Sep 28 Podcast #863: New TV Shows for Fall 2018
Podcast Tags: HDTV, Premiere, Television 
This year’s batch of Fall TV Premieres snuck up on us a bit. Here we are, the last show in September, and just now getting to the new shows coming out. In fact, this prior week may have been the biggest week for new and returning show premieres of the season. If you missed something that looks great, the good news is that you can probably find it on Hulu or the Networks’ streaming app.
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New TV Shows for Fall 2018
This year’s batch of Fall TV Premieres snuck up on us a bit. Here we are, the last show in September, and just now getting to the new shows coming out. In fact, this week may have been the biggest week for new and returning show premieres of the season. If you missed something that looks great, the good news is that you can probably find it on Hulu or the Networks’ streaming app. Esquire has a great list of every premiere date up to September 30.
Monday, Sept. 24
Magnum P.I. (CBS)
Magnum P.I. is a modern take on the classic series starring Jay Hernandez as Thomas Magnum, a decorated former Navy SEAL who, upon returning home from Afghanistan, repurposes his military skills to become a private investigator in Hawaii.
Manifest (NBC)
Once Upon a Time's Josh Dallas stars in this mystery thriller about passengers on a plane who arrive at their destination after a few-hour flight only to learn that five years have somehow gone by in the world. Presuming the passengers and crew dead, their loved ones have mourned them and already moved on. Thrown into this impossible situation, the people who had been aboard the flight will be forced to figure out how to pick up the pieces of their personal lives, as well as the greater purpose that is their destiny.
Tuesday, Sept. 25
FBI (CBS)
FBI, from Emmy Award winner Dick Wolf, is a fast-paced drama about the inner workings of the New York office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. These first-class agents -- including Special Agent Maggie Bell (Missy Peregrym) and her partner, Special Agent Omar Adom 'OA' Zidan (Zeeko Zaki) -- bring all their talents, intellect and technical expertise to tenaciously investigate cases of tremendous magnitude, including terrorism, organized crime and counterintelligence.
New Amsterdam (NBC)
Inspired by Bellevue, the oldest public hospital in America, this unique medical drama follows the brilliant and charming Dr. Max Goodwin (The Blacklist's Ryan Eggold), the institution's newest medical director who sets out to tear up the bureaucracy and provide exceptional care. Not taking 'no' for an answer, Dr. Goodwin must disrupt the status quo and prove he will stop at nothing to breathe new life into this understaffed, underfunded and underappreciated hospital -- the only one in the world capable of treating Ebola patients, prisoners from Rikers and the President of the United States under one roof -- and return it to the glory that put it on the map.
Wednesday, Sept. 26
A Million Little Things (ABC)
They say friendship isn't one big thing, it's a million little things -- and that's true for a group of friends from Boston who bonded under unexpected circumstances. Some have achieved success, others are struggling in their careers and relationships, but all of them feel stuck in life. After one of them dies unexpectedly, it's just the wake-up call the others need to finally start living. Along the way, they discover that friends may be the one thing to save them from themselves.
Single Parents (ABC)
This ensemble comedy follows a group of single parents as they lean on each other to help raise their 7-year-old kids and maintain some kind of personal lives outside of parenthood. The series begins when the group meets Will (Taran Killam), a 30-something guy who's been so focused on raising his daughter that he's lost sight of who he is as a man. When the other single parents see just how far down the rabbit hole of PTA, parenting and princesses Will has gone, they band together to get him out in the dating world and make him realize that being a great parent doesn't mean sacrificing everything about your own identity.
Thursday, Sept. 27
Murphy Brown (CBS)
Candice Bergen and series creator Diane English reunite for the revival of the groundbreaking comedy about the eponymous broadcast news legend and her biting take on current events. Now in a world of 24-hour cable, social media, "fake news" and a vastly different political climate, Murphy returns to the airwaves with her original FYI team: lifestyle reporter Corky Sherwood (Faith Ford), investigative journalist Frank Fontana (Joe Regalbuto) and producer Miles Silverberg (Grant Shaud). Murphy's son, Avery, shares his mother's competitive spirit and quick wit, and has followed in her journalistic footsteps - perhaps too closely. Now back in the game, Murphy is determined to draw the line between good television and honest reporting, proving that the world needs Murphy Brown now more than ever.
Friday, Sept. 28
The Cool Kids (Fox)
From executive producer Charlie Day and starring David Alan Grier, Martin Mull, Leslie Jordan and Vicki Lawrence, The Cool Kids is a multi-camera comedy about a rag-tag group of friends living in a retirement community who are willing to break every rule in order to have fun -- because, at their age, what do they really have to lose? What unites them all is their shared belief that they're not done yet -- not by a long shot. These self-proclaimed "cool kids" are determined to make the third act of their lives the craziest one yet.
Sunday, Sept. 30
God Friended Me (CBS)
Brandon Micheal Hall stars in this humorous, uplifting drama as Miles Finer, an outspoken atheist whose life is turned upside down when he receives a friend request on social media from God and unwittingly becomes an agent of change in the lives and destinies of others around him.
