Best of: Fall television preview

It’s about to be that time of year again—fall. While the weather doesn’t really seem like it is going to be reflecting the season change any time soon, the fall TV lineup provides a reason to chill inside. Which shows should show up on the entertainment radar? Grab the remote and put off studying for that statistics test for just a few more hours. It is time for some mindless entertainment. Happy watching!

“X-Factor” and “The Voice”

Two reality singing competitions will be vying this year for audiences’ attention. “The Voice” is starting up season three, while Simon Cowell’s brainchild, “X-Factor”, is kicking off season two with a new slate of judges. Simon and L.A. Reid are returning for round two with judging newbies Demi Lovato and Britney Spears adding their sassy flair to the mix. Don’t have time for both? “The Voice” has Adam Levine.

“Elementary”

The classic Sherlock Holmes story is getting a modern twist in this new series on CBS. Twist one: Holmes has decided to cross the pond to New York City to start a new life as a consultant for NYPD instead of Scotland Yard. Change two: Watson is a lady, and not just any lady — she is Lucy Liu. However, all the deducing, obsessing and Sherlock qualities characteristic of the iconic figure will be present in the new adaptation. Break out the magnifying glass and deerstalkers, the classic Holmes hat.

“The New Normal”

Step aside, “Glee;” Ryan Murphy has a new series up his sleeve. “The New Normal” focuses on a new kind of family as partners Bryan and David decide that they are ready to add a new member to their happy household. The couple meets Goldie, who has recently moved to Los Angeles with her eight-year-old daughter Shania, and the single mom decides to become a surrogate mother for the two. This show has been compared to the ABC comedy “Modern Family,” so it may be worth a watch.

“The Walking Dead”

The zombie thriller series “The Walking Dead” will return for its third season this year. The series, based on the comic written by Robert Kirkman, focuses on a group of living who ban together to ride out a zombie epidemic. Season three returns to answer unsolved questions regarding the cloaked figure that saved Andrea and the eerie prison at the close of last season. Get ready for more guts and gore and tune in Oct. 14 to see what is waiting for Rick and the rest of the gang.