All times are eastern
The official first week of the new network TV season kicks off with several returning shows and 11 new ones. And this is just the beginning! Happy viewing!
Sunday
The 68th Primetime Emmy Awards – 8 to 11pm on ABC/CTV (may run overtime)
Jimmy Kimmel hosts this year’s awards show honouring the best on television from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. Red Carpet Coverage starts at 4:30pm on E! and at 7pm on ABC. E! will also have an after party at 11pm, hosted by Ross Mathews.
The Case of: JonBenet Ramsay – 8:30 to 10:30pm on CBS/Global (8 to 10pm in the west)
Almost 20 years ago, six-year-old “beauty queen” JonBenet Ramsay was found dead in her family home, after her parents allegedly received a ransom note demanding $118,000 for her safe return. The investigation into her murder gained national attention and has never been solved. In this six-hour reality series, the former investigators re-examine the case. This six-hour limited reality series continues on Monday from 9 to 11pm and concludes next Sunday. UPDATE: Last week, CBS decided to reduce this special to four hours, so Tuesday will be the conclusion, not next Sunday.
Monday
The Big Bang Theory – 7:30pm on CTV/8pm on CBS – 10th Season Premiere
Kevin Can Wait – 8:30pm on CTV/Global – Series Premiere
Kevin James returns to TV sitcomland as a newly retired police officer who looks forward to spending more time with his wife and three children, but it isn’t long before he realizes the homefront is—in some ways—much tougher than what he faced on the job. Comedian Gary Valentine—Kevin James’ real-life brother—plays Kevin’s brother here, too.
Gotham – 8pm to 9:01 on Fox/CTV – 3rd Season Premiere
Lucifer – 9:01 to 10pm on Fox/CTV – 2nd Season Premiere
The Good Place – 7:30 to 8:31 on Global/10 to 11pm on NBC – Unofficial Series Premiere
This is one of the better-reviewed comedies of this season. Kristen Bell stars as a dead woman who goes to the good part of the afterlife when she really should have gone to that other place. Ted Danson is in charge of The Good Place, and guides her on a wacky journey to become a better person. This series was created by Michael Shur, who wrote for The Office and co-created Parks and Recreation.
After this back-to-back “sneak peek” of two episodes, The Good Place to moves its regular home at 8:30 on Thursday.
Tuesday
Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD – 8pm on CTV/10pm on ABC – 4th Season Premiere
Brooklyn Nine-Nine – 8pm on Fox/City – 4th Season Premiere
New Girl – 8:30 on Fox/City – 6th Season Premiere
NCIS – 8pm on CBS/Global – 14th Season Premiere
Bull – 9pm on CBS/Global – Series Premiere
Michael Weatherly, feeling he has outgrown his role on NCIS, now tackles this new role of Dr. Jason Bull, the founder of a successful trial consulting firm who uses psychology and technology to predict and influence trial verdicts. If it sounds like what Dr. Phil did back when Oprah was sued by the beef industry, that’s not a coincidence. This drama is loosely based on Dr. Phil’s early career.
Scream Queens – 9pm on Fox/City – 2nd Season Premiere
NCIS: New Orleans – 10pm on CBS/Global – 3rd Season Premiere
This Is Us – 10pm on NBC/CTV – Series Premiere
The trailer for this series has gotten more than 100-million views, so this drama is one of the more anticipated shows of the new season. It’s not quite a family drama, but it uses those elements to tell multiple stories about seven people whose only common link is that they were all born on the same day, and the twists and turns that their lives take. If you enjoyed Parenthood, Brothers and Sisters and even thirtysomething, this may be a show for you.
Wednesday
The Goldbergs – 8pm on ABC/CTV Two – 4th Season Premiere
Speechless – 8:30 on ABC – Series Premiere
Minnie Driver stars in this comedy about a family with a disabled child among them, and the challenges they encounter, mostly from the outside world. Reviews lean toward saying they get the subject matter right, and it’s very funny along the way. It could be one of the surprise hits of the season.
