By RODNEY HO/ rho@ajc.com, originally filed Sunday, September 13, 2015
This is the week before the official start of the increasingly dated concept of called the fall television season but a few shows are coming back as a few others end.
Say goodbye (for now) to ABC's "America Ninja Warrior" and Fox's "So You Think You Can Dance" Monday, CBS's "Zoo" Tuesday, NBC's "America's Got Talent" Wednesday , USA's "Graceland" Thursday and Hallmark's "Cedar Cove" Saturday. Lifetime's "Atlanta Plastic' finished up its first season Friday.
Shows returning: ABC's "Dancing With the Stars" Monday (airing late at 1:05 a.m. due to the Falcons game), Hulu's "The Mindy Project" moves from Fox Tuesday and E!'s 'Keeping Up With the Kardashians."
The biggest new show is FX's "Bastard Executioner" from the creator of "Sons of Anarchy."
And for the handful of folks who might care, "The Emmy's" air on Sunday. There's a certain zombie show that is not represented at all in the major categories. I explain why here.
This covers Monday, September 14 through Sunday September 20.
MONDAY
"American Ninja Warrior" 8 p.m. NBC (three-hour seventh season finale) — Contestants tackle the final three stages of the Mount Midoriyama course.
"So You Think You Can Dance " 8 p.m. Fox (12th season finale) — Two street and two stage dancers vie for the win.
"Monday Night Football" 8 p.m. ESPN, WSB-TV — The Atlanta Falcons open the season against the Philadelphia Eagles.
"Whose Line Is It Anyway " 9 p.m. the CW — Keegan-Michael Key guests.
"Awkward " 9 p.m. MTV — Jenna becomes popular; Matty struggles with being an outcast; Jake goes after a new girl; and Ally hosts a sex toy party.
"Faking It " 9:30 p.m. MTV— Amy questions her future after attending a college fair; and Liam believes he's found his real dad.
"Dancing With the Stars" 1:05 a.m. ABC (21st season debut) — Three dancers with Georgia ties are part of the crew: Kim Zolciak, Paula Deen and Tamar Braxton.
TUESDAY
"The Mindy Project" 3:01 p.m. Hulu (fourth season debut) — Mindy Kaling's Fox comedy has moved to Hulu.
"America's Got Talent" 8 p.m. NBC — Finale performances.
"Big Brother" 8 p.m. CBS (special night) — The final five evict one of their own.
"Labor Games" 8 p.m. TLC (new series) — A baby is born on camera after a woman goes into contractions while competing for prizes.
" Zoo " 9 p.m. CBS (third season finale) — Jackson and the team make a final attempt to find a cure to the worldwide animal pandemic, but come across a "hairy" obstacle that just may be impenetrable.
"Bastard Executioner " 10 p.m. FX (new series) — Wilkin Brattle, a warrior knight for King Edward I, becomes a farmer, but he can't shake his past in the premiere of this drama set in the Middle Ages.
"Best Time Ever With Neil Patrick Harris " 10 p.m. NBC (new series) — This variety show features A-list stars, performances, stunts, comedy skits, mini game shows, audience giveaways and hidden camera pranks.
"Public Morals " 10 p.m. TNT — Shea partