Fall Preview Impressions: V

As you've already read, I'm more than willing to express my disdain for the new wave of crap that will be gracing our television screens come this fall. However, there are also a good number of shows which I'm quite excited for. This is the first in a series of posts giving my impressions of some of the new fall shows.

First up is V (ABC), which is a remake of the 1980s television franchise of the same name that you've never heard of. Long story short, aliens come to Earth. They're up to no good. If you watched the trailer (it's right up there, see) than you don't need me to give you the blow-by-blow. Taking a glance at my DVD shelf it's no secret that I'm a sucker for high-concept sci-fi shows. But what has me most excited for V is the cast, which seems to have been assembled just for me. They appear to have gathered up a good number of my favorite actors who you've never heard of and put them in one place. The lineup includes:

Joel Gretsch, who you forgot to watch in The 4400 and Taken. Needless to say, the man knows his way around science fiction. He's a tremendous character actor, and I hope this show takes off so he is exposed to a wider audience.

Morena Baccarin, who you had the great misfortune of not watching in Firefly or as the principal antagonist in the final season of Stargate: SG-1. Are we sensing a pattern here? She also deserves mention for her brief turn as Marshall's crazy love interest Chloe on How I Met Your Mother (official television show of bambat). Anyway, she plays the head alien. And she's wicked hot. I think this will be a theme as well.

Elizabeth Mitchell is the one actress in the lot you might know from her brilliant work as Juliet on Lost. Needless to say, I'm a big fan of her acting. And of her other, ahem, assets. It will be nice to see her get a starring role, though I'll miss her on Lost (assuming she's not back much).

Laura Vandervoort who your 13-year old cousin Stacy and I remember from her stint on Smallville (I know, I know). I'm not going to rise to the defense of her acting talents, because they're indefensible. But her "standing there and being blonde with big cans" talents are top-notch. From the trailer, that seems to be her niche here as well.

The one deadly sin here seems to be casting Scott Wolf and Lourdes Benedicto, two veterans of the critically acclaimed The Nine (sarcasm tag). That's like casting Moon Bloodgood in your pilot and also making her executive producer. Unfortunately, only Mike will get that joke. Hopefully this toxic combo will be balanced out by the inclusion alongside Baccarin of fellow Firefly alum Alan Tudyk, though it seems he may only be in the pilot. Rounding out the cast are Morris Chestnut and Logan Huffman, about whom I have nothing witty to add.

I should also mention that the show's executive producer is Scott Peters, creator of The 4400. That probably doesn't mean anything to you, but it inspires me with confidence. Obviously it's far too early to judge a fall series, but given the talent involved and the good-looking trailers that are coming out, I have high hopes for this show. As of now, it is slated to premiere midseason on ABC. More to come I'm sure.

Oh, reason enough to watch below: