Is Fall TV still a thing in this era when new stuff starts and ends at all points on the calendar, seemingly at random? It sort of still is? OK, in that case, here are my picks for 10 new series worth checking out this fall (padded out to get it to 10, but not as badly as I had feared):
“High Potential” (Sept. 17, ABC)
The pedigree: “Always Sunny’s” Kaitlin Olson goes more mainstream, but as far as network procedurals go, this one has cachet. Olson plays a single mother working as a janitor at a police precinct; when she accidentally spills a file and solves a murder, they give her a job. An unlikely premise, sure, but the writers of the first three episodes are Drew Goddard, Rob Thomas and Diane Ruggiero-Wright, who know how to make good TV.
“The Penguin” (Sept. 19, HBO)
The pedigree: Matt Reeves’ “The Batman” is one of the best superhero movies of this decade that I think will be defined by a gradual decline in the genre’s popularity. But there’s no denying the Penguin made an impression, played by a Colin Farrell under such amazing prosthetics that he doesn’t look like Colin Farrell. Part of me wonders if this is all big exercise in punking us, and he’s not even playing the role. Regardless, a deeper dive into Reeves’ branch of the (admittedly too-multiversal) Bat-verse is worth waddling over to your couch for.
“Rescue: HI-Surf” (Sept. 22, Fox) and “Doctor Odyssey” (Thursday, Sept. 26, ABC)
The pedigree: How to spice up a procedural formula without trying too hard? Change the location. “Doctor Odyssey” is a medical drama set on a cruise ship; “HI-Surf” is a rescue show set on the beach. It’s “Baywatch,” sure, but not purposely cheesy, so actually that’s kinda high-concept. The only reasons these probably waterlogged dramas are on my radar: Joshua Jackson stars in “Odyssey” (good for him for getting paid) and the oddly under-hyped Arielle Kebbel gets an overdue starring role in “HI-Surf.”
“Brilliant Minds” (Monday, Sept. 23, NBC)
The pedigree: Since the end of “This Is Us,” networks have leaned toward the safety of procedurals, but they also want some tear-jerking, and this Zachary Quinto-starrer is the latest in that vein. Quinto plays a face-blind doctor (we’ll sometimes see things from his POV) who has special insight into people who aren’t neurologically, psychologically or mentally mainstream. I like the message that it’s important to help mainstream people understand diverse people, rather than trying to squeeze diverse people into a box not made for them.
“Murder in a Small Town” (Tuesday, Sept. 24, Fox)
The pedigree: Network versions of dark mystery miniseries tend to be tamer than what’s on streamers, but this one appears to have some visual style as the screen soaks up coastal British Columbia. Corpses keep appearing on the beach, and a bedraggled bearded police detective (Rossif Sutherland) gets dragged out of his desired hermit life. The interplay between him and his sunnier local partner, Kristin Kreuk, could add spice to the mystery proceedings.
“Nobody Wants This” (Thursday, Sept. 26, Netflix)
The pedigree: Talk about a title that sets itself on a tee for critics. And granted, I would’ve been more excited for a show co-starring Kristen Bell (now ubiquitous) and Adam Brody (oddly underexposed since “The O.C.”) a decade ago. The premise is good, though: Bell is an atheist and Brody is a priest, but they are extremely attracted to each other. The series comes along at a good time, with “Evil” being canceled, although that comparison won’t do “NWT” any favors.
“The Franchise” (Sunday, Oct. 6, HBO)
The pedigree: The superhero boom has included several attempts at humorous undercutting of the popularity, ranging from “Powerless” in 2016 to the current “The Boys.” “The Franchise” takes the cake for most meta, though, as we go behind the cynical curtain in a fictional story of big-budget superhero filmmakers. I’m thinking “UnReal,” but for superhero moviemaking instead of reality TV.
“Teacup” (Thursday, Oct. 10, Peacock)
The pedigree: Mike Flanagan is taking this October off (his 2024 project is a film adaptation of the Stephen King short story “The Life of Chuck”), but another horror maestro, James Wan, has our back. He’s executive-producing this miniseries about a proverbial tempest in a teacup. The peaceful farm life of Yvonne Strahovsky and Scott Speedman is upended by weird happenings around their property.
“Disclaimer” (Friday, Oct. 11, Apple TV Plus)
The pedigree: In this era of dark mystery streaming miniseries, here’s another one, but with extra style: Alfonso Cuaron writes and directs every episode, and Cate Blanchett stars. Kevin Kline returns for his most meaty role in a while, and the premise is hooky: A woman reads a new novel and discovers it mirrors secrets from her own life the author couldn’t know about.