What to Expect on TV in September

Can you believe that the fall TV season is nearly here? It’s hard to comprehend that summer is almost at an end and before we know it the holiday season will arrive; but before I get too far ahead, let’s take a look at just some of the great things to look forward to on TV in September:

First of all, Graceland will air its season finale on the USA Network on September 10 at 10 PM. And then the next day, Haven will be back for its much-anticipated fifth season on September 11 at 10 PM on Syfy.

The final episode of the Halle Barry CBS drama Extant will air on September 17 at 10 PM. That same night over on FOX, the new drama Red Band Society will debut at 9 PM. The series is based on the award-winning Spanish series Polseres Vermelles and takes a provocative, unconventional and, at times, comic look at the lives of patients in the pediatric ward of Ocean Park Hospital in Los Angeles. The cast includes Octavia Spencer (The Help), Dave Annable (Brothers & Sisters) and Ciara Bravo (Big Time Rush) [among others].

The Hallmark Channel movie Perfect on Paper will debut on September 20 at 9 PM. This made-for-TV movie is about an idealistic, young book editor, who reluctantly moves to Los Angeles to edit a famous author’s latest romance novel. As she struggles to maintain her integrity while battling the best-selling diva’s demands, she meets two very different men and learns that the best romantic choice is not always the one who looks best “on paper”. The cast includes Lindsay Hartley (Passions), veteran actress Morgan Fairchild and Drew Fuller (Army Wives).

The next day (September 21) the new CBS drama Madam Secretary will debut at 8 PM (with an encore episode at 10 PM). Téa Leoni stars as Elizabeth McCord, the shrewd, determined, newly appointed Secretary of State who drives international diplomacy, battles office politics and circumvents protocol as she negotiates global and domestic issues, both at the White House and at home. A college professor and a brilliant former CIA analyst who left for ethical reasons, Elizabeth returns to public life at the request of the President following the suspicious death of her predecessor. The President values her apolitical leanings, her deep knowledge of the Middle East, her flair for languages and her ability to not just think outside the box, but to not even acknowledge there is a box.

The new ABC drama Forever will air a special sneak preview on September 22 at 10 PM. The series is about Doctor Henry Morgan (Ioan Gruffudd from Ringer and the Fantastic Four franchise), New York City’s star medical examiner, who has a secret. He doesn’t just study the dead to solve criminal cases, he does it to solve the mystery that has eluded him for 200 years – the answer to his own inexplicable immortality.

Also that same night (September 22), The Blacklist will return for its second season on NBC at 10 PM while the season finale of Under the Dome will air on CBS at 10 PM. Earlier that night, the new fall drama Scorpion will debut on CBS at 9 PM. The series is inspired by a true story about eccentric genius Walter O’Brien (Elyes Gabel from Body of Proof) and his team of brilliant misfits who comprise the last line of defense against complex, high-tech threats of the modern age.

That’s not all for September 22, the new FOX drama Gotham will debut at 8 PM followed by Sleepy Hollow at 9 PM. The new series Gotham takes a look at the early years of Commissioner Gordon when he was just Detective James Gordon (Ben McKenzie from Southland and The O.C.) – on the job for only two weeks.

The next day (September 23), Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. will be back for another season at 9 PM followed by the timeslot premiere of Forever at 10 PM. Meanwhile over on CBS, NCIS will be back for its 12th season at 8 PM on CBS followed by the debut of spin-off series NCIS: New Orleans at 9 PM and the fourth season of Person of Interest at 10 PM. The NCIS spin-off series is about the local field office that investigates criminal cases affecting military personnel in the Big Easy.

September 25 will find Scandal back on the air on ABC at 9 PM followed by the debut of the new drama How to Get Away With Murder at 10 PM. This new series follows brilliant, charismatic and seductive Professor Annalise Keating (Viola Davis from The Help), who gets entangled with four law students from her class, “How to Get Away with Murder”.

The mid-season finale of Outlander will air on Starz on September 27 at 9 PM while the Hallmark Channel movie Midnight Masquerade debuting at 9 PM. This made-for-TV movie is about a beautiful, young businesswoman (Autumn Reeser from The O.C.) inherits her father’s billion-dollar candy company and searches to find romance in the mysterious, handsome “prince” she danced with at a costume ball.

It will be a big night of programming on ABC on September 28 with Once Upon a Time returning for its new season at 8 PM followed by the second season of Resurrection at 9 PM and Revenge at 10 PM.

Lastly on September 29, Castle will be back for another season on ABC at 10 PM and NCIS: Los Angeles will take on a new night (Mondays) and time (10 PM) on CBS.

There are many other viewing options throughout September. Please check our full September TV calendar when it is posted at the end of August.