New Fall Shows on TV 2017 - marycarver.com

It’s that time again! New fall shows have been announced and scheduled, and it’s time to decide what you’re going to try, what you’re going to skip, and what you’re going to set your DVR to record right this very minute.

Because I don’t want you to be forced to wade through all the descriptions and previews and calendars, I’ve sacrificed myself to pick a handful of shows that I think you’ll want to watch. (I know. The things I do for you!) That’s not to say this is a comprehensive list of every decent new show or a thorough review of every new show. And that’s not to say that I believe your taste in TV and mine are exactly the same.

No, instead, I’m giving you a small collection of shows that, based on what I know about you and me, many of you are likely to want to watch. You can certainly find out about dozens of other shows making their debut this fall, and I’ll link to some resources to help you do that at the end of this post. But for the majority of us, these are our best bets for new shows this fall.

[Side note: Several of the new shows I’m most excited about aren’t starting until mid-season. Once I have premiere dates for those, I’ll share them!]

5 New Shows You’ll Want to Watch This Fall

Ghosted (FOX) – premieres October 1, Sundays at 7:30 pm CST

If you read the synopsis of this show (two goofy guys get kidnapped and recruited to work for an underground paranormal organization; hijinks ensue), it sounds ridiculous. But if you watch the preview, you’ll see that it is, in fact, QUITE ridiculous. And yet, I can’t tell you I didn’t laugh OUT LOUD at this entire trailer. Because I did! I think both of these guys are hilarious, and even though it seems an unlikely candidate for television greatness, I’m willing to give this Men in Black-ish sitcom a try.

The Gifted (FOX) – premieres October 2, Mondays at 8:00 pm CST

Depending on how you feel about superheroes, your mileage on this one may vary. But if you’re into that sort of thing (which I am, despite my abandonment of The Flash last year), this looks like a good addition to your [surely] long lineup of Marvel and DC shows. And if you’re thinking, wow, this premise seems familiar, you are not alone! I watched Heroes for the first time just a few years ago, and I’m pretty sure this is that. But since it comes from Marvel and I’m a fan of a lot of what Marvel does, I’m willing to give it a shot and see how it’s different and/or better.

If it’s at least better than the second disappointing season of Heroes, that’ll be a good place to start.

Kevin (Probably) Saves the World (ABC) – premieres October 3, Tuesdays at 9:00 pm CST

I’m going to call this one “Touched by an Angel, with Sarcasm.” Honestly, I’m not sure this will be any good. The premise (loser-ish guy gets visited by an angel and is now going to maybe, possibly, probably save the world. Somehow.) strikes me as one with potential to be super cheesy — or really great. When I watched the preview, I laughed and smiled a lot, so between that and liking both Jason Ritter and Joanna Garcia Swisher, I’m pulling for really great.

The Mayor (ABC) – premieres October 3, Tuesdays at 8:30 pm CST

This is one of the shows receiving the most buzz this fall, and I’m excited to start watching it. It’s about a rapper who runs for mayor of his town as a publicity stunt — but then accidentally wins. The trailer made me laugh, a lot (Yvette Nicole Brown, for the win!), but it also has a lot of heart. And this combination of humor and heart in a half-hour sitcom is something ABC does pretty well. (See: The Middle, Speechless, American Housewife, Fresh Off the Boat, Black-ish) I’m hopeful this will be a good addition to that lineup.

Ten Days in the Valley (ABC) – premieres October 1, Sundays at 9:00 pm CST

I’m not watching this show. I would have watched it and loved it before I had kids. But it’s about a woman whose daughter is kidnapped, and I JUST CANNOT HANDLE THAT. But if you are less sensitive to that sort of thing than I am, this looks fantastic. Kyra Sedgwick plays a TV producer of a cop show, and somehow the case of her kidnapped daughter mixes and mashes up with her work on the show. It’s a 10-episode miniseries, and I won’t be surprised if everyone’s talking about it this fall.

And a few other shows (bonus!):

I already talked about these two shows in my post about Reunions and Revivals and Reboots (oh my!). But for a fun, meta look at the return of Will & Grace (premieres on NBC on September 28, Thursdays at 8:00 pm CST), click here. And for an extended preview of Young Sheldon (premieres on CBS on September 25, Thursdays at 7:30 pm CST), click here.

(Fun fact about Young Sheldon: The actress playing Sheldon’s mom in the new show is the daughter of Laurie Metcalfe, who plays Sheldon’s mom in Big Bang Theory. So she has her accent and mannerisms DOWN PAT.)

Based on the buzz I’m hearing but depending on your interests, you might also keep an eye out for Marvel’s The Runaways (premiering on Hulu on November 21) and Liar (premiering on SundanceTV on September 27). I’ve got a little too much superhero fatigue to watch The Runaways right now, and after reading about Liar, I suspect it might be a little too intense (or “gritty,” as they say) for me. But both shows look really good, so if they’re up your alley, check them out (and then let us know if you like them)!

For more reviews and previews, check out these resources:

What new shows are you most excited to watch this fall?

What should you watch next?

 

Every month, we are bombarded with new TV series and movies—and it can be overwhelming to figure out what to watch! (I know, I know, what a problem to have!) I'm here to help. My monthly Watch Guides list out all the returning series, new series, and new movies, along with premiere dates and where to watch them. Plus, I tell you my personal picks for the month to help you narrow it all down.

Drop your name and email here, and I'll send you this month's Watch Guide right away!


(Signing up gives me permission to email you. But I will never, ever send you spam or junk. Who has time for that?!)

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This