Welcome to the new fall schedule in the age of peak TV. In case you haven’t heard, between everything that’s coming to broadcast, cable, and streaming networks such as Netflix, Hulu and Amazon, there’s simply too much quality television for viewers to enjoy.
The good news is, you can no longer claim that there’s nothing on. Some 41 scripted series are currently due to premiere on ABC, CBS, The CW, Fox and NBC before the end of the traditional television season in May 2017. Out of that, 20 are premiering this fall. Factor in cable and…well, let’s hope your DVR is working properly, because its capacity is about to be tested.
Here’s the bad news: Watching even a bit of everything just isn’t possible for most people. Not to worry—we’ve got you covered!
All About Us
At a time when so much is marked by divisiveness, the 2016-2017 television season is remarkable in that a number of series joining the schedule explore subjects everyone thinks about. Who are we? Where are we headed, and in what surprising ways are we connected?
Few dramas capture this idea as poignantly as NBC’s This Is Us, which intertwines stories of several people who share the same birthday and, possibly, much more. The ensemble cast stars Milo Ventimigla, Mandy Moore, Chrissy Metz, Justin Hartley and Sterling K. Brown. Written by Dan Fogelman (Crazy, Stupid, Love), it’s the rare family-friendly hour that is most rewarding to view when you know as little as possible about it, beyond that it’s about the magic born out of coincidence.
“Sometimes things happen in your life when you look at the big picture, and you kind of break it down to the 20 moments, or the 50 moments, or the 100 that you are, like, ‘Wow, this was a big, gigantic thing I was a small part of,’” Fogelman recently told reporters.
Premieres 10 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 20. Regular time slot is 9 p.m. Tuesdays beginning Oct. 11.
All About Family
America’s continued affection for Modern Family’s Dunphy clan has inspired all networks to seek the next great half-hour series about a lovable clan. Here’s the scoop on a few of the new TV families joining broadcast schedules this fall.
Kevin Can Wait
Kevin James stars as a newly retired cop seeking to bond with his wife and three kids. Premieres 8:30p.m. Monday, Sept. 19 on CBS. Shifts to 8 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 24.
Speechless
Minnie Driver plays a determined mother making a new home for her family in rich town and fighting for her kids—particularly her eldest son, who lives with cerebral palsy. Premieres 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 21, on ABC.
Son of Zorn
In this live-action/cartoon hybrid, Jason Sudeikis lends his voice to an animated, He-Man-style warrior who returns to Orange County to win back his live-action ex-wife, played by Cheryl Hines. Premieres 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 25, on Fox.
American Housewife
Katy Mixon plays a brash mother of three, raising a “perfectly imperfect” family in the wealthy town of Westport, Connecticut. Premieres 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11 on ABC.
Man with a Plan
Matt LeBlanc stars as a contractor who transitions into stay-at-home dad mode when his wife goes back to work. Premieres 8:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 24, on CBS.
All About Franchises
Considering that series based on Rush Hour, Limitless and Minority Report all came and went last season, it may be a bit shocking to see so many new movie-inspired series, and classic series revivals joining network schedules during 2016-2017. But according to data released by NBC’s researcher Alan Wurtzel, some 54 percent of television viewers will not watch a new series unless they can see previous episodes first. It makes sense, then, that networks would turn to familiar blockbuster titles to attract eyes to freshman shows. Check out this year’s list of film-inspired TV, as well as familiar small-screen franchise reboots and spin-offs.
Lethal Weapon
Inspired by the 1987 action flick and its sequels, Damon Wayans and Clayne Crawford (Rectify) assume the roles of originated by Danny Glover and Mel Gibson, Murtaugh and Riggs. Premieres 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 21, on Fox
MacGyver
A revival of the 1985 action series that ran on ABC, Lucas Till takes on the role of Angus “Mac” MacGyver, first played by Richard Dean Anderson. Premieres 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23, on CBS
The Exorcist
As in the 1973 film, a concerned mother (Geena Davis) enlists the assistance of a priest when her child exhibits signs of being possessed. Premieres 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23, on Fox
Frequency
Inspired by the 2000 film of the same name, a present-day female police detective discovers she can communicate via a ham radio with her late father, who died in 1996 and also was a detective. Stars Peyton List and Mekhi Phifer. Premieres 9 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5, on The CW.
