Our Guide To The Overwhelming Fall TV Premieres: September

Fall TV previews used to be a lot simpler: A handful of networks put out a bunch of new shows each fall. Publications could round them up, maybe lay out some odds as to whether or not they’d make it through a season, and be done with it. But TV has changed a lot over the last decade. In fact, it’s changed a lot over the last few years, with more networks putting out more original shows, to say nothing of the streaming services that have gotten in on the game as the traditional TV order seems in danger of crumbling. What’s more, TV shows have a way of sticking around even when they don’t become part of the cultural conversation. The days of the brilliant-but-canceled series haven’t ended entirely — miss ya, The Grinder — but we’re also living in an age when The Last Ship just got renewed for a fourth season.

All of which is a long way of saying that we decided it would be best if we offered a Fall TV Preview at the beginning of each month rather than trying to look at the whole thing at once. So let’s start with September, a month that brings new shows starring Donald Glover, Pamela Adlon, and, inevitably, Kevin James.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6

Atlanta (FX)

At a glance: Donald Glover is back on television for the first time since leaving Community, and he’s got his own fancy show on FX. Atlanta follows Glover’s character, Earn Marks, as he manages his cousin’s rap career so the two of them can “work through the Atlanta music scene in order to better their lives and the lives of their families.” More specifically, Glover has said, “The thesis with this show was to show people what it’s like to be black, and you can’t write that down. You have to feel it.” That’s a pretty ambitious place to start.

Should you give it a shot: Yup. Glover is a big ball of talent — he’s an actor, he’s a rapper, he’s a comic, he was hired to write for 30 Rock while he was still in college — so any project from him is worth checking out, especially if it comes on the heels of an extended semi-break. The series premieres with back-to-back episodes, so at the very least, give those two a look, just so you’re not stuck binge-watching a huge chunk to get caught up later.

Chances it will be worth sticking with: Pretty good. The track record is solid here on both fronts, between Glover’s history as an actor/creator and FX’s history with half-hour shows that teeter between comedy and drama (Louie, You’re the Worst). It’s all enough to be pretty optimistic about.

Queen Sugar (OWN)

At a glance: Over the course of the summer, Oprah Winfrey’s network has undergone an identity overhaul. It began with Greenleaf, the drama that centered on a megachurch pastor’s family and its scandalous secrets, and it continues with Queen Sugar, another family drama that has Winfrey producing a series she co-created with Melissa Carter and Selma director Ava Duvernay. The series follows the Bordelon siblings: Charley (Dawn-Lyen Gardner), an NBA star’s wife; Nova (True Blood’s Rutina Wesley), an eccentric journalist; and Ralph Angel (Kofi Siriboe), an ex-con, as they return home to claim their inheritance – an 800 acre sugarcane farm in Louisiana – and reconcile past wrongs.

Should you give it a shot: Yes. Not only is this looking to be another rich, African-American drama that stands out given the currently whitewashed landscape of TV, it also sports an all-female directing team — led by DuVernay — many of whom are just starting their careers. This new series also looks decidedly less soapy than Greenleaf, opting for serious character studies and a meaningful look at family and forgiveness.

Chances it will be worth sticking with: Good. This of course depends on what you want out of your fall TV. Winfrey’s dramas center solely on family and relationships and this one has already been dubbed a slow-burn by critics. In other words, if you’re looking for thrilling intrigue or doomed romance, Scandal and How to Get Away with Murder will be better options. There won’t be many big twists in Queen Sugar, and it will probably take a while to get into – episode three seems to be the turning point for some – but it’s the sort of show that’s sorely needed right now.

StartUp (Crackle)

At a glance: Crackle crashes the Peak TV party with this new drama about a digital currency company and the FBI agents out to track it. Notable faces include Martin Freeman (Sherlock, Fargo) as a morally flexible agent and Adam Brody (The O.C.) as a banker with a shady family history.

Should you give it a shot: The answer here feels like it should be no, if only because there are really a ton of TV shows and a drama from another new-ish streaming service screams “Pass.” But then you get to the thing about Watson and Seth Cohen involved in South Beach Bitcoin crime. It’s tough, this new television era. Let’s file this one under “maybe.”

