In Which Ann Grades the New Fall Television Series: 2014 Edition [Contributor: Ann]

I watched so many TV pilots! I watched until I reached the point I realized that I could not force myself to watch pilots that held no interest for me anymore. Even still I tried out 16 of the 23 new shows currently available to me right now. (I think.)

I will be succinct and unapologetic. Disclaimer: most of this is subjective, but some of these shows are truly awful. You have my word. If I wrote N/A, it means that I admit that I probably am not the best person to be giving advice about that particular show and that my opinion is not fully formed based off of the entire experience. Except for Mysteries of Laura. I feel set in my opinion about that show.

(P.S. I somehow got the entire grading spectrum! That was extremely lucky.)

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In Which Jenn Grades the New Fall Television Series: 2014 Edition

Last year, I embarked on my first-ever quest as a blogger to watch as many new pilots as possible and then grade them (as well as grade some returning series and their episodes). The result, I discovered, was intriguing: I found very few "appointment-worthy" new series and truly only stuck around for three of them (The Crazy Ones, The Blacklist, and Sleepy Hollow) for the duration of their series. I despised most of the comedy pilots and the few that I didn't, I either picked up or dropped because of time commitments or apathy (sorry, Brooklyn 99 and Trophy Wife). In the fall of 2013, I found myself adding two dramas to my list and in the fall of 2014, I am adding even more, as the comedy crop this year is severely lacking, in my opinion. In fact, my "appointment-viewing" television schedule now contains twice as many dramas as comedies. THAT HAPPENED.

So, below the cut, journey with me as I grade the pilots I have gotten the opportunity to watch and see if you agree with some, any, or all of my assessments.

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In Which Jenn Grades the New Fall Television Series (And Some Returning Ones)

One would assume that I watch a lot of television given my penchant for talking and tweeting about it. But the fact of the matter is that there are few shows I am truly passionate about (and I talk about those ones a lot), and a lot more that I have yet to see. But I made the effort during the fall 2013 pilot season to watch as many new pilots as possible in order to expand my horizons and potentially gain some new fandoms in the process. So I’ve decided to go all AV Club on you guys and grade each of the pilots I have had the opportunity to watch. You’ll notice that there are some missing on here, either because they have yet to air or because (in the case of Dads, Hostages, Betrayal, We Are Men, etc.) certain series HAVE aired and I have not watched them.

Nevertheless, I hope you will be interested in the new fall shows – and some returning ones – that I have chosen to focus on. Click below the cut to read about which series to watch, which to avoid, and which to give a second chance.

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