Gallery: 7 Geekiest New Shows Headed for Your TV
01terra-nova
While the major TV networks' prime time lineups for next season look chock full of the standard sitcoms and cop dramas, there's also plenty to get geeks excited. First of all, at least two new shows come with the name "J.J. Abrams" attached. Plus, another two boast plots revolving around fairy tales. And then there's an effects-laden sci-fi adventure set in a future where mankind has traveled back to the past to live among dinosaurs. Add in the return of shows like *Fringe* and *Chuck* — [thanks, Twitter!](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/underwire/2011/04/chuck-fans-take-to-twitter/) — and 2011 is gearing up to be a pretty nerdy season of TV. Until all the new shows hit the airwaves, here is Wired.com's guide to the most intriguing show announcements coming out of the annual [TV upfronts](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upfront) held by the big broadcast networks in New York this week. __Above:__ *Terra Nova* (Fox) ------------------ [*Terra Nova*](http://www.fox.com/terranova/) mixes time travel and dinosaurs (*finally!*) in the story of a family from the year 2149 that travels back to the prehistoric era, where mankind has formed a new civilization. This Steven Spielberg–produced drama could be like *Jurassic Park* set in the future-past. Or, based on the trailer above, perhaps just the tale of another way dinosaurs could've been killed off. It also could explain many [displays at the Creation Museum](http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/24/arts/24crea.html).
02awake
*Awake* (NBC) ------------- Think of [*Awake*](http://www.nbc.com/awake/) as a standard police drama with just a little bit of *Inception*. In the show, a cop played by [Jason Isaacs](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_Isaacs) (who played Lucius Malfoy in the *Harry Potter* films) wakes up after a car accident to find out his wife is dead and his teenage son has survived. A few days later, he wakes up to find his son dead and wife alive. As he jogs between realities he has to figure out which one is actually happening. Also, his "dreams" help him solve crimes. The premise sounds promising. The show also stars [Wilmer Valderrama](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilmer_Valderrama), because everyone from *That '70s Show* is [now permanently ensconced in our lives](http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2011/05/everything_is_coming_up_milhou.html).
03napoleon-dynamite
*Napoleon Dynamite* (Fox) -------------------------- Loopy film [*Napoleon Dynamite*](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0374900/), which told the tale of a lovable loser who helped with his friend's campaign for class president, came out in 2004. In years since, it has become something of a cult favorite. Will this midseason animated series on Fox keep the magic of the original show alive or ruin a pop-culture moment? It's hard to tell based on this teaser, but it doesn't hurt that the new cartoon has the [movie's original stars](http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2011/05/fall-tv-season-watch-a-sneak-preview-of-foxs-napoleon-dynamite.html) as voice actors and original writer Jared Hess and *The Simpsons* producer Mike Scully as executive producers. Dig out the old "[Vote for Pedro](http://vote-for-pedro.com/)" T-shirts!
04once-upon-a-time
*Once Upon a Time* (ABC) ------------------------ Two shows coming next season have fairy-tale themes: ABC's *[Once Upon a Time](http://www.facebook.com/OnceUponATimeABC)* and NBC's *Grimm*. Both look promising, but our money is on *Once Upon a Time*, which was created by *Lost* producers Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis. Despite the somewhat fanciful nature of this teaser, the show should offer a bit of reality in its main character — Emma Swan, a bail bondswoman who finds out she might be Snow White's missing daughter.
05grimm
*Grimm* (NBC) ------------- *[Grimm](http://www.nbc.com/grimm/)* — the *other* new fairy tale show — follows a Portland, Oregon, cop who finds out he's part of a group of hunters known as Grimms, who are trying to stop the proliferation of supernaturals in the world (no word yet if he'll guest-star on *[True Blood](http://www.hbo.com/true-blood/index.html)*). The show comes from *Angel* and *Buffy the Vampire Slayer* producer [David Greenwalt](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Greenwalt). With that backing, there's a decent chance the show won't take itself too seriously and will have some fun with the theme.
06the-river
*The River* (ABC) ----------------- Sometimes hotshot TV explorers go too far. In suspense-horror hybrid [*The River*](http://abc.go.com/shows/the-river), Dr. Emmet Cole — a famed nature-show personality — goes missing in the Amazon. After six months, his emergency beacon goes off and his family and friends go searching for him. It seems almost trite, until you watch the teaser above and can't wait to see more.
07alcatraz-7
*Alcatraz* (Fox) ---------------- This latest mystery from J.J. Abrams puts a time-warp twist on a jailbreak story revolving around San Francisco's prison island. What happens when 302 convicts from 1963 show up in 2011 looking just like they did when they were incarcerated? Find out next fall. (Get a closer look in Wired.com's [*Alcatraz* write-up](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/underwire/2011/05/alcatraz-trailer/).) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gV1vPuVRyGg Also of Note: ------------- Abrams' other project, [*Person of Interest*](http://insidetv.ew.com/2011/05/18/cbs-fall-schedule-2/) on CBS (teaser above), is being penned by Jonathan Nolan (Christopher Nolan's brother and scribe of *The Dark Knight*). The new show stars *Lost* alum [Michael Emerson](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0256237/) as a mysterious billionaire who helps an ex-CIA agent fight crime. And there's also Seth MacFarlane's new version of *The Flintstones* on Fox. The animated update will ask questions like, "What's the [animal version of the iPod](http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/seth-macfarlane-revive-flintstones-fox-188687)?" MacFarlane told *The Hollywood Reporter*. "That's the kind of thing we have to think about."
