Fall TV Preview

A guide to the Black star power on primetime TV this fall.

Taraji Henson on Her Dream Role - “I would love to do a biopic of a famous singer, like Diana Ross or Donna Summer, or an old jazz story that we haven’t seen before. I would love to do that! I would love to play Diana Ross ‘cause she’s an icon. I’m salivating to do that.” (Photo credit: Mark Davis/PictureGroup) 

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Taraji P. Henson in Person of Interest\r - Taraji P. Henson returns to her TV roots in the Minority Report-influenced CBS crime drama Person of Interest. Look for her as a butt-kicking cop named "Carter" in this action-packed joy ride, which is executive produced by Lost creator J.J. Abrams. \r(Photo: Mark Davis/PictureGroup)

Photo By Mark Davis/PictureGroup

L.A. Reid, Paula Abdul, Nicole Scherzinger in X Factor \r - Think American Idol may be "long in the tooth" and that The Voice was so last year? Then FOX’s long-awaited vocal competition X Factor, featuring judges Simon Cowell, L.A. Reid, Paula Abdul and Pussycat Dolls' Nicole Scherzinger, might be singing your tune. In addition to being a vocal contest for all ages, audiences will get the much-beloved Cowell/Abdul banter and find out if Reid is X Factor’s version of Randy Jackson.\r \r \r(Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

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L.A. Reid, Paula Abdul, Nicole Scherzinger in X Factor \r - Think American Idol may be "long in the tooth" and that The Voice was so last year? Then FOX’s long-awaited vocal competition X Factor, featuring judges Simon Cowell, L.A. Reid, Paula Abdul and Pussycat Dolls' Nicole Scherzinger, might be singing your tune. In addition to being a vocal contest for all ages, audiences will get the much-beloved Cowell/Abdul banter and find out if Reid is X Factor’s version of Randy Jackson.\r \r \r(Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

Maya Rudolph in Up All Night\r - Maya Rudolph stars as "Ava," the hard-partying boss from hell to new working mom Christina Applegate in NBC’s Up All Night. With Rudolph’s cheeky brand of humor, expect some unforgettable television moments.\r(Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images)

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Maya Rudolph in Up All Night\r - Maya Rudolph stars as "Ava," the hard-partying boss from hell to new working mom Christina Applegate in NBC’s Up All Night. With Rudolph’s cheeky brand of humor, expect some unforgettable television moments.\r(Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images)

Garrett Morris in 2 Broke Girls - Comic legend Garrett Morris espouses some wisdom as "Earl" on NBC’s 2 Broke Girls. From his stints on Martin to The Jamie Foxx Show, we know Morris is guaranteed to bring the funny.\r(Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

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Garrett Morris in 2 Broke Girls - Comic legend Garrett Morris espouses some wisdom as "Earl" on NBC’s 2 Broke Girls. From his stints on Martin to The Jamie Foxx Show, we know Morris is guaranteed to bring the funny.\r(Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

Jessica Parker Kennedy in The Secret Circle - Jessica Parker Kennedy plays "Melissa," a friendly witch to a girl with a mysterious supernatural heritage in the CW’s The Secret Circle. Vampire fiends, watch your back; the world of witches are making a comeback.\r(Photo: Andy Kropa/Getty Images)

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Jessica Parker Kennedy in The Secret Circle - Jessica Parker Kennedy plays "Melissa," a friendly witch to a girl with a mysterious supernatural heritage in the CW’s The Secret Circle. Vampire fiends, watch your back; the world of witches are making a comeback.\r(Photo: Andy Kropa/Getty Images)

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Lamorne Morris in New Girl\r - Lamorne Morris plays "Winston," one of three guys whose lives are turned upside when a dorky, nerdy girl named Jess (played by indie film it-girl Zooey Deschanel) moves into their L.A. loft, in FOX’s New Girl. Morris is replacing Damon Wayans Jr., who played a different character, "Coach," in the New Girl’s pilot episode.\r (Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

