The new TV season is strong on mysteries (including “High Potential,” shown here), weaker on comedies, with a bit of non-fiction thrown in.
A previous story took an overview of the season for broadcast networks. Now here’s a show-by-show breakdown of what’s new; shows are listed chronologically, within each category.
MYSTERY
— “Moonflower Murders,” Sept. 15. In “Magpie Murders,” a book editor pondered two murders – one in a novel (set in the 1950s) and another in real life. Now she’s back at it. A book – based on a real-life murder – has hints about the real killer; one woman read it and fled. The six-week tale weaves cleverly between past and present, real and fictional. (9 p.m. Sundays, PBS).
— “High Potential,” Sept. 17. As a single mom with three kids, Morgan is a cleaning lady with little chance to flex her genius IQ. Now, however, she’s helping the police. Kaitlin Olson of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” stars. (10 p.m. Tuesdays, ABC.)
— “Matlock,” Sept. 22. Viewers savor the “Elsbeth” character, with her folksy, frilly way. Now comes Matty Matlock (Kathy Bates), who is both exactly like her and the complete opposite. (You’ll see what that means at the end of the first hour.) Bearing the same surname as a TV lawyer, she nudges into an upscale law office. The result is sleek and clever, (After the first showing, 8 p.m. on a Sunday, it’s 9 p.m. Thursdays, starting Oct. 17.)
— “Murder in a Small Town,” Sept. 24. Canadian-made shows tend to be solid and sturdy; this one is more — a quiet blend of Northern atmosphere and internal drama. Kristin Kreuk is excellent as a librarian. But the real find is Rossif Sutherland as the police chief. Tall (6-foot-5) and handsome, he plays an understated guy with a good heart. Rossif is Donald’s Sutherland’s son and Kiefer’s half-brother, but he grew up in France and has jumped between international projects without drawing mass attention … until now. (9 p.m. Tuesdays, Fox, but the opener is at 8)
— “The Marlow Murder Club,” Oct. 27. After the complexity of “Moonflower Murders,” PBS’”Masterpiece” has a gentle four-parter. The fun is in the first half, when three overlooked women probe a murder. The second half is mild, but sort of fun. (9 p.m., PBS)
MORE DRAMAS
— “Rescue Hi-Surf,” Sept. 22. Don’t expect many pin-up cuties in the “Baywatch” style. This is a fairly serious tale about people who save lives. The settings are gorgeous, the rescues are high-octane, the characters and stories are … well, borderline adequate. (After the opener, at 8 p.m. on a Sunday, it’s 9 p.m. Mondays on Fox, starting Sept. 23.)
— “Brilliant Minds” (Sept. 23)). The real Dr. Oliver Sachs was a fascinating figure. A British-Canadian-American neurologist, he was a champion weightlifter, a motorcyclist and a guy who swam daily in New York City’s harbor. He wrote many books, one of which (“Awakenings”) became an Oscar-nominated movie, with Robin Williams as Sachs. Now Zachary Quinto plays a slightly fictionalized version. The result seems exaggerated at times’s, but is an earnest effort – the only dead-serious show among the season’s new dramas. (10 p.m. Mondays, NBC)
— “Doctor Odyssey” (Sept. 26). On “Love Boat,” people didn’t even get seasick; the ship’s doctor was less important than the bartender. But this series – on a luxury liner captained by Don Johnson – focuses on the doctor (Joshua Jackson), nurse practitioner and nurse. Producer Ryan Murphy (“9-1-1”) and playwright Jon Robin Baitz, who combined for the Truman Capote mini-series, are in charge. (9 p.m. Thursdays, ABC)
— “Joan” (Oct. 2). Life moved quickly for the real Joan Hannington. She quit school at 13, married at 17, had a daughter at 18, fled to the city at 22. She became a jewel thief, mastering disguise and deception and later wrote the memoir this is loosely based on. Some of her heists seem extreme, but the skill of Sophie Turner (Sansa Stark in “Game of Thrones”) makes it believable. (9 p.m. Wednesdays, CW)
