TAGGED AS: AMC, television, TV
Last updated: September 21, 2020
Rest assured, there will be a fall 2020 TV season — of some kind. (Unless you’re The CW, which has officially moved its next new TV season to January.) But even with the country slowly starting to re-open the pandemic-frayed economy, and Hollywood committed to figuring out the best, safest methods to get entertainment production underway again (germ-zapping robots are a leading contender), it’s still very unlikely that a fall TV season is going to look anything like the fall TV seasons of years past.
Most obviously, though scripts may be ready to go, with many TV writers having had quite a bit of quality writing time on their hands in the last few months, batches of stories do nothing to make sets and other production spaces virus-free. And face masks, barrels of hand sanitizer, and social distancing don’t make for smooth filming either. So solving the logistics of how to make great shows while keeping everyone from cast to crew healthy is both the most important and most difficult issue to tackle.
And without that issue addressed, and filming on new programming getting a greenlight to resume soon, we might be facing a primetime schedule full of a lot more shows filmed remotely. That’s been novel — and in some instances even creative and fun (The Disney Family Singalong and Saturday Night Live at Home were two high-profile examples) — but how many more concerts do you want to watch from your couch? Ditto the alternatives the networks have come up with for MIA pro sports. We’ve had celebrity horse basketball tournaments, ultimate tag, and, we swear, while channel surfing last weekend, we saw a televised cornhole event — yes, the lawn game. Cornhole, people!
About sports on TV: ESPN’s decision to move its riveting Michael Jordan–Bulls docuseries The Last Dance up from its original June premiere to the spring made for a much-needed chance for viewers to bond over a program, one that you didn’t even have to be a sports junkie or Jordan fan to enjoy. Documentary makers can’t travel back in time and gain the kind of unprecedented access that made The Last Dance extra special, but we do hope networks are thinking about the interviews they can do, and some they maybe have in their archives, that can be the core of other such soothing, informative, entertaining trips down memory lane. And they sure beat watching tag until MLB, the NBA, the NFL, and other sports leagues figure out how and when to get games safely back on the air. The NBA has a plan that will bring the playoffs and finals to ESPN and TNT: They’re going to Disney World!
Other ways networks have hinted they will fill their schedules in the fall should fresh shows not be available include borrowing shows from other networks and even borrowing from their own lineups. The CW, for instance, has the rights to air Tell Me a Story, the recently-canceled CBS All Access anthology series, while Fox picked up the rights to air Spectrum’s drama L.A.’s Finest. Fox, meanwhile, will also pepper its fall schedule with two series, A.I. thriller Next and the soapy family drama Filthy Rich, that it had originally scheduled to air as part of its own summer 2020 lineup.
With some of the networks yet to announce their final plans for fall, and so much uncertainty remaining about TV land’s immediate future, the closest thing we may have to a certainty about fall TV is that even “final” plans are probably going to require some tinkering. Survivor, for example, is the latest planned programming to fall off the schedule, as “Producers … are continuing to work with officials in Fiji on the appropriate time to start production on its next edition, with health and safety matters the top priority for everyone involved,” CBS said in a statement on Tuesday.
Here’s a look at the new fall schedules the broadcast networks have announced so far, as well as some highlights from cable and streaming. We’ll update the lineup as more titles are announced. New titles are in bold with descriptions.
ABC | CBS | Fox | NBC | Cable | Streaming | The CW (2021)
(Photo by ABC)
MONDAY
8 p.m.: Dancing With the Stars – Sept. 14
10 p.m.: The Good Doctor
TUESDAY
8 p.m.: The Bachelorette – Oct. 13
10 p.m.: Big Sky
Who: Kylie Bunbury, Ryan Phillippe, Katheryn Winnick, John Carroll Lynch, Brian Geraghty, Dedee Pfeiffer, Natalie Alyn Lind and Jesse James Keitel
What: The thriller was created by visionary storyteller David E. Kelley, who will write multiple episodes and serve as showrunner in its premiere season. Private detectives Cassie Dewell and Cody Hoyt join forces with his estranged wife and ex-cop, Jenny Hoyt, to search for two sisters who have been kidnapped by a truck driver on a remote highway in Montana. But when they discover that these are not the only girls who have disappeared in the area, they must race against the clock to stop the killer before another woman is taken.
WEDNESDAY
8 p.m.: The Goldbergs – Oct. 21
8:30 p.m.: Black-ish – Oct. 21
9 p.m.: The Conners – Oct. 21
9:30 p.m.: American Housewife – Oct. 28
10 p.m.: Stumptown
THURSDAY
8 p.m.: Celebrity Family Feud – Sept. 24; Station 19
9 p.m.: Press Your Luck – Sept. 24; Grey’s Anatomy
10 p.m.: Match Game – Sept. 24; A Million Little Things
FRIDAY
8 p.m.: Shark Tank – Oct. 16;
9 p.m.: 20/20
SATURDAY
8 p.m.: Saturday Night Football
SUNDAY
7 p.m.: America’s Funniest Home Videos – Oct. 18
8 p.m.: Supermarket Sweep – Oct. 18
Who: Host Leslie Jones
What: The fast-paced and energetic series follows three teams of two as they battle it out using their grocery shopping skills and knowledge of merchandise to win big cash prizes.
9 p.m.: Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? – Oct. 18
10 p.m.: Card Sharks – Oct. 18; The Rookie
Midseason series
Call Your Mother
Who: Kyra Sedgwick, Rachel Sennott, Joey Bragg, Patrick Brammall, Emma Caymares and Austin Crute
What: The multicamera comedy follows an empty-nester mom who wonders how she ended up alone while her children live their best lives thousands of miles away. She decides her place is with her family and as she reinserts herself into their lives, her kids realize they might actually need her more than they thought.
ABC | CBS | Fox | NBC | Cable | Streaming | The CW (2021)
MONDAY
8 p.m.: The Neighborhood
8:30 p.m.: Bob Hearts Abishola
9 p.m.: Love Island – Sept. 21; One Day at a Time – Oct. 12, 19, 26; All Rise
10 p.m.: Manhunt: Deadly Games – Sept. 21, Oct. 12, 19, 26
Who: Thomas Middleditch, Annaleigh Ashford, Sara Rue, and Kether Donahue
What: The Chuck Lorre comedy revolves around a therapist and recently-divorced dad (Middleditch) who bonds with his kidney donor (Ashford), a woman from his past; Bull
TUESDAY
8 p.m.: Love Island – Sept. 29 (Season 2 finale); NCIS
9 p.m.: FBI
10 p.m.: The FBI DeClassified – Oct. 13; FBI: Most Wanted
WEDNESDAY
8 p.m.: Big Brother; The Amazing Race – new time period on Oct. 28
9 p.m.: Love Island – Sept. 9; The Amazing Race – Oct. 14; Big Brother – season finale on Oct. 28; SEAL Team
10 p.m.: 48 Hours: Suspicion – Sept. 9; S.W.A.T
THURSDAY
8 p.m.: Big Brother; Young Sheldon
8:30 p.m.: B Positive
Who: Thomas Middleditch, Annaleigh Ashford, Sara Rue, and Kether Donahue
What: The Chuck Lorre comedy revolves around a therapist and recently-divorced dad (Middleditch) who bonds with his kidney donor (Ashford), a woman from his past.
9 p.m.: Love Island – Sept. 24; Mom
9:30 p.m.: The Unicorn
10 p.m.: Star Trek: Discovery – Sept. 24; Evil (pictured)
FRIDAY
8 p.m.: The Greatest #AtHome Videos – Sept. 25; MacGyver
9 p.m.: Love Island – Sept. 25; Undercover Boss – Oct. 2; Magnum P.I.
10 p.m.: Blue Bloods
SATURDAY
8 p.m.: Crimetime Saturday
9 p.m.: Love Island: More to Love – Sept. 12
10 p.m.: 48 Hours – Sept. 12
SUNDAY
7 p.m.: 60 Minutes (7:30 p.m. after a NFL doubleheader on Sept. 20)
8 p.m.: Big Brother (8:30 p.m. after a NFL doubleheader on Sept. 20); The Equalizer
Who: Queen Latifah, Chris Noth, and Lorraine Toussaint
What: In a remake of the CBS series (and the Denzel Washington movies), Queen Latifah plays a mysterious woman who uses her extensive set of skills to help those with nowhere else to turn.
9 p.m.: Love Island (9:30 p.m. after a NFL doubleheader on Sept. 20); NCIS: Los Angeles
10 p.m.: NCIS: New Orleans
Midseason series
Clarice
Who: Rebecca Breeds, Kal Penn, Michael Cudlitz, Nick Sandow, Lucca De Oliveira, and Devyn A. Tyler
What: What happened to FBI Agent Clarice Starling after her time with Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs?
ABC | CBS | Fox | NBC | Cable | Streaming | The CW (2021)
(Photo by Justin Stephens/FOX)
MONDAY
8 p.m.: L.A.’s Finest
9 p.m.: Next
Who: John Slattery, Fernanda Andrade, Michael Mosley, Jason Butler Harner, Eve Harlowe, Aaron Moten, Gerardo Celasco, Elizabeth Cappucino, and Evan Whitten
What: A Silicon Valley pioneer teams up with a cybercrime agent to stop a powerful artificial intelligence invention … one he is responsible for creating.
