TVLine’s Picks and Passes: 12 New Shows to Watch (or Skip) This Fall
That crisp chill in the air, Halloween decorations on shelves, pumpkin-spiced everything… yep, fall is nearly here, and so is a whole lot of new television.
More than two dozen brand-new TV shows will hit your screens throughout September, October and November, several of which are worth sampling when they first premiere. Others? Well, not so much. Fortunately, TVLine’s official Picks and Passes are in, to help you sort through the upcoming small-screen deluge. (Looking for scoop on returning shows instead? We’ve got you covered with our Fall TV Preview here.)
More from TVLine
Below, our editors have highlighted 12 freshmen from broadcast, cable and streaming: nine that you’ll definitely want to check out this fall, and three you can safely cut from your watchlists. Note: For this particular feature, we only considered series that provided at least one advance screener to the press; thus, shows like CBS’ NCIS: Origins and Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage, and ABC’s Doctor Odyssey, were omitted. (Go here for the full Fall 2024 TV calendar.)
Does WandaVision spinoff Agatha All Along cast a memorable spell? Do ABC’s High Potential and NBC’s Brilliant Minds live up to their promising titles? And do we, in fact, want Netflix’s Nobody Wants This? Keep scrolling to get Team TVLine’s take on this fall’s best and worst new offerings, then drop a comment with the titles you plan to sample.
WATCH: Agatha All Along (Disney+)
Equal parts Hocus Pocus, The Wizard of Oz, Blues Brothers, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Josie and the Pussycats, this WandaVision follow-up is very much its own, magically delicious thing, featuring divine performances by Kathryn Hahn, Patti LuPone and Joe Locke — and at least one musical performance that will haunt you. (Wednesday, Sept. 18, at 9/8c; first two episodes) — Matt Webb Mitovich
WATCH: Cross (Prime Video)
Launched into motion by a heartbreaking cold open, this adaptation of the long-running series of James Patterson novels digs deep into what makes Alex Cross tick while teeing up not one but two tantalizing mysteries. Aldis Hodge is a fine fit in the title role, but Isaiah Mustafa even more uncannily evokes BFF John Sampson. (Thursday, Nov. 14; all eight episodes) — M.W.M.
WATCH: English Teacher (FX)
This brutally honest look at high school life today is a breath of fresh air, finding big laughs in the plight of public school teachers caught between whiny students and angry parents. Star/creator Brian Jordan Alvarez is a major new talent — and unlike so many so-called “comedies” these days, this one is actually funny. (Premiered Sept. 2; new episodes air Mondays at 10/9c) — Dave Nemetz
WATCH: Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist (Peacock)
Come for the early Ocean’s Eleven vibe and ridiculously stacked cast (including Kevin Hart, Samuel L. Jackson, Don Cheadle, Taraji P. Henson and Terrence Howard); stay for a groovy, gritty, 1970s-set gangster drama that takes more than a few cues from Pulp Fiction. (Premiered Sept. 5; new episodes release every Thursday) — M.W.M.
WATCH: High Potential (ABC)
Network crime procedurals are a dime a dozen, but ABC’s new entry stands out from the pack, thanks to Kaitlin Olson’s terrific performance as a single mom who uses her genius-level IQ to help cops solve the cases they can’t crack. The supporting cast is strong, too, and the premiere packs enough smart twists to make sure we’re hooked. (Tuesday, Sept. 17, at 10/9c) — D.N.
WATCH: Nobody Wants This (Netflix)
Let’s be real: We would watch Seth Cohen Adam Brody as a hot rabbi who falls for a snarky shiksa played by Kristen Bell no matter how good or terrible the series is. But happily, Nobody Wants This is a true rom-com with charming chemistry, genuine laughs, plenty of swoon-y moments and a supporting cast full of scene-stealers from Veep, Succession and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. We definitely want this! (Thursday, Sept. 26; all 10 episodes) — Vlada Gelman
WATCH: St. Denis Medical (NBC)
We can understand why NBC recently ordered five more episodes of this mockumentary-style hospital comedy. Led by Allison Tolman (Fargo), Wendi McLendon-Covey (The Goldbergs) and David Alan Grier (The Carmichael Show), St. Denis Medical‘s ensemble is a deep bench of comedically gifted performers who instantly turn this fictional hospital staff into characters we want to watch every week. Just like Superstore and American Auto before it — two of series co-creator Justin Spitzer’s previous gems — St. Denis Medical is quirky, charming and laugh-out-loud funny. (Tuesday, Nov. 12, at 8/7c) — Rebecca Iannucci
WATCH: The Summit (CBS)
Sixteen regular Americans (no influencers here!) trek to the top of the New Zealand Alps, and if they can do it in 14 days or less, they’ll earn their fair share of $1 million. Along the way, they face death-defying challenges and brutal eliminations, blending elements of survival shows with strategic gameplay from competition series. The gut-wrenching decisions they’re forced to make along the way only add to the show’s appeal and edge-of-your-seat tension. Plus, the thing is gorgeous to look at — lush cinematography, for the win! (Sunday, Sept. 29, at 9/8c (special night and time); Episode 2 airs in regular Wednesdays-at-9:30 time slot on Oct. 9) — Nick Caruso
WATCH: Three Women (Starz)
Based on Lisa Taddeo’s bestselling book, the adaptation proves even better than its source material, in large part because of Betty Gilpin’s masterful performance as Lina. Chronicling the real-life experiences of women in pursuit of pleasure, the series offers a fresh take on intimacy and all its complexities, while challenging the male gaze in revolutionary ways. Plus, there are tons of steamy scenes… featuring male nudity like we’ve seldom seen on TV. (Friday, Sept. 13, at 10/9c) — Claire Franken
SKIP: Brilliant Minds (NBC)
If you’re looking for a competently made network medical drama about a cantankerous clinician who refuses to play by the rules… then now feels like as good a time as ever to revisit Fox’s House. Not even Zachary Quinto can save this drab, cliché-riddled procedural. It’s said to be inspired by the work of Dr. Oliver Sacks, but it pales in comparison to the Oscar-nominated 1990 film Awakenings, which was based on Sacks’ book of the same name and cast Robin Williams as the esteemed neurologist. — Ryan Schwartz
SKIP: Rescue: HI-Surf (Fox)
It’s not that Fox’s Hawaii-set rescue drama is necessarily bad, but with so many other shows about first responders to choose from, it does little to stand out from the pack. A love letter to the people who keep the North Shore safe, HI-Surf prides itself on staying grounded and realistic — but is that really what we want from the network that birthed the delightfully over-the-top 9-1-1 franchise? — Andy Swift
SKIP: Universal Basic Guys (Fox)
Don’t let the early Season 2 renewal fool you: Fox’s newest ‘toon doesn’t hold a candle to the likes of The Simpsons, Bob’s Burgers and Family Guy — which, even in their advanced age, are all vastly superior to this insipid, visually uninspired addition to the Animation Domination lineup. — R.S.
Best of TVLine
Sign up for TVLine's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Solve the daily Crossword
