Getting Ready for Fall TV (Conclusion)

Here is the conclusion of my three-part article series called “Getting Ready for Fall TV”:

Reminders: Each chart shows the full schedule for each night of the week for the major networks with the new shows highlighted in red (and in the case of Friday night’s schedule the new shows are in light gray). The season premiere or debut night is also provided for each returning and new show. Beneath each chart will be a description of each of the new dramas (and only the dramas) that air that specific night. Additionally, for each night that is applicable, there will be details on the summer cable shows that are coming to an end and any new cable shows that will be back for new episodes this fall.

FRIDAYS NIGHTS:

Friday Night TV Schedule

New Show Descriptions:

A Gifted Man on CBS is about surgeon Michael Holt (Patrick Wilson), who is an exceptional doctor living a materialistic life of luxury thanks to his work-obsessed career and powerful and wealthy patients. But, his ordered world is rocked when his ex-wife, Anna (Jennifer Ehle), an idealistic free-clinic doctor and the love of his life, mysteriously appears to him. The cast includes Margo Martindale and Julie Benz.

Grimm on NBC is about Detective Nick Burkhardt (David Giuntoli) thought he was ready for the grim reality of working homicide in Portland, Oregon. That is, until he started to see things he couldn’t quite explain. Like a gorgeous woman suddenly transforming into a hideous hag, or an average Joe turning into a vicious troll. Then, after a panicked visit from his only living relative, he discovers the truth about his visions: he’s not like everyone else; he’s a descendant of an elite group of hunters known as “Grimms” who are charged with stopping the proliferation of supernatural creatures in the world. And so begins his new life journey as he solves crimes with his partner (Russell Hornsby) who knows something about Nick has radically changed but can’t quite put his finger on it. Along the way, Nick finds himself unexpectedly getting help on some of the more difficult cases from Monro (Silas Weir Mitchell), a guy who seems normal at first but is soon revealed to be the Big Bad wolf. The cast includes Bitsie Tulloch, Sasha Roiz and Reggie Lee.

What Cable Has To Offer on Friday Nights:

Haven – The Syfy series based on the Stephen King novel “The Colorado Kid” has 5 more new episodes to air between now and the season finale on September 30. NOTE: There will be a marathon of episodes of Alphas on September 26 as well (check local listings for airtimes).

Strike Back – This new Cinemax military-espionage series started on August 12 and will run for 10 episodes with its season finale presumably set for October 21.

Torchwood: Miracle Day – The fourth season of the Doctor Who spin-off, now running on Starz, has two more new episodes to go before its finale on September 9 at 10 PM.

SATURDAY NIGHT:

Saturday Night TV Schedule

There are no new shows on Saturday nights but there are timeslots allotted for encore programming on NBC and FOX as well as “Comedytime Saturday” and “Crimetime Saturday” on CBS.

What Cable Has To Offer on Saturday Nights:

Doctor Who – The much beloved sci-fi series will be back with the remaining six new episodes of the current season, which started on August 27 and will end on October 1 when the season finale will air on BBC America at 9 PM.

Bedlam – The new BBC America series will debut at 10 PM on October 1. The supernatural series is set in an apartment building converted from a pre-Victorian lunatic asylum – the inhabitants experience the darker side of the building’s history when former asylum spirits come back to claim what they believe to be theirs and seek revenge on those who have wronged them. The cast includes Will Young, Charlotte Salt, Theo James, Joanna Page and Ashley Madekwe.

SUNDAY NIGHT:

Sunday Night TV Schedule

New Show Descriptions:

Once Upon a Time on ABC is about Emma Swan (Jennifer Morrison), who knows how to take care of herself because she’s a 28-year-old bail bonds collector who has been on her own ever since she was abandoned as a baby. But when the son (Jared Gilmore) she gave up years ago finds her, everything starts to change. Henry is now 10 years old and in desperate need of Emma’s help. He believes that Emma actually comes from an alternate world and is Snow White (Ginnifer Goodwin) and Prince Charming’s (Josh Dallas) missing daughter. According to his book of fairytales, they sent her away to protect her from the Evil Queen’s (Lana Parrilla) curse, which trapped the fairytale world forever, frozen in time, and brought them into our modern world. Of course Emma doesn’t believe a word, but when she brings Henry back to Storybrooke, she finds herself drawn to this unusual boy and his strange New England town. The cast includes Robert Carlyle, Jamie Dornan and Raphael Sbarge.

Pan Am on ABC is set in the world of 1960’s will be chronicles by following the pilots and stewardesses of the airline, including Dean (Mike Vogel), a cocky, charismatic and ambitious new pilot, who is secretly dating stewardess Bridget (Annabelle Wallis), a stunning beauty with a mysterious past; rebellious bohemian Maggie (Christine Ricci) who turns into a buttoned-up pro so she can travel the world; flirtatious Colette (Karine Vanasse), adventurous Kate (Kelli Garner) and her younger beauty queen sister Laura (Margot Robbie).

What Cable Has To Offer on Sunday Nights:

Leverage – The mid-season finale should have aired on August 28 at 9 PM on TNT. The remaining 8 episodes will be back on November 27. The show has also been renewed for a fifth season.

The Glades – This A&E police drama should air its season finale on September 4 at 10 PM. There is no confirmation yet on a third season for the show.

Lost Girl – The second season of the Canadian series will begin on (the Canadian channel) Showcase starting on September 4. American viewers can search out the episodes online or wait until season one begins to air on Syfy sometime early next year. There are 22 episodes in this second season.

True Blood – There are two more new episodes left to air between now and the September 11 season finale on HBO at 9 PM. The series has been renewed for a fifth season, which is expected to air next summer.

Breaking Bad – There are six episodes left in the current season, airing between now and season finale date of October 9 on AMC. The fifth and final season of the show will air next summer.

Drop Dead Diva – There are three more new episodes left in the show’s current season with the season finale set for September 18. An official announcement has not yet been made about a renewal for the Lifetime dramedy.

Boardwalk Empire – The HBO series will return for its second season at 9 PM starting on September 25.

Dexter – The Showtime series will be back for new episodes on October 2 at 9 PM.

Homeland – The new Showtime series will debut on October 2 at 10 PM. The series chronicles Marine Sergeant Nicholas Brody (Damian Lewis), missing since 2003, who is presumed to be killed in action. But he is found after a raid that is conducted on a terrorist safe house. Meanwhile, Carrie Anderson (Claire Danes), a CIA officer, believes he is now working for al Qaeda and has subsequently returned to carry out a terrorist attack on the United States. The public and other government officials believe Sgt. Brody is a war hero which further complicates the investigation. The cast includes Mandy Patinkin.

The Walking Dead – The AMC zombie-fest will return for a second season on October 16 at 9 PM.

Hell on Wheels – The new AMC western drama will debut on November 6 at 10 PM. The series is set in post-Civil War America, focusing on the story of Confederate soldier Cullen Bohannon (Anson Mount) and his quest for revenge over the wartime death of his wife. The cast includes Common, Colm Meaney, Dominique McElligott, Ben Esler, Philip Burke and Eddie Spears.

In conclusion, that is a lot of programming for which to keep track, but if you make up a calendar of premiere and ending dates as well as follow your local listings, you should be able to enjoy the madness that is the fall TV season.