Fall TV Preview 2018

The fall television season is almost upon us. Most of the shows will return in a couple of weeks. Only trying a few new shows this year. Here’s the run down of what I’ll be watching (by premiere date):

OZARK [NETFLIX]

Upcoming Season: 2

Premiere Date/Time: Fri, Aug 31 @ 12:01am

Genre: Crime Thriller

Starring: Jason Bateman (Arrested Development, Juno, Game Night)

Laura Linney (Truman Show, Mystic River, Love Actually)

Creators: Bill Dubuque & Mark Williams (The Accountant, A Family Man)

Showrunner: Chris Mundy (Low Winter Sun, Hell on Wheels)

Why I watch: Bateman is fun to watch and the interesting/dark story

[NEW!] TOM CLANCY’S JACK RYAN [AMAZON]

Upcoming Season: 1

Premiere Date/Time: Fri, Aug 31 @ 12:00am

Genre: Action Drama

Starring: John Krasinski (The Office, A Quiet Place, 13 Hours)

Wendell Pierce (The Wire, Treme, Suits, The Odd Couple, Bad Moms)

Creators: Carlton Cuse (Lost, Bates Motel) & Graham Roland (Fringe)

Premise: Early years of Jack Ryan from analyst to operative

Why I’ll give it a chance: Like Krasinski and Jack Ryan character

What could hurt it: Might not have access as it is on Amazon

[NEW!] KIDDING [SHOWTIME]

Upcoming Season: 1

Premiere Date/Time: Sun, Sep 9 @ 10:00pm

Genre: Comedy Drama

Starring: Jim Carrey (Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind, Yes Man)

Judy Greer (Ant Man, Archer, Miss Guided, The Descendants)

Creator: Dave Holstein (Weeds, I’m Dying Up Here)

Director: Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind)

Premise: A famous children’s icon struggles with a crumbling family life

Why I’ll give it a chance: Love the Carrey/Gondry collaboration

What could hurt it: Seems like Death to Smoochy and Carrey’s hairstyle

[NEW!] MANIAC [NETFLIX]

Upcoming Season: 1

Premiere Date/Time: Fri, Sep 21 @ 12:01am

Genre: Comedy, Drama, Sci-Fi

Starring: Jonah Hill (21 Jump Street, Moneyball, Wolf of Wall Street)

Emma Stone (La La Land, Birdman, Easy A, The Help)

Creator: Patrick Somerville (The Bridge, The Leftovers)

Director: Cary Joji Fukunaga (True Detective, It)

Premise: Two strangers are in a mysterious pharmaceutical trial

Why I’ll give it a chance: The director is amazing with his visuals

What could hurt it: Stone doesn’t grab me in the trailer  

THE BIG BANG THEORY [CBS]

Upcoming Season: 12

Premiere Date/Time: Mon, Sept 24 @ 8pm (moves to Thurs that week)

Genre: Friends Comedy

Starring: Jim Parsons (Garden State, The Muppets, Normal Heart)

Johnny Galecki (Roseanne, In Time, Christmas Vacation)

Creators: Chuck Lorre (Mom) & Bill Prady (Dharma & Greg)

Showrunner: Steve Holland (Rules of Engagement)

Why I watch: For some sweet moments and for the show to end

YOUNG SHELDON [CBS]

Upcoming Season: 2

Premiere Date/Time: Mon, Sept 24 @ 8:30pm (moves to Thurs that week)

Genre: Family Comedy

Starring: Iain Armitage (Big Little Lies, The Glass Castle)

Zoe Perry (Scandal, The Family)

Creators: Chuck Lorre & Steven Molaro (The Big Bang Theory)

Showrunner: Steven Molaro (The Class, The Big Bang Theory)

Why I watch: The kids are pretty darn entertaining especially Missy

THE GOOD DOCTOR [ABC]

Upcoming Season: 2

Premiere Date/Time: Mon, Sept 24 @ 10pm

Genre: Medical Drama

Starring: Freddie Highmore (Bates Motel, Finding Neverland)

Richard Schiff (West Wing, I Am Sam, The Affair)

Creator/Showrunner: David Shore (House, Houdini and Doyle)

Why I watch: Freddie Highmore is an amazing actor

Coming up: More dealing with Dr. Glassman’s cancer

[NEW!] MANIFEST [ABC]

Upcoming Season: 1

Premiere Date/Time: Mon, Sept 24 @ 10:00pm

Genre: Supernatural Mystery

Starring: JR Ramirez (Jessica Jones, Power)

Josh Dallas (Once Upon a Time, Thor)

Creators: Jeff Rake (Mysteries of Laura) & Matthew Fernandez (newcomer)

Premise: A flight disappears and reappears five years later

Why I’ll give it a chance: I’m up for a new mystery supposedly like Lost

What could hurt it: If it becomes another Flash Forward or The Event

THIS IS US [ABC]

Upcoming Season: 3

Premiere Date/Time: Tue, Sept 25 @ 9pm

Genre: Drama

Starring: Mandy Moore (A Walk to Remember, Saved, Tangled)

Sterling K Brown (ACS: The People vs OJ Simpson, Black Panther)