TUESDAY
8 p.m.: Cosmos: Possible Worlds
9 p.m.: Filthy Rich (pictured)
Who: Kim Cattrall, Gerald McRaney, Aubrey Dollar, Corey Cott, Benjamin Aguilar, Mark L. Young, Melia Kreiling, Steve Harris, David Denman, and Olivia Macklin
What: The primetime soap revolves around a wealthy Southern family who own a Christian TV network. After the death of the patriarch, the family is scandalized to find out he had three illegitimate children.
WEDNESDAY
8 p.m.: The Masked Singer – Sept. 23
9 p.m.: I Can See Your Voice – Sept. 23
Who: Ken Jeong, Cheryl Hines, and Adrienne Bailon-Houghton
What: Based on a South Korean series, the reality show, host Jeong and the judges and a weekly musical guest try to help contestants figure out whether or not they can sing … without even hearing them warble a single note, before they take the stage to share their voices.
THURSDAY
7:30 p.m.: Fox NFL Thursday
8:20 p.m.: Thursday Night Football – Oct. 8
FRIDAY
8 p.m.: WWE’s Friday Night Smackdown
SUNDAY
7 p.m.: NFL on Fox
7:30 p.m.: The OT/Fox Encores
8 p.m.: The Simpsons
8:30 p.m.: Bless the Harts
9 p.m.: Bob’s Burgers
9:30 p.m.: Family Guy
Midseason series
Call Me Kat
Who: Mayim Bialik, Swoozie Leslie Jordan, Kyla Pratt, Cheyenne Jackson, and Julian Gant
What: Bialik is Kat, a 39-year-old woman who doesn’t want society, or her mother, to dictate how she should live her life. Which is why she uses her life savings to open a cat café in Kentucky.
Housebroken
Who: Lisa Kudrow, Clea Duvall, Nat Faxon, Sharon Horgan, Will Forte, Tony Hale, Jason Mantzoukas, Sam Richardson, Bresha Webb, and Greta Lee
What: The all-star cast provides the voices for a group of neighborhood animals who display human neurosis and dysfunction in this animated comedy.
The Great North
Who: Nick Offerman, Jenny Slate, Megan Mullally, Paul Rust, Aparna Nancherla, Will Forte, and Dulcé Sloan
What: A single dad tries to raise his eclectic bunch of kids while operating the family’s fishing boat biz in this animated comedy.
ABC | CBS | Fox | NBC | Cable | Streaming | The CW (2021)
(Photo by Mike Coppola/NBCUniversal/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)
MONDAY
8-10 p.m.: American Ninja Warrior – Sept. 7
8-10 p.m.: The Voice – Oct. 19
10 p.m.: Weakest Link – Sept. 28
TUESDAY
8 p.m.: The Voice – Oct. 27
8-10 p.m.: Ellen’s Game of Games – Oct. 6
8-10 p.m.: The Voice – Oct. 20;
9 p.m.: Ellen’s Game of Games – Oct. 13
9 p.m.: This Is Us – Nov. 10
10 p.m.: Transplant – Sept. 1
WEDNESDAY
8 p.m.: Chicago Med – Nov. 11
9 p.m.: Chicago Fire – Nov. 11
10 p.m.: Chicago PD – Nov. 11
THURSDAY
8 p.m.: Superstore – Oct. 22
8:30 p.m.: Connecting … – Oct. 1
Who: Otmara Marrero, Ely Henry, Preacher Lawson, Parvesh Cheena, Jill Knox, Keith Powell, and Shakina Nayfack
What: A group of friends try to keep each other sane during the pandemic via regular video chats.
10 p.m.: Law & Order: SVU – Nov. 12
FRIDAY
8 p.m.: The Blacklist – Nov. 13
9 p.m.: Dateline NBC – Sept. 25
SATURDAY
8 p.m.: Dateline Saturday Night Mystery
10 p.m.: Saturday Night Live (encores)
SUNDAY
7:20 p.m.: Football Night in America
8:20 p.m.: Sunday Night Football – Sept. 13
ABC | CBS | Fox | NBC | Cable | Streaming | The CW (2021)
(Photo by National Geographic/Richard DuCree)
Not every cable network has detailed its fall plans, but below are some of the bigger titles that have been announced.
Gangs of London
Who: Joe Cole, Sope Dirisu, Colm Meaney, Lucian Msamati, Michelle Fairley, Paapa Essiedu, Pippa Bennett-Warner
What: Set in the heart of one of the world’s most dynamic and multicultural cities, Gangs of London tells the story of a city being torn apart by the turbulent power struggles of the international gangs that control it and the sudden power vacuum that’s created when the head of London’s most powerful crime family is assassinated.
The Walking Dead: World Beyond – Sundays, Oct. 4, 10 p.m.
