

∙ Chase Holzhauser (23 years old): Petty Officer 3rd Class, Robot Driver, EOD Tools Specialist, Diving Manager, Vehicle Manager. Joined EOD in 2009 with three years of service.

The Chew

jpfeiffer — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 21:40:05 +0000

What’s It All About? Okay, soap opera fans, this is part of what ABC is clearing out its daytime schedule for. The Chew is a lifestyle series that explores life through food — everything from cooking and home entertaining to food trends, restaurants, holidays and more, all aimed at making life better, fuller and more fun.

Wicked Fit

jpfeiffer — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 16:57:57 +0000

What’s It All About? Katie Boyd is brash, bold and not afraid to use an occasional four-letter word — a former beauty queen who shatters the stereotype of the prim and proper pageant girl. In this new docu-series, Katie, who is retired from the circuit, whips the next generation of beauty queens and suburban moms into shape with her boutique women-only gym, Katie Boyd’s Miss Fit Club. Whether it’s prepping Miss Vermont for her swimsuit competition or getting Boston’s socialites into shape for their yacht parties, Katie definitely knows how to motivate the ladies to look their best. Through tough love, discipline and the occasional cursing to get her point across, her brutal workout approach actually helps build her successful business.

Assisting Katie keep her clients in line are her best friend and assistant, Monique, along with Monica, one of Katie’s most successful former clients and her close personal friend. Monica and Monique have a simmering feud that’s now on full boil. They fight for Katie’s attention and constantly trash talk each other. Monique helps Katie with her client’s personal training, and Monica helps Katie with branding and marketing. Both former beauty queens, Monica has taken home a crown while Monique has never made it past first-runner-up, so her jealousy fuels the rivalry.

Katie’s family, including her mom Theresa and dad Mike, also help out with the business, but her mom’s meddling usually gets Katie riled up. After successfully making it through the first year as a new business, word of mouth has spread in the Boston area about Katie Boyd’s Miss Fit Club and Katie’s no-holds-barred exercise technique that delivers results. With her list of clientele steadily growing, Katie debates whether she should find a bigger location for the gym and even considers franchising in other cities. As she looks for innovative ways to expand her thriving business, from planning an exclusive one-year anniversary party, to hosting a “Pop-Up Pageant” to highlight her clients’ success stories, to shooting a workout video, to writing a cookbook with her unique and healthy recipes, the importance of making the right decisions at the right time are paramount.

However, what really keeps Katie motivated is the possibility of finding true love. One of her main priorities is to settle into a healthy relationship with a great guy. After being betrayed by her fiancé, she lost hope that she will ever find love again. Now, she is finally ready to open her heart and jump back into the dating scene but faces some obstacles in her path. In the past, building a relationship has taken a back seat to her work. Expanding her business should be a priority, but can she learn to better balance her entrepreneurial drive with her desire to find a quality mate?