“Transparent”
Synopsis: The lives and loves of the dysfunctional Pfefferman brood, overseen by their “moppa” Maura (Jeffrey Tambor), who has newly embraced her gender identity as a trans woman.
What You Need To Know: After three sublime seasons following the Pfefferman family searching for acceptance, love and happiness, Jill Solloway’s Emmy and Golden Globe-winning comedy-drama will no doubt continue to mine profound moments of television in its upcoming fourth season, which will ideally offer several politically fiery salvos in the wake of Trump’s ban on transgender people serving in the military. Early previews hint at further spiritual and historical revelations as Maura heads to Israel for a conference. Elsewhere, Josh (Jay Duplass) will hopefully try to rebuild in the face of last season’s multiple tragedies and abandonments. Sarah seems to be reconnecting with ex-husband Len, and this writer sits in eager anticipation of more incomparable scene-stealing by Shelly after her rousing cover of Alanis Morrisette’s “Hand in My Pocket” in the previous season’s finale.
Premiere Date: September 22nd on Amazon
“Star Trek: Discovery”
Synopsis: Ten years before Kirk, Spock and the Enterprise, the USS Discovery discovers new worlds and lifeforms, as one Starfleet officer leans to understand all things alien.
What You Need To Know: After a twelve year absence from television and an…uneven alternate universe film franchise, “Star Trek” has smartly returned to its roots with “Star Trek: Discovery.” ‘Discovery’ serves as a prequel, taking place a decade before “Star Trek: The Original Series,” with the Klingons once again stirring up trouble for the United Federation of Planets. Sonequa Martin-Green (“The Walking Dead”) plays protagonist Michael Burnham, the First Officer of the USS Shenzhou who was raised as a Vulcan by Sarek (James Frain), Spock’s father (making her Spock’s adopted sister). She is joined by Michelle Yeoh (“Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”), Jason Isaacs (“Harry Potter”), Terry Serpico (“Army Wives”), Maulik Pancholy (“Weeds”), Doug Jones (“Pan’s Labyrinth”), Anthony Rapp (“Rent”), Wilson Cruz (“My So-Called Life”), Mary Wiseman (“Longmire”), Shazad Latifas (“Penny Dreadful”) and Sam Vartholomeos as the next/previous iteration of Starfleet personnel, “boldly going where no one has gone before.” Time will only tell if ‘Discovery’ can adapt to the final frontier of streaming/VOD on CBS All Access, but so far the odds appear to be in its favor.
Release Date: September 24th on CBS All Access
“Brooklyn Nine-Nine”
Synopsis: Jake Peralta, an immature but talented BYPD detective in Brooklyn’s 99th Precinct comes into immediate conflict with his new commanding officer, the serious and stern Captain Ray Holt.
What You Need To Know: Michael Shur and Dan Goor’s (“Parks and Recreation”) “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” is still going strong entering its fifth season on Fox. The precinct’s wunderkind/idiot Jake (Andy Samberg) and fellow detective Rosa Diaz (Stephanie Beatriz) were found guilty of a series of bank robberies, which they were set up to take the fall for, in last season’s finale. While the precinct (Terry Crews, Melissa Fumero, Joe Lo Truglio, Chelsea Peretti, Andre Braugher, Dirk Blocker, Joel McKinnon Miller) will surely do its best to clear their names, Jake is going have his work cut out for him surviving incarceration, including dealing with his cannibal cellmate, Caleb (Tim Meadows) and an erratic criminal mastermind (Lou Diamond Phillips). It is nice to see in some version of America, justice and the law will prevail on the side of good, often in the most nonsensical and hilarious manner possible.
Release Date: September 26th on Fox
Honorable Mention:
Television is absolutely stacked this month, and much more so than October, November and December. It is THE month of television this fall. Also coming in September “American Horror Story: Cult” (FX), Seth McFarlane‘s wacky looking “Star Trek” riff “The Orville” (FOX), AMC‘s “Fear The Walking Dead,” “Mike Judge Presents: Tales From the Bus “(Cinemax), “Outlander” (Starz), “The Good Place” (NBC), “Liar” (SundanceTV) and “Inhumans” (ABC).
