Summer has officially ended, which means now is the time to dust off your television sets, coordinate your schedules with that of TV Guide and pay attention once again to the fall revival of primetime. With the beginning of the fall season, TV networks have added new and exciting shows to their line-ups in addition to bringing back seasoned favorites.
Since premiering Sept. 9, Fox’s new hit “Glee” has been singing and dancing its way into the hearts of TV-watchers everywhere.
The show follows Spanish teacher Will Schuester (Matthew Morris) in his optimistic quest to revive the Glee Club at the fictional William McKinley High School in small town Lima, Ohio. His dream is not made easy when the vicious cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch) feels threatened by the growing success of the Glee Club and makes it her duty to tear apart the performing group by any means necessary.
However, Mr. Schuester, along with his lead singers Rachel Berry and Finn Hudson (breakout stars Lea Michele and Corey Monteith), will not go down without a fight; and that on-going fight would not be complete without show tunes, dance numbers, and relationship drama along the way.
Junior Billy Welch said he is a fan of “Glee” and has not missed an episode since its premiere.
“It’s just kind of different from other shows I watch,” Welch said.
In addition to the musical aspect of the show, Welch said he enjoys how relatable the setting is.
“It’s got a plot you are able to follow and you can connect with it because it’s about high school students and we’re high school students,” Welch said.
Another comedy spectacle new to TV this fall is NBC’s “Community,” starring Joel McHale of “The Soup” fame along with Chevy Chase. When lawyer Jeff Winger’s (McHale) college degree is deemed invalid by the State Bar Association, he enrolls at Greenwood Community College in Greendale, Colorado. Laughs ensue as Winger attempts to form a study group and chase love interest Britta (Gillian Jacobs).
But while there are many new shows to catch your eye this season, other shows such as ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy” and NBC’s “The Office” have passed the test of time and maintain strong fan-bases at the start of their sixth seasons.
The hit medical drama “Grey’s Anatomy” follows the residents of Seattle Grace Hospital as they fight to maintain their relationships and careers, along with the pulses of their many patients. The Emmy-winning show features returning cast members Ellen Pompeo, Patrick Dempsey and Katherine Heigl.
Senior Kirsten Logan said she believes “Grey’s Anatomy” is one of the best shows on television.
“I like the hospital setting and can easily identify with the characters,” she said. “In one scene you can be crying your eyes out, and in the next, laughing hysterically. The music is really good, too.”
Although recent casting changes have left some fans wondering how much longer the show will last, Logan believes it will survive for years to come.
“Each season ends with a cliffhanger that always leaves people coming back each year,” she said.
As students start to relieve their back-to-school stress and find time to relax, now is the perfect time to pay attention to the tube. Whether you prefer a new hit or an old favorite, there is something to be found for all this fall on primetime television.
“TV is awesome,” Welch said. “It helps me to procrastinate and it entertains me.”