WATCH LIST
Keep your eye on these new shows this fall
YEAH, we know. Summer’s not over yet.
Still, those back-to-school ads are already starting to appear, so why not take a look ahead to what’s on tap for the new fall TV season? Here are a few new fall shows that require your attention.
“Manifest” (NBC, Sept. 24)
When an airliner lands after a turbulent flight, its passengers and crew are relieved, thinking they’ve made it through a bumpy few hours. But to the outside world, they’ve been gone for five years.
“Murphy Brown” (CBS, Sept. 27)
The successful revivals of “Will & Grace” and “Roseanne” inspired this relaunch of one of CBS’ most successful sitcoms. With Murphy (Candice Bergen) well past retirement age, it will be interesting to see how her “FYI” team fares as they return to the airwaves in the current sociopolitical climate. The original gang (Faith Ford, Joe Regalbuto and Grant Shaud) returns with one important addition — Murphy’s grown son Avery, played by Jake McDorman.
“A Million Little Things”
(ABC, Sept. 26) ABC’s answer to “This Is Us” finds a group of friends staring into the abyss of their personal lives after the most successful among them unexpectedly jumps off his office balcony. Ron Livingston, David Giuntoli and Stephanie Szostak star.
“The Romanoffs” (Amazon, Oct. 12)
A new anthology series from Matthew Weiner (“Mad Men”) tells eight separate stories about people who believe themselves to be descendants of a Russian royal family, the Romanoffs. Stars include “Mad Men” alums John Slattery and Christina Hendricks, Isabelle Huppert and the seldom-seen Marthe Keller.
“The Conners” (ABC, Oct. 16)
ABC infamously axed Roseanne Barr from her own “Roseanne” revival and cobbled-together this series. Can Dan (John Goodman), Jackie (Laurie Metcalf ) and Darlene (Sara Gilbert) carry on? And how will they explain Roseanne’s absence? Expect a big opening rating.
“Maniac” (Netflix, Sept. 21)
Dr. James K. Mantleray (Justin Theroux) convinces 10 strangers to participate in a three-day drug trial that promises to permanently solve their psychological and emotional problems. It doesn’t go well. Participants include Annie Landsberg and Owen Milgram (Jonah Hill and Emma Stone, left).
“Escape at Dannemora” (October, Showtime)
Patricia Arquette plays Joyce Mitchell, the real-life Dannemora prison employee who helped two inmates, Richard Matt (Benicio Del Toro) and David Sweat (Paul Dano), escape from Clinton Correctional Facility in upstate New York. The limited series is directed by Ben Stiller.
“Mayans M.C.” (FX, Sept. 4)
In the next chapter of Kurt Sutter’s “Sons of Anarchy” saga, Ezekiel “EZ” Reyes (JD Pardo, right) is fresh out of prison and a prospect in the Mayans M.C. charter on the Cali/Mexico border.