Chances it will be worth sticking with: Eh. The smarter move here is probably sitting back and waiting to see what kind of buzz this picks up, then hitting a bunch of episodes in a weekend if people are raving about it. You are a very important person and your time is valuable.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8

Better Things (FX)

At A Glance: FX is clearly trying to fill the void that Louie left with Better Things, which stars Pamela Adlon as Sam Fox, a single mom to three kids working as an actress in Hollywood. As she navigates a difficult career, motherhood, relationships with her ex and her mother, Fox finds herself spread a little too thin.

Should You Give It A Shot?: Yes. While this isn’t a particularly new concept, the trailer is genuinely funny and looks promising. What’s more, Adlon and co-creator Louis CK have been collaborating for years, and this project looks to encompass the world weariness and insight that they’ve become known for. Plus, Adlon has long been a supporting player and deserves her spot as the lead.

Chances It Will Be Worth Sticking With: Good. FX is on a hot streak with biting comedy, so the chances of this one being worth a watch are quite good. While it may be too low-key to demand immediate viewing, it could make for a solid binge later in the season.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9

Quarry (Cinemax)

At a glance: Though a bit late to the party, at least compared to its sister network, HBO, Cinemax has made a strong push into prestige television over the past few seasons via shows like The Knick and Outcast. Quarry is the channel’s latest effort, and it looks as gritty as anything we’ve seen in recent years. (Whether we’ve had enough grit of late is another question.) Adapting a series of novels by crime writer Max Allan Collins, the Memphis-set show follows Mac Conway (Logan Marshall-Green) as he struggles to readjust to civilian life after returning from Vietnam in 1972.

Should you give a shot?: Yes. The trailers reveal little about the show’s plot, but suggest a series long on tension and atmosphere. Plus co-creators Graham Gordy and Michael D. Fuller both worked on Rectify, the model of slow-burning television.

Chances it will be worth sticking with: Pretty good. There’s been a lot of talk about whether we need more hour-long dramas focusing on male anti-heroes who live in violent, dangerous worlds. But done right, the approach can still be compelling. If the first episode grabs you, it will probably be worth sticking around for the other seven.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11

Son of Zorn (Fox)

At a glance: Zorn (Jason Sudeikis) is an animated He-Man-like hero who’s returning to Orange County to try to reconnect with his ex-wife Edie (Cheryl Hines) and son Alan (Johnny Pemberton). Complicating matters is Craig (Tim Meadows), Edie’s future husband.

Should you give it a shot?: Yes. Reed Agnew and Eli Jorne have delivered bizarre, absurdist sitcoms before, notably with FX’s dearly missed Wilfred, and the cast is stacked with funny people.

Chances it will be worth sticking with: Medium. The main conceit will get viewers in the door, but whether the show does anything with it is another matter. Similarly, we’ve seen a lot of lousy dads try to reconnect with their sensitive sons, so if they lean too much on their gimmick, the show might collapse fast. (This is a special premiere showing. The series moves to its regular time on September 25.)

Returning

Masters of Sex (Showtime)

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14

Returning

Blindspot (NBC)

South Park (Comedy Central)

American Horror Story (FX)

Documentary Now (IFC)

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 18

The Case Of: JonBenét Ramsey (CBS)

At a glance: On the day after Christmas in 1996, someone murdered JonBenét Ramsey, a six-year-old beauty pageant veteran, in her family’s Boulder, Colorado home. The hows and whys of the still officially unsolved case remain unclear almost 20 years later and have become the subject of intense speculation. This six-hour CBS series, which airs over three nights, revisits the case with the help of a few of the people who originally worked it, as well as outside experts.

Should you give a shot?: Maybe. Between The Jinx, Making a Murderer, and O.J. Simpson: Made in America, it’s been a big couple of years for true crime documentaries. And it makes sense to move on to the second-biggest murder case of the 1990s after the recent surge in interest in the Simpson case. But there’s a tasteful way and a tasteless way to approach this sort of thing, and it’s not clear from the trailer which approach this CBS series will take. On the one hand, the use of outside experts and new technology might shed some new light on the murder. On the other hand, there’s all that unsettling music and creepily filtered footage recreating Ramsey dancing.

