What’s hot or not on the TV schedule this week (VIDEO)

“RED BAND SOCIETY”

8 p.m. Wednesday, WFLD-Channel 32

Based on a Spanish TV series, Fox’s coming-of-age dramedy is set in a hospital but has more in common with “Glee” than “Grey’s Anatomy.” A diverse assortment of teenagers — The Mean Girl (played by Glencoe native Zoe Levin), The Rebel, The Girl Next Door, The Player — try to cope with the challenges of life, not just their life-threatening illnesses, which keeps the series from falling into Debbie Downer territory. While the setting and circumstances sometimes seem far-fetched, at least one storyline feels remarkably real to creator Margaret Nagle. Her brother, like the show’s 12-year-old narrator, spent a good portion of his childhood in a coma.

Rating: [s3r star=3/4]

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“THE MYSTERIES OF LAURA”

Sneak peek 9 p.m. Wednesday, WMAQ-Channel 5

Like “Red Band Society,” this is another dramedy based on a Spanish format. Unlike “Red Band Society,” it’s pretty awful. Debra Messing (“Smash,” “Will & Grace”) deserves better than this trench coat cloaked detective who, in the premiere, solves what might be The Most Inane Murder Mystery in the History of Television. Her personal life is just as ridiculous as she struggles to raise a couple of deviant pre-K boys with her soon-to-be-ex (Josh Lucas, who also deserves better). The biggest crime: The pilot features the song “Chelsea Dagger,” forcing me to remember this show every time the Blackhawks score a goal.

Rating: [s3r star=1/4]

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“MADAM SECRETARY”

7:30 p.m. Sunday, WBBM-Channel 2

Tailor-made to pair with “The Good Wife,” CBS’ new political drama also revolves around a strong, powerful woman who’s great at her job. Tea Leoni stars as the country’s newly minted secretary of state, a post that provides plenty of material for international crises of the week. An over-arching story arc deals with why this married mother of two teenagers has the job in the first place: Her predecessor was mysteriously killed. Leoni’s uber-competent character — she’s brilliant, plugged-in, fluent in every language! — could easily be annoying in the hands of another actress. But Leoni gives Elizabeth McCord a savvy, down-to-earth quality that makes her easy to root for. CBS will air a repeat of the premiere at 9:30 p.m. Sunday, when live coverage of “The NFL on CBS” doubleheader threatens to once again wreak havoc on the network’s primetime schedule and your DVR.

Rating: [s3r star=2.5/4]

READ MORE: 10 most promising new fall shows

“THE GOOD WIFE”

8:30 p.m. Sunday, WBBM-Channel 2

The best drama on broadcast TV hasn’t missed a beat since its universally praised fifth season that added more gold to Julianna Margulies’ Emmy shelf. The law firm version of musical chairs continues as Diane Lockhart (Christine Baranski) looks to jump ship to Florrick/Agos, which has a much more pressing issue to address in the well-paced, tension-filled premiere. This season will see the return of David Hyde Pierce (“Frasier”) to television. Pierce will have a recurring role as a cable news legal commentator who’s so fed up with the corruption and murder rate in Chicago, he decides to run for office — against Alicia, perhaps? Yes, please.

Rating: [s3r star=4/4]

Follow @lorirackl

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