DVR IT
"Red Band Society," 9 p.m. Wednesday, Fox
Stars: Octavia Spencer, Dave Annable, Griffin Gluck, Nolan Sotillo, Charlie Rowe
Premise: Resident teen patients form life-changing bonds in a California hospital.
Who should watch: Think of the uplifting “RBS” as a less musical, more realistic (though not without its own flights of fancy) version of “Glee.”
"Madam Secretary," 8 p.m. Monday, CBS
Stars: Tea Leoni, Keith Carradine, Tim Daly, ZjelkoZeljko Ivanek, Bebe Neuwirth
Premise: Leoni plays a Washington outsider made secretary of state facing weekly crises and government conspiracy.
Who should watch: I’m not sure. Did you like “Commander in Chief?” The cast and my hopes that it will get better are the only things keeping this drama out of the Skip It bin.
"Forever," 10 p.m. Monday, ABC
Stars: Ioan GruffudGruffudd, Alana De La Garza, Judd Hirsch
Premise: Dr. Henry Morgan (the charming GruffudGruffudd) is a New York City medical examiner who is frequently killed but never dies. His 200 years of life have allowed him to hone his perceptive powers, which he uses to solve crimes while trying to figure out the mystery of his own immortality.
Who should watch: Fans of “Sherlock,”“Elementary,” “Castle” and “Sleepy Hollow.” This show has a good cast and an interesting premise, but the writing can be hokey.
"Black-ish," 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, ABC
Stars: Anthony Anderson, Tracee Ellis Ross, Laurence Fishburne
Premise: Anderson stars as an upper middle class, African-American father and husband who fears that his lifestyle is making him turn his back on his heritage.
Who should watch: The existential crisis Anderson faces harkens back to the Norman Lear era of “All in the Family” and “The Jeffersons,” but with a much softer edge.
"Selfie," 8 p.m. Sept. 30, ABC
Stars: Karen Gillan, John Cho
Premise: “My Fair Lady” meets social media. Gillan (“Doctor Who”) stars as Eliza Dooley, a self-centered, popular Instagrammer with tons of followers but no actual friends. Cho’s marketing wiz gives her life a makeover.
Who should watch: “Selfie” is decidedly over the top, but with Cho and Gillan’s chemistry, it’s nowhere near as bad as it should be.
"Gracepoint," 9 p.m. Oct. 2, Fox
Stars: David Tennant, Anna Gunn
Premise: It’s the BBC’s “Broadchurch,” complete with Tennant reprising his role, remade for American audiences.
Who should watch: Fans of single season procedurals such as “The Killing” might enjoy this, as long as they haven’t seen “Broadchurch,” which tells the same story.
"Marry Me," 9 p.m. Oct. 14, NBC
Stars: Casey Wilson, Ken Marino
Premise: Annie and Jake are destined to be together, but they can’t find the right moment to put a ring on it.
Who should watch: Despite creator David Caspe’s insistence that this isn’t a “Happy Endings” retread, it’s certainly in the same ballpark. I hope it gets more so; I liked “Happy Endings.”
SKIP IT
"NCIS New Orleans," 9 p.m. Tuesday, CBS
Stars: Scott Bakula, Lucas Black, Zoe McLellan, C.C.H. Pounder
Why skip: Another NCIS. Don’t we have enough of these yet?
"The Mysteries of Laura," 8 p.m. Wednesday, NBC
Stars: Debra Messing, Laz Alonso, Janina Gavankar
Why skip: Messing is a homicide detective with a crazy home life. The network calls it “hilariously authentic,” but I think I speak for parents and citizens everywhere when I say I am terrified if it’s either.
"Manhattan Love Story," 8:30 p.m. Sept. 30, ABC
Stars: Analeigh Tipton, Jake McDorman
Why skip: As the leads navigate their new relationship, we’re interrupted by constant voice-overs of what they’re actually thinking. The gimmick is as stupid and intrusive as it sounds.
"Stalker," 10 p.m. Oct. 1, CBS
Stars: Maggie Q, Dylan McDermott
Why skip: The stars portray LAPD detectives who investigate incredibly gruesome murders based on obsession. Did you think the violence on “24” was too tame? Do you consider “The Following” a drawing room comedy? Then, by all means, tune in. In its quest to offer cable-styestyle thrills, “Stalker” has crossed the line.
"A to Z," 9:30 p.m. Oct. 2, NBC
Stars: Cristin Milioti, Ben Feldman
Why skip: The pair’s twee relationship is explored each week by the letters. Unfortunately, MilitiaMilioti and Feldman have no chemistry, and they’re doomed to fail in the numbers.
"Bad Judge," 9 p.m. Oct. 2, NBC
Stars: Kate Walsh, Ryan Hansen, Tone Bell
Why skip: Hard-partying, unorthodox Judge Walsh tries to settle down. “Bad Judge?” Bad show.
"Mulaney," 9:30 p.m. Oct. 5, Fox
Stars: John Mulaney, Martin Short, Nasim Pedrad, Elliott Gould
Why skip: We all had such high hopes for a show coming from the mind of hilarious stand up comic Mulaney, but this humorless and derivative “Seinfeld” wanna-be is the biggest disappointment of the season.
"Cristela," 8:30 p.m. Oct. 10, ABC
Stars: Cristela Alonzo, Maria Canals Barrera, Sam McMurray, Gabriel Iglesias
Why skip: Critics are falling all over themselves praising this very broad, traditional, three-camera sitcom. That’s because Alonzo is a comedic force of nature playing a law firm intern who has to balance her job with an awful sitcom family. But her performance is not enough to save this hokey mess.
"Constantine," 10 p.m. Oct. 24, NBC
Stars: Matt Ryan, Harold Perrineau
Why skip: Ryan’s soulless, damned demon hunter travels the earth protecting the innocent in the worst of the new super-hero properties.
"The McCarthys," 9:30 p.m. Oct. 30, CBS
Stars: Laurie Metcalf, Tyler Ritter, Jack McGee
Why skip: This close-knit Irish family from Boston sure does love sports — and one of them is homosexual! Should you watch? Yes, if you hate the Irish and Boston but love nonstop dated gay jokes.
"State of Affairs," 10 p.m. Nov. 17, NBC
Stars: Katherine Heigl, Alfre Woodard
Why skip: Heigl plays a CIA analyst in charge of compiling the president’s daily briefing. It’s unintentionally hilarious and might be one of the first new shows to get the axe.
