2017 Fall TV Recommendations
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Fall is one of the best times of year for television fanatics. It is usually when the networks are putting out the best of the best in both new and returning programs. If you are like me, you already have your favorite shows programmed in your DVR, have scoped out the fall premieres you want to try out, and are excited for Fall TV Season 2017 to begin. Or, if you are a normal person and you haven't been spending your time researching the fall line-up, you may be overwhelmed by all the great shows out there to watch, so I thought I'd give you my personal list of what I'm excited for this fall. As I have stated before, I am not a film critic or a television expert, and I recognize that there will definitely be other great programs out there to watch this fall that I am not listing here. But, I feel I can only recommend shows I myself have watched, and I can't watch them all. So with out further ado, here is my list of shows I'm most excited for (shows will be listed in the order they premiere):
New Shows
To be honest, there wasn't that many new things premiering this fall I was super excited about, and in fact, most of the new shows I want to try this year will be mid-season premieres this winter. But these two were standouts for me, and are ones I will definitely be tuning into.
Ghosted
Premieres: Sunday, October 1 at 8:30pm on Fox
Plot
Here is the official summary from Fox's website:
"A new comedy from 20th Century Fox Television, 3 Arts Entertainment, and Gettin’ Rad Productions, a cynical skeptic (Craig Robinson), and a genius “true believer” in the paranormal (Adam Scott), are recruited by a secret government agency to look into the rampant “unexplained” activity in Los Angeles -- all while uncovering a larger mystery that could threaten the existence of the human race. Craig Robinson and Adam Scott will both serve as executive producers, in addition to starring. Other EPs are Naomi Scott, Oly Obst, Mark Schulman and Tom Gormican (“That Awkward Moment”), who penned the pilot. Kevin Etten (“Workaholics,” “Scrubs,” “Desperate Housewives”) has signed on as showrunner and will also serve as an exec producer."
Checkout the trailer here:
Why I'm Excited
Darryl Philbin and Ben Wyatt investigating the paranormal? Sign me up! Two things you should know about me: I love supernatural/fantasy shows and movies, and Parks and Rec and The Office are two of my all time favorite TV shows. So this show seems like it was made specifically for me, and I'm really hoping that it lives up to my expectations!
The Mayor
Premieres: Tuesday October 3 at 9:30pm on ABC
Plot
Here is the official summary from ABC's website:
"Young rapper Courtney Rose (Brandon Micheal Hall) needs his big break. For years, he's toiled away in a small inner-city apartment, making music in his junk-filled bedroom closet. Tired of waiting for opportunity, Courtney cooks up the publicity stunt of the century: Running for mayor of his hometown in California to generate buzz for his music career. Unfortunately for Courtney, his master plan goes wildly awry, ending in the most terrifying of outcomes: An election victory. With the help of his mother (Yvette Nicole Brown, Community) and friends, including Valentina (Glee's Lea Michele), Courtney will have to overcome his hubris if he wants to transform the struggling city he loves."
Check out the trailer here:
Why I'm Excited
With all the new political shows coming out recently, this one seems like it will be refreshing take on the genre. Not only does it look hilarious, but the cast seems like they mesh well together. And like many great comedies, it appears that it will not only have big laughs, but heartwarming moments as well. This show seems like it has all the qualities of comedies that I have enjoyed in the past, so hopefully it will prove me right.
Now I know there are a lot of other new shows premiering this fall, so if you want to decide for yourself what you think you will be interested in, click here to check out this awesome article from TV by the Numbers about all of the new shows coming out this year.
Returning Shows
Obviously all of these shows will have at least one season under their belt, so you will have to catch up in order to start watching them when they return. But I promise they are all worth it, so if you see anything that you like, I will try to list where you can watch them in order to be all caught up!
