Ripping Good Yarns: Wednesday Fall TV 2014

No grid this year...they are too difficult to translate, and I don't have a good format to work from.

Here is the best of Wednesday:

American Horror Show: Freak Show is the fourth season of the American Horror Show anthology, on FX at 10  PM.  Alison watched last season,  thought she could handle this one, but baled out the first episode after not being able to handle the clown.  I'm sticking with it,even though I have watched very few shows or movies or documentaries in my life centered around so-called freaks.  I'm not repulsed - just not that interested in it.  But I can involved in any story if the characters are good, and this season holds a lot of promise.

Arrow, on CW at 8 PM, gets my award for most improved and improving show on broadcast TV.  They are building a rich universe for Arrow and his cohorts.  The plotting is well done, the characters growing more interesting each episode, and the fight scenes have an actual air of excitement about them.  I don't particularly care for the flashbacks to Ollie of five years earlier but the rest of the show is very good.

black-ish has the sweet spot on ABC right after Modern Family at 9:30.  We have watched only the first episode, so the verdict is not entirely in at our household,  The family is intriguing and there are funny moments.  I have missed having socially relevant comedies on TV (such as the golden age with All In the Family and similar shows).  I do hope the theme goes beyond the father trying to instill what he believes is black culture into his children.  Roots are important, but I'm hoping the humor will be focused on a wider variety of topic.  We have a couple more episodes on our cluttered DVR and hope to see more of this soon.

Also on ABC is season 6 of The Middle at 8.  I hear good things about this show, but somehow we never got started on it.  Another one we've missed is The Goldbergs at 8:30, starting its sophomore season.  One we have not missed is Modern Family at 9, and is premiere family viewing at our house.  Modern Family started season 6.  Rounding out the night at 10 is Nashville, with season 3 of some mighty fine pickin' and a-grinnin'....and plenty of soapy prime-time action and romance.

CBS has two crime dramas.  At 9 Criminal Minds starts season 10 by adding to the cast the Ghost Whisperer.  A brand new drama starts at 10, Stalker, and it already has an enthusiastic fan base among some of our most devoted Rippers.  It comes from Kevin Williamson, the creator behind Scream, The Vampire Diaries and The Following.

Fox has Red Band Society at 9, about sick children at a pediatric ward.  I have heard some friends excited about this show.  If you want to see it, hurry up.  The ratings have not been good so far.

Speaking of needing to catch something fast, you might want to catch The Mysteries of Laura at 8 on NBC while you still can.  It is an other premiere show that is lagging badly in the ratings.  It is followed at 9 by Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, beginning season 16!   You have to give props to Mariska Hargitay for her commitment and durability as the lead character.  There are few actors in television who have been the same character as long as she has been.  Then at 10 is season 2 of Chicago P.D.  Okay, I can't pretend to know anything about this show.  It must have some merit in order to be brought back after its freshman season - survival rate for new shows is pretty low.

In addition to Arrow, the CW has The 100 at 9, starting its second season.  Benjamin and I watch this show.  It's been more surprising and twisty than I anticipated, a really good variation on the science fiction/dystopian theme.  I'm looking forward to it starting back up.

That concludes Wednesday's wrap up.  Two more nights to go!