Monday, Oct. 1
Happy Together (CBS)
Damon Wayans Jr. and Amber Stevens West star in this comedy about a thirtysomething happily married couple who begin to reconnect with their younger, cooler selves when Cooper (Felix Mallard), an exuberant young pop star drawn to their super ordinary suburban life, unexpectedly moves in with them.
The Neighborhood (CBS)
The Neighborhood is a comedy about what happens when the friendliest guy in the Midwest moves his family (the Johnsons) to a neighborhood in Los Angeles where not everyone looks like him or appreciates his extreme neighborliness. Cedric the Entertainer stars as Calvin Butler, the Johnsons' opinionated next door neighbor, who is wary of the newcomers, certain that the Johnsons will disrupt the culture on the block.
Wednesday, Oct. 10
All American (CW)
Think The O.C. meets Friday Night Lights: A talented football player from South Los Angeles earns the chance to play football at Beverly Hills High, and his friends and family clash as the two worlds collide. The show is based on the real-life story of pro football player Spencer Paysinger. Taye Diggs stars as the Beverly Hills High coach.
Sunday, Oct. 14
Charmed (CW)
Charmed is getting a reboot from creators who previously wrote for Greek and Jane the Virgin. The pilot episodes, which aired at Comic Con, implied that the three witches earned their powers to fight the patriarchy at this moment because the “weakest man” had taken over the office of president.
The Alec Baldwin Show (ABC)
Alec Baldwin has been hosting an interview podcast called Here’s the Thing for years. His new talk show aims to adapt that model for television. The weekly show will feature lengthy sit-down interviews with celebrities. A pilot episode with Jerry Seinfeld and Kate McKinnon as guests aired last spring.
Tuesday, Oct. 16
The Conners (ABC)
The revival of Roseanne was cancelled earlier this year. But some of her family members are remaining on the air. ABC confirmed that a Roseanne spinoff starring Laurie Metcalfe as Jackie, John Goodman as Dan and Sara Gilbert as Darlene will air this fall. ABC executives have said the show will deal with a number of the same thematic issues, including financial struggles, but they have remained mum on how the show will explain the character of Roseanne’s absence from the series.
The Kids Are Alright (ABC)
Set in the 1970s, this ensemble comedy follows a traditional Irish-Catholic family, the Clearys, as they navigate big and small changes during one of America's most turbulent decades. In a working-class neighborhood outside Los Angeles, Mike (Michael Cudlitz) and Peggy (Mary McCormack) raise eight boisterous boys who live out their days with little supervision. The household is turned upside down when oldest son Lawrence (Sam Straley) returns home and announces he's quitting the seminary to go off and "save the world." Times are changing and this family will never be the same.
The Rookie (ABC)
Starting over isn't easy, especially for small-town guy John Nolan (Nathan Fillion), who, after a life-altering incident, is pursuing his dream of being an LAPD officer. As the force's oldest rookie, he's met with skepticism from some higher-ups who see him as just a walking midlife crisis. If he can't keep up with the young cops and the criminals, he'll be risking lives including his own. But if he can use his life experience, determination and sense of humor to give him an edge, he may just become a success in this new chapter of his life.
Mid-Season / Summer / TBD
Whiskey Cavalier (ABC)
Whiskey Cavalier is a high-octane, hour-long action dramedy that follows the adventures of tough but tender FBI super-agent Will Chase (codename: "Whiskey Cavalier"), played by Scott Foley. Following an emotional breakup, Chase is assigned to work with badass CIA operative Francesca "Frankie" Trowbridge (codename: "Fiery Tribune"), played by Lauren Cohan. Together, they lead an inter-agency team of flawed, funny and heroic spies who periodically save the world (and each other) while navigating the rocky roads of friendship, romance and office politics.
Abby's (NBC)
Abby's is an unlicensed bar run by Abby (The Grinder's Natalie Morales) in San Diego where the regulars enthusiastically enforce a unique set of rules that give them a sense of community and allow them to avoid the frustrating behavior found at other establishments. The multi-camera comedy will be filmed outside in front of a live studio audience.
The Enemy Within (NBC)
In this fast-paced, spy thriller, Erica Shepherd (Jennifer Carpenter) is a brilliant former CIA operative, now known as the most notorious traitor in American history, serving life in a Supermax prison. Against every fiber of his being but with nowhere else to turn, FBI Agent Will Keaton (Morris Chestnut) enlists Shepherd to help track down a fiercely dangerous and elusive criminal she knows all too well. For Keaton, it's not easy to trust the woman who cost him so much. While Shepherd and Keaton have different motivations for bringing the enemy to justice, they both know that to catch a spy... they must think like one.
