[PHOTOS] Fall TV Breakout Stars: New Actors To Watch This Season
ANALEIGH TIPTON
Manhattan Love Story, ABC (premiering Tuesday, Sept. 30)
One of America's Next Top Model's rare success stories, Tipton has parlayed supporting roles in rom-coms like Crazy Stupid Love and Warm Bodies into a love story of her own. With her big, bright eyes, whispery voice and gentle demeanor, Jake McDorman's character won't be the only one falling for her.
Ben Feldman & Cristin Milioti
A to Z, NBC (premiering Thursday, Oct. 2)
As Mad Men's seriously mad ad man and How I Met Your Mother's titular mama, Feldman and Milioti are hardly fresh faces to TV fanatics. But their ridiculously perfect chemistry — Ted who? — on NBC's new rom-com could exponentially increase their fan bases.
CRISTELA ALONZO
Cristela, ABC (premiering Friday, Oct. 10)
The stand-up comedienne won over critics at the TCA Press Tour with her honest, funny stories about her unorthodox childhood. As the ABC comedy's creator and star, Alonzo brings that same refreshing frankness, biting humor and realism to the multigenerational sitcom.
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Red Band Society, Fox (premiering Wednesday, Sept. 17)
Prepare to fall in love with Rowe's Leo, a teenager who lost his leg (but not his spirit) to cancer. Leo is clearly the hospital's "It" boy, and Rowe instantly makes him someone with whom you want to spend time. But there's also a soulfulness and a dash of a broken heart underneath the "cool" surface.
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Scorpion, CBS (premiering Monday, Sept. 22)
As Scorpion's misunderstood genius/unlikely action star — the pilot is The Big Bang Theory by way of Fast & Furious director Justin Lin — the former Body of Proof detective and Game of Thrones Dothraki bodyguard has landed the kind of role that should take him from, "He looks familiar..." to "I know that guy!"
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Jane the Virgin, The CW (premiering Monday, Oct. 13)
It takes a special kind of actress to make you accept a premise as crazy as Jane's (she's an accidentally artificially inseminated virgin!). Rodriguez is up to that task and more. Not only does she win you over with her infectious energy, vulnerability and comedic chops, she makes you believe that Jane's situation is totally normal.
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The Flash, The CW (premiering Tuesday, Oct. 7)
The former Glee player already charmed as future superhero Barry Allen on Arrow last season. With The Flash, Gustin proves that he can carry his own show. His zippy performance is sure to catapult him to super status among the fanboy/fangirl crowd.
JACK FALAHEE
How to Get Away With Murder, ABC (premiering Thursday, Sept. 25)
In a sea of young, pretty law students, it's Falahee as the ambitious Connor Walsh who stayed with us long past viewing the pilot thanks to his go-for-gusto performance. Whether playing manipulative, sexy or emotionally troubled, he's full of surprises. And it doesn't hurt that his character partakes in one of HTGAWM's most scandalous scenes.
Constantine - Season Pilot
Constantine, NBC (premiering Friday, Oct. 24)
Like Gustin, Ryan's days of being able to walk Comic-Con a free man will likely be over following his starring turn as the popular DC Comics figure Constantine. With his dry wit, Ryan fills the trench coat well.
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Mulaney, Fox (premiering Sunday, Oct. 5)
A pilot is hardly the be all and end all of a show's future, which is why we still have faith in Mulaney. We already know he's got the writing chops, as he's the guy behind some of Saturday Night Live's most memorable characters (we miss you, Stefon!). Plus, the affable comic makes his sitcom alter ego a likable, funny and much-needed voice of reason.
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Gotham, Fox (premiering Monday, Sept. 22)
It's no easy task to take on an iconic role like The Penguin. Yet, Taylor accomplishes the nearly impossible feat of delivering a truly singular version of the future Batman supervillain. Oswald Cobblepot may be Fish Mooney's underling for now, but don't bet against him stealing the spotlight.
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Gracepoint, Fox (premiering Thursday, Oct. 2)
There's no brand of grief that's quite like losing a child, and in her role as despondent mother Beth Solano, Kull paints that portrait with every color. As she maneuvers between mourning her son Danny and determining who could have possibly killed him, Kull makes it easy to root for Beth — and in a cast full of suspicious characters, that's no easy feat.
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Red Band Society, Fox (premiering Wednesday, Sept. 17)
The bitchy cheerleader is a TV staple, but newcomer Levin brings a surprising amount of depth and vulnerability — when no one's looking, of course — to her sharp-tongued, ailing teen.