5 TV Premieres to Catch This Fall
The best shows slated to debut during the upcoming season
It’s always hard to say goodbye to summer, but a quick look at the TV Guide should ease the pain. As usual, there are lots of television premieres set for this fall, from popular returning programs to new series making their big debut.
“Designated Survivor”
You may not have heard, but this is an election year. To capitalize on that fact, ABC is premiering a new political drama series, “Designated Survivor,” which will air its first episode at 10 p.m. on Wednesday, September 21.
A designated survivor is an individual in the presidential line of succession who is taken to an undisclosed location whenever the country’s leaders are all gathered in one location, in the event of a tragedy that claims all of their lives. After an attack on the Capitol building during the State of the Union address, an obscure cabinet member played by “24” star Kiefer Sutherland suddenly finds himself being sworn into the presidency, and must now lead a nation into war.
“The Good Place”
Comedy writer Michael Schur, best known for his work on “The Office” and “Parks and Recreation,” is returning to NBC with another comedy, though one that is far from the mockumentary style he is known for. “The Good Place” stars Kristen Bell as a woman who dies and goes to heaven after a lifetime of good deeds; the only problem is, there has been some sort of mix-up, and she doesn’t really belong there.
Sitcom legend Ted Danson co-stars in this quirky comedy, which will air Monday nights at 10 p.m. beginning on September 19.
“The Big Bang Theory”
For its 10th season, “The Big Bang Theory” is introducing two brand new characters: Penny’s mother and brother. The neurotic mom will be played by “Married With Children” actress Katey Sagal, while “30 Rock” cast member Jack McBrayer will play her ne’er-do-well son, who has just been released from prison.
There have been rumors flying that the long-running show may soon be coming to an end, so perhaps these characters are meant to inject new lifeblood into the series. Find out if it works when the 10th season debuts on CBS at 8:00 p.m. on Monday, October 28.
“Frequency”
Inspired by the 2000 sci-fi thriller of the same name, “Frequency” will tell the story of a young detective who discovers that she can communicate with her dead father by ham radio. Complications from the “butterfly effect” arise as they work together to solve a murder case.
Created by “Supernatural” and “Being Human” writer Jeremy Carver, “Frequency” looks like it will be one of the new shows worth checking out this fall. The series premieres on The CW on Wednesday, October 5, at 9 p.m.
“The Last Man on Earth”
Former “Saturday Night Live” cast member Will Forte created and stars in this darkly funny post-apocalyptic comedy, playing the titular last man on earth after a deadly virus wipes out humanity. Over the course of the first two seasons, Forte’s character discovered that he was not all alone, after all. However, his hilariously awkward attempts at coping with other survivors often leave him wishing that he was.
The third season premiere of this clever comedy is set to air on Fox at 9:30 p.m. on Sunday, September 25. If you are behind on the show, you can catch up on past episodes using the streaming services Hulu or FOX NOW.
From intense dramas to laugh-a-minute sitcoms, television viewers will have plenty of options this September and October.
