We’re near the end of October and the rate of new shows is slowing as we hit the home stretch for the Fall. But you might be wondering what of these new shows is worth your time to check out? Let this weekly post be your guide as I review the pilot and second episode of new shows this Fall. Don’t see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks.

Tuesdays:
Phony, Tuesdays on Hulu (Premiered October 20)
About: This new show is an interesting high-concept series. It focuses on Sonny (Sam Nivola), who is a high school student living a happy life with his mother (Connie Britton), the high school principal. After a fight, Sonny is driving when he gets into an accident. When he wakes up from the accident, he sees his mother. Except she looks different and acts a little different. He begins to suspect she’s been replaced. But he’s practically the only one who sees or believes it. So, he sets out to find the truth. This series comes from Nick Paley and runs about 30 minutes an episode. The first two episodes dropped Tuesday with the rest of the eight-episode series dropping weekly. I liked Nivola and Britton in the series and I like the potential of a mystery here. The first two episodes did a good job of setting the stage and I’m curious to see where this one is going.
Pilot Grade: B-
Second Episode: C+

Fridays:
Newlyweds, Fridays at 8:30 p.m. on NBC (Premiered October 23)
About: This new sitcom for NBC features Tea Leoni and Tim Daly as a pair of opposites who are set up on a blind date. Despite their differences, they click, and things go well. Over the course of a few weeks, mostly long-distance, they forge an even deeper connection. By the end of the pilot, they are ready to get married and figure out the rest later. The cast here includes Jamie Lee Curtis and Al Madrigal, among others. There is some humor here, and Leoni and Daly have good chemistry owing to their previous work and their real-life relationship. But this feels stiff like a traditional sitcom of a bygone era. It also feels like something of a tough sell over the long haul. But there is some potential and the pilot was amusing enough.
Pilot Grade: C+

Streaming Series:
Minimum Wage, Now Streaming on Netflix (Premiered October 26)
About: This new comedy follows a group of teenagers working at a local pizzeria. It’s not a bad premise and the episodes are crisp. The pilot is about 20 minutes, the rest are less than 20. It’s a 14-episode season, all now streaming. Each one follows the wacky crew at this local pizza place. The cast is mostly younger unknowns, though Randall Park does show up in the premier as the owner of the pizza chain and that makes for some fun. For those looking for a quick, light binge, this might hit the spot.
Pilot Grade: C+
Second Episode: C+

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.