Chances it will be worth sticking with: If the ick factor isn’t out of control in the first episode, it will probably be worth seeing through to the end.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19

Kevin Can Wait (CBS)

At a glance: Kevin James returns to his old television home on CBS for the first time since King of Queens in a show that looks a lot like King of Queens. The show trades in Patton Oswalt’s best friend character for James’ real-life brother, Gary Valentine, and now instead of a UPS driver, James plays a stay-at-home dad. And he lives with a difficult father-in-law, not difficult kids. The tone, the sense of humor, and the laugh track are otherwise the same.

Should you give a shot?: Viewers who liked King of Queens — and there were plenty of them; it ran for nine seasons — will probably appreciate the comfort and familiarity of a middle-of-the-road sitcom like Kevin Can Wait. Audiences who prefer less traditional sitcoms like Master of None or Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, however, probably shouldn’t bother with this one.

Chances it will be worth sticking with: Whether it’s worth sticking with or not, CBS has a strong track record with laugh track sitcoms and Kevin Can Wait is likely to run forever. Its self-contained, episodic nature will leave plenty of opportunities to drop in and out of the series if the WiFi goes out on your Netflix account.

The Good Place (NBC)

At A Glance: In the latest series from Michael Schur (Parks and Recreation, Brooklyn Nine-Nine), Eleanor (Kristen Bell) dies and reawakens in “The Good Place” — run by an angelic presence named Michael (Ted Danson) — in spite of living a selfish life on Earth. Soon she recognizes she’s there because of an error and scrambles to hide her true identity. If that sounds like a straightforward afterlife comedy, Schur has suggested there will be twists, likening The Good Place to a “super-comedic version of The Americans.”

Should you give it a shot?: Yes. If nothing else, it has a novel premise and the teaming of Schur, Bell, and Danson, the latter making a return to comedy after a nice run on Fargo, has plenty of promise.

Chances it will be worth sticking with: A concept this out there really depends on execution and will likely hinge on how well Bell and Danson play off each other.

Returning

Big Bang Theory (CBS)

Gotham (Fox)
Lucifer (Fox)

The Voice (NBC)

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20

Bull (CBS)

At a glance: Before he made a fortune doling out folksy, simplistic, tough-sounding advice to his guests (and peddling dubious-sounding health products), Phil McGraw worked for a trial consulting firm. (It’s how he met Oprah Winfrey.) Could his pre-fame experience inspire a successful series starring NCIS‘ Michael Weatherly? CBS certainly hopes so.

Should you give a shot?: Despite the Dr. Phil connection, this will almost certainly be another CBS procedural and, as such, perfectly solid if you’re into that sort of thing. The gimmick here: Weatherly’s McGraw surrogate, Dr. Jason Bull, uses his psychological insights like a superpower (or, more relevantly, like Sherlock Holmes uses his powers of deduction on Elementary). It’s co-created by McGraw and Quiz Show screenwriter Paul Attanasio, whose TV credits stretch from Homicide to House, which isn’t a bad record.

Chances it will be worth sticking with: Sure? If you’re not procedural-ed out, this looks like a kind of fun variation on the formula.

This Is Us (NBC)

At a glance: From writer Dan Fogelman and directors John Requa and Glenn Ficarra — the same team behind 2011’s crowd-pleasing Crazy, Stupid, LoveThis is Us tracks the lives of several people who all share the same birthday in what looks like a cross between Sense8 and Parenthood. The trailer for the NBC series — seen over 20 million times in the first three days of its release — was far and away the most popular among all the new fall shows on the broadcast networks. The appealing and familiar cast includes Milo Ventimiglia, Mandy Moore, and Sterling K. Brown, the break-out star of People vs. O.J. Simpson.

Should you give a shot? Fans of warmhearted, sentimental family dramas should not hesitate. It has all the hallmarks of a Jason Katims’ series, and it will undoubtedly deliver a few tears for its broadcast network audience.