Hot In Cleveland – 8:30 on CTV Two – Penultimate Episode
Survivor – 8 to 9:30pm – 33rd Season Premiere
Lethal Weapon – 8pm on Fox/City – Series Premiere
A fresh take on the Mel Gibson/Danny Glover movies, with Clayne Crawford (Rectify) and Damon Wayans (In Living Color, My Wife and Kids) giving the roles a new twist. The early buzz on this show is that its stars do a good job of bringing back the magic from the movies.
Modern Family – 9pm on ABC/City – 8th Season Premiere
blackish – 9:30pm on ABC/City – 3rd Season Premiere
Empire – 8pm on Fox – 3rd Season Premiere
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit – 9pm on NBC/CTV – 18th Season Premiere
Designated Survivor – 10pm on ABC/CTV – Series Premiere
Whenever the American President holds a State of the Union address, one member of the Cabinet is sent to a secret location, just in case there’s an attack that wipes out the Capitol. That’s what happens here, and Kiefer Sutherland portrays that Designated Survivor. The series follows the new President as he picks up the pieces while trying to find out who is behind this unthinkable calamity.
Chicago PD – 7pm on Global/10pm on NBC – 4th Season Premiere
Thursday
Grey’s Anatomy – 8pm on ABC/CTV – 13th Season Premiere
Rosewood – 8pm on Fox/CHCH – 2nd Season Premiere
Superstore – 8pm on NBC/Global – 2nd Season Premiere
Notorious – 9pm on ABC/CTV – Series Premiere
This show is not from Shonda Rhimes, but sandwiched between two of her shows, it tries to be. Inspired by the lives of real-life TV producer Wendy Walker and lawyer Mark Gerogos (the OJ Simpson trial), the show tackles the way the media can manipulate public opinion. ABC hopes this will keep TGIT fans hanging on until Scandal returns at mid-season.
Pitch – 9pm 0n Fox/Global – Series Premiere
Pitch tells the story of a young woman who becomes the first female ball player in the major league. The show is officially sanctioned by Major League Baseball, fueling speculation that this fictional show may someday spur a new reality in the game. If you have daughters living in your home, it’s hoped that they’ll be encouraged to watch. (It’s probably a good idea to encourage your sons to watch, too.)
Chicago Med – 7pm on Global/9pm on NBC – 2nd Season Premiere
How To Get Away With Murder – 10pm on ABC/CTV – 3rd Season Premiere
The Blacklist – 10pm on NBC/Global – 4th Season Premiere
Friday
Last Man Standing – 8pm on ABC/CHCH – 6th Season Premiere
Dr. Ken – 8:30 on ABC – 2nd Season Premiere
MacGyver 8pm on CBS/Global – Series Premiere
Richard Dean Anderson fans take note: this is not your MacGyver. Sure, he’ll use his ingenuity to get out of scrapes the way the original did, but he’s not the loner the original was. This one has a team around him. It’s not a coincidence that this show precedes Hawaii Five-0. When the original pilot was scrapped, 5-0 rebooter Peter M. Lenkov was brought in to retool the retooling. So, I have a hunch that this show will resemble the old ABC show about as much as today’s Hawaii Five-0 resembles the one from the ‘70s (which is in the names of the characters only). That may not be a bad thing. While Hawaii Five-0 isn’t much like the old show, it’s still a good show on its own. This one may be, too.
Hell’s Kitchen – 9pm on Fox/City – 16th Season Premiere
Shark Tank – 9pm on ABC/CTV – 8th Season Premiere
Hawaii Five-0 – 9pm on CBS/Global – 7th Season Premiere
The Exorcist – 9pm on Fox/CTV – Series Premiere
Yes, another reboot, this one of the wildly successful 1973 film. Trade publication Variety says this adaptation “does a truly impressive job of establishing a mournful atmosphere, as it sketches out an array of characters worth following on what promises to be a very challenging journey”. It stars Geena Davis and Ben Daniels.
Blue Bloods – 10pm on CBS/CTV – 7th Season Premiere
Saturday
W5 50th Anniversary Special – 7pm on CTV/10pm on CTV Two/Sunday at 5pm on CTV Two
Lloyd Robertson delves through a half-century of archives on the public affairs program, opening the hour-long retrospective outside Toronto City Hall, where the show’s first story looked into how easy it was to buy a gun and potentially go on a rampage in a public place.