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Lamorne Morris in New Girl\r - Lamorne Morris plays "Winston," one of three guys whose lives are turned upside when a dorky, nerdy girl named Jess (played by indie film it-girl Zooey Deschanel) moves into their L.A. loft, in FOX’s New Girl. Morris is replacing Damon Wayans Jr., who played a different character, "Coach," in the New Girl’s pilot episode.\r (Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

Hannah Simone - "I’m terrible with horror films. I like them, but they really scare me so I try not to watch them. I love Beetlejuice but it genuinely terrifies me."(Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)

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Hannah Simone in New Girl - In the new FOX comedy, New Girl Hannah Simone snagged the role as supermodel "CeCe Meyers," best friend to the beautiful-nerdy Zooey Deschanel. Simone is former host of the reality show WCG Gamer.\r (Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)

Giancarlo Esposito - "I think The Other was one of my favorite horror movies. Twenty-five years ago, about two twin brothers on a small farm in the South. It's the beginning of the cheaper, more economic horror films. That's one of my favorites."(Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

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Giancarlo Esposito in Once Upon a Time \r - ABC's Once Upon a Time brings fairytale characters like Snow White, the Evil Queen and Rumplestiltskin to a Maine town frozen in time. Legendary actor Giancarlo Esposito reflects truth back to its citizens as the "Magic Mirror." Created by two writers of Lost, expect mind-bending stories on a weekly basis.\r\r(Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

Annie Ilonzeh in Charlie’s Angels - The popular 1970s sitcom and 2000s film, Charlie’s Angels gets a reboot this season from ABC.  Former General Hospital star Annie Ilonzeh stars as angel "Kate," a dirty cop with a checkered history who rocks a cool afro-curly 'do.\r(Photo: Albert L. Ortega/PictureGroup)

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Annie Ilonzeh in Charlie’s Angels - The popular 1970s sitcom and 2000s film, Charlie’s Angels gets a reboot this season from ABC.  Former General Hospital star Annie Ilonzeh stars as angel "Kate," a dirty cop with a checkered history who rocks a cool afro-curly 'do.\r(Photo: Albert L. Ortega/PictureGroup)

Henry Simmons: July 1 - The longtime actor celebrates his 41st birthday. (Photo credit: Michael Tullberg/Getty Images) 

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Henry Simmons in Man Up - Henry Simmons stars as "Grant" in the ABC’s comedy Man Up. The sitcom hilariously explores what manhood means for a group of male friends in this new metrosexual age of "manscaping" guys who drink hazelnut creamers and use pomegranate body wash.\r (Photo: Michael Tullberg/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Michael Tullberg/Getty Images

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Naturi Naughton in Playboy Club - Naturi Naughton wowed critics and fans of Mad Men when she guest-starred as a Playboy Bunny. And that stint was the catalyst for her upcoming starring role on NBC’s 1960s drama The Playboy Club. Naughton plays "Brenda," a woman breaking down racial barriers at Hugh Hefner’s historic social club.\r \r(Photo: Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images)

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Naturi Naughton in Playboy Club - Naturi Naughton wowed critics and fans of Mad Men when she guest-starred as a Playboy Bunny. And that stint was the catalyst for her upcoming starring role on NBC’s 1960s drama The Playboy Club. Naughton plays "Brenda," a woman breaking down racial barriers at Hugh Hefner’s historic social club.\r \r(Photo: Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images for Cadillac

Russell Hornsby in Grimm  - Lincoln Heights’ Russell Hornsby stars as "Hank Griffin", the partner to a homicide detective who can see mythological creatures within humans in NBC’s Grimm. This sci-fi drama stars David Giuntoli as the supernatural sleuth.\r \r(Photo: Jemal Countess/Getty Images)