Chances it will be worth sticking with: Decent, assuming there’s not a crazy sci-fi or supernatural gimmick to the birthday connection between the characters. The familiar storylines and tearjerking moments should fill the hole for older audiences left by the departure of Parenthood. In a television era dominated by genre fare, a good, wholesome family drama might be a welcome throwback.

Returning

NCIS (CBS)
NCIS: NOLA (CBS)

Brooklyn Nine-Nine (Fox)
New Girl (Fox)
Scream Queens (Fox)

WEDNESDAY, SEPT 21

Designated Survivor (ABC)

At a glance: How’s this for a grabby premise?: Kiefer Sutherland plays Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Tom Kirkman, who ascends to the top office after the deaths of the U.S. president and all of his cabinet members when an explosion strikes the State of the Union address.

Should you give it a shot?: Yes. Beyond that premise it boasts a diverse, capable cast that includes Maggie Q, Kal Penn, and Natascha McElhone. And, of course, this is familiar territory for Sutherland, who navigated terrorism and intrigue on 24 for many years.

Chances it will be worth sticking with: 50/50. When it comes to Washington-set dramas, ABC has a good track-record — Scandal’s still going strong after five seasons — but the real test of longevity for a show like this hinges on whether Sutherland can once again prove a compelling leading man and whether the writers can draw out the drama to fill an entire season and beyond. Most of the trailer focuses on a cataclysmic event that reshapes our nation over the course of one night. The fallout from that is what will fuel the story going forward and, if it’s handled well, it could be even more gripping (and shocking) than watching a bomb go off on Capitol Hill.

Lethal Weapon (Fox)

At a glance: With the end of Castle and Psych, and the looming conclusion of both Rizzoli & Isles and Bones, television finds itself surprisingly devoid of fun buddy cop(ish) procedurals. And if this summer’s charming Shane Black film The Nice Guys taught us anything, it’s that there should always be a place for shows and films that know how to leverage great chemistry and pair it with the thrill of fighting crime. A made-for-TV remake of Shane Black’s original creation, Lethal Weapon, could fill that void on Fox this fall. The question is, will audiences accept these new versions of Riggs (Clayne Crawford) and Murtaugh (Damon Wayans) or will the seeming pull of the Lethal Weapon brand be negated by sour fans who loudly dismiss this as a lesser creation without giving it a fair chance?

Should you give it a shot?: Yes. The trailer looks fun, if a little cliché-riddled. Don’t think of this as a replacement or expect it to be a high-end show. Like the films, the TV version looks like it’s supposed to be popcorn entertainment filled with quips and a clear line between good guys and bad guys. Is that a little outdated for these times? Perhaps, but sometimes you need to push aside the organic, grass-fed Kobe beef and dig into a Whopper, ya know?

Chances it will be worth sticking with: It depends on what you’re looking for. If it’s dumb fun and comfort TV, then probably yes.

Returning

The Goldbergs (ABC)
Speechless (ABC)
Modern Family (ABC)
Black-ish (ABC)

Survivor (CBS)

Empire (Fox)

Law & Order: SVU (NBC)
Chicago P.D. (NBC)

THURSDAY, SEPT 22

Notorious (ABC)

At A Glance: Based on the real-life relationship between Larry King Live executive producer Wendy Walters and criminal defense attorney Mark Geragos, Notorious stars Piper Perabo as Julia George and Daniel Sunjata as Jake Gregorian, a producer and a lawyer who work together to manipulate the headlines and those around them. Of course, as these kinds of things always are, real life is more complicated than the manipulated fiction, leading to conflicts personally, professionally, and on a national scale as they deal with the fallout from a hit-and-run murder case.

Should You Give It A Shot?: Maybe. “You’re a tough-ass bitch. You can do anything.” Oof. From the looks of things, there isn’t a lot to inspire much confidence. Virtually every network drama is trying to be an off-brand Shonda Rhimes show, and it looks like Notorious is taking that track as well. Perabo’s Julia is clearly supposed to be this season’s Olivia Pope, but there can only be one.