Westworld
A highly-anticipated, modern expansion of the 1973 cult sci-fi film, about a theme park where rich attendees can indulge their most farfetched, violent fantasies. Stars Anthony Hopkins, James Marsden, Ed Harris and Evan Rachel Wood. Premieres 9 p.m. Sunday Oct. 2, on HBO
Wolf Creek
The next chapter of the Australian horror franchise, which began in 2005, brings John Jarratt to the small screen to reprise the role of murdering psychopath Mick Taylor. Premieres 10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14, on Pop TV.
Big Comebacks
These popular shows are all returning this season.
Hawaii Five-0
Season premiere 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23, on CBS.
Ash Vs Evil Dead
Season premiere 8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 2, on Starz.
Midseason
24: Legacy (Fox, post-Super Bowl Feb. 5 and 8 p.m. Monday, Feb. 6); Training Day (CBS, time slot TBD); Taken (NBC, time slot TBD); The Blacklist: Redemption (NBC, time slot TBD) Prison Break (Fox, time slot TBD); Time After Time (ABC, time slot TBD), Star Trek: Discovery (CBS All Access, January 2017)
It’s About Time
With so much idle chatter about going back to a previous, more innocent era, network TV is taking that wish at face value and offering very different takes on time jumping.
Frequency’s present-day female detective communicates with her father, transmitting from 1996, and gives him details that may affect her timeline. Star Peyton List and Mekhi Phifer, Premieres 9 p.m.Wednesday, Oct. 5, on The CW.
In Timeless a criminal steals a time machine in order to change the course of American history, but is pursued by a history professor, a soldier and a scientist. Stars Abigail Spencer, Matt Lanter and Malcolm Barrett. Premieres 10 p.m. Monday, Oct. 3, on NBC.
Coming Midseason
Making History
A professor invents a device that allows him and his colleague to change the past, thereby—they think!—improving their current lives. Adam Pally and Leighton Meester star. (Fox, time slot TBD)
Time After Time
Literary legend H.G. Wells is transported to modern day Manhattan in pursuit of Jack the Ripper. (ABC, time slot TBD)
Familiar Faces
Lots of new TV series means many familiar actors and actresses from favorite series joining new series in fresh roles. Here are a few of the more recognizable ones.
Cheryl Hines from Curb Your Enthusiasm stars in Son of Zorn. Premieres 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 25, on Fox.
Hugh Laurie from House stars in Chance. Premieres Oct. 19 on Hulu.
Kiefer Sutherland from 24 stars in Designated Survivor. Premieres 10 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 21, on ABC.
Damon Wayans from My Wife and Kids stars in Lethal Weapon. Premieres 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 21, on Fox.
Minnie Driver from The Riches stars in Speechless. Premieres 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 21, on ABC.
Kevin James from King of Queens stars in Kevin Can Wait. Premieres 8:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 19 on CBS, shifts to 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 24.
Matt LeBlanc from Friends and Episodes stars in Man with a Plan. Premieres 8:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 24, on CBS.
Goran Visnjic from ER stars in Timeless. Premieres 10 p.m. Monday, Oct. 3, on NBC.
Michelle Dockery from Downton Abbey stars in Good Behavior. Premieres 9 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15, on TNT.
Joel McHale from Community stars in The Great Indoors. Premieres 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27, on CBS.
Ted Danson from CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and Kristen Bell from House of Lies and Veronica Mars both star in The Good Place. Premieres 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 22, on NBC. Series preview: 10 p.m. Monday, Sept. 19.
Sarah Jessica Parker from Sex and the City stars in Divorce. Premieres 10 p.m. Oct. 9 on HBO.
Jeffrey Donovan from Burn Notice stars in Shut Eye. Premieres Dec. 7 on Hulu.
Michael Weatherly from NCIS stars in Bull. Premieres 9 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 20, on CBS.
Hayley Atwell from Agent Carter stars in Conviction. Premieres 10 p.m. Monday, Oct. 3. on CBS.
Sela Ward from CSI: NY stars in Graves. Premieres Oct. 16 on Epix.
John C. McGinley from Scrubs stars in Stan vs. Evil. Premieres 10 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 2, on IFC. Preview airing at 10 p.m. Monday, Oct. 31.
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