The Start of Fall TV

Unlike last year when we were all dealing with the aftermath of both the Writer’s Guild and the Actor’s Guild going on strike, putting the fall TV season numerous months behind schedule, airing most returning shows and the few new series in the Spring of this year instead of in September of 2023 with a truncated order of episodes, this TV season is pretty much on track with plenty of returning dramas coming back with new seasons and quite a number of new dramas getting ready to debut.

The following list covers the half-dozen dramas that will debut just this month on the major networks only. I am including trailers for each show in order for you to decide if you might be interested in watching some, any or all of them.

They appear in airdate order:

High Potential on ABC on September 17 at 10 PM

Based on the popular French series, this crime procedural stars Kaitlin Olson (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia) as Morgan, a single mom with three kids and an exceptional mind whose unconventional knack for solving crimes leads to an unusual and unstoppable partnership with a by-the-book seasoned detective (Daniel Sunjata from Rescue Me and Graceland).

The series also stars Javicia Leslie, Judy Reyes, Deniz Akdeniz and Garret Dillahunt.

Here is the trailer for High Potential:

Matlock on CBS on September 22 at 8 PM (this is a special airing as the show will begin airing weekly starting on October 17)

The series follows Madeline “Matty” Matlock (the one and only Kathy Bates) [who is not related to the original TV character of Ben Matlock] as she rejoins the work force at a prestigious law firm, where she uses her wily tactics to win cases and expose wrongdoing.

The cast includes David Del Rio, Jason Ritter, Leah Lewis, Skye P. Marshall as well as Eme Ikwuakor, Beau Bridges, Nicole de Boer and John Billingsley.

Here is a trailer for Matlock:

Rescue Hi-Surf on FOX on September 22 at 8 PM

This pulse-pounding Hawaii lifeguard drama will give off vibes of the 90’s hit series Baywatch (which it is not), following the personal and professional lives of the heavy-water lifeguards who patrol and protect the North Shore of O’ahu – the most famous and dangerous stretch of coastline in the world.

The series stars Arielle Kebbel, Adam Demos, Ian Anthony Dale, Shawn Hatosy, Zoe Cipres, Alex Aiono, Kekoa Kekumano, Sea Shimooka and Robbie Magasiva.

Here is a trailer for Rescue Hi-Surf:

Brilliant Minds on NBC on September 23 at 10 PM

Inspired by the extraordinary life and work of world-famous author and physician Oliver Sacks, the series follows a revolutionary, larger-than-life neurologist (Zachary Quinto from Heroes and Star Trek) and his team of interns as they explore the last great frontier – the human mind – while grappling with their own relationships and mental health.

The cast includes Donna Murphy, Teddy Sears, Tamberla Perry, Alexander MacNicoll, Ashleigh LaThrop, Spence Moore II and Aury Krebs.

Here is a trailer for Brilliant Minds:

Murder In a Small Town on FOX on September 24 at 8 PM

Based on the Edgar Award-winning book series by novelist L.R. Wright, Rossif Sutherland (the box office movie Timeline and TV series Reign and Three Pines) stars as Karl Alberg, who moves to a quiet coastal town to soothe a psyche that has been battered by big-city police work. But this gentle paradise has more than its share of secrets, and Karl will need to call upon all the skills that made him a world-class detective in solving the murders that, even in this seemingly idyllic setting, continue to wash up on his shore. Kristin Kreuk (Smallville, Beauty and the Beast and Burden of Truth) stars as Cassandra, a local librarian who becomes Alberg’s muse, foil and romantic interest.

Here is a trailer for Murder In a Small Town:

Doctor Odyssey on ABC on September 26 at 10 PM

This high-octane procedural stars Joshua Jackson as Dr. Max Bankman, a Connecticut physician who accepts the position of ship’s doctor for a luxury cruise ship where the staff works hard and plays harder. It’s all hands on deck as Max and his small but mighty medical team navigate unique medical crises and each other, miles from shore.

The cast includes Don Johnson as Captain Robert Massey, Hamilton alum Phillipa Soo as nurse practitioner Avery Morgan and Sean Teale as registered nurse Tristan Silva.

Here is a trailer for Doctor Odyssey:

So, do any of these new dramas interest you? If so, please share your thoughts in our comments section below.