Chances It Will Be Worth Sticking With: Not great. While Perabo and Sunjata have been winning performers on other projects, there is just too much TV lately to stick with something that’s already been done to death. If the show finds its feet and becomes something fresher than “this season’s Scandal,” it could be worth watching. However, this first trailer doesn’t inspire much confidence.

Pitch (Fox)

At A Glance: Positioned as a show ripped from headlines that haven’t happened yet, Pitch is about the first female player on an MLB team. Kylie Bunbury stars as Ginny Baker, a farm team pitcher for the San Diego Padres who gets called up into the big leagues to make history. Of course, pressures from her teammates and the stress of her boundary-breaking takes its toll, leading her to wonder if she can handle her newfound fame and influence. Pitch also stars Ali Larter, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, and Michael Beach as Baker’s tough-yet-encouraging father.

Should You Give It A Shot? Yes. Creator and writer Dan Fogelman is behind projects like Crazy Stupid Love, Galavant, and the also-debuting This Is Us, so he’s earned at least a commitment to checking out the pilot. While the premise could easily slide into heavy-handed territory, if handled deftly it could become a real show to watch this season.

Chances It Will Be Worth Sticking With: Mostly good. The trailer is compelling and the early buzz is solid, but the collaboration with the MLB could ensure that it sticks to “safe” stories and avoids the real drama that breeds in major league sports. Still, Bunbury looks like a compelling performer, and the steps towards a more diverse television landscape shouldn’t be ignored.

Easy (Netflix)

At a glance: Set in Chicago, the anthology series will use the city as a backdrop to explore a diverse set of characters as they deal with love, sex, technology, and culture. Those characters will be played by, among others, Orlando Bloom, Malin Åkerman, Marc Maron, Kiersey Clemons, Elizabeth Reaser, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Jake Johnson, Aya Cash, Dave Franco, Hannibal Buress, and Emily Ratajkowski.

Should you give a shot? Absolutely. It comes from Joe Swanberg, the prolific actor and director known for his improvised, micro-budget films like Happy Christmas and Drinking Buddies. Because he works fast and collaborates creatively with his cast, he’s able to snag big names on the cheap. While his movies are usually plotless, they are dotted with memorable characters and relatable moments. Easy is sure to deliver the same.

Chances it will be worth sticking with: Strong. It’s a short series with only eight half-hour episodes. Each episode is stand-alone with a new set of characters. If viewers don’t love one episode, they can skip to the next. The entire season can be consumed on a Saturday afternoon.

Returning

Grey’s Anatomy (ABC)
How to Get Away With Murder (ABC)

Rosewood (Fox)

Superstore (NBC)
Chicago Med (NBC)
The Blacklist (NBC)

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23

MacGyver (CBS)

At a glance: Take it away, CBS: “MacGyver a reimagining of the classic series, is an action-adventure drama about 20-something Angus ‘Mac’ MacGyver (Lucas Till), who creates a clandestine organization within the U.S. government where he uses his extraordinary talent for unconventional problem solving and vast scientific knowledge to save lives.” Yup, this is happening.

Should you give it a shot?: I mean, why not? What are you doing with your life that’s so great that you can’t throw 42 minutes at a show about a Angus MacGyver, the classified hot young science millennial?

Chances it will be worth sticking with: Okay, so there are two ways this show could go, given CBS’s recent history. One is that it could be a bland-ish NCIS/CSI procedural that ends up running on TNT for six-hour weekday blocks and makes everyone involved absurdly wealthy. The other is that it could be completely insane, like Zoo and the short-lived CSI: Cyber. If it’s the former, it’s a hard pass, until you’re home sick some day and half-accidentally bang out some reruns in a fever haze on the couch. If it’s the latter, it could be a decent fun/bad break from all those prestige-y shows about ritualistic murders that you watch.

The Exorcist (Fox)

At A Glance: In a series inspired by William Peter Blatty’s classic horror novel and William Friedkin’s beloved adaptation, two priests must save the Rance family from demons, including those hiding in one of their own. Geena Davis co-stars as the head of the demon-plagued family.

Should you give it a shot?: It’ll be tough for many people to get past their memories of the original, but the core concept is surprisingly flexible, and it looks to be aiming to offer slo- burn scares.

