Fall Is Coming: The TV Shows That Can't Wait to Premiere

By Sarah Carlson | TV | August 3, 2012 |

By Sarah Carlson | TV | August 3, 2012 |

The dog days of summer are here, but already networks are rolling out both new and returning TV shows. Here’s a look at the series debuting this month ahead of the fall lineup.

“Hell On Wheels” (Season Two)
8/9C Sunday, Aug. 12 — AMC

It may be “Deadwood” Light, but AMC’s take on the Western has its moments. Instead of a gold mining town we’ve got a traveling railroad town in this post-Civil War tale led by former Confederate soldier Cullen Bohannan (Anson Mount). Common, Colm Meaney, Dominique McElligott and Christopher Heyerdahl round out the cast.

“Major Crimes”
10/9C Monday, Aug. 13 — TNT

A spin-off of the channel’s popular “The Closer,” Mary McDonnell leads the crew of the LAPD’s Major Crimes unit as Captain Sharon Raydon now that Kyra Sedgwick’s Brenda Lee Johnson is out. Although this show likely won’t be groundbreaking, McDonnell is always great to watch.

“Bullet in the Face”
10/9C Aug. 16-17 — IFC

Blood flows and spurts freely in this, described as the most violent comedy in history, this two-night event on IFC stars Canadian actor Max Williams as Gunter Vogler, a psychopathic German assassin-turned-cop. Eric Roberts and Eddie Izzard star as mob bosses.

“Boss” (Season Two)
8/9C Friday, Aug. 17 — Starz

Kelsey Grammer is back as Chicago Mayor Tom Kane, a man with a firm grip on the city if not his personal life or health (he has a debilitating brain disease). Sanaa Lathan and Jonathan Groff (“Glee”) join the cast as aides to Kane in this look at corruption in politics and people in general.

“Copper”
10/9C Sunday, Aug. 19 — BBC America

Set in 1864 New York City, Tom Weston-Jones (“MI-5”) stars as Kevin Corcoran, an Irish-American former boxer turned cop who patrols the city’s Five Points neighborhood. Corcoran returned from the Civil War to find his wife missing and his daughter dead, and when he’s not trying to uncover the truth of what happened to his family, he’s finding comfort in the arms of Eva Heissen (Franka Potente), the neighborhood madame.

Sarah Carlson is a TV Critic for Pajiba. She lives in San Antonio.