Figuring out Fall TV - Tuesdays

It's fall TV season again, which means decisions! How ever will you keep up with your old favorites while packing in a bunch of new shows that may or may not have a chance of making it? I'm here to help, breaking down each day hour by hour, letting you know what you should watch, what you should avoid, and how exactly you're going to fit it all in.

In general, I'm focusing on the four main broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox) as well as HBO, Showtime and a few other pay cablers. New shows are in bold.

Tuesdays, like Sundays, are going to be brutal. For starters, ABC has scheduled a full night of new shows.

8 p.m.
Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Sept. 24, ABC)
NCIS (Sept. 24, CBS)
The Biggest Loser (Oct. 8, NBC)
Dads/Brooklyn Nine-Nine (Sept. 17, Fox)

If you're a superhero geek, or even a casual fan like yours truly, "Agents of SHIELD" is a no-brainer. For the Fox comedies, Seth MacFarlane's "Dads" is being lambasted for being racist, sexist, ageist and generally not funny, while "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" (a cop comedy with Andy Samberg and Andre Braugher) is catching many critics by surprise, in a good way. "NCIS" is about to have a big year with the departure of Cote de Pablo after the first two episodes of the season.

This is a classic case of watch one and record the others. And I do mean record. You won't be able to catch "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" online or On Demand until eight days later.

9 p.m.
The Goldbergs/Trophy Wife (Sept. 24, ABC)
NCIS Los Angeles (Sept. 24, CBS)
The Voice results show (Sept. 24, NBC)
New Girl/Mindy Project (Sept. 17, Fox)

ABC has made the first episodes of its sitcoms available online (on the network site and on Hulu). "The Goldbergs" -- a "Wonder Years"-esque take on an angry family in the 1980s -- was so painful I couldn't even make it halfway through. On the flipside, I really enjoyed "Trophy Wife," which stars Bradley Whitford as a guy with a new wife (Malin Akerman, getting a great reception from critics) and two exes (Marcia Gay Harden and Michaela Watkins) who are very much still a part of his life.

10 p.m.
Lucky 7 (Sept. 24, ABC)
Person of Interest (Sept. 24, CBS)
Chicago Fire (Sept. 24, NBC)
Sons of Anarchy (Sept. 10, FX)

I haven't seen much about "Lucky 7," about lottery winning co-workers who learn mo' money means mo' problems, but the trailer doesn't make much of a case for it. You could roll the dice, or just stick with what you know. Tuesday is a new night for both "Chicago Fire" and "Person of Interest."



Related:
Fall TV Sundays
Fall TV Mondays
Fall TV Wednesdays
Fall TV Thursdays
Fall TV Fridays and Saturdays