Fall TV lineup focuses on pop culture, comedy

Audrey Young

The Hulu game — “How many episodes can I watch before I have to do homework?” Answer: The limit does not exist, bonus points if you get the movie reference. 

While watching countless “America’s Next Top Model,” “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Nashville” reruns, I found myself getting bored with the show selection I had available. That’s when I realized it’s almost fall television season. From favorite shows that have been on hiatus, leaving me wanting new information — I’m looking at you Grey’s and Nashville — to new shows that I can’t wait for, this season looks promising. Here are new comedies coming to TV this fall that I’m most looking forward to.

But first let me take a “Selfie”

The world has been taken over by social media. It used to just be the profile picture you stressed over — bending your body into the most flattering and most of all uncomfortable position to get the best shot. But now thanks to Instagram and Facebook you better be on all the time. We live in a never-ending photo and video shoot. We all seem to honestly believe our social media “friends” truly care what we are eating, drinking, listening to and feeling.  

It was only a matter of time before television producers found a way to zoom in on this part of our lives and make television gold. “Selfie” takes the story “My Fair Lady,” and puts a modern spin on it. The show will follow the lives of Eliza Dooley, a self-obsessed sales representative who loves nothing more than herself. After a humiliated social media encounter, she decides Henry Higenbottam — a very attractive and successful salesman that works in her firm — can rebrand her. 

I love shows that take an old tale like “My Fair Lady,” and translate it to pop culture. This concept was also used in my favorite movie, “10 Things I Hate About You,”a modern take on Shakespeare’s “Taming of the Shrew.” While the pilot is available on Hulu, the show will begin airing at 8 p.m. Sept. 30 on ABC. 

“A to Z” 

Like all “How I Met Your Mother” fans, I was crushed when we found out the mother died and Ted went running back to Robin. But Tracy is back — well, sort of. Actress Cristin Milioti has picked up a new role playing an uptight lawyer named Zelda in the new ABC show “A to Z.” This new comedy will follow the relationship of Zelda and Andrew — a hopeless romantic, who, in the first episode, almost scares the girl of his dreams away by being too intense. Can anyone say, “Ted Moseby?” 

While the characters in the show may not be original, they are still entertaining and the story concept — following this couple from the moment they meet till the moment the break up — is fresh and new. The first episode of “A to Z” is on Hulu and fans of “HIMYM” won’t be disappointed. The show is slated to air at 9:30 p.m. on Oct. 2 on NBC. 

“Manhattan Love Story”

We have all been there while on a date stuck looking across the table and wondering what they heck the other person is thinking. Dating would be so much easier if nothing was secret and you knew straight up what the other person wanted, liked and disliked. In the new rom-com “Manhattan Love Story,” we will get an unfiltered look into what the opposite sex is thinking as a new relationship begins. We get to hear it all from the moment Dana and Peter— who is the super hot blonde guy from “Greek and Shameless,” just saying ladies — meet and sparks fly. From the looks of the preview, this is going to be a bumpy ride and I can’t wait. “Manhattan Love Story” is set to begin Sept. 30 at 8:30 p.m. on ABC. 

Contact Audrey Young at [email protected].