Frazer Harrison/ Frederick M. Brown, Getty Images

With more than 30 television shows premiering this fall, even the most passionate TV fan might be overwhelmed by all the new offerings. Sarah Michelle Gellar and Zooey Deschanel star in two of the 10 of the most interesting series to keep an eye out for.

 

'The New Girl' (FOX)

Starring: Zooey Deschanel, Max Greenfield, Jake Johnson
 

 

Zooey Deschanel transitions from the big screen to her own network series, but she's still playing the same adorable woman-child that she's known for from movies like '(500) Days of Summer.' In this comedy, quirky Jessica Day moves in with three male roommates after breaking up with her boyfriend. (Airs Tuesdays at 9 pm, premieres Sept. 20)

 

'Up All Night' (NBC)

Starring: Will Arnett, Christina Applegate, Maya Rudolph
 

 

A married coupled used to being “up all night” due to their high-partying hipster lifestyle are now “up all night” due to their roles as new (and exhausted) parents. The single-camera comedy has a high-caliber cast of A-list comedians, and Maya Rudolph's role has been amped up to capitalize on the buzz from her hit comedy 'Bridesmaids.' (Airs Wednesdays at 8 pm, premieres Sept. 14)

 

'American Horror Story' (FX)

Starring: Dylan McDermott, Connie Britton, Jessica Lange
 

 

The show with most self-explanatory title. Take one haunted house, two sexy but dysfunctional parents, a multitude of mysterious happenings, and let rip. The show is from the creators of 'Glee,' but but shares an aesthetic more akin to 'Rosemary's Baby.' (Airs Wednesdays at 10 pm, premieres Oct. 5)

 

'The X Factor' (FOX)

Starring: Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, L.A. Reid, Nicole Scherzinger
 

 

Simon Cowell returns to television, bringing with him what made him so beloved on 'American Idol,' including his wittily-barbed criticisms and his spirited banter with Paula Abdul. There are other judges too, and a singing competition somewhat reminiscent of 'The Voice,' but really this show is about seeing Simon back as the mean judge. (Airs Wednesdays and Thursdays at 8 pm, premieres Sept. 21)

 

'Awake' (NBC)

Starring: Jason Isaacs, Laura Allen, Cherry Jones
 

 

This sci-fi drama has a nifty premise: a cop gets into a car accident with his wife and son. He wakes up to two separate realities, one in which his son dies in the crash, the other in which his wife is the one who perished. The series has earned a lot of comparisons to 'Inception,' so if you were a fan of that hit movie, this could be worth checking out. (Airs midseason)

 

'Pan Am' (ABC)

Starring: Christina Ricci, Kelli Garner, Margot Robbie, Michael Mosley
 

 

After the success of 'Mad Men,' the networks are offering up stylish dramas in attempt to capitalize on audiences' nostalgia for a bygone era: ABC's 'Pan Am' and NBC's 'The Playboy Club.' If you only want to watch one period drama, the former seems to be the better of the two, offering a look at stewardesses' glamorous lives when flying the friendly skies. (Airs Sundays at 10 pm, premieres Sept. 25)

 

'Once Upon a Time' (ABC)

Starring: Ginnifer Goodwin, Jennifer Morrison, Robert Carlyle, Jared Gilmore
 

 

When would it be a curse to be moved to an idyllic small town in Connecticut? When you are Snow White, and the Evil Queen banishes you and all your fairy tale friends out of the land of “happily ever after” to our non-magical world. The characters suffer amnesia about their previous lives, but retain the quirks of their storybook origins. An outsider arrives to the town, and she might hold the key to breaking the enchanted spell. (Airs Sundays at 8 pm, premieres Oct. 23)

 

'Terra Nova' (FOX)

Starring: Jason O'Mara, Shelley Conn
 

 

This drama is popularly known as “'Jurassic Park' in reverse.” Planet Earth in 2149 is in shambles due to pollution and overcrowding, so scientists are evacuating people via wormhole to a prehistoric era. While the “colonists” enjoy the fresh air and green space, there is plenty to be concerned about, namely dinosaurs. (Airs Mondays at 8 pm, premieres Sept. 26)

 

'Ringer' (CW)

Starring: Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ioan Gruffudd, Nestor Carbonell
 

 

How does Sarah Michelle Gellar follow up her iconic TV role as 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer?' By playing dual roles. In this sleek thriller, she plays twin sisters–one an ex-stripper, the other an icy New York socialite–who are both in danger from mysterious foes. (Airs Tuesdays at 9, premieres Sept. 13)

 

'Alcatraz' (FOX)

Starring: Jorge Garcia, Parminder Nagra, Sam O'Neill, Robert Forster
 

 

If you mourned the end of 'Lost,' program this show into your DVR. Not only is it executive produced by J.J Abrams, it also stars one of the 'Lost's' most popular castaways, Jorge Garcia. The mysterious island this time is Alcatraz, the notorious prison off the coast of San Francisco. Garcia and crew will be investigating the reappearance of the guards and prisoners who disappeared from the prison thirty years ago. (Airs midseason)

 

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