Who: Aliyah Royale, Alexa Mansour, Annet Mahendru, Nicolas Cantu, Hal Cumpston, Nico Tortorella and Julia Ormond
What: The Walking Dead: World Beyond expands the universe of The Walking Dead, delving into a new mythology and story that follows the first generation raised in a surviving civilization of the post-apocalyptic world. Two sisters along with two friends leave a place of safety and comfort to brave dangers, known and unknown, living and undead on an important quest. Pursued by those who wish to protect them and those who wish to harm them, a tale of growing up and transformation unfurls across dangerous terrain, challenging everything they know about the world, themselves and each other. Some will become heroes. Some will become villains. But all of them will find the truths they seek.
The Walking Dead, season 10 finale – Oct. 4
Fear the Walking Dead, season 6 – Oct. 11
Tosh.0, final season – Sept. 15
Enslaved – Sept. 14
Who: Samuel L. Jackson
What: Led by icon and activist Samuel L. Jackson, Enslaved sheds new light on 400 years of human trafficking from Africa to the New World. Based on a DNA test identifying his ancestral tribe, the series traces Jackson’s personal journey from the U.S. to Gabon for his induction into the Benga tribe, with rare and unprecedented access to secret ceremonies and local customs.
NBA Eastern Conference Finals
A Wilderness of Error – September 25
What: A true crime docuseries about the case of Dr. Jeffrey MacDonald, a Green Beret convicted of the 1970 murder of his wife and daughters.
Fargo, season 4 – Sept. 27
Who: Chris Rock, Jason Schwartzman, Salvatore Esposito, Ben Whishaw, Jessie Buckley, Jack Huston, E’myri Crutchfield, Andrew Bird, Anji White, Gaetano Bruno, Sean Fortunato, Jeremie Harris, Corey Hendrix, Matthew Elam, James Vincent Meredith, Francesco Acquaroli, Karen Aldridge, Kelsey Asbille, Rodney Jones, Jameson Braccioforte, Tommaso Ragno, Glynn Turman and Timothy Olyphant
What: Fargo’s latest installment is set in Kansas City, 1950 and follows two criminal syndicates jockeying to control an alternate economy of exploitation, graft and drugs while fighting for a piece of the American dream. As tensions rise, the crime heads trade their youngest sons in an attempt to strike an uneasy peace.
Archer, season 11 – Sept. 16
The Old Man
Who: Jeff Bridges
What: Based on the bestselling novel of the same name, the drama is centered on “Dan Chase” (Bridges), who absconded from the CIA decades ago and has been living off the grid since. When an assassin arrives and tries to take Chase out, the old operative learns that to ensure his future he now must reconcile his past.
A Teacher – November 10
Who: Kate Mara and Nick Robinson
What: The miniseries examines the complexities and consequences of an illegal relationship between a young teacher at a suburban Texas high school, and her student.
Black Narcissus – November 23
Who: Allesandro Nivolo, Gemma Arterton, Diana Rigg, and Jim Broadbent
What: The miniseries, based on the 1939 novel by Rumer Godden, revolves around a nun who, sent to the Himalayas with her fellow nuns to set up a new order, has to fight her feelings for a war veteran.
David Brne’s American Utopia – Oct. 17
Who: David Byrne. directed b Spike Lee
What: The special event presents a one-of-a-kind, dynamic film that gives audiences access to Byrne’s electrifying critically acclaimed Broadway show that played to sold-out, record-breaking audiences.
The Undoing
Who: Nicole Kidman, Hugh Grant, Edgar Ramirez
What: Grace and Jonathan Fraser (Kidman and Grant) are living the only lives they ever wanted for themselves. Overnight a chasm opens in their lives: a violent death and a chain of terrible revelations. The series, based on Jean Hanff Korelitz’s novel You Should Have Known, is created and written for television by David E. Kelley, who also serves as showrunner.
Ta-Nehisi Coates’ Between the World and Me
Who: Angela Bassett, activist Alicia Garza, Joe Morton, Phylicia Rashad, Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter, Courtney B. Vance, Pauletta Washington, Susan Kelechi Watson and Oprah Winfrey
What: Originally adapted and staged by the Apollo Theater in 2018, the special will combine elements of that production, including powerful readings from Coates’ book, and will once again be directed by award-winning director and Apollo Theater Executive Producer Kamilah Forbes. Ta-Nehisi Coates and Susan Kelechi Watson are also executive producers. Oscar-winning filmmaker Roger Ross Williams is producing. It will also incorporate documentary footage from the actors’ home life, archival footage, and animation.
Secret State – Sept. 12
Who: Gabriel Byrne, Ruth Negga, and Charles Dance
What: Based on the Chris Mullins novel A Very British Coup, Secret State explores the relationship between a democratically elected government, big business, and the banks.
The Comey Rule – airs on Sunday, Sept. 27 and Monday, Sept. 28 at 9 p.m.
