Fall TV Preview

For decades the major networks on linear TV held sway over what viewers watched each fall at the start of each new TV season.

Since the launch of YouTube – the online video platform that launched in 2005 – and then the debut of powerhouse streaming service Netflix in 2007, however, the sway that linear TV holds over TV viewers has become something very, very different.

Now, when you ask a fellow TV viewer – whether they are avid viewers like those of us here at NiceGirlsTV, middle of the road viewers who watch as often as they can or even just casual viewers who watch as little as possible, opting to do almost anything than to be stuck inside watching their TVs – a concept that is completely foreign to me, but I digress – how they watch TV, I would hazard a strong guess that many will say they “only watch streaming.”

The sad truth is the major networks – and even a lot of the cable networks – are struggling to get viewers to watch their programming when it is actually set to air, and the once tried and true Fall TV season (any TV season for the last two decades, more specifically) on ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC and the CW (in whatever facet that network has been over the years), is withering away.

When people watch TV, they want it to be at their convenience; in other words, gone are the days of “appointment TV.” Now, TV viewers can binge their shows any time they want, and the days of waiting for “must see TV” to happen, is simply a thing of the past.

But, that isn’t stopping the major networks from still holding onto their Fall TV seasons and making the best of what they have to offer, but it sure does look a lot different from just two decades ago.

If you are interested in knowing what the major networks have planned for the upcoming 2025-2026 Fall TV season – which will get underway in just about two week’s time – then check out what’s in store for September and October. Please keep in mind what I’m providing below are the dramas only, as that is my favorite genre.

September TV:

The FOX medical drama Doc will be back for a second season starting on September 14 at 8 PM and then the series will move to its regular timeslot of 9 PM on September 23.

The highest rated new drama of last TV season, High Potential, will be back for a second season on ABC on September 16 at 10 PM.

The Zachary Quinto-led medical drama Brilliant Minds will be back for a second season on NBC at 10 PM on September 22.

The second season of the Rossif Sutherland and Kristin Kreuk FOX drama Murder in a Small Town will premiere on September 23 at 8 PM.

The CW will debut the Canadian drama Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent at 8 PM on September 24.

The Law & Order franchise will roll out all of its shows on NBC on September 25 with the flagship series Law & Order back for its 25th season at 8 PM followed by the 27th season of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit at 9 PM and then at 10 PM the 5th season of Law & Order: Organized Crime.

October TV:

The Dick Wolf Chicago One franchise will get underway on NBC on October 1 with Chicago Med, Chicago Fire and Chicago P.D. airing at 8, 9 and 10 PM respectively.

The relocated FOX drama 9-1-1 will be back for its 9th season, now on ABC for its third season there, starting at 8 PM on October 9 followed by the brand-new spin-off series 9-1-1: Nashville – that will star NCIS: Los Angeles alum Chris O’Donnell and Grey’s Anatomy alum Jessica Capshaw – at 9 PM followed by the tried and true Grey’s Anatomy, now in its 22nd season – at 10 PM.

Over on CBS, the reboot of Matlock, starring the one and only Kathy Bates, will be back for its second season on October 12 at the special time of 8:30 PM followed by the third season premiere of Elsbeth at the special time of 9:30 PM.

FBI, the only show within that franchise to survive the cancellation block, will make its 8th season premiere on CBS at 9 PM followed by the second season premiere of Watson at 10 PM.

NCIS, the mothership of the long-running CBS franchise, will air its 23rd season premiere on October 14 at 8 PM followed by the prequel series NCIS: Origins at 9 PM and then the 3rd season premiere of NCIS: Sydney at 10 PM.

The red-hot series (pun intended) Fire Country will air its 4th season premiere on CBS on October 17 at 8 PM followed by Sheriff Country, the debut of its spin-off series, starring Firefly and Homeland alum Morena Baccarin, at 9 PM and the pilot episode of the spin-off series Boston Blue, that finds Donnie Wahlberg reprising his Blue Bloods role of Detective Danny Reagan – now working for the Boston Police Department, at 10 PM.

And lastly, Tracker – starring This Is Us hunk Justin Hartley – will air its 3rd season premiere on CBS on October 19 at 8 PM.

Make sure to mark your calendars!