Chances it will be worth sticking with: Televised horror is difficult to pull off, and the fact that series’ creator Jeremy Slater’s highest profile credit is on the script to last year’s Fantastic Four doesn’t inspire a lot of confidence. (Rupert Wyatt (Dawn of the Planet of the Apes) directs the pilot, though.) If the first episode doesn’t grab you, it seems likely audiences won’t stick around.

Van Helsing (SyFy)

At A Glance: Vanessa Helsing (Kelly Overton) is brought back from the dead in a world taken over by vampires, and leads a rebellion against our bloodsucking overlords.

Should you give it a shot?: SyFy has lately been excelling with the throwback shows it’s been putting on the air. Dark Matter, Killjoys, and Wynonna Earp harken back to the syndicated shows that were the network’s early bread and butter. If you miss the days when Xena and Forever Knight were on the airwaves, this will likely scratch that itch.

Chances it will be worth sticking with: SyFy’s deal structure being what it is, this show’s already got a full 13-episode season locked in. So if you like the pilot, you can at least be assured you get a full season out of it.

Returning

Last Man Standing (ABC)
Dr. Ken (ABC)
Shark Tank (ABC)

Hawaii Five-0 (CBS)
Blue Bloods (CBS)

Hell’s Kitchen (Fox)

Transparent (Amazon)

Longmire (Netflix)

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25

Returning

Once Upon a Time (ABC)
Secrets and Lies (ABC)
Quantico (ABC)

Bob’s Burgers (Fox)
The Simpsons (Fox)
Son of Zorn (regular time) (Fox)
Family Guy (Fox)
Last Man on Earth (Fox)

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27

Returning

Drunk History (Comedy Central)

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28

Returning

Code Black (CBS)
Criminal Minds (CBS)

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30

Crisis In Six Scenes (Amazon)

At a glance: The novelty of, “Woody Allen made a TV show!” is negated by the fact that he doesn’t seem to be terribly happy with the fact that he made a TV show. All the trailer tells us is that we’re going to get a complaining Allen (is there any other kind at this point?) who’s maybe incapable of grasping that, in his sunshine years, he’s got no shot of looking like James Dean. So, it’s a meditation on aging and letting go of your imagined view that your youth goes on for as long as you say it does? The synopsis doesn’t offer much help. The show is about a middle-class family dealing with an unwanted guest. Is the guest Allen? Is it Miley Cyrus, who also stars in the six-part show? Regardless, for a lot of Allen fans, the pull is that this is six presents wrapped especially for them. And with a few exceptions, Allen has been catering to those people exclusively for a long, long time.

Should you give it a shot?: Yes. Woody Allen has made a lot of dreck over the years, specifically the last 20 years, but it’s almost like the flip of a coin, so why not take the ride and see if this is more Crimes & Misdemeanors than Anything Else? Either way, this is a show TV addicts and snobs are going to be talking about, so you really have to watch to weigh in on the conversation if that’s important to you. And if you’re reading a TV preview article, it probably is.

Chances it will be worth sticking with: Fair. Again, if you like Allen, you’ll probably at least like this. If you don’t, well, it doesn’t sound like a season two is coming, so you may as well watch it to the end to see what happens.

Luke Cage (Netflix)

At a glance: Mike Colter, who played Luke in Jessica Jones, takes center stage as Harlem’s neighborhood hero in Marvel’s latest Netflix series. There are two major differences between Luke and his Marvel counterparts, though; one, he’s very publicly a superhero who uses his own name and talks to reporters, and two, he’ll be tackling corrupt politicians and gangsters instead of ninjas and mind-controlling psychopaths.

Should you give a shot? Absolutely. Netflix’s Marvel series have been consistently great, and Colter was a highlight of Jessica Jones. Not only that, Marvel has stated they want Luke Cage to be their version of The Wire, which is admittedly a lofty ambition, but one we’re glad to see Marvel attempting.

Chances it will be worth sticking with: Extremely high. Advance word is extremely positive and Marvel has yet to offer a misstep on Netflix.

Additional contributions by Jason Tabrys, Dustin Rowles, Keith Phipps, and Alyssa Fikse.

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