The Passage (Fox)
Based on author Justin Cronin's best-selling trilogy of the same name, The Passage is an epic, character-driven thriller about a secret government medical facility experimenting with a dangerous virus that could either cure all disease or cause the downfall of the human race. The series focuses on 10-year-old Amy Bellafonte (Saniyya Sidney), who is chosen to be a test subject for this experiment, and Brad Wolgast (Mark-Paul Gosselaar), the federal agent who becomes her surrogate father as he tries to protect her.
Schooled (ABC)
This spin-off of The Goldbergs is set in the 1990s and follows the hilarious teachers of William Penn Academy - led by Tim Meadows (Principal Glascott), Bryan Callen (Coach Mellor) and AJ Michalka (Lainey Lewis) - who, despite their eccentricities and crazy personal lives, are heroes to their students.
Fam (CBS)
Fam stars Nina Dobrev and Tone Bell in a comedy about a woman whose vision of a perfect life with her adoring fiancé and his wonderful family is radically altered when her 16-year-old, out-of-control half-sister unexpectedly comes to live with her.
The Fix (ABC)
Attorney and author Marcia Clark co-writes and executive produces a new legal drama about Maya Travis (Robin Tunney), an L.A. district attorney who suffers a devastating defeat when prosecuting an A-list actor for double murder. With her high-profile career derailed, she flees for a quieter life in Washington. Eight years later, when this same celebrity is under suspicion for another murder, Maya Travis is lured back to the DA's office for another chance at justice.
Grand Hotel (ABC)
Eva Longoria executive produces this bold, provocative drama set at the last family-owned hotel in multicultural Miami Beach. Charismatic Santiago Mendoza (Demian Bichir) owns the hotel, while his glamorous second wife, Gigi (Roselyn Sanchez), and their adult children enjoy the spoils of success. The hotel's loyal staff round out a contemporary, fresh take on an upstairs/downstairs story. Wealthy and beautiful guests bask in luxury, but scandals, escalating debt and explosive secrets hide beneath the picture-perfect exterior. The show is based on the Spanish series.
I Feel Bad (NBC)
Produced by Amy Poehler, this half-hour comedy follows a woman (Sarayu Blue) and her unfiltered takes on trying to have it all. It's based on the book I Feel Bad. All Day. Every Day. About Everything. written by Orli Auslander. Paul Edelstein also stars.
The InBetween (NBC)
Following in the steps of Ghost Whisperer, this paranormal procedural focuses on a woman who can communicate with the dead. Harriet Dyer stars as Cassie Bishop, a woman who uses her clairvoyant gifts in order to help the police solve some of the city's most puzzling cases. Arrow's Paul Blackthorne will also star, having left The CW show ahead of its seventh season.
Proven Innocent (FOX)
This midseason drama follows an underdog criminal defense firm led by Madeline Scott (Rachelle Lefevre), a fierce and uncompromising lawyer with a hunger for justice. At age 18, she was wrongfully convicted, along with her brother Levi (Riley Smith), in a sensational murder case that made her an infamous media obsession, a household name and a national cause célèbre. Madeline's bold and bullish tactics earn her a number of enemies -- especially Gore Bellows (Brian d'Arcy James), the prosecutor who initially put her away and still believes in her guilt. Despite Bellows' ceaseless quest to see her behind bars again, Madeline will continue to defend others, even as she fights to maintain her innocence and searches for the real killer in her own case.
The Red Line (CBS)
From acclaimed producers Ava DuVernay and Greg Berlanti, The Red Line follows the lives of three vastly different Chicago families whose stories of loss and tragedy intersect in the wake of the mistaken shooting of an African American doctor by a white cop. The Red Line cast includes Noah Wyle, Emayatzy Corinealdi and Aliyah Royale.
Rel (Fox)
Rel Howery (The Carmichael Show) stars in this comedy loosely based on his life. Set in Chicago, it follows Lil Rel, a positive-thinking man whose ideals are put to the test when he discovers his wife has been cheating on him. As Lil Rel rebuilds his life after a divorce, he tries to find love and respect on the South Side.
The Village (NBC)
The Village is a brownstone in Brooklyn with exceptionally unique tenants despite its ordinary exterior. The show will tell the heartwarming and challenging stories of the residents, which include Sarah, a single mom and nurse; Gabe, a young law student with a much older roommate; Nick, a war veteran; and Ava, a mother protecting her son from ICE.
Reader Comments (1)
All in all, the new season looks like the continuing decline of network TV as an entertainment medium. There is precious little to be excited about. In part, I’d have to join Jerry Seinfeld in the feeling that social justice warriors have sucked the entertainment value out of just about every topic possible.
You’d be correct to avoid using your valuable time to watch Murphy Brown. The wife and I watched the first two “out of habit” from the old days and she just sounds tired, irrelevant (unless you’re wearing a pink knit cap) and cliche. Her delivery is off and it’s sad to hear her gasping for breath to finish delivering a punch line. She should have stayed in the 80’s, at least she still had the nice wheels back then. Oh, can we still say that or will some crazed person come screeching at me when I leave the gym?