This is Us
Returns: Tuesday, September 26 at 9pm on NBC
Currently on Season: 2
Plot
This Is Us stars Mandy Moore (A Walk to Remember), Milo Ventimiglia (Heroes, Gilmore Girls) and Sterling K. Brown (The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story). It follows an amazing ensemble of characters (who all share the same birthday) throughout different phases of their lives. Kate is on a journey to loose weight, while also finding new love. Kevin is a famous actor who is starting to realize how lonely his life in the limelight can be. Randell has just found his birth father, and embarks on a journey to learn where he comes from. And Jack and Rebeca are about to begin one of life's biggest journeys - parenthood to triplets. The show beautifully depicts each person's journey, as we in the audience discover how they are all connected, and how life will always find a way of surprising you.
Check out the trailer for season one below:
Why You Should Watch It
I was on board with this show as soon as I saw that Milo and Mandy were starring. I grew up watching Gilmore Girls and Mandy Moore movies, so this show was calling my name. However I did not expect just how much I would fall in love with it, and how much I would connect with the characters. It is so raw, and has the ability to make you cry at least once an episode. There is a reason it was one of the most talked about shows in America last year, and it's because we don't normally see shows this realistic anymore on television, and I think it was something people didn't realize they were missing. With the vast amounts of programming out there today, a lot of shows seem like they have to always being doing things bigger and better to get noticed. But This Is Us was able to get back to the basics and make a show about average people dealing with everyday problems, that had a way with connecting to its audience. If you somehow have not hopped on this band wagon yet, I highly recommend that you do before season two starts, I promise it will be worth it!
Where You Can Catch Up
Depending on when you are reading this post, I know that NBC will have the entire first season available to stream on their website for a limited time. If you happen to miss that opportunity though, you can also catch up on Hulu if you have a subscription.
For Returning Viewers
NBC has released a season two trailer, but it doesn't show any new footage, and pretty much just sums up season one for new viewers. However, it is still a super cute video, so make sure to watch it below! They have also released a few clips from the first episode which you can also find below. And let me know whose story you are most excited to see more of in the comments section! I know for me personally it will be to find out what happens with Jack and Rebeca after their terrible fight in the finale.
How to Get Away With Murder
Returns: Thursday, September 28 at 10pm on ABC
Currently on Season: 4
Plot
Middelton University Professor Annalise Keating (Viola Davis) is a celebrated, well-respected, and feared criminal defense attorney. Every year she picks who she thinks will be the four best students in her class to help her with her cases and learn from not only herself, but also her assistants Frank (Charlie Weber) and Bonnie (Liza Weil). They are coveted positions that managed to be earned by Michaela Pratt (Aja Naomi King), Connor Walsh (Jack Falahee), Asher Millerstone (Matt McGorry), and Laurel Castillo (Karla Souza). This year however, Annalise makes an exception to her rule and also chooses Wes Gibbins (Alfred Enoch) as a fifth member of her group (known as the Keating 5). But when the Keating 5 end up involved in a murder case themselves, they will have to use what they have learned from Annalise to try to get away with what they have done.
Check out the trailer for season one below:
Why You Should Watch It
I will admit, this show does not have as much of my attention as it did in it's spectacular first season. However, the format the show is done in has a way of always pulling me back in each year to solve the new season's mystery. The first and last few minutes of each episode always flash forward in time to show the new mystery the Keating 5 are involved in, and the season eventually builds up to meet those flash forwards in the end, showing you how they got involved in the situation to begin with. The cast is great, and Viola Davis is spectacular as Annalise. I love seeing such empowering women on television, and she definitely is one of the best. The show has also been able to spark positive conversation about both same sex and interracial couples and represents many minorities in it's story.
Where You Can Catch Up
You can watch the entire series on Netflix, or if that is too much for you, the last five episodes of season three are available on Hulu as well. You may also be able to catch up using the on demand feature of your cable provider depending on the company you have.
For Returning Viewers
There has not been an official trailer released yet for season four, but ABC did just release a new TGIT promo which you can watch below. And let me know in the comments section if you were shocked by who was under the sheet last season, and how long you think it will take the Keating 5 to figure out who killed them. I personally was not prepared for who it was, and I can't wait to see how the rest of this plot plays out.
