Fall is fast approaching. It's sneaking up on us, but it'll be here before you know it, and everything that comes with it: red and orange falling leaves, hoodies, refusing to go outdoors for fear of the cold, and thus by extension, a never-ending rotation of TV shows to watch from the comfort of your couch. To that effect, we're here to help, as we've picked out choice TV shows that will premiere this fall, on both cable television networks as well as online streaming services. We've chosen shows that are sure to check one of your boxes, or all of them-- a mix of sitcoms, dramas, and thrillers. What're you most excited to check out?
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Mayans M.C
FX is coming back with a Sons of Anarchy spin-off. Director Elgin James grew up surrounded by gang violence and drew on his experiences to create this series. The series will follow Ezekiel 'EZ' Reyes (J.D. Pardo from SOA), a college student turned biker-gang convict, while he hides a secret that may cost him his life. Mayans M.C. premieres on FX and begins streaming on NEON on September 5th.
Kidding
Jeff, aka Mr. Pickles, is a Mr. Rogers-like children's television mogul played by Jim Carrey. He is admired and held in good esteem by the general public, seemingly a source of wholesome fun for the children he caters to, and the adults that foster them-- with an entire branded empire behind him. As chaos slowly erupts in Jeff’s life, a peak of which we see in the trailer, he too also begins to implode. The first series Carrey has done in over a decade premieres on Showtime on September 9th.
Maniac
Maniac is being described as a “psychological dark comedy” and it stars Jonah Hill and Emma Stone. If that sentence alone isn't enough to make you want to tune in, there’s more. The series is told from the perspective of two different narratives, one is a patient currently in a mental asylum and the other is in the patient’s mental-- a multi-faceted fantasy world. The patient is described as “overweight and lazy” in the mental asylum, while his fantasy-world appearance is wealthy and famous. Maniac hits Netflix on September 21st.
Rel
Fox is returning to multi-camera comedies with the new series, Rel. Rel was inspired by executive producer Rel Howrey’s life, centering in on Lil Rel, whose wife was caught in an affair with his barber. This challenges Rel’s "happy-go-lucky" lifestyle while he attempts to rebuild a life in search of love, spirituality, and a new barber. Rel will debut on Fox on September 9th.
The Purge
Cable television is about to get hit with a purge. Director James Demonaco told Vulture that the show required a new approach as opposed to the films: "It’s not a punch in the face the way the movies were. It is a slower burn, except one character is off and running from the first scene. We said, ‘Let’s at least have one that’s on a hot burner, and make sure it’s not boring.’" The Purge takes place in an American city-- it's unknown which one-- with just as much violence as the film franchise. Demonaco hinted at some return characters, as well, we may find out how life is the other 364 days of the year, when the city is not in the midst of a purge. The Purge hits USA Network on September 4th.
The Neighborhood
This new CBS sitcom series set around two very different families living right next door to each other and then a bunch of funny situations happen; a trope you've probably seen in TV before. However this one, which stars Cedric the Entertainer (who also acts as executive producer), also hopes to encourage a dialogue about race in the process, setting the scene when a white family moves into a predominantly black neighborhood. The Neighborhood premieres October 1 on CBS cable television.
Homecoming
Julia Roberts makes her TV debut as Heidi Bergman, a caseworker at the Homecoming Transitional Support Center, assisting soldiers transition back into civilian life. Four years later her character had started a new life when an auditor comes to the restaurant she works at with questions about why she left the facility. Roberts begins to rethink her past and discovers there is more to her story. The highly-anticipated Homecoming premieres on Amazon on November 2nd.
The Romanoffs
The Romanoffs is Matthew Weiner’s return to TV following the formidable Mad Men. The storyline consists of people who believe themselves to be modern descendants of the Romanov family, a Russian royal family who were executed and buried in 1918. Every episode will have a different cast and a different location. The Romanoffs will premiere on Amazon on October 12th.
Manifest
Manifest was inspired by the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 and explores how the world would react if a missing plane along with its passengers suddenly reappeared. Montego Air Flight 828 landed safely after what they thought was a perfect flight but returned to find that the world had aged five years and their friends and family had given up hope of finding them. Some of the returned passengers realize that their fate is more important than ever before. Manifest premieres on NBC on September 24th.
Forever
The Saturday Night Live duo Fred Armisen and Maya Rudolph realign in new Amazon show titled Forever. The show follows the two’s relationship through their honeymoon phase to the boring and familiar stages of marriage with hilarious one-liners. The indie TV series premieres on Amazon on September 14th.
All American
The new CW series follows a stand-out, young football student, Spencer James, originally from Compton who gets recruited to Beverly Hills High. The series highlights James trying to find his way in a new environment. This is inspired by the true story of the life of NFL player Spencer Paysinger. All American aires on The CW on October 10th.
The First
This new series, coming from the same creators as House of Cards, is set to document the first visit to Mars by humans. Sean Penn stars in the fictional series, which will not only explore the trials in going to outerspace, but the idea of living there too -- and the team that remains back on Earth. The end of the trailer reads, “any time people venture into the unknown, there is a cost.” The First premieres on Hulu on September 24th.
The Bad Seed
Rob Lowe reimagines the classic 1956 Oscar-nominated horror film for Lifetime. The new TV series is described as “more graphic to what was implied and insinuated from the original film.” The manipulative empath, Rhoda, changes her name to Emma and is played by McKenna Grace (young Tonya Harding in I, Tonya). If you’re not familiar with the classic, Lowe will play a single father who thinks he has everything under control until an accident happens at his daughter, Emma's, school and he is forced to protect her with a terrible secret. If you want some good ol' horror, The Bad Seed will premiere on Lifetime on September 9th.
Happy Together
This American comedy series follows a young married couple whose Saturday nights quickly adjust from binge-watching TV to hosting the world’s most well known pop star, all thanks to Jake’s (Damon Wayans) accounting firm taking off. Happy Together premieres on CBS on October 1st.