It’s an election year, and the presidential race has been a roller-coaster ride — even more so than usual. Lots of eyes have been on the news and, undoubtedly, will continue to be this fall. It seems the networks and streamers have taken note because the steady stream of TV premieres will turn into a slow drip as election day approaches. (There’s also football season to contend with; for its legion of fans, the sport dominates what they watch in the fall.)
However, before and after the election, there’s a slew of television shows that should capture your attention or, at minimum, provide enough entertainment and distraction from what’s going on elsewhere. Among them are dramatic mysteries, comedies, adaptations, docuseries and reality dating shows that focus on older generations — a trend we’re starting to see pick up with fervor, much like the love depicted onscreen. Here, our television writers have picked a selection of series, new and returning, that they are looking forward to watching this fall.
‘Wynonna Earp: Vengeance’ (Tubi, Fall 2024)
Earpers never say die. The beloved supernatural western about a gun-slinging hereditary demon hunter and her ragtag family, which originally ran for four seasons on Syfy, is back again, this time as a 90-minute special on Tubi. Written and created by the original series creator, Emily Andras, who also serves as executive producer, “Wynonna Earp: Vengeance” will see Wynonna (Melanie Scrofano) — the great-great-granddaughter of famed lawman Wyatt Earp — back in her hometown of Purgatory in order to face “a psychotic villainess hellbent on revenge,” per the special’s logline. When the series concluded in 2021, audiences saw Wynonna ride off into the proverbial sunset with Doc Holliday (Tim Rozon), while her sister Waverly (Dom Provost-Chalkley) and bestie-turned-sister-in-law Nicole (Katherine Barrell) stayed behind on the homestead. I’m looking forward to finally finding out what the gang have been up to since. (For those who have yet to see “Wynonna Earp,” the series is available on Netflix.) — Tracy Brown
‘Moonflower Murders’ (PBS, Sept. 15)
When last we saw book editor Susan Ryeland (Lesley Manville) at the conclusion of 2022’s marvelous “Magpie Murders,” she was about to leave London for Crete, having almost been murdered by her murderous employer — a killing Susan solved with the metafictional, magically realistic help of Atticus Pünd (Timothy McMullan), victim Alan Conway’s fictional 1950s detective. The story played out ingeniously on converging lines within Susan’s world and Pünd’s, where he had a case of his own to solve. Now she’s in Crete, running a hotel with boyfriend Andreas (Alexandros Logothetis), and wouldn’t you know it, another of Conway’s books, coincidentally involving that very hotel, may hold the key to a cold case and a missing woman — plunging Susan back into sleuthing and returning Pünd from literary limbo. Author Anthony Horowitz (“Foyle’s War,” “Midsomer Murders”) again adapts his own novel. — Robert Lloyd
‘American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez’ (FX, Sept. 17)
In 2013, the sports world was rocked when news broke that Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez had been arrested and charged with the murder of Odin Lloyd, a semi-pro football player who was dating the sister of Hernandez’s fiancee. Hernandez’s life quickly unraveled: He was dropped from the Patriots and eventually found guilty of the murder and sentenced to life in prison. In 2017, he was found dead in his cell, ruled a suicide. FX’s limited series attempts to show how the football star from Bristol, Conn., never quite left his troubled home life behind and how the game may have contributed to his problems off the field. It’s based on the Boston Globe and Wondery podcast “Gladiator: Aaron Hernandez and Football Inc.,” and stars Josh Rivera (“West Side Story”) as Hernandez in what is sure to be a breakout role for the actor. — Maira Garcia
‘The Golden Bachelorette’ (ABC, Sept. 18)