Creator/Showrunner: Dan Fogelman (The Neighbors, Grandfathered)

Why I watch: Top notch writing and performances

MODERN FAMILY [ABC]

Upcoming Season: 10

Premiere Date/Time: Wed, Sept 26 @ 9pm

Genre: Family Comedy

Starring: Ty Burrell (Back to You, Finding Dory)

Julie Bowen (Boston Legal, Weeds, Lost, Ed)

Creators: Steve Levitan (Just Shoot Me, Frasier, Wings)

Christopher Lloyd (Wings, Frasier, Out of Practice, Back to You)

Why I watch: Just waiting for this sometimes funny show to end now

THE GOOD PLACE [NBC]

Upcoming Season: 3

Premiere Date/Time: Thu, Sept 27 @ 8:30pm

Genre: Divine Comedy

Starring: Kristen Bell (Veronica Mars, Frozen)

Ted Danson (Cheers, Becker, CSI:, Fargo)

Creator/Showrunner: Michael Shur (Parks & Recreation, Brooklyn 99)

Why I watch: Very funny characters and interesting twists

SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE [NBC]

Upcoming Season: 44

Premiere Date/Time: Sat, Sept 29 @ 11:30pm

Genre: Sketch Comedy

Starring: Kate McKinnon (Ghostbusters, The Spy Who Dumped Me)

Kenan Thompson (Good Burger, Snakes on a Plane)

Creator: Lorne Michaels (30 Rock, Portlandia)

Why I watch: It’s an institution. Always something to talk about.

THE SIMPSONS [FOX]

Upcoming Season: 30

Premiere Date/Time: Sun, Sep 30 @ 8pm

Genre: Animated Comedy

Starring: Dan Castellaneta (Hey Arnold!)

Hank Azaria (Smurfs, Ray Donovan)

Creator: Matt Groening (Futurama)

Showrunners: Al Jean (The Critic) & Matt Selman (newcomer)

Why I watch: I’ve seen every episode, why stop now?

[NEW!] HAPPY TOGETHER [CBS]

Upcoming Season: 1

Premiere Date/Time: Mon, Oct 1 @ 8:30pm

Genre: Comedy

Starring: Damon Wayans Jr. (Happy Endings, Let’s Be Cops, New Girl)

Amber Steven West (Ghosted, The Carmichael Show, Greek)

Creator: Austen Earl (Great Indoors) & Tim McAuliffe (Last Man on Earth)

Premise: A married couple take in a mega star and try to keep up with hm

Why I’ll give it a chance: I really enjoy Damon Wayans Jr.’s acting style

What could hurt it: The premise is pretty dumb  

THE WALKING DEAD [AMC]

Upcoming Season: 9

Premiere Date/Time: Sun, Oct 7 @ 9pm

Genre: Drama / Horror

Starring: Andrew Lincoln (Love Actually, Strike Back)

Norman Reedus (Boondock Saints)

Creator: based on Robert Kirkman’s graphic novel

Showrunner: Angela Kang (Terriers)

Why I watch: It’s an intense hour of drama and zombies

THE FLASH [CW]

Upcoming Season: 4

Premiere Date/Time: Tue, Oct 9 @ 8pm

Genre: Action/Adventure

Starring: Grant Gustin (Glee, 90210, Arrow)

Jesse L Martin (Law & Order, Smash, Rent)

Creators: Greg Berlanti (Dawson’s Creek, Everwood, Eli Stone)

Andrew Kreisberg (Boston Legal, Arrow) & Geoff Johns (Arrow)

Why I watch: More of a guilty pleasure at this point

HOUSE OF CARDS [NETFLIX]

Upcoming Season: 6

Premiere Date/Time: Fri, Nov 6 @ 12:01am

Genre: Drama

Starring: Robin Wright (Forrest Gump, The Princess Bride, Wonder Woman)

Michael Kelly (Man of Steel, The Sopranos, Now You See Me)

Creator: Beau Willimon (Ides of March, Mary Queen of Scots)

Why I watch: It's like dark West Wing; will see how it does without Spacey

THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JIMMY FALLON [NBC]

Upcoming Season: 6

Premiere Date/Time: ongoing @ 11:30pm

Genre: Talk Show

Starring: Jimmy Fallon (SNL, Fever Pitch, Whip It)

Creator: Lorne Michaels & NBC

Why I watch: It’s always filled with fun moments and games

LATE NIGHT WITH SETH MEYERS [NBC]

Upcoming Season: 6

Premiere Date/Time: ongoing @ 12:30pm

Genre: Talk Show

Starring: Seth Meyers (SNL, The Awesomes, New Year’s Eve)

Creator: Lorne Michaels & NBC

Why I watch: Mostly just his Closer Looks, sometimes his interviews

LAST WEEK TONIGHT WITH JOHN OLIVER [HBO]

Upcoming Season: Still in Season 5

Premiere Date/Time: Sun, still running @ 10:30pm

Genre: ‘News’ program

Starring: John Oliver (Daily Show, Community)

Creator: John Oliver

Why I watch: Love Oliver’s rants and in depth stuff

What new shows are you going try this year?

UPCOMING REVIEWS: Emmy Predictions