Judging the Fall Season: ABC’s New Shows

ABC made its presentation of the network’s fall TV schedule to advertisers on Tuesday, and the network has released trailers of these new shows. Keifer Sutherland plays the only cabinet member not trapped listening to the President giving a State of the Union speech when there’s a terrorist attack—he’s what’s officially termed the “designated survivor” and therefore automatically becomes President. Minnie Driver at her Minnie Driver-est: Playing a pushy, wisecracking mom with a special-needs son, her character is so obnoxious, cops won’t pull her over for speeding because, one sighs, “Life’s too short.” She bullies the school principal, she has her son give the finger to a woman who notes there is no handicapped sign on her car.