What’s Fresh on FOX

9-1-1

This show premiered on FOX a few weeks ago and in that short time has gained a decent following. This drama follows the high-pressure lives of Los Angeles First Responders including police, firefighters, paramedics, and dispatchers as they deal with stress at work and at home.

While this premise is by no means new, the all-star cast that plays the main characters is where the appeal of the show is formed. Legendary actress Angela Bassett plays Athena Grant, a patrol sergeant at the LAPD. Award-winning actor Peter Krause, best known for his work on “Six Feet Under” and “Parenthood,” plays LAFD captain Bobby Nash. Connie Britton is a 911 dispatcher and the narrator of the show. With these three at the helm, the show is almost guaranteed to reel in viewers from sheer star power alone.

After less than two weeks on air, FOX renewed the drama for a second season, so I think it’s safe to say this show is worth watching. If you start watching now and you’re hooked, you’re guaranteed at least one more full season with these characters.

The Mick

A fresh twist on the family sitcom, “The Mick” follows Mickey, an irresponsible woman as she takes over guardianship of her niece and nephews after their parents are arrested for fraud and tax evasion.

The class divide between Mickey and the spoiled kids serves as a hilarious undertone throughout every episode. Mickey is played brilliantly by Kaitlin Olson, best known for her 12 years of hilarity on “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.” Working alongside her are three of the greatest young actors on television right now, each of whom is entirely capable of holding their own on primetime TV.

Olson’s performance has been praised and critics have taken note of the show’s dark humor, a genre rarely coupled with a family sitcom. But that is exactly what makes this show feel fresh in such a crowded field. By having an ensemble made up of characters that are all slightly unlikable, “The Mick” brings the anti-hero aesthetic that has become popular in recent years in drama to a comedic setting for the first time.