BuddyTV is looking at the 17 new shows the major networks will premiere this Fall to see which ones are worth getting excited about and which ones we have low expectations for.

Show Description: The Ex List is a light dramedy about Bella Bloom (Elizabeth Reaser) who sees psychic: Bella learns that she's already dated the man she's going to marry.  The catch: if Bella doesn't find the ex she's supposed to marry within a year she's going to be alone forever.  From there, Bella goes on a quest to find her true love.

When: Fridays at 9pm on CBS

Cast: Elizabeth Reaser, Rachel Boston, Adam Rothenberg, Alex Breckenridge, Amir Talai



Anticipation: Very, very low.  Set against the backdrop of perpetually sunny Los Angeles, Elizabeth Reaser is looking for love and always manages to be dressed in cute, pink little tops and flirty skirts.  While this isn't necessarily a bad thing, that's about all there is to The Ex List.  Reaser's character owns a flower shop (her name is Bella Bloom, conveniently enough) and is blessed with a blandly attractive band of friends who look like they've been lifted from the set of What About Brian.  We're in for a dull season of Bella whining about finding her soulmate when you know that The One has clearly been right in front of her nose all along.

Minority Opinion by John Kubicek:  More than any other show, The Ex List polarized BuddyTV writers.  Two of us ranked it extremely high, while the other three ranked it very low (hence it's placement in the middle).  A good romantic-comedy TV show is hard to find, and CBS may have one with The Ex List.  The premise is charming enough, and Elizabeth Reaser proved herself on Grey's Anatomy as sweet and winning actress (at least she did before her character became crazy in season 4).  The TV landscape is so littered with procedural dramas, sci-fi serials and half-hour comedies that a quirky dramedy about a woman looking for love is rare, and sometimes it's nice to channel your inner chick-flick lover.  It might fail, but I am looking forward to spending my Friday nights curled up on my couch with a pint of chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream and The Ex List.

Similar Shows:  The Ex List has a similar theme to the short-lived Rob Thomas (Veronica Mars) penned, Jeremy Piven starring Cupid.  The 30-something businesswoman searching for love is not an uncommon theme in TV (Ally McBeal, Grey's Anatomy), but the formulaic twist could make the series a winner.  Or, it could make it insufferable.


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(Image Courtesy of ABC)