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Russell Hornsby in Grimm  - Lincoln Heights’ Russell Hornsby stars as "Hank Griffin", the partner to a homicide detective who can see mythological creatures within humans in NBC’s Grimm. This sci-fi drama stars David Giuntoli as the supernatural sleuth.\r \r(Photo: Jemal Countess/Getty Images)

Damon Wayans Jr. - "Basket Case. It’s scary and hilarious. It’s about these conjoined twins and one of them is possessed by the devil."(Photo: Jemal Countess/Getty Images)

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Damon Wayans, Jr. in Happy Endings and New Girl (pilot)\r - Damon Wayans, Jr. temporarily does double-duty on two network shows this season. Already a cast member of ABC’s Happy Endings as "Brad Williams," Wayans also starred in the pilot of FOX's New Girl.  When Happy Endings was renewed for a second season and New Girl got the greenlight to become a series, Wayans had to bow out of the latter in favor of HE.\r (Photo: Jemal Countess/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Jemal Countess/Getty Images

Christine Adams in Terra Nova - Executive produced by Steven Spielberg, FOX’s Terra Nova is the story of a family from the futuristic year 2149 who get transplanted back 85 million years to prehistoric earth. Christine Adams stars as "Mira," a member of the colony who gets a second shot at rebuilding civilization.\r \r(Photo:Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

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Christine Adams in Terra Nova - Executive produced by Steven Spielberg, FOX’s Terra Nova is the story of a family from the futuristic year 2149 who get transplanted back 85 million years to prehistoric earth. Christine Adams stars as "Mira," a member of the colony who gets a second shot at rebuilding civilization.\r \r(Photo:Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

Maestro Harrell in Suburgatory - Maestro Harrell stars "Malik," friend to a new teen who moves from New York City to the suburbs in ABC’s Suburgatory. Harrell formerly starred on HBO'sThe Wire.\r(Photo:  Bryan Bedder/Getty Images)

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Maestro Harrell in Suburgatory - Maestro Harrell stars "Malik," friend to a new teen who moves from New York City to the suburbs in ABC’s Suburgatory. Harrell formerly starred on HBO'sThe Wire.\r(Photo:  Bryan Bedder/Getty Images)

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Aisha Dee in I Hate My Teenage Daughter - Aisha Dee stars as pretty, popular and mean teen "MacKenzie" in FOX’s I Hate My Teenage Daughter. The sitcom takes a funny look at the relationships between moms who were former teen nerds and the beautiful, prom queen-type daughters they’ve raised.\r(Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

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Aisha Dee in I Hate My Teenage Daughter - Aisha Dee stars as pretty, popular and mean teen "MacKenzie" in FOX’s I Hate My Teenage Daughter. The sitcom takes a funny look at the relationships between moms who were former teen nerds and the beautiful, prom queen-type daughters they’ve raised.\r(Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Tracee Ellis Ross and Malcolm-Jamal Warner in Reed Between The Lines - Television fans who’ve awaited Tracee Ellis Ross and Malcolm-Jamal Warner's return to primetime television will get their wish with BET’s new comedy, Reed Between The Lines. Warner and Ross play "The Reeds," husband-and-wife professionals and parents to a blended family of three children.\r(Photo: Donna Ward/Getty Images)

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Tracee Ellis Ross and Malcolm-Jamal Warner in Reed Between The Lines - Television fans who’ve awaited Tracee Ellis Ross and Malcolm-Jamal Warner's return to primetime television will get their wish with BET’s new comedy, Reed Between The Lines. Warner and Ross play "The Reeds," husband-and-wife professionals and parents to a blended family of three children.\r(Photo: Donna Ward/Getty Images)

Larenz Tate: September 8 - The actor and father celebrates his 36th birthday.      (Photo:  Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

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Larenz Tate in Gun Hill - Written and directed by Reggie Rock Bythewood, production has just begun on Gun Hill, starring Larenz Tate in a dual role as "Cain and Abel"-type identical twins — one is a cop and the other is a con — in this gritty New York City-based cop drama. \r\r(Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)