Who: Jeff Daniels, Brendan Gleeson
What: Daniels plays former FBI Director James Comey and Gleeson appears as President Donald J. Trump in the two-part, four-hour limited series. Adapted for the screen and directed by Oscar-nominated screenwriter Billy Ray, The Comey Rule is an immersive, behind-the-headlines account of the historically turbulent events surrounding the 2016 presidential election and its aftermath, which divided a nation.
The Good Lord Bird – Sundays, starting Oct. 4
Who: Ethan Hawke, Joshua Caleb Johnson
What: Based upon the National Book Award-winning novel by James McBride, the limited series is told from the point of view of Onion (Johnson), a fictional enslaved boy who becomes a member of Brown’s (Hawke) motley family of abolitionist soldiers and eventually finds himself participating in the famous 1859 raid at Harpers Ferry.
The Comedy Store (working title) – Sundays, starting Oct. 4
Who: comedian-turned-director Mike Binder
What: A five-part documentary series that chronicles the evolution of comedy from within the walls of the iconic L.A. club.
The Reagans – Sundays, starting Nov. 15
Who: director Matt Tyrnauer
What: A four-part documentary series that explores the many surprisingly unexamined aspects of the Reagan White House and how Nancy Reagan’s paper-doll image was at odds with the power she ultimately wielded throughout her husband’s presidency.
Belushi [movie] – Sunday, Nov. 22
Who: director R.J. Cutler
What: Cutler’s feature documentary examines the too-short life of the once-in-a-generation talent John Belushi, who captured the hearts and funny bones of devoted audiences.
Moonbase 8
Who: Fred Armisen, John C. Reilly and Tim Heidecker
What: The six-episode series is a workplace comedy that follows three subpar astronauts living at NASA’s Moon Base Simulator with high hopes of being chosen to travel to the moon.
The Spanish Princess, season 2
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ABC | CBS | Fox | NBC | Cable | Streaming | The CW (2021)
(Photo by Robert Viglaski/Netflix)
Sure to drop some surprises, the streamers have announced a few titles we can expect in the fall.
Amazon Video
The Boys, season 2 – Sept. 4
Utopia – Sept. 25
Who: John Cusack, Rainn Wilson, Farrah Mackenzie, Christopher Denham, Cory Michael Smith, Ashleigh LaThrop, Dan Byrd, Jessica Rothe, Desmin Borges and Javon “Wanna” Walton
What: Utopia is an eight-episode conspiracy thriller about saving the world, while trying to find your place in it. Inspired by the British series of the same name, the new Amazon Original series was written by Gillian Flynn, who also serves as showrunner and executive producer. Utopia centers on a group of comic fans who meet online and bond over their obsession of a seemingly fictional comic called, “Utopia.” Together, Becky, Ian, Samantha, Wilson Wilson, and Grant unearth hidden meanings cloaked within the pages of “Utopia,” predicting threats to humanity. They realize these are not just the makings of a conspiracy; they are very real dangers coming alive right now in their world. The group embarks on a high-stakes adventure, bringing them face-to-face with the comic’s famed central character, Jessica Hyde (Sasha Lane), who joins them on their mission to save the world while harboring secrets of her own. eir patience — in Marvel Studios’ The Falcon and The Winter Soldier. The all-new series is directed by Kari Skogland; Malcolm Spellman is the head writer.
CBS All Access
Star Trek: Discovery, season 3 – Oct. 15
Disney+
The Mandalorian, season 2
Becoming – Sept. 18
Who: Adam Devine, Anthony Davis, Ashley Tisdale, Caleb McLaughlin, Candace Parker, Colbie Caillat, Julianne Hough, Nick Cannon, Nick Kroll, and Rob Gronkowski
What: In this documentary-style series, shot in vérité, each episode centers around a visit to the celebrity’s hometown, touring important locations central to their upbringing. A supporting cast of family members, coaches, teachers, mentors and friends are interviewed, sharing rarely heard anecdotes and insights into the star’s “becoming” story.
The Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom – Sept. 25
The Right Stuff – Oct. 9
Who: Patrick J. Adams, Jake McDorman, Colin O’Donoghue, James Lafferty, Aaron Staton, Michael Trotter and Micah Stock
What: Based on the bestselling book by Tom Wolfe, the eight-episode season is an inspirational look at the early days of the U.S. Space Program and the iconic story of America’s first astronauts, the Mercury 7. The Right Stuff takes a clear-eyed look at America’s first “reality show,” when ambitious astronauts and their families became instant celebrities in a competition of money, fame and immortality.
The Lego Star Wars Holiday Special – Nov. 17
What: Directly following the events of “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker,” Rey leaves her friends to prepare for Life Day as she sets off on a new adventure with BB-8 to gain a deeper knowledge of the Force. At a mysterious Jedi Temple, she is hurled into a cross-timeline adventure through beloved moments in Star Wars cinematic history, coming into contact with Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, Yoda, Obi-Wan and other iconic heroes and villains from all nine Skywalker saga films. But will she make it back in time for the Life Day feast and learn the true meaning of holiday spirit?
