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Fall TV Preview: Wednesdays

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Wednesdays mean the return of a pair of hit comedies from last season, a critically acclaimed drama, and two new series for the Nice Girls. Here’s a look at what we’ll be watching on Wednesday nights this fall.

Undercovers

Undercovers season 1 cast photoHere’s a switch: start out a series with two hot leads who are already married…to each other. Add in a busy but content life owning a catering company, stir with a past as spies, and throw in a dash of intrigue when the government requests that they come back as “consultants” on a mission. It’s a heady mix and one that describes JJ Abrams’ newest series, Undercovers. The leads are appealing, there’s action and humor and a little romance, and when our heroes decide to embrace the spy life again, we’re set up for an entertaining series that complements that other NBC spy show, Chuck.

Undercovers stars Boris Kodjoe as Steven Bloom; Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Samantha Bloom and Gerald McRaney as Carlton Shaw. The series premiere is Wednesday, September 22 at 8/7c on NBC. – Melissa

Hellcats

Making its debut, Hellcats stars Alyson Michalka as Marti Perkins, a pre-law college student who needs a quick influx of cash in order to stay in college and as a last resort she joins the cheerleading team to get the scholarship money she needs. Gail O’Grady plays her mom, Matt Barr plays her best friend Dan, and co-starring as a fellow cheerleading rival is Ashley Tisdale as Savannah. Also joining the series are Gale Harold, Aaron Douglas, and D.B. Woodside. Hellcats reminds us why college is both the best of times and the worst of times — where one will make friendships that last a lifetime, learn more about life than anything out of a book, and struggle each day to find a way to pay for an education. Hellcats premieres September 8th and airs Wednesday nights at 9/8c on the CW. Read our advance review of the pilot here. – Tiffany

Modern Family

Modern Family on ABCModern Family is a brilliant blend of comedy with semi-documentary commentary that is both engaging and entertaining. Focusing on a multi-tiered family all searching for love, happiness and a bit of peace while bringing up their children in today’s modern world of techno-gadgets, unconventional child-rearing techniques, and too many distractions caught everyone’s attention right away, the show invites us to experience all the hilarious travails of everyday life with them. Focusing on three distinct families, related by marriage and blood: the Dunphys (Phil, Claire, Haley, Alex and Luke); Jay, Gloria and Manny; and Mitchell, Cam and baby Lily; their lives are intertwined in ways that invoke much love and laughter. Whether it be from a misguided attempt to get to know their babysitter better over brunch, an exploration of what might be lurking underneath the house, or an attempt at chivalry at a fencing match, the show knows how to showcase the finer and funnier moments of life. If anyone has not heard of this magnificent series, then this is the time to jump-in. As it returns Wednesday nights at 9/8c on ABC, Modern Family is set to sweep the entire 2010-2011 season as grandly as it did last season. – Tiffany

Cougar Town

Another fun comedy series entering its second season is ABC’s outlandish Cougar Town. Featuring Courteney Cox as Jules Cobb, Dan Byrd as her teenage son Travis, and Brian Van Holt as her ex-husband Bobby Cobb, the show invites us into their wacky world as they each try to pursue their dreams. Rounding out their world are neighbors and best-friends of Jules and Bobby, the Torres – Ellie (Christa Miller) and Andy (Ian Gomez), Jules’ co-worker Laurie Keller (Busy Philipps), and Jules’ new boyfriend/neighbor Grayson Ellis (Josh Hopkins). Life may be a series of serious moments for most people, but in Cougar Town, they know that life is short and it is important to have as much fun as possible along the way. Be sure to check out what is next in their wild, crazy world when Cougar Town returns on September 22. Cougar Town airs Wednesday nights at 9:30/8:30c on ABC. – Tiffany

Friday Night Lights

Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton on Friday Night Lights

The long awaited fifth season of Friday Night Lights will offer one last chance to visit the wonderful world of Dillon, Texas. Football may be a way of life for many, but as each of the heroes of past seasons have seen, the glory days of football is fleeting. It is the relationships, friendships and lessons that you learn that will make you the person you want to be after high school. Keeping watchful eye over as many of the high schoolers under their care are Coach Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler) and his wife Tami Taylor (Connie). In years past they have successfully shepherded Jason Street (Scott Porter), Smash Williams (Gaius Charles), Lila Garrity (Minka Kelly) and Tyra Collette (Adrianne Palicki) off to college; then last season we saw the fates of Tim Riggins (Taylor Kitsch), Matt Saracen (Zach Gilford); and still awaiting their graduation dates with destiny are their daughter Julie Taylor (Aimee Teegarden), Landry Clarke (Jesse Plemons), Vince Howard (Michael B. Jordan), Jess Merriweather (Jurnee Smollett), Becky Sproles (Madison Burge), J.D. McCoy (Jeremy Sumpter) and Luke Cafferty (Matt Lauria). Navigating high school is hard enough, but making all the right decisions that will have ripple effects on the rest of your life is even harder. Tune in to find out where the journey concludes for these amazing individuals who captured the hearts and minds of television fans. Friday Night Lights returns October 27 on DirecTV, and will return to air on NBC in Spring 2011. – Tiffany