TV Shows To Look Out For In 2012/2013

I was intrigued to see what new shows will be gracing our shiny flat screens in the year to come so have been looking around the internet to scrape together the announcements and TV land rumours.

Here are some of what I think could be promising shows. I’m not saying that any of these will be any good or even make it past the initial pilot stage but as concepts they have grabbed my (sometimes morbid) curiosity. So read on after the jump to see what I'll be watching this year.

How TV Ruined Your Life (BBC2)

Charlie Brooker explores the difference between TV land and real life using a mix of sketches and archive footage in this six part comedy series for the BBC. Charlie is supported by a number of different actors and comics including Kevin Eldon (Hot Fuzz), Belinda Stewart-Wilson (Inbetweeners), Helen Fospero (Sky News Presenter) and Thaila Zucchi (Star Stories).

Under The Dome (Showtime)

Announced in August 2011 Steven Spielberg and Stacey Snider have partnered up to produce a new mini series called “Under The Dome”.

It is based on Stephen Kings novel about a town trapped under a mysterious dome and with the writer Brian Vaughan (Of Lost Fame) lined up to bring the book to the small screen it will most likely focus on the characters and relationships of the towns folk.

It’s doubtful this show will include a nearly bold fat man and his explosive toting troublemaker son riding a motorbike up the sides of the dome in a bid for freedom but with Vaughan writing for the show it could be worth a watch.

Source Code (CBS)

Based on its 2011 movie namesake this series sees time agents leap into the bodies of people in the past in an effort to bring back information to thwart future crimes.

Its being produced for CBS by the same Mark Gordon that brought us the movie and Steve Maeda (Lie to Me, Lost) will be writing

I did enjoy the movie so will be watching out for this one but have my doubts as to the longevity of such a show.

The New Nabors (NBC)

In Association with Universal Television Jim Henson Studios will be bringing a new puppet based comedy to NBC where a family from Palm Springs is less than happy to discover their neighbours are puppets. This could be good for a laugh and undoubtedly will attract the loyalty of legions of Henson fans

Frankenstein (NBC)

A contemporary re-telling of the classic Mary Shelley horror novel. Frankenstein will be adapted for the small screen by House executive producers Russell Friend and Garrett Lerner for Universal Media Studios and BermanBraun.

It may have been done to death but I’ll reserve any  judgement until further details emerge.

The Flintstones (FOX)

Seth MacFarlane, creator of Family Guy, American Dad and The Cleveland Show has been given the chance to revive the 60’s classic cartoon The Flintstones. Still in development and not actually likely to hit our screens until early 2013 It’s being co-produced by 20th Century Fox and Warner Bros.

I have serious doubts about the potential of this one. I don’t see MacFarlane's own brand of comedy translating well to the town of Bedrock. Having said that I truly hope to be proved wrong.

Da Vinci’s Demons (Starz)

Written by David Goyer (Batman Begins, The Dark Knight Returns) and the first production from a collaboration between Starz and BBC Worldwide Productions.

This steampunk genre show with a comic book feel will tell the untold story of a 25 year old Leonardo in Florence, Italy. Who begins to not only see the future but to invent it.

Although not due to pilot until 2013 I am keen to see how this one turns out.

Touch (FOX)

Announced back in May 2011, Touch is described as a preternatural drama where science and spirituality intersect. Being produced by Peter Chernin and Katherine Pope, Touch relates the story of some seemingly unrelated characters whose lives touch on one anothers in different ways.

The show centers on Martin Bohn (being played by Kiefer Sutherland) a father that is having trouble relating to and communicating with his 10 year old son. All this changes however when Martin realises that his son in fact has a gift and is communicating after all but not with words, with numbers.

Martin and his son then need to work together to figure out the meanings of these numbers and how they effect the lives of the other characters.

With the Heroes Creator Tim Kring guiding the storyline It could be good or it could be a bit of a rip off of the less than brilliant Nicholas Cage movie “Knowing”. It’s due to premiere at the end of January 2012 so we’ll have to wait and see.

Alcatraz (FOX)

Getting a lot of hype at the moment is J. J. Abrams (Lost, Fringe, Alias) latest project Alcatraz. This new drama focuses on a San Francisco Detective (Sarah Jones) and Alcatraz Expert (Garcia) as they team up after a murder suspect turns out to be a prisoner from the island who mysteriously disappeared over 50 years ago.

As they investigate they soon realise that their suspect wasn’t the only one to disappear and now they must try and stop the escapees as they re-enter modern society without having aged.

FOX were apparently originally reluctant to put this one on the air possibly afraid of another never ending franchise. They changed their mind when presented a master plan that detailed the backstory and whole plot overview. So it sounds as though this one is well thought out and will has an end in sight from the start.

Knowing Abrams it could be addictive lets hope it’s worth it.

The River (ABC)

The river is a supernatural drama following the story of Dr.Emmet Cole (Bruce Greenwood) as he sets off with his family while filming a very popular wildlife programme. When he goes missing in the Amazon his wife (Tess) and son (Lincoln) are forced to assume he is dead and return home without him.

However six months later when his emergency beacon is suddenly activated, Tess and her son put together a team to return to the Amazon in search of Dr Cole. She also allows the rescue effort to be filmed as a documentary by the lost doctors ex producer.



With several big horror names on board, including Oren Peli (Paranormal Activity) and Jaume Collet-Serra (Orphan, House Of Wax) not to mention Steven Speilberg himself this could be a very good show so long as you're not fed up with shows that raise more questions than they answer.