Forecasting the highs and lows of the fall TV season

Q. Sadly, I don’t have Showtime. I wanted to see the new show “Homeland’’!

A. You can see “Homeland’’ - but much later. Good things come to those who wait. Anyway, there are advantages to seeing a show on DVD. Then you know what you’re getting into. Also, you can power watch. I love series orgies. The downside: You miss the “conversation’’ about a show. Although, with classics such as “The Wire’’ and “Six Feet Under,’’ the conversation goes on long after the show has ended.

Q. Any idea where the next meeting of Zooeyholics Anonymous is? I really want Zooey Deschanel’s sitcom “New Girl’’ to succeed, but the odds are against it.

A. I’m a Zooeyholic, too. I’m not sure the show will fail. . . . It’s pretty pleasurable.

Q. If you were a gambling man, what would be your early favorites for first show to be canceled?

A. First thought: “I Hate My Teenage Daughter.’’ I hated it. What an awful show. “Grimm’’ and “A Gifted Man’’ will struggle, too. Both are wanting, and both are hidden away on Friday nights.

Q. I love new fall shows but find them so risky. It’s hard when I get attached and then have to let go once they get canceled. What shows are safe to get hooked on this fall?

A. Ongoing plots have become so popular in recent years, but so many of them have ended mid-plot that viewers are getting phobic about committing. I think “Terra Nova’’ is going to be a safe bet, especially if Fox makes it less expensive by going with only 12 episodes for the season.

Q. What about “Suburgatory’’? That sounds awful.

A. I liked it! But it’s got that “Juno’’-y feel that turns some people off. I like satire on suburban life, and “Suburgatory’’ has lots of it. Plus: Billy from “Six Feet Under.’’

Q. What are the most promising new comedies? Anything as good as, say, “Wilfred’’ or “Modern Family’’?

A. I like the pilot of “Up All Night’’ a lot. That’s the one with Christina Applegate, Will Arnett, and Maya Rudolph. It’s about new parenthood, but it’s got the same character-based humor as “Modern Family.’’ Also promising: “New Girl’’ and “Suburgatory.’’ And the multi-camera “2 Broke Girls’’ might work. The pilot is rough, but there’s potential there.

Q. What do you know about the midseason show “Awake’’?

A. I saw the pilot. And liked it OK. It’s one of those shows that might have made a better movie. Jason Isaacs is a guy who has two lives, and it’s not clear which is a dream. Not sure that premise can survive weeks and weeks of episodes.

Q. I wonder how “The X Factor’’ will fare in the fall.

A. With Simon and Paula, it stands a good chance. A great chance, really. But I think it will undermine “American Idol,’’ which is already getting shaky. By the time January rolls around, talent-show viewers on Fox might be less hungry for it.

Q. What’s the word on “Ringer’’? My wife is a big “Buffy’’ fan.

A. I’m a “Buffy’’ fan, too. And I really disliked “Ringer.’’ What a dumb show. The story is right out of a daytime soap, where there are twin sisters in trouble with the mob. Sarah Michelle Gellar was good enough on “Buffy’’ because of the writing and Joss Whedon. With this subsubpar material, she’s stranded.

Check out the full transcript at www.boston.com/viewerdiscretion, and check out this Thursday’s chat at noon on www.boston.com.