Missing ‘Parenthood’ and ‘Parks and Rec’? New Fall TV Shows to Fill the Void

Television is full of promise this fall, with lots of new shows filling the holes left by the departures of some old favorites. Instead of mourning those shows that are gone, use your prior loves to help you find some great new options, some of which star familiar faces.

Here is a guide to the new shows worth watching this season.

If you loved “Parenthood,” you should watch “Life in Pieces

A show with a strong ensemble cast that consists of parents who have four adult children with partners and kids of their own, all connected by lots of laughs and stories? No, sadly, “Parenthood” is not coming back, but fingers are crossed that new CBS comedy “Life in Pieces” will capture some of the same magic. “Life in Pieces” stars Dianne Wiest, James Brolin, Zoe Lister Jones, Colin Hanks, Angelique Cabral, Thomas Sadoski and Betsy Brandt. Premieres Sept. 26 on CBS.

If you loved “30 Rock” or “Parks and Recreation,” you should watch “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

If you haven’t seen Netflix’s latest hit, add it to your must-watch list this fall. Leslie Knope and Liz Lemon may be gone, but there’s another relentlessly positive and quirky heroine from Indiana who will win your heart: Kimmy Schmidt, played by Ellie Kemper of “The Office.” After spending the past 15 years in an underground doomsday cult, she’s out and trying to catch up, sometimes saying “hash brown” instead of “hashtag.” Tina Fey is one of the creators and several of her hilarious “30 Rock” co-stars appear here, including Jane Krakowski as Kimmy’s employer and Tituss Burgess as her roommate. Available now on Netflix.

If you loved “Sons of Anarchy,” you should watch “The Bastard Executioner

“Sons of Anarchy” creator Kurt Sutter is also behind the new show about a knight under King Edward I. He had sworn to lay down his sword, but circumstances make that pretty impossible and this show turns violent quickly. “The Bastard Executioner” stars “True Blood”‘s Stephen Moyer, in addition to Katey Sagal who was in “Sons of Anarchy,” Flora Spencer-Longhurst, and Sutter himself. Premieres Sept. 15 on FX.

If you loved any of the recent variety shows, you should watch “Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris

Featuring a little bit of everything, this live one-hour show based on the British hit “Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway” will include skits, pranks, audience interaction and musical numbers. Celebrity guest stars are also promised. It’s live, so anything can happen. Emmy and Tony Award winner Neil Patrick Harris is reason alone to tune in. Premieres Sept. 15 on NBC.

If you loved “Firefly,” you should watch “Con Man

This show pokes fun at comic conventions and life as a star on a canceled cult-classic show. It is partially based on the experience of stars Alan Tudyk and Nathan Fillion, who also starred in “Firefly.” The show raised over $3 million on Indiegogo and also stars geek fan favorites such as like Felicia Day, Wil Wheaton and Casper Van Dien. Available on Vimeo starting Sept. 30.

If you loved “Ed” or “The Wonder Years,” you should watchThe Grinder

Life after starring in a canceled television show is also central to the plot of “The Grinder.” In this new comedy, Rob Lowe stars as a hugely popular actor who played an attorney on a primetime legal drama. When that show is canceled, he moves back home and feels like his acting experience qualifies him to get involved in the law firm run by his father and brother, played by Fred Savage. Laughs come from scenes in both the courtroom and the family room as Lowe transitions from the spotlight to family life in a small town. Premieres Sept. 29 on Fox.

If you loved “Glee,” you should watch “Angel from Hell

Jane Lynch may be the only similarity between “Glee” and “Angel from Hell,” but she’s enough to make a show great, right? In this new show, over-the-top Amy (Lynch) claims to be the guardian angel of the very organized Allison, played by Maggie Lawson. Allison forges an unlikely friendship with Amy even though Allison isn’t sure if her supposed guardian angel is crazy, telling the truth, or both.” Premieres Nov5 on CBS.

If you loved “The Muppet Show” as a kid, you should watch “The Muppets” as an adult

Kermit and friends are back in this hour-long mockumentary-style comedy series aimed as much at adults as it is younger viewers — and that could be fun viewing for the whole family. It offers a first-time look at the personal lives of the Muppets, including Gonzo’s attempts at online dating. Executive producer Bill Prady, who is also an executive producer on “The Big Bang Theory,” began his career at Jim Henson Co. Premieres Sept. 22 on ABC.

If you loved superhero shows, you should watch “Supergirl

Melissa Benoist is Kara Zor-El, Superman’s cousin who works as an assistant to a tough-as-nails media mogul played by Calista Flockhart. Frustrated with getting lattes, she decides it is finally time to tap into her powers. The show details her journey to becoming a superhero and force for good in her own right. Premieres Oct. 26 on CBS.


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