Returning Fall TV Shows

Back to school blues still got you down? Take a study break instead with one of these exciting fall television shows. Whether you’re craving some comedy, romance, drama or just a mixture of everything, this season’s looking pretty promising.

Returning Shows:

Pretty Little Liars

Premiering its first show and season over the summer, Pretty Little Liars has gained popularity and viewers very quickly. Filled with suspicion, friendship and mysterious messages, Pretty Little Liars leaves its watchers on the edge of their seat. After finding out one of their best friends, Allison, was murdered, Aria, Spencer, Hanna and Emily constantly receive mysterious text messages from an anonymous stalker named A. There is a killer on the loose, and the girls and police are digging deep and finding clues that might hint at who it might be. The episodes were always thrilling to watch and I never knew what was going to happen next. Although many unexpected things took place in the season finale, neither A nor Allison’s killer was revealed. Pretty Little Liars has been compared to Gossip Girl but it definitely brings fresh plots and conflicts to the wide pool of television. Its fall season is coming soon and will air on Tuesdays.

Glee

Another popular show, Glee, did very well after its first two seasons last year and won an Emmy for “Outstanding Comedy Series” at the Emmy Awards 2010. With the leadership of Rachel (Lea Michele) and Finn (Cory Monteith), McKinley High’s “New Directions” glee club spends all of their free time rehearsing and trying to reach their goals of making it to regionals and sectionals. Glee episodes are filled with song, dance, humor and conflict, plus the hilarious sarcasm of cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester, played by Emmy-winning Jane Lynch. The season premiere will be on Sept. 21 and will air on Tuesdays.

Gossip Girl

Gossip Girl is returning again this fall for another season full of drama, hookups, and breakups. Serena, Blair, Nate, Chuck, Dan, Vanessa, and Jenny will be out on the prowl of New York City in search of love, popularity, connections, and a good time. The actual “Gossip Girl” is an anonymous blogger who receives scandalous “blasts” from the eyes and ears of alert New Yorkers and sends out mass text messages to every Upper East Sider just to stir up the social scene. Starting the season off by following Serena and Blair as they live the plush life in Paris, Gossip Girl will premiere on Sept. 13 and air episodes every Monday.

Bones

Bones also returns in late September with an exciting season at the Jeffersonian Institute in Washington, D.C. Forensic anthropologist Dr. Brennan (Emily Deschanel) and Special Agent Booth (David Boreanaz) work together to solve murders by examining the bone structures of bodies that come to them after being discovered dead. Their partnership and expertise in each of their fields helps them put criminals away. They’re accompanied by an eccentric–and ridiculously good looking–supporting crew of “squints,” as Booth calls them. Last season seemed to put an end to the budding romance between the two, and this season Booth’s new girlfriend (Katherine Wynnick) may–or may not–totally put the romance to rest. Catch Bones at its season premiere on Sept. 23.

Love Is In the Screen: Our Favorite TV Couples

We grow up believing that love is some sort of fairy tale (thank you, Disney movies) and the truth often comes as a nasty shock. While in real life things may not always work out for the better, we can always enjoy the ups, downs, and typically happy endings of our favorite couples on screen. In honor of Valentine’s Day, the Voice presents to you, in no particular order, five of our favorite current television couples.

Jim and Pam—The Office

Mr. Wang once told his honors chemistry class that Jim and Pam give him faith in humanity. While most people might not go quite that far, Jim and Pam have become the couple that everyone loves to love. We waited with bated breath while Jim tried his hardest to win Pam over and had to be resuscitated when; at long last, they finally realized that they belong together. Whether pulling pranks on Dwight or eloping from their own wedding, Jim and Pan give all of us, at the very least, something to look forward to every Thursday.

Will and Emma—Glee

Glee may center around the lives of high school students in a Glee club, but the one couple everyone seems to universally root for are the two sane adults: Will and Emma. From day one, you know that Emma is in love with Will. But only in the season finale does Will realize his love for Emma. Despite its newness, this not-quite-yet relationship has had its far share of obstacles, mainly caused by Will’s (hopefully soon to be ex-wife) Teri. But now that Teri is out of the picture, we can hope to see how an actual Will and Emma romance will play itself. What’s more lovable than a counselor with severe OCD and the Spanish teacher/Glee coach that can actually get her through it?

Booth and Bones—Bones

Booth and Bones are one of the only reasons many of us watch a show that deals with the examination and solving of incredibly brutal homicides. Though the show gives me nightmares, this couple is my favorite currently sharing the screen.  Both fear that their professional lives will be compromised should they admit how they actually feel about each other. But their incredible devotion to and faith in one another is unsurpassed by any other clear-cut couple on television. It’s worth getting past nightmares in order to keep up with them.

Lily and Marshall—How I Met Your Mother

By the time the show finally gets around to letting Ted meet his wife, the rest of the world will probably have stopped caring (if they haven’t already). But Lily and Marshall, the one stable couple on the show, are, as Barney Stinson might say, awesome. And High-five worthy. These two somehow managed to get married despite Lily’s unfulfilled desires to become an artist and Marshall’s often intense bromance with Ted. In a way, it doesn’t matter when Ted finally meets the mother, as long as we get to see more of Marshall and Lily along the way.

Chuck and Sarah—Chuck

Nerd likes Girl. Girl takes nerd on date. Girl turns out to spy for the CIA. A season or two later, and the nerd has managed to win the girl, lose her, and is currently trying to get her back. Sarah and Chuck’s relationship is both one of the best and most frustrating things about the show, leaving you rooting for Chuck as he tries in vain to deal with his feelings for Sarah but wondering at the same time if being in love and having emotion are a fatal flaws for a spy. Also, Chuck’s recent groveling is getting really depressing. Yes, Chuck, you love Sarah. We all have had more than enough declarations about it. Still, the nerd plus amazing girl formula is always amusingly lovable, especially when it involves spies. And Chuck.