Once Upon a Time
Returns: Friday, October 6 at 8pm on ABC
Currently on Season: 7
Plot
All of your favorite Disney characters are back in this twisted and darker version from the writers of Lost. In Once Upon a Time, all fairy tale characters live together in one world called the Enchanted Forest, with the main focus being on Snow White (Ginnifer Goodwin) and Prince Charming (Josh Dallas). But in this version, the Evil Queen (known as Regina) is not happy that Snow White got her happy ending, and enacts a curse on everyone to send them to a horrible land (AKA a small town in Maine called Storybrook). In Storybrook, there is no magic, no one will remember who they are, and time stands still. There is nothing that can be done about the curse, but there is a way to break it, and it lies with Snow White and Charming’s newborn daughter Emma. It has been prophesied that Emma (Jennifer Morrison) will escape the curse, and that in 28 years, she will be drawn to Storybrook to break it. And sure enough on her 28th birthday, Emma is brought to Storybrook by her biological son Henry. Emma gave Henry up 10 years prior, and he happened to be adopted by none other than the Evil Queen herself (Lana Parrilla). It is up to Henry to convince Emma that magic is real, and that it is her destiny help everyone rediscover who they truly are.
Check out the trailer for season one below:
Why You Should Watch It
I'm a huge Disney fan, so getting a more grown up version of all of those characters together in one universe was a huge draw for me. The first season is great, as each episode focuses on a specific character, and Emma helping them discover their true identity. We get to see what is happening to them in Storybrook, and flashbacks of their retold stories in the Enchanted Forest. I love how all of the characters' stories are connected, and the new twists that are put on them for the show. It takes the classic themes of Disney such as good always wins over evil, and that love conquers all, and includes them so organically into the show, to give it that classic fairy tale feeling, but with more adult story lines.
Now I'm sure some of you are thinking that you will not have time to watch six seasons of a new show before October, but if that is the case, this would actually be the perfect time for you to skip the binge and just tune in live. Now, normally I would not encourage you skip so much of a show to catch up to where it is live, but it just so happens that this season the show will be doing a reset. With the exception of three returning characters from the original cast, the show will be featuring entirly new characters and lands, and will essentially be starting over with a new story and curse. So it would be possible to tune in now, and then if you like it, catch up after this season to see Snow, Charming, and Emma's story later on.
Where You Can Catch Up
You can find the entire series on Netflix, and if you only need to catch up on season six, that season is available on Hulu for a limited time.
For Returning Viewers
Hello fellow Oncers! A lot of great stuff was released at Comic Con this year about the next season of OUAT, which you can check out below. And I would love to hear your thoughts on the upcoming season in the comments section. Are you excited to see the new story book that Henry will be entering, or did your journey in Storybrook end with original cast? I'm the type of person that has to see a show through until the end, so I will definitely be tuning back in (especially since Hook will still be on...), but I would love to hear what you guys think!
Riverdale
Returns: Wednesday, October 11 at 8pm on The CW
Currently on Season: 2
Plot
The small town of Riverdale is turned upside down when Jason Blossom, the son of one of the most influential families in town, is killed on the Fourth of July. Based on the Archie Comic series, Riverdale follows the lives of the teens at Riverdale High, particularly those of Archie Andrews (K.J. Apa), Betty Cooper (Lili Reinhart), Jughead Jones (Cole Sprouse), Cheryl Blossom (Madelaine Petsch), and newcomer Veronica Lodge (Camilla Mendez), as they try to figure out who killed Jason, and why. But the more they discover about Jason's murder, the more they discover about the dark past of not only their town, but their parents as well.
Check out the trailer for season one below:
Why You Should Watch It
With two of my longest running teen dramas ending last year, The Vampire Diaries and Pretty Little Liars, I obviously needed to find a new teen show to add to my roster. Riverdale, which premiered during their final seasons, definitely helped cushion the blow of loosing these two long time favorite teen shows. I never read the Archie comics as a kid, and I know the show premiered to a lot of controversy between fans of the comics and television watchers who had not read them, so I will just say that not having read them, I love the show. Not only did it have some great casting in Cole Sprouse (The Suite Life of Zack and Cody), Luke Perry (90210), and Molly Ringwald (The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles), but the story its self was like a perfect blend of Gossip Girl and Twin Peaks. The show definitely appeals to an audience of any age, and is a refreshing take on the teen drama. If you were a fan of Gossip Girl, Pretty Little Liars, Vampire Diaries, or even The O.C. and One Tree Hill, and are looking for a new guilty pleasure to watch, I highly suggest you check it out.
Where You Can Catch Up
The entire first season can be found on Netflix, and for a limited time, various episodes will be available to stream on The CW's website and mobile app.
For Returning Viewers
If you haven't already, check out the trailer for season two below! I'd also love to hear your thoughts on season one! Were you shocked when you found out who killed Jason? And what do you think the fate of Archie's dad will be? Let me know in the comments section!
Stranger Things
Returns: October 27 on Netflix
Currently on Season: 2
Plot
Mike, Dustin, Lucas, and Will are four best friends growing up in a small town. But when Will goes missing, they know that something strange is going on, especially after they meet Eleven. A young girl on the run, with a mysterious past, Eleven tries to help the boys figure out how to get Will back from the strange creature that took him. And the boys aren't the only ones who believe something strange is happening in town. Will's mom Joyce, and Office Hopper also don't believe Will just vanished, and even though no one else in town believes them, they too set out on a mission to get Will back. Set in the eighties with outstanding costuming, soundtrack, and sets, this show will transport you back to the time of The Goonies, Alien, and E.T.
Check out the trailer for season one below:
Why You Should Watch It
If you are somehow among the few people who hasn't hopped on this band wagon, there is a reason this show has so much hype around it. It has all of the best qualities of classic 80s films, an amazing cast, and a story that will have you hooked from the first episode. Also, the shortened season count (only eight in season one) allows for the show to get right to the good stuff without having filler episodes. Even if you are not into syfy and fantasy shows, this show still has so much to offer besides those elements, as it also focuses on friendship, family, and relationships.
Where You Can Catch Up
Obviously since this is a Netflix show, that is pretty much the only place you can catch up on it.
For Returning Viewers
If you haven't seen the new trailer for season two, you need to check it out below! And I would love to hear your thoughts on season one in the comments section. Were you among those who thought Barb was greatly misused? Are you dying to know what happened to Eleven? And what do you think is going on with Will? Let me know your thoughts!
The Crown
Returns: December 8 on Netflix
Currently on Season: 2
Plot
The Crown is a historical based drama about 25 year old Queen Elizabeth II as she tries to learn how to rule one of the world's most famous monarchies and be a good wife, all while forming a new relationship with Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill.
Check out the trailer for season one below:
Why You Should Watch It
I'm not usually one to be super interested in history, so this show did not seem like it would keep my interest. However after I read more about it, I became fascinated with Queen Elizabeth II and her journey to becoming the powerful ruler we know today. She is such a strong and influential female leader, and when I began watching the show, I quickly found myself very invested in her story. While the show is obviously not always one hundred percent accurate to history, it is fairly close to actual events, and the costuming, acting, and sets are stunning. I will admit, it does have a bit of a slower pace to it, but the first season is only 10 episodes long, so it is still easy to watch fairly quickly.
Where You Can Catch Up
As with Stranger Things, this is a Netflix show, so that is the only place you can catch up on it.
For Returning Viewers
Netflix very recently released the trailer for season two, which you can check out below. I also want to hear your comments on the show. What was your favorite part of Elizabeth's journey this past season? How do you think that things will play out between both her and Phillip, and her and Margaret? Let me know your thoughts below!
If you have other recommendations of returning shows you think people should tune into, let me know in the comments below! And also be sure to click here to check out this great Fall TV schedule from E online for when your other favorite shows will be coming back. Happy fall watching everyone!
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