— “NCIS: Origins” (Oct. 14). Few TV characters have shown the eternal strength of Leroy Jethro Gibbs. As played by Mark Harmon, he did 19 season on “NCIS.” plus six episodes on other shows. Now he’s back, younger and taller. Played by Adam Stowell (with Harmon as narrator) he’s an ex-Marine, joining the Navy Investigative Service. His wife and daughter were killed; his three divorces and countless adventures are ahead. (9 p.m. Mondays, CBS)
COMEDY
— “Universal Basic Guys” (already started). Comedy fans have met this guy before – chubby, noisy, thick-headed, with an inexplicably tolerant wife. He’s been in some shows that are witty (from Jackie Gleason to Homer Simpson) and many that aren’t, including this animated one. He keeps trying the absurd, from buying a chimp to whale-fishing on a pleasure craft. (8 p.m. now, moving to 8:30 Sept. 29, Fox)
— “Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage,” Oct. 17. With one plot twist, a good series (“Young Sheldon”) became much better. Mandy (Emily Osment) became pregnant, then learned that Georgie (Sheldon’s brother, played by Montana Jordan) had lied about his age. He was 17; she was 28 and furious. But the real surprises came soon: Someone who seemed like a cliché rascal turned out to be a decent chap and a loving dad. Now he works for her father and lives with his new in-laws. (8 p.m. Thursdays, CBS)
— “Happy’s Place,” Oct. 18. Bobbie (Reba McEntire) has run her dad’s bar for years. Now that he’s gone, she’s in charge – for a moment; then she learns a half-sister she didn’t know is half-owner. McEntire makes good use of so-so material, but the other two main characters are badly written. Three other bar-workers make great use of small moments. (8 p.m. Fridays, NBC)
— “Poppa’s House,” Oct. 21. Damon Wayans plays a radio host whose life fills a tight space. His studio is in his home; his son (Damon Jr., logically) lives next door. But problems come when he’s forced to take a sparring co-host (Essence Atkins). A pilot was short on humor, but the show was subsequently being redone. (8:30 p.m. Mondays, CBS)
— “St. Denis Medical,” Nov. 12. It’s time for another sprawling, workplace comedy. Justin Spitzler has already given us “Superstore” and “American Auto”; now he’s one of the producers of a show set in a hospital. Allison Tolman (from the “Fargo” series) sttars as the chief nurse, with great support from David Alan Grier (as a world-weary doctor) and others. The result is scattered – as such shows tend to be – but funny. 8 p.m. Tuesdays, NBC.
UNSCRIPTED
— “The Golden Bachelorette,” Sept. 18. Fresh from the surprise ratings success of “The Golden Bachelor,” ABC switches gender. Surrounded by suitors is Joan Vassos, 61, a grandmother who dropped out of “Golden Bachelor” to help her daughter. (8-9:30 p.m. Wednesdays, ABC)
— “The Summit,” Sept. 29. What makes “Survivor” popular? Is it the quirky characters or the ordeal and agony? This show is banking on the latter: It sends 16 strangers into New Zealand’s mountain wilderness; the ones who reach the goal in time will share $1 million. The opener feels imposing, but has great scenery. (After the opener, at 8 p.m. on a Sunday, it’s 9:30-11 p.m. Wednesdays, starting Oct. 9, CBS)
— “Scrabble” and “Trivial Pursuit,” Oct. 7. Here are two new tries at turning these popular board games into game shows. They’re hosted by Raven-Symone and LeVar Burton, respectively. (8 and 9 p.m. Mondays, CW)
— “Scamanda,” Oct. 9. Using social media, Amanda Riley described her struggles with cancer. She drew sympathy and money … until reports came that it was all a hoax. The story is told by ABC News, in a documentary series with re-enactments. (10 p.m. Wednesdays, ABC)