“The Golden Bachelor” was last fall’s feel-good hit, a fairy tale about finding love after loss that helped reinvigorate a lagging reality franchise and turned a bunch of senior citizens into unlikely TV stars. Then, Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist decided to divorce a few months after marrying on live TV, and “The Golden Bachelor” suddenly felt like just another reality TV train wreck. This fall, ABC will try to make us forget all that with “The Golden Bachelorette,” a spinoff centered on Joan Vassos, a 61-year-old widow and contestant who left “The Golden Bachelor” early to care for her daughter as she struggled with postpartum depression. While Vassos wasn’t my first pick for the job — I was rooting for Leslie Fhima, the fitness instructor who was passed over by Turner and who once dated Prince — I look forward to seeing an older woman take center stage, and am curious how viewers will react to the sight of a grandmother (possibly) making out with multiple men on national television. All I can say is, “Go get ’em, Joan!” — Meredith Blake
‘Matlock’ (CBS, Sept. 22)
Good news for those of us still seething over NBC’s 2012 cancellation of “Harry’s Law”: Kathy Bates is once again outwitting opposing counsel and her own colleagues in the upcoming “Matlock” from CBS. It is not, mercifully, a reboot of the original and iconic series starring Andy Griffith, but fans of that “Matlock” will find tonal familiarities in this one. Madeline Matlock (Bates) is an obviously brilliant lawyer who has been out of the game but, for reasons of her own, wants back in. Like Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple, she uses her age, and the invisibility it thrusts upon her, to her best advantage — first to finagle her way into a position at a prestigious law firm and then to teach the young whippersnappers who run it a thing or two. Leaning into a Southern accent and folksy “don’t mind me” manner does not hurt either. She has her own agenda, of course, which makes “Matlock,” also starring Jason Ritter, Beau Bridges and Skye P. Marshall, a legal procedural with a pretty big twist. More important, it is a showcase for Bates, and I think we can all agree that she is always worth showcasing. — Mary McNamara
Jennie Snyder Urman, showrunner of ‘Matlock’ on CBS, talks about reimagining the character and why Kathy Bates is perfect for the role.
‘Social Studies’ (FX, Sept. 27)
Long before Lauren Greenfield traveled to central Florida to document the infamous “Queen of Versailles,” her best-known subjects were the kids growing up in the shadow of Hollywood. It was the filmmaker’s L.A. youth culture-centered photography that first garnered her acclaim in the ’90s: pre-pubescent teens gathered on a studio lot for a bat mitzvah, newly licensed friends driving with the top down to the beach, couples awkwardly dancing at prom. That’s why Greenfield’s latest project is something of a return to form — a five-episode docuseries exploring the effects that social media is having on young people today. Unvarnished portraits have become Greenfield’s speciality — first with “Versailles,” which focused on an ostentatious couple building the biggest mansion in the U.S., later with the Philippines’ Imelda Marcos and her enormous shoe collection in “The Kingmaker.” With access to freewheeling teens — and, more important, their phones — we can only imagine what “Social Studies” will reveal about life as a teenager in 2024. — Amy Kaufman
Lauren Greenfield’s latest project, “Social Studies,” is a five-part docuseries that looks at teen social media use and its effects. It premieres Friday at Telluride and comes to FX on Sept. 27.
‘Elsbeth,’ Season 2 (CBS, Oct. 17)
If there’s one thing television has been lacking in recent months, it’s the jolt of seeing Elsbeth Tascioni pop into a scene at a quirky angle as she cleverly delivers some good old-fashioned detective work. From husband-and-wife creators Robert and Michelle King, “Elsbeth” hails from “The Good Wife” universe and follows the fan-favorite, whip-smart and unconventional attorney, played brilliantly by Carrie Preston, who in Season 1 moved to New York from Chicago to work with the NYPD — but it’s a ruse; she’s really there to gather evidence on the police captain (Wendell Pierce). In between, she’s sleuthing on homicide cases with the help of a young officer (Carra Patterson). It’s a format that has fun with a revolving door of guest stars that, so far, have included Keegan-Michael Key, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Stephen Moyer. After a first season that consisted of just nine episodes — a result of last year’s Hollywood strikes — the sophomore one will come in at a more robust 20. It’s the sort of smart and perfectly silly TV that we could all use in these weird times. — Yvonne Villarreal
Returning to CBS Thursday after a hiatus, “Elsbeth” is centered on a character from the “Good Wife” universe, but the shows’ creators say the similarities end there.
‘Like a Dragon: Yakuza’ (Prime Video, Oct. 24)
It wasn’t too long ago that Hollywood’s abysmal track record for video game adaptations meant the skepticism from audiences (myself included) was as high as expectations were low. It also wasn’t too long ago that Hollywood’s abysmal track record in adapting Japanese media invoked similar apprehension. But things are a bit different now after several recent standouts that include prestige TV dramas, adult animation and family-friendly big-screen blockbusters. (Not to mention some successful anime adaptations.) So I’m hopeful for our next potential video game-based obsession. This crime thriller follows Kazuma Kiryu (Ryoma Takeuchi), a yakuza warrior who spent 10 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. The series, featuring a Japanese cast and creatives, also boasts the involvement of the Japanese studio behind the hit video game franchise. — Tracy Brown
‘St. Denis Medical’ (NBC, Nov. 12)
The mockumentary format is nothing new, but that doesn’t mean it’s tired. And after the election has come and gone, we will probably all be in need of a good laugh. That’s where this latest series from the minds of Eric Ledgin and Justin Spitzer, creator of NBC’s “Superstore,” comes in. It focuses on a group of nurses and doctors at a hospital in Oregon, most of whom work in the emergency room. The hospital is underfunded, understaffed and, oh, yeah, its staff still has to save people’s lives. The cast is a showcase of comedy, featuring Wendi McLendon-Covey, David Alan Grier and Allison Tolman. And if that weren’t enough, you’ll also get Josh Lawson, Kahyun Kim, Mekki Leeper and Kaliko Kauahi (another “Superstore” alum). Frontline medical workers don’t get enough credit for their labor, but here’s hoping that with some humor, it shines a light on the everyday things they have to deal with. — Maira Garcia
‘Bad Sisters,’ Season 2 (Apple TV+, Nov. 13)
“Bad Sisters” was one of the great TV surprises of 2022, a darkly funny whodunit about the five Garvey sisters — Eva (Sharon Horgan), Grace (Anne-Marie Duff), Becka (Eve Hewson), Ursula (Eva Birthistle) and Bibi (Sarah Greene) — who may or may not have conspired to kill Grace’s cruel and abusive husband, John Paul (Claes Bang). It becomes clear that one of them probably did the deed, and over the course of 10 episodes, we learn about the reasons they have for potentially killing the man they refer to as “The Prick.” Based on a Flemish series called “Clan” and developed by Horgan, the Dublin-set drama put a distinctly Irish spin on the successful formula of “Big Little Lies,” deftly balancing mordant humor with genuine suspense and convincingly tangled sibling relationships. The quality of the show’s ensemble — including Bang, who made for a deliciously awful villain, and Duff, who brought depth and complexity to her role as the long-suffering wife — more than made up for a few plot twists that strained credulity. Originally conceived as a limited series, the drama was renewed for Season 2, which will look at the emotional fallout of the killing. As Horgan has said, “Usually, you don’t kill a man and get away with it.” Although when it comes to the Garvey sisters, we probably hope that they do. — Meredith Blake
‘Say Nothing’ (FX on Hulu, Nov. 14)
After the delightful comedy “Derry Girls” and the moving docuseries “Once Upon a Time in Northern Ireland,” this nine-part dramatization of Patrick Radden Keefe’s engrossing history completes a watershed moment for the reexamination of the Troubles. Published in 2018, the New Yorker journalist’s investigation into the 1972 disappearance of single mother Jean McConville widens into a rigorous, deeply researched examination of the 30-year conflict among Catholics and Protestants, nationalists and unionists that engulfed Northern Irish life from the 1960s to the 1990s. FX’s adaptation, which counts Keefe and true crime specialists Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson (“American Crime Story”) among its executive producers, telescopes in on the IRA radicals behind some of the most shocking violence, including car-bombing sisters Dolours (Lola Petticrew) and Marian Price (Hazel Doupe), military commander Brendan Hughes (Anthony Boyle) and future Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams (Josh Finan). If the series is half as gripping as the book, it’ll be one of the most talked-about titles of the season. — Matt Brennan
‘Landman’ (Paramount+, Nov. 17)
After creating a few hit series with huge stars such as Kevin Costner (“Yellowstone”), Sylvester Stallone (“Tulsa King”) and Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren (“1923”), Taylor Sheridan isn’t done. “Landman,” his upcoming project with Billy Bob Thornton, seems like an early Christmas present. The Oscar winner (“Sling Blade”) toplines the drama set in what is being described as “the proverbial boom towns of West Texas.” Thornton has already demonstrated his star power on the small screen in “Fargo,” “Goliath” and other shows. “Landman” is based on the “Boomtown” podcast from Texas Monthly and is billed as an “upstairs/downstairs story of roughnecks and wildcat billionaires fueling a boom so big, it’s reshaping our climate, our economy and our geopolitics.” The cast also includes Jon Hamm and Demi Moore. Happy holidays. — Greg Braxton
‘Leonardo da Vinci’ (PBS, Nov. 18)
Name-above-the-title documentarian Ken Burns leaves his America-shaped box to travel over the ocean and back in time for a two-part, four-hour deep dive into the most famous and most mysterious figure of the Italian Renaissance. (Like Elvis Presley or Miles Davis or Bob Dylan, Da Vinci is known yet unknowable.) He was known as a painter, sculptor, architect, inventor, mapmaker, student of nature and doubtless a dozen other things we’ll learn in the course of this documentary. Stylistic innovations, relative to the Burnsean oeuvre, are promised, including split screen images; sounds and pictures from the future Da Vinci anticipated; a score by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Caroline Shaw, performed by contemporary ensembles Attacca Quartet, Sō Percussion and Roomful of Teeth; and sonorous Keith David stepping in for tumbleweed-dry Peter Coyote as narrator. — Robert Lloyd
‘Interior Chinatown’ (Hulu, Nov. 19)
A television show based on a book that tackles Hollywood’s history of stereotypical (mis)representation and its repercussions on Asian Americans by using the form of a teleplay of a fictional show? Sign me up. “Interior Chinatown” follows the story of Willis Wu, an actor who is stuck playing background characters on a police procedural called “Black & White” while dreaming of bigger things — like getting to play “Kung Fu Guy” instead of “Generic Asian Man.” (In case it’s not clear, it’s satire.) The series was created by the book’s author, Charles Yu, who has worked on shows such as “Westworld,” “Legion” and “American Born Chinese,” and the cast includes Jimmy O. Yang, Ronny Chieng, Chloe Bennet, Lisa Gilroy, Sullivan Jones, Archie Kao and Diana Lin. — Tracy Brown
The actor and comedian toiled for years in bit parts before getting his big break on HBO’s ‘Silicon Valley.’ Now, he’ll star in his first drama, Hulu’s limited series based on Charles Yu’s novel.
‘The Sex Lives of College Girls,’ Season 3 (Max, November 2024)
This show has been a favorite of mine — it’s smart and silly without being overly sentimental. Plus it showcases the talents of some very funny women: Pauline Chalamet as Kimberly, Amrit Kaur as Bela, Alyah Chanelle Scott as Whitney and, of course, Reneé Rapp as Leighton. In the finale of Season 2, we see Leighton rekindle things with love interest Alicia, and she forgoes moving into her sorority house after hearing some alumni make transphobic remarks. And, as it turns out, we’ll see less of her at Essex College: Last year, Rapp announced she would be leaving the series to focus more on her music career (she’ll appear in some Season 3 episodes before departing). So it will be interesting to see how the dynamic between the women evolves. Not only that, there are other threads to resolve: Will Bela actually transfer after her missteps with the Foxy crew? Will Kimberly admit her feelings about Canaan after Whitney saw them kissing? I can’t wait to find out. — Maira Garcia
YouTube. TikTok. ‘Mean Girls’ on Broadway. ‘Sex Lives of College Girls’ on Max. Now, her new album ‘Snow Angel.’ How Reneé Rapp became a Gen Z multihyphenate.
‘The Later Daters’ (Netflix, winter 2024)
As a faithful viewer of “Love Is Blind,” one of my ongoing gripes is that there should be an age minimum of 35 for the cast of singles. After all, issues at later stages of life can provide more compelling drama than a dude asking a woman whether he can lift her on his shoulders during a concert to gauge her body type. On the heels of “The Golden Bachelor” and “The Golden Bachelorette,” Netflix is upping its age range for its next reality dating series, “Later Daters.” It features a group of older singles looking for love and companionship — some are divorced, others widowed, and some just haven’t found their person. Harvard-trained behavioral scientist Logan Dry serves as a guide to the hopefuls as they embark on a series of dates, assessing their lifestyles and providing them with tips and suggestions as they dust off their dating skills. It’s wholesome, sure, but it’s also a reminder that cringe moments on a date can happen at any stage of life. The series is produced by Higher Ground, the media company started by former first couple Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, who continue their extensive creative partnership with Netflix. — Yvonne Villarreal
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