[IMG:L]In a TV schedule populated with reality-show dummies and played-out programming, we’re excited about — and grateful for — these 10 legitimately interesting characters:
Dexter’s Baby
Dexter
Who Is He? The newborn son of doting dad Dexter, who also happens to be a prolific serial killer.
Why He’s Complicated: Will he inherit his father’s proclivity for gore? Will Dexter get his baby in on the criminal action? Will child protective services have to step in? Will Dexter take them out if they try to? We just don’t know. One thing’s for sure: Season four of Dexter is ripe for a potentially murderous case of nature vs. nurture.
KEEP READING: Slater’s second attempt at TV [PAGEBREAK]
Alex Donovan (Christian Slater)
The Forgotten
Who Is He? Donovan leads a group of civilian volunteers dedicated to solving cases the cops have given up on.
Why He’s Complicated: Slater’s Donovan is also an ex-cop grappling with the unsolved kidnapping of his daughter, which ups the ante on his civilian detective work, suggests a potential vendetta against his former department and creates some potentially interesting (we hope!) conflicts of interest.
KEEP READING: In love with vampire brothers! [PAGEBREAK]
Elena (Nina Dobrev)
Vampire Diaries
Who Is She? A beautiful, self-centered high school student who serves as the love interest for the titular undead.
Why She’s Complicated: Elena struggles with the death of her parents, gradually transforms from shallow ice princess to sympathetic heroine and grapples with choosing between two men who happen to be brothers and also happen to be vampires. That should be more than enough to keep the first season interesting.
KEEP READING: Mischa, Mischa, Mischa! [PAGEBREAK]
Sonja Stone (Mischa Barton)
The Beautiful Life
Who Is She? Stone is a top-tier supermodel who has operated in the glamorous upper realms of the fashion food chain for years.
Why She’s Complicated: Stone has recently returned from an extended vacation abroad and is anxious to reclaim her spot as the It Girl every designer wants on their catwalk. The purpose of Sonja’s trip wasn’t fashion-related, but the stunner isn’t revealing her reasons for her career hiatus. Barton should have no problem portraying this scenario, as the actress herself took a mysterious mini-vacation to the psych ward in July that nearly affected her role on the show.
KEEP READING: A megagorgeous alien ambassador! [PAGEBREAK]
Anna (Morena Baccarin)
V
Who Is She? Anna is the beautiful leader of Earth’s alien visitors.
Why She’s Complicated: As alien ambassador, Anna claims her posse’s intentions for Earth and its inhabitants are peaceful, but as more is learned about her and her brethren, the more sinister they become. It’s revealed that the aliens are infiltrating governments, recruiting teenage spies and plotting a worldwide takeover, which is, of course, masterminded by the strikingly attracive Anna. Makes sense, as the gorgeous characters are usually the most sinister.
KEEP READING: Who is the real Tim Gunn? [PAGEBREAK]
Tim Gunn
Project Runway
Who Is He? Project Runway‘s silver fox sartorial guru who urges contestants to “make it work.”
Why He’s Complicated: Runway devotees know what makes the never-ruffled Gunn tick on screen (elegant designs, clean lines, patterns of all kinds), but the mysterious judge gives little insight to what occupies his offscreen time. We know he is an ardent PETA supporter and always looks dashing, but beyond that, Gunn is a mystery. We don’t know what he does when he’s not raising his eyebrows at busted designs, or if he ever takes his ubiquitous suit off. He makes the mystery work for him though, as it makes him and his spot-on fashion sense even more intriguing. Carry on, Tim, carry on!
KEEP READING: Whoops, she cheated! [PAGEBREAK]
Olivia (Sonya Walger)
FlashForward
Who Is She? Olivia is the wife of central protagonist Mark Benford (Joseph Fiennes) who, simultaneously along with everyone else on Earth, experiences her life six months into the future for two minutes and 17 seconds.
Why She’s Complicated: During her vision, Olivia, married to FBI agent Benford, sees herself with another man. She tries to understand what could happen during the next six months that would cause her to have an affair. Her husband has a vision of himself drinking heavily, which could potentially be explained by his wife’s adultery.
KEEP READING: Hail Joel McHale! [PAGEBREAK]
Jeff Winger (Joel McHale)
Community
Who Is He? The Soup‘s McHale takes the lead in the new NBC comedy as a lawyer returning to college — community college.
Why He’s Complicated: Embittered, cynical Winger is going back to school because he never actually got his law degree the first time around. He’s totally resentful about his return to higher education and relies on his professor friend (John Oliver) to help him cheat on all his tests. While trying to hit on the school’s resident blonde bombshell (Gillian Jacobs) he inadvertantly becomes the de facto leader of the Spanish study group. He does not speak any Spanish. Hilarity ensues.
KEEP READING: What’s a Bored Ted Danson to do? [PAGEBREAK]
George Christopher (Ted Danson)
Bored to Death
Who Is He? Christopher is the literary agent to Jason Schwartzman‘s wine loving author-cum private detective Jonathan Ames.
Why He’s Complicated: HBO hasn’t revealed much about Danson’s character, but we know there will be a scene where George invites Jonathan to hit him in the mouth in order to hide a herpes blister, and the show’s promo ads suggest his affinity for marijuana. We’re guessing Ames’ and Christopher’s relationship extends just slightly beyond the professional, which, we hope, means Danson will be in on all the half-assed gumshoe adventures.
KEEP READING: Bye-bye, Paula! Hello, Ellen! [PAGEBREAK]
Who Is She? She’s Ellen-freaking-Degeneres.
Why She’s Complicated: Taking over for recently eliminated Idol judge Paula Abdul is like getting contestants to stop doing busted covers of “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” a potentially difficult task. Despite axed Abdul’s glassy eyes and incoherent rambling, millions of Idol fanatics grew fond of Paula during her eight-year run on the eternally popular show. Ellen’s takeover of the recently vacated panel seat came as a big surprise, but if anyone’s capable of filling Paula’s wobbly shoes, it’s the whipsmart, feel-good Degeneres. While it might be a bit jarring, we hope she employs the bulk of her niceties during her daytime talk show and offers hardcore criticisms during primetime.
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