Disclaimers: All times eastern. CBS shows on Sundays will likely run over because of NFL Football. PBS times may vary by your local station’s whims.
Sunday
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Series Finale Movie – 9-to11pm on CBS*/CTV Two
A major event cripples Las Vegas, bringing back several cast members to help out in this two-hour swan song. It seems everyone except George Eads (Nick Stokes) is coming back: William Petersen ( ), Marg Helgenberger ( ), Paul Guilfoyle (Captain Jim Brass), Jorja Fox (Sara Sidle), Wallace Langham (David Hodges), Jon Wellner (Henry Andrews), David Berman (David Phillips), Robert David Hall (Dr. Al Robbins), Eric Szmanda (Greg Sanders), Elisabeth Harnois (Morgan Brody) and Ted Danson (whose character, D.B. Russell, has been transferred to CSI: Cyber this season). Also appearing in the finale is Melinda Clarke, reprising her role as Lady Heather. * Time approximate after football on CBS.
The Dark Swan Rises: A Once Upon A Time Fan Celebration – 7pm on ABC
Another Once Upon A Time recap show, but one where cast members answer viewers’ questions and some hints about the upcoming season are revealed. (This special also airs on Saturday, September 26th on CTV and on some CTV Two stations on Sunday (check your local listings).
Blood & Oil – 9pm on ABC/CTV – Series Premiere
J.R. Ewing is dead and he ain’t comin’ back! So, here’s a tale of Billy and Cody Lefever (Chace Crawford and Rebecca Rittenhouse), who move to North Dakota seeking their fortune when the biggest oil discovery in American history happens. What they don’t count on is clashing with ruthless tycooom Hap Briggs (Don Johnson), who soon has them putting everything on the line.
Quantico – 10pm on ABC/CTV – Series Premiere
This tense drama explores the lives of the latest class of FBI recruits who arrive at Quantico base in Virginia for 21 weeks of training to become Special Agents. They all have secrets, but one of them has the biggest one, and ends up being suspected of masterminding the biggest terrorist attack on American soil since 9/11.
Masterpiece Classic: Indian Summers – 9-10:30pm on most PBS stations (check your listings – Miniseries Premiere
Considered by some as a worthy successor to the outgoing Downton Abbey, this drama follows a group of British socialites as they arrive at their summer homes in Simla, India, in the foothills of the Himalayas, during the time of the British Raj. (Although it is considered a miniseries, it has already been renewed for a second series.)
Returning Shows:
Once Upon A Time – 8pm on ABC/CTV – 5th Season Premiere
60 Minutes – 7:30-9pm on CBS (Time approximate after football) – 48th Season Premiere
There will be segments on Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump. Is there any doubt who’s the leader in newsmagazines?
Bob’s Burgers – 7:30 pm on Fox/City – 6th Season Premiere
The Simpsons – 8pm on Fox/Global – 27th Season Premiere
You think it’s unthinkable that Homer and Marge separate this season? This episode shows us how it happens.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine – 8:30 on Fox/City – 3rd Season Premiere
Family Guy – 9pm on Fox/City – 14th Season Premiere
The Last Man On Earth – 9:30 on Fox/City 2nd Season Premiere
Monday
I’ll Have What Phil’s Having – Series Premiere
I tend to ignore reality TV as much as possible (it’s part of my charm), but this one may be of interest to some of you who are like me. Phil Rosenthal, who created Everybody Loves Raymond, visits countries around the world to find unique and interesting food. In the opener, he visits Tokyo.
The Daily Show with Trevor Noah – 11pm on Comedy – Kind of a Series Premiere, but not really
Noah takes on the unenviable task of taking Jon Stewart’s seat at the venerable comedy news-satire show. Most fans will hate him for a few months, ignore him for another year, and then start to warm up on his view of the world.
Tuesday
Neil Patrick Harris’ Best Time Ever – 8pm on NBC/CTV
Just a note that this live extravaganza is moving time slots.
Grandfathered – 8pm on Fox/City – Series Premiere
John Stamos taps an increasingly familiar vein by playing a variation on himself. He’s charismatic bachelor Jimmy Martino, who discovers that he not only has a son, but a granddaughter, drawing him awkwardly into the world of domesticity. Paget Brewster also stars as the baby/grandbabymama.
Grinder – 8:30 on Fox/City – Series Premiere
Rob Lowe and Fred Savage (The Wonder Years) star as brothers Dean and Stewart Sanderson. Dean is an actor who starred as a lawyer in a long-running TV series and Stewart is an actual lawyer. When Dean’s show is cancelled, he returns to his hometown to join his family’s law firm. (Think TNT/Bravo’s Suits as a sitcom.) …and then, the fun begins…
iHeart Music Festival – 8-10pm on The CW – Special
Highlights from last week’s concert series in Las Vegas, featuring performances from Sam Smith, Coldplay, Kenny Chesney, Jason Derulo, Demi Lovato, Duran Duran, The Killers and 2020 President-elect Kanye West.
Returning Show:
Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD – 9pm on ABC/CTV 0 3rd Season Premiere
Wednesday
Bones – 9pm on Global/Thursday at 8pm on Fox – 11th Season Premiere
Returning a day early on Global!
Code Black – 10pm on CBS/CTV – Series Premiere
It’s a premise that we’ve seen in too many of our real hospitals: Code Black is the moment when the influx of patients outweighs a hospital’s ability to deal with them. Fortunately, in a dramatic setting, we have a building full of overwrought, overly-emotional and self-involved staff members who will usually give it their all to deal with an overwhelmed system. Melissa Gay Harden and Luis Guzman star.
Returning Shows:
Criminal Minds – 9pm on CBS/CTV – 11th Season Premiere
Chicago PD – 10pm on NBC/Global – 3rd Season Premiere
Thursday
Returning Shows:
Bones – Thursday at 8pm on Fox – 11th Season Premiere (also Wednesday on Global)
Sleepy Hollow – 9pm on Fox/CTV Two – 3rd Season Premiere
The Blacklist – 9pm on NBC/Global – 3rd Season Premiere
Friday
Dr. Ken – 8:30 on ABC – Series Premiere
Do you know Ken Jeong? You do if you remember The Hangover trilogy of fine films. You might also know him (as I do) from the brilliant and underrated NBC comedy. Community. What you may not know is that this broad comic actor is that he really is a doctor! Now, he puts it all together in this sitcom, where he plays a frustrated HMO doctor trying to juggle the three balls of career, marriage and parenting.
Saturday
W5 – 7pm on CTV – 50th Season Premiere
Yes, yes, I know I wrote earlier that 60 Minutes is the leader in newsmagazines, but you know I was only baiting you. W5 (who, what, when, where, why, for those of you who didn’t go to journalism school or follow news your entire life!) is truly the leader. They enter year 50 with segments on a family trying to help their son deal with a dependency on pornography and on people affected by the (deadly?) pain-killer Fentanyl.
Austin City Limits 2015 Hall of Fame Special – 11pm on PBS
The best music series on television inducts Loretta Lynn, Asleep At The Wheel, Guy Clark, Townes Van Zandt and Flaco Jimenez into its Hall of Fame.
Saturday Night Live – 11:30 on NBC/Global – 41st Season Premiere
Miley Cyrus hosts and serves as the musical guest. In an unfortunate break from the tradition of the past few seasons, SNL King Lorne Michaels plans no cast changes this year. They have added some new writers (including a couple from The Late Show with David Letterman), but expect the status quo, including the questionable decision to leave Colin Jost (who previously has been hilarious in sketches) and Michael Che (who has done some very funny stuff before SNL) at the anchor desk for Weekend Update.
