“Broad City”
Cast: Abbi Jacobson, Ilana Glazer, Hannibal Buress, Paul W. Downs, John Gemberling, Arturo Castro, Elliot Glazer
Synopsis: Abbi (Jacobson) and Ilana (Glazer) are two “late” twentysomethings trying to figure out what to do with their lives in NYC. Jacobson and Glazer chemistry (and talent) give the show a unique and often hilarious voice.
What You Need To Know: Donald Trump’s name will be bleeped from now on; RuPaul plays a restaurant owner in a multi-episode arc; Lincoln (Buress) is coming back (whether he’s dating Ilana again remains to be seen); the BFF’s head to Florida one episode; and Abbi is still working at Soulstice, which means she’s still screwing Trey (Downs). Other guest stars include Jane Curtin, Steve Buscemi and Wanda Sykes.
Premiere Date: Sept. 13th on Comedy Central
“Better Things”
Cast: Pamela Adlon, Mickey Madison, Hannah Alligood
Synopsis: A hard-working actress and single mother of three teenage daughters juggles her various parental and professional duties throughout the busy city of Los Angeles.
What You Need to Know: Pamela Adlon’s spunky, endearing, semi-autobiographical mother-daughter dramedy “Better Things” didn’t quite receive the love and attention it deserved during its charming, heartfelt, richly funny first season. Hopefully, however, better things are, indeed, in store for season two. Not unlike co-creator Louis C.K.’s own acclaimed, self-explorative FX breakout hit “Louie,” where Aldon served as an actor, co-writer and producer, Adlon’s likable, emotional series only grows more personal, revealing, distinguished and emotionally stimulating as it continues. With Adlon pulling a “Sam Esmail” by tackling directorial duties for all ten episodes this year, there’s good reason to believe this overlooked winner will become even more of a singular triumph.
Premiere Date: September 14th on FX
“Vice Principals”
Cast: Danny McBride, Walton Goggins, Kimberly Hebert Gregory
Synopsis: Two vindictive vice principals in North Jackson High School must put aside their differences in order to defeat a mutual enemy.
What You Need to Know: While we had no good reason to doubt its fortitude, “Vice Principals” nevertheless took us by surprise with its dark, bruising, melancholy success. Danny McBride and Jody Hill’s more somber, heinous, mature follow-up to “Eastbound and Down” proved itself to be just as cutting and bitterly hilarious as their previous series, and with its second season intriguingly (and disappointingly) promising to also be its last, it seems McBride, Hill and director David Gordon Green plan to spare no mercy when it comes to its bleaker, wilder, bolder and braver new season. We can’t wait to be punished.
Premiere Date: September 17th on HBO
“Transparent”
Cast: Jeffrey Tambor, Gaby Hoffman, Jay Duplass, Amy Landecker, Judith Light
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”
Cast: Jason Isaacs, Doug Jones, Michelle Yeoh, Sonequa Martin-Green, Maulik Panchoy
Synopsis: Before the Starship Enterprise was helmed by Captain Kirk and Spock, there was the USS Discovery. Part of the quest to go where no man has gone before, Discovery pursued new worlds and lifeforms as one Starfleet officer learns to understand the various alien worlds in the final frontier: space.
What You Need to Know: Bryan Fuller, who has previously helmed projects like “Pushing Daisies,” “Hannibal,” and more recently “American Gods” was initially hired to develop series. But his schedule conflicted due to the aforementioned Starz series, leaving us to wonder what his original vision of an anthology style structure would’ve brought to the table. As it stands, things are a bit more conventional in this series which brings together James Frain, Doug Jones, Michelle Yeoh, Jason Isaacs, Rainn Wilson and more for what is essentially a prequel to Gene Rodenberry‘s series that started it all.
Premiere Date: September 24th on CBS All Access
