Fall TV Preview

'Modern Family'

Another year means another sweep during awards season for ABC’s “Modern Family,” which recently picked up three Primetime Emmys out of six nominations. The mockumentary sitcom about a multigenerational family living in suburban Los Angeles will begin its sixth season on Sept. 24. Although a lesser show this far into its lifespan might be content to coast, “Modern Family” embarks on its new season fresh off some of its best episodes, such as season five favorite “Las Vegas,” a delightful comedy of errors which masterfully controls the chaos and misunderstandings of its narrative. After Cam (Eric Stonestreet) and Mitch (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) were married in the two-part season five finale, season six kicks off straight into their honeymoon. Meanwhile, Steve Zahn (“A Perfect Getaway,” “Dallas Buyers Club”) joins the cast as Ronnie, the patriarch of the hellish new family next door.

'The Legend of Korra'

After the heart-shattering finale of Book Three: Change, “The Legend of Korra” returns to Nickelodeon on Oct. 3 for its final season, Book 4: Balance. A sequel to “Avatar: The Last Airbender,” the show is set 70 years after the events of the original series and features a new Avatar named Korra (Janet Varney). Despite being an animated children’s show, “Korra” has gained a massive cult following among older viewers for its high production value and moral complexity, so much that Nickelodeon is exclusively distributing the final season online. After a tumultuous fight that left major antagonists dead and Korra emotionally traumatized, the haunting final shot of Book 3 lingers on a close-up of Korra at a celebration, motionless in a wheelchair, a tear rolling down her face. The arrival of Book 4 will likely bring balance to Korra’s world, and showrunners Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino have teased a tweaked character design for Korra’s recovery.

'Bob’s Burgers'

Fresh off its first Emmy win and a guest-star studded season, “Bob’s Burgers” returns to the small screen for its fifth season on Oct. 5. The animated series portrays the lives of the middle-class Belcher family, who live above a burger restaurant owned by patriarch Bob. Its upcoming season continues the show’s tradition of featuring complex and idiosyncratic one-off characters, with Bill Hader, Zach Galifianakis, Nick Offerman, Jordan Peele, and Keegan Michael Key all set to make guest appearances. Bolstered by consistently strong writing and non sequitur musical numbers, “Bob’s Burgers” is reminiscent of “The Simpsons” at its peak yet still maintains a completely unique atmosphere. The season five premiere, “Work Hard or Die Trying, Girl,” depicts a conflict between oldest Belcher child Tina (Dan Mintz), who performs in a school musical inspired by “Working Girl,” and middle child Gene (Eugene Mirman), who produces a competing underground production of a “Die Hard”-inspired musical.

'The Walking Dead'

With last year’s conclusion of “Breaking Bad” and the imminent finale of “Mad Men,” AMC’s “The Walking Dead” is slated to become the network’s lone powerhouse scripted drama when its new season premieres this fall on Oct.12. Based on a series of comic books by Robert Kirkman, the show follows protagonist Sheriff Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) and an ensemble cast of 16 other series regulars as they struggle to survive in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by the undead. The new season promises important plot developments and a resolution to the previous season’s cliffhanger, which left Rick and gang trapped inside a storage container by a malicious group of strangers (and potential cannibals). More importantly, the new season teases revelations about the source of the zombie plague in addition to a potential cure, while the survivors travel to Washington, D.C., for some much-needed answers.

'Parks and Recreation'

The seven season saga of Leslie Knope finally comes to an end this fall. “Parks and Recreation” begins its final season after a three year time skip in the previous season’s finale, which depicted a post-pregnancy Leslie (Amy Poehler) happily working at her National Parks job in Pawnee while raising triplets with Ben (Adam Scott). Filming for the final season began in August, with a premiere set for later this fall.

—Staff writer Alan R. Xie can be reached at alan.xie@thecrimson.com.