The stress of class, work, RSO’s and other obligations can be tough on a collegiate. If you are anything like me, TV functions as the perfect stress reliever. I love kick back, watch TV and relax, but with all of the shows on TV, it can be hard to figure out which ones to watch. Have no fear… Her Campus is here! I’m going to give you a list of al the essential fall TV shows, from well-seasoned dramas to popular pilots.
1. “The Mindy Project” (comedy): You don’t need to be an alum of “The Office” to fall in love with Mindy Kaling (Kelly Kapour in “The Office”) and her witty new TV series. The show follows a single physician through her daily life as she tries to find love and success in her career. It’s full of humor, pop culture references and everything girls like us can relate to. Tune in Tuesday nights on FOX to see Mindy in action.
2. “Grey’s Anatomy” (Drama): If you haven’t been watching this show these past eight years, you have been missing out! But don’t worry; it’s never too late to start. You’ll just need to catch up on Netflix or Hulu Plus. Either way, you need to watch what happens in what could be the last season of this amazing show. Thursday nights on ABC just got a lot more interesting as we tune in to see how the cast picks up the pieces after last season’s tragic accident.
3. “Nashville” (Drama/ Musical): I have been anticipating the premiere of “Nashville” ever since its announcement, and in just the first three episodes it has delivered everything I could have hoped for: sex, singing, drama, unrequited love and celebrity rivalry! Connie Britton, previously from “Friday Night Lights” and “American Horror Story,” stars as Rayna James, the queen of country music who is facing a waning career, while Hayden Panettiere, previously from “I Love You, Beth Cooper,” stars as Juliette Barnes, a young new country sensation who is trying to bring Rayna down. If you don’t watch this you will be missing out! It comes on Wednesday nights on ABC.
4. “The Walking Dead” (Drama/Horror): This is one of my favorite shows, and in its third season, it is stronger than ever! If you’re not too into the zombie scene, don’t worry. This show has plenty of relationship drama, issues of family survival, and amazing action sequences. Tune in Sunday nights on AMC for all of the excitement!
5. “The Jersey Shore” (Reality): Have you been watching what goes on at the shore? Don’t worry, you can catch up on MTV; they play reruns daily. This is the last season for the cast mates, and I know we are all interested in seeing how the summer plays out with Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi pregnant and Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino completely sober after a stent in rehab. All of the drama, fights, drinking and fist pumping happen Thursday nights on MTV.
6. “Scandal” (Political Drama): Have the presidential debates gotten you into the political mood? Well ABC’s “Scandal” presents a lot of moods, not all of them political. Olivia Pope, played by Kerry Washington, and her team are experts in political damage control. Meanwhile, Olivia does a little damage of her own. You can catch “Scandal” Thursday nights after “Grey’s Anatomy” on ABC.
7. “The Vampire Diaries” (Scifi/ Drama): Having vampire withdrawal now that “True Blood” is over? Well, no time like the present to start watching “The Vampire Diaries” to get your vampire fix. The CW’s teen drama is now in its third season and showing no signs of slowing down. After all, who doesn’t love a good love triangle or mysterious happenings in a small town?
8. “666 Park Avenue” (Supernatural/ Drama): This show follows the lives of a young couple and their fellow tenants as they reside in the affluent 999 Park Avenue apartment building in New York. But all isn’t well inside its walls: our main character, Jane, played by Rachael Taylor of “Grey’s Anatomy,” investigates the secret and sinister nature of the hotel every Sunday night on ABC.
9. “The New Normal” (Sitcom): Every Tuesday night on NBC you can catch this new show. It follows a gay couple, Bryan and David, and their surrogate, Goldie, throughout their lives. Even though this show is very sunny, it deals with issues of being different, growing up and responsibility. You should definitely give this one a shot.
10. “Guys with Kids” (Sitcom): This last new show is hilariously funny. Jimmy Fallon presents a star-studded cast including Anthony Anderson, previously on “Law and Order” and Jamie-Lynn Sigler from “The Sopranos.” Every Wednesday on NBC, this group of guys tackles having kids, spouses and everything in between, and keeps us laughing all along the way.