The fall TV season isn’t just about new shows. It’s also about returning favorites. And if you’re like us, you’re happy that your regular series are back with all-new episodes. If the summer’s TV offerings didn’t captivate you, there are shows in the fall lineup to bring you back to the warm glow of your TV. Here are the shows we’re especially happy to welcome back and why.
Broadcast network shows
New Girl – Fox - September 17 at 9 p.m.
Last season ended with a cliffhanger that had Schmidt (Max Greenfield) faced with a choice between Cece (Hannah Simone) and his new flame Elizabeth (Merritt Wever). Who will Schmidt choose? And what will happen with Nick and Jess? Also, keep an eye out for Damon Wayans Jr., he’ll be reprising his role as Coach this season.
The Mindy Project – Fox - September 17 at 9:30 p.m.
Season two starts on a high note with the guest appearances by James Franco, aka That Guy Who’s Everywhere These Days. Franco plays a dreamy OB-GYN/sex therapist who’s been filling in for Dr. Lahiri (Mindy Kaling) while she was in Haiti with her boyfriend. As the new season begins, Mindy is faced with a big life decision.
How I Met Your Mother – CBS - September 23 at 8 p.m. – one-hour season premiere
It’s the ninth and final season of the long-running comedy so you can expect to see a lot of Ted and the eponymous mother, played by Cristin Milioti (star of the Broadway show Once). We’re also expecting lots of Robin and Barney goodness as well as the usual dose of Marshall and Lily fun.
Modern Family – ABC - September 25 at 9 p.m. – one-hour season premiere
In the one-hour season opener, Phil and Claire try to have a kid-free week, while Jay and Gloria prepare Manny for a solo trip to Colombia. Luke and Manny start high school at the same school where Cam is substitute teaching. Claire goes back to work while Mitchell tries to balance Lily's first day of pre-school with an important meeting of his own.
Parks and Recreation – NBC - September 26 at 8 p.m. – one-hour season premiere
The Pawnee gang travels to London in the season opener, and we can’t wait to see some of them try to speak the King’s English. Look for Donna (Retta) to spend more time with Leslie Knope Wyatt this season. Rashida Jones and Rob Lowe will be departing the show midway through this season, but we’re expecting some funny Chris Trager-Ann Perkins moments before then. We’re dying to see what Ron Swanson (Nick Offerman) is up to and whether he gets along with the Brits. Also, will Tom Haverford (Aziz Ansari) give the Brits fashion swag tips or will he simply affect an accent like Madonna?
The Big Bang Theory – CBS - September 26 at 8 p.m.
As the seventh season begins, Sheldon (Jim Parsons) and Penny (Kaley Cuoco) share intimate secrets while Leonard (Johnny Galecki) is away at sea. Later, Sheldon’s feelings are crushed when Leonard returns. Meanwhile, Raj (Kunal Nayyar) gets consoled about his ex-girlfriend and the relationship between Wolowitz (Simon Helberg) and his mother causes an unusual threat to his masculinity. Look for Regina King to return as Mrs. Davis, the university’s director of employee relations, and Kevin Sussman returns as Stuart, the comic-book store owner.
Saturday Night Live – NBC - September 28 at 11:30 p.m.
Tina Fey returns to host the show’s season opener with musical guest Arcade Fire. Rumors are rampant that David Bowie may turn up as he sings on the band’s new single “Reflektor.” We’re betting on other guests to turn up as well to kick off the new season.
Cable Comedies
Key & Peele – Comedy Central – September 18 at 10:30 p.m.
The sketch comedy duo that’s taken mimicry to new heights returns for their third season. Look for sketches such as East-West Bowl Name Derby II, Obama’s Stance on Drone Strikes and Metta World Peace Delivers the News. This season’s guest stars include the aforementioned Metta World Peace (fka Ron Artest), James Callis (Battlestar Galactica), David Giuntoli (Grimm), Colin Hanks, Jason Schwartzman, Malcolm Jamal Warner and comedy talents Gabriel Iglesias, Andrew Daly, Natasha Leggero and Jack McBrayer (30 Rock).
Eastbound and Down – HBO - September 29 at 10 p.m.
**Note: followed by Stephen Merchant’s new comedy Hello Ladies at 10:30 p.m.
This is the final season for Eastbound and Down, the show that Danny McBride and Jody Hill have always shot as if it’s a movie. Look for guest stars Lindsay Lohan, Ken Marino (Children’s Hospital, Burning Love webseries) and Tim Heidecker (Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!).
Hello Ladies stars Stephen Merchant (co-creator of the British version of The Office, Extras, Life’s Too Short) as a gawky Brit moves to Los Angeles to find the woman of his dreams but has trouble fitting in socially. Nate Torrance and Kevin Weisman co-star as Merchant’s friends—one is recently separated from his wife, and the other is just obnoxious. The show was created by Merchant and is written by Merchant, Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky. Merchant directed the pilot.
Which comedies have you been waiting for? Tell us which shows are your favorites.
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