1) “Matlock” debut, 8 p.m. Sunday, CBS. This may be the best new show on any of the broadcast networks. In a tradition that goes from Miss Marple to Elsbeth, it gives us an older woman who’s underestimated until she solves the case. Then, however, it flips that cleverly. Kathy Bates (shown here) is perfect as a lawyer who bears the same surname as an old TV lawyer. Read more…
1) “Have I Got News For You” debut, 9 p.m. ET, CNN. This has been big in England – even winning best-comedy awards – for 34 years. It’s a quiz about the news, hoping for witty replies. To nudge that along, several comedians will be there: Roy Wood Jr. hosts, with Amber Ruffin and Michael Ian Black (shown here) as team captains. Read more…
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.) Read more…
1) Football, 8 p.m. ET, Fox. For five years, Fox filled almost every Friday with wrestling. Now the wrestlers have returned to the USA Network; to fill the gap, Fox switches to football, starting with Arizona (shown here) ranked No. 20, at Kansas State, No. 14. At 7, Kansas hosts UNLV (University of Nevada – Las Vegas). Read more…
1) “America’s Got Talent,” 8 p.m., NBC. Now we learn the rest of the field for next week’s finale. Twelve acts performed Wednesday (one day later than usual) and viewers voted. Half will advance, along with the “golden buzzer” winners – singer Dee Dee Simon and aerialist, acrobatic and (shown here) “air dance” groups. Read more…
By American tradition, there are three big events each September.
It’s the start of the school year, the football season and the TV season.
Now the first two are here and in full form. But the TV season?
Most years, each big, broadcast network has about five new, scripted shows, most of them starting in September.
This year, there are four on CBS (including “Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage,” shown here), three each on NBC and Fox, two on ABC, one on CW. Seven start in September, four wait until October, one until Nov. 12. Read more…
1) “MTV Video Music Awards,” 8 p.m., MTV, BET, CMT, Comedy Central; also, MTV has a preview at 6:30, repeats awards at 11. Megan Thee Stallion (shown here) hosts and performs. Also performing: Katy Perry (the Video Vanguard winner), Lenny Kravitz, Sabrina Carpenter, Shawn Mendes, Camila Cabello, LL Cool J, Halsey and more. Read more…
In a war of words, Anthony Horowitz could easily top Alan Conway.
Both are writers, but Horowitz is sharper, smarter and more real. Conway, his fictional creation, is an unpleasant chap.
He’s “the exact opposite of me,” Horowitz told the Television Critics Association. “And I have a lot of fun having a dig at him.”
Conway was killed in PBS’ “Magpie Murders.” He’s back (via flashbacks) in “Moonflower Murders” (shown here) at 9 p.m. on six Sundays, starting Sept. 15 — again implying that mystery writers are a nasty bunch. No one should marry one, he says, because they’re the most self-centered people in the world.
In real life, Jill Green did marry a mystery writer and seems happy about it. She and Horowitz have been married for 36 years; she’s the producer for many of his shows, including “Foyle’s War,” “Alex Rider,” “Moonflower” and more. “We can still argue in a room, … but I love it,” she said. Read more…
1) Presidential debate, 9-10:30 p.m. ET, ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, PBS, BET and news channels. It’s a high-stakes night at the Constitution Center (shown here) in Philadelphia, under firm rules. David Muir and Linsey Davis ask the questions; Kamala Harris and Donald Trump have two minutes each to reply, and are muted otherwise. Trump won a coin flip and goes last in closing remarks. Read more…
1) “Monday Night Football” season-opener, 8:20 p.m. ET, ABC and ESPN. A year ago, the Jets’ expectations soared. They had traded for Aaron Rodgers, a four-time MVP with the highest career quarterback rating. Rodgers (shown here) threw one pass (incomplete) and, on his fourth play, was injured. He returns tonight, facing the 49ers. Read more…