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Coastal Elites – Sept. 12
Who: Bette Midler, Kaitlyn Dever, Dan Levy, Sarah Paulson and Issa Rae
What: The comedic satire tells contemporary stories of characters breaking down and breaking through as they grapple with politics, culture, and the pandemic.
The Third Day – Sept. 14
Who: Jude Law and Naomie Harris
What: The first three episodes star Law as Sam, a man who is drawn to a mysterious island off the British coast where he encounters a group of islanders set on preserving their traditions at any cost. Isolated from the mainland, Sam is unable to leave the idyllic and dangerously enchanting world he has discovered, where the secretive rituals of its inhabitants bring him to grapple with experiences of loss and trauma hidden in his past through the distorted lens of the present. As boundaries between fantasy and reality fragment, his quest to unlock the truth leads the islanders to reveal a shocking secret. The latter three episodes star Harris as Helen, a strong-willed outsider who comes to the island seeking answers, but whose arrival precipitates a fractious battle to decide its fate as the lines between fantasy and fact are distorted.
A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote – Fall
Who: Rob Lowe, Dulé Hill, Allison Janney, Janel Moloney, Richard Schiff, Bradley Whitford, and Martin Sheen
What: To raise awareness for the nonpartisan led When We All Vote effort, a stage version of the Season 3 West Wing episode “Hartsfield’s Landing” will be filmed at the Orpheum Theater in Los Angeles in early October.
Dopesick
Who: Michael Keaton
What: Empire co-creator Danny Strong is the writer for the eight-episode series, which examines the opioid crisis in America.
The Mysterious Benedict Society
Who: Tony Hale
What: Based on the novel of the same name, the series is the story of four gifted orphans who are recruited by a benefactor to go on a secret mission at a boarding school.
The Dropout
Who: Kate McKinnon
What: The story of the rise and fall of Elizabeth Holmes and her company, Theranos.
Only Murders in the Building
Who: Martin Short and Steve Martin
What: From This Is Us producer Dan Fogelman, the series follows three New Yorkers who find they have a mutual interest in solving true crime, but limit their amateur sleuthing to only murders in their building.
Love, Beth
Who: Amy Schumer
What: Inspired by Schumer re-reading her teenage diaries, she says “it made me remember the time when I had all this confidence and life was fun and full of possibility. So, I really wanted to make a show about a woman who blows her whole life up and returns to the things that really make her happy.”
Woke – Sept. 9
Who: Lamorne Morris
What: The semi-animated live-action series, inspired by the life and art of cartoonist Keith Knight, follows Keef (Morris), a Black cartoonist living in San Francisco who is finally on the cusp of mainstream success when an unexpected incident changes everything.
Books of Blood (a Huluween special) [movie]
Who: Anna Friel, Rafi Gavron, Britt Robertson and Yul Vazquez
What: Based on Clive Barker’s acclaimed and influential horror anthology, Books of Blood takes audiences on a journey into uncharted and forbidden territory through three uncanny tales tangled in space and time.
Bad Hair (a Huluween special) [movie]
Who: Elle Lorraine, Vanessa Williams, Lena Waithe, and Kelly Rowland
What: A horror satire set in 1989 follows an ambitious young woman who gets a weave in order to succeed in the image-obsessed world of music television. However, her flourishing career comes at a great cost when she realizes that her new hair may have a mind of its own.
Helstrom (a Huluween special)
Who: Tom Austen, Sydney Lemmon
What: The son and daughter of a mysterious and powerful serial killer, Daimon and Ana Helstrom have a complicated dynamic, as they track down the worst of humanity — each with their own attitude and skills.
Monsterland (a Huluween special)
Who: Kaitlyn Dever, Mike Colter, and Taylor Schilling
What: In an anthology series based on the collection of stories from Nathan Ballingrud, encounters with mermaids, fallen angels, and other strange beasts drive broken people to desperate acts.
Ratched – Sept. 18
Who: Sarah Paulson, Cynthia Nixon, Judy Davis, Sharon Stone, Jon Jon Briones, Finn Wittrock, Charlie Carver, Alice Englert, Amanda Plummer, Corey Stoll, Sophie Okonedo, Brandon Flynn and Vincent D’Onofrio
What: From Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan, Ratched is a suspenseful drama series that tells the origin story of asylum nurse Mildred Ratched. In 1947, Mildred arrives in Northern California to seek employment at a leading psychiatric hospital where new and unsettling experiments have begun on the human mind. On a clandestine mission, Mildred presents herself as the perfect image of what a dedicated nurse should be, but the wheels are always turning and as she begins to infiltrate the mental health care system and those within it, Mildred’s stylish exterior belies a growing darkness that has long been smoldering within, revealing that true monsters are made, not born.
Away – Sept. 4
Who: Hilary Swank, Josh Charles and Talitha Bateman
What: From Executive Producer Jason Katims, Away is a thrilling, emotional drama on an epic scale that celebrates the incredible advancements humans can achieve and the personal sacrifices they must make along the way. As American astronaut Emma Green prepares to lead an international crew on the first mission to Mars, she must reconcile her decision to leave behind her husband and teenage daughter when they need her the most. As the crew’s journey into space intensifies, their personal dynamics and the effects of being away from their loved ones back on Earth become increasingly complex. Away shows that sometimes to reach for the stars, we must leave home behind.
Enola Holmes – Sept. 23
Who: Millie Bobby Brown, Henry Cavill, Sam Claflin, and Helena Bonham Carter
What: Based on the book series of the same name, Enola Holmes follows the younger sister of Sherlock and brother Mycroft, as she tries to solve the mystery of her mother’s disappearance when her siblings try to send her off to a boarding school.
The Boys in the Band – Sept. 30
Who: Jim Parsons, Zachary Quinto, Matt Bomer, Andrew Rannells, Charlie Carver, Robin de Jesús, Brian Hutchison, Michael Benjamin Washington and Tuc Watkins
What: The Boys in the Band returns to the screen in a new adaptation that reunites acclaimed director Joe Mantello with the all-star cast of the Tony-winning, 2018 Broadway production. In 1968 New York City – when being gay was still considered to be best kept behind closed doors – a group of friends gather for a raucous birthday party hosted by Michael (Jim Parsons), a screenwriter who spends and drinks too much, in honor of the sharp-dressed and sharp-tongued Harold (Zachary Quinto). Other partygoers include Donald (Matt Bomer), Michael’s former flame, now mired in self-analysis; Larry (Andrew Rannells), a randy commercial artist living with Hank (Tuc Watkins), a school teacher who has just left his wife; Bernard (Michael Benjamin Washington), a librarian tiptoeing around fraught codes of friendship alongside Emory (Robin de Jesús), a decorator who never holds back; and a guileless hustler (Charlie Carver), hired to be Harold’s gift for the night. What begins as an evening of drinks and laughs gets upended when Alan (Brian Hutchison), Michael’s straight-laced college roommate, shows up unexpectedly and each man is challenged to confront long-buried truths that threaten the foundation of the group’s tight bond.
The Trial of the Chicago 7 – Oct. 16
Who: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Sacha Baron Cohen, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Michael Keaton, Frank Langella,John Carroll Lynch, Eddie Redmayne, Mark Rylance, Alex Sharp, Jeremy Strong, Noah Robbins, Danny Flahery, Ben Skenkman, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Caitlin Fitzgerald, Alice Kremelberg, John Doman, J.C. MacKenzie, Damien Young, Wayne Duvall and C.J. Wilson
What: What was intended to be a peaceful protest at the 1968 Democratic National Convention turned into a violent clash with police and the National Guard. The organizers of the protest—including Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, Tom Hayden and Bobby Seale—were charged with conspiracy to incite a riot and the trial that followed was one of the most notorious in history.
Unsolved Mysteries, volume 2 – Oct. 1
Rebecca – Oct. 21
Who: Lily James, Armie Hammer, Kristin Scott Thomas, Keeley Hawes, Ann Dowd, Sam Riley, Tom Goodman-Hill, Mark Lewis Jones, John Hollingworth and Bill Paterson
What: After a whirlwind romance in Monte Carlo with handsome widower Maxim de Winter, a newly married young woman arrives at Manderley, her new husband’s imposing family estate on a windswept English coast. Naive and inexperienced, she begins to settle into the trappings of her new life, but finds herself battling the shadow of Maxim’s first wife, the elegant and urbane Rebecca, whose haunting legacy is kept alive by Manderley’s sinister housekeeper Mrs. Danvers.
The Crown, season 4 – Nov. 15
Who: Olivia Colman as Queen Elizabeth II, Tobias Menzies as Prince Philip, Helena Bonham Carter as Princess Margaret, Gillian Anderson as Margaret Thatcher, Erin Doherty as Princess Anne, Josh O’Connor as Prince Charles, Marion Bailey as The Queen Mother and Emma Corrin as Diana Spencer
What: As the 1970s are drawing to a close, Queen Elizabeth and her family find themselves preoccupied with safeguarding the line of succession by securing an appropriate bride for Prince Charles, who is still unmarried at 30. As the nation begins to feel the impact of divisive policies introduced by Britain’s first female Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, tensions arise between her and the Queen, which only grow worse as Thatcher leads the country into the Falklands War, generating conflict within the Commonwealth. While Charles’ romance with a young Lady Diana Spencer provides a much-needed fairytale to unite the British people, behind closed doors, the Royal family is becoming increasingly divided.
Sarah Cooper: Everything’s Fine, comedy special
Emily In Paris
Who: Lily Collins, Ashley Park
What: From creator, writer, and executive producer Darren Star (Younger, Sex and the City) comes the story of Emily, an ambitious twenty-something marketing executive from Chicago, who unexpectedly lands her dream job in Paris when her company acquires a French luxury marketing company — and she is tasked with revamping their social media strategy. Emily’s new life in Paris is filled with intoxicating adventures and surprising challenges as she juggles winning over her work colleagues, making friends, and navigating new romances.
The Haunting of Bly Manor
Who: According to The Wrap, the cast includes Henry Thomas, Victoria Pedretti, Catherine Parker, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Kate Siegel, Rahul Kohli, T’Nia Miller, Amelia Eve, Benjamin Ainsworth and Amelie Smith.
What: The Haunting of Hill House sequel will focus on a new story, with new characters, though some of the actors will return.
Over the Moon [movie]
Who: Cathy Ang, Phillipa Soo
What: Fueled with determination and a passion for science, a bright young girl builds a rocket ship to the moon to prove the existence of a legendary Moon Goddess. There she ends up on an unexpected quest, and discovers a whimsical land of fantastical creatures. Directed by animation legend Glen Keane, and produced by Gennie Rim and Peilin Chou.
ABC | CBS | Fox | NBC | Cable | Streaming | The CW (2021)
Spring is the new fall at The CW. Production on the network’s fan-favorite superhero shows was dealt a huge blow by the pandemic shutdown, so it moved most its lineup to early 2021. Below, the network’s current plans for fall and midseason.
(Photo by The CW)
Fall 2020
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18
8 p.m.: Masters of Illusion
8:30 p.m.: Masters of Illusion (repeat)
9 p.m.: World’s Funniest Animals (series premiere)
9:30 p.m.: World’s Funniest Animals (new episode)
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27
8-10 p.m.: IHeartRadio Music Festival (night one)
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 28
8-10 p.m.: IHeartRadio Music Festival (night two)
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4
8 p.m.: Pandora (season 2 premiere)
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6
8-9:30 p.m.: Swamp Thing (broadcast premiere)
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7
8 p.m.: Devils (series premiere)
9 p.m.: Coroner (season 2 premiere)
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8
8 p.m.: Supernatural (season return)
9 p.m.: The Outpost (season 3 premiere)
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13
8 p.m.: Swamp Thing (original episode)
9 p.m.: Tell Me a Story (season 2 broadcast premiere)
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19
8 p.m.: Supernatural: The Long Road Home (finale special)
9 p.m.: Supernatural (series finale)
JANUARY 2021
MONDAY
8 p.m.: All American
9 p.m.: Black Lightning
TUESDAY
8 p.m.: The Flash
9 p.m.: Superman & Lois
Who: Tyler Hoechlin, Bitsie Tulloch, Emmanuelle Chriqui, and Dylan Walsh
What: From executive producers Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, and Geoff Johns, it’s the story of Clark/Superman and Lois, married with children: two sons, who may or may not have inherited their dad’s superpowers.
WEDNESDAY
8 p.m.: Riverdale
9 p.m.: Nancy Drew
THURSDAY
8 p.m.: Walker
Who: Jared Padalecki, Coby Bell, Molly Hagen, Lindsey Morgan, Keegan Allen, Violet Brinson, and Kale Culley
What: The remake of Walker, Texas Ranger finds Cordell Walker (Padalecki), a widower with two kids, returning to his hometown to try to connect with his family and a new work environment after being undercover for two years.
9 p.m.: Legacies
FRIDAY
8 p.m.: Penn & Teller: Fool Us
9 p.m.: Whose Line Is It Anyway?
9:30 p.m.: Whose Line Is It Anyway?
SUNDAY
8 p.m.: Batwoman
9 p.m.: Charmed
Other new midseason series
Kung Fu
Who: Olivia Liang, Tzi Ma, Shannon Dang, Jon Prasida, Gavin Stenhouse, Eddie Liu, Gwendoline Yeo and Kheng Hua Tan
What: After a sabbatical to a monastery in China, a young Chinese American woman returns to her San Francisco home to find the city overrun with organized crime. So she sets out to clean it up with the help of her friends, family, her martial arts skills, and her Shaolin values.
The Republic of Sarah
Who: Stella Baker, Luke Mitchell, Megan Follows, Hope Lauren, Nia Holloway, Ian Duff, and Forrest Goodluck
What: A high school teacher uses a legal loophole to declare independence for her town and start her own country when she and some likeminded citizens are unhappy with its direction.
ABC | CBS | Fox | NBC | Cable | Streaming | The CW (2021)
Thumbnail image photo credits: Disney+; National Geographic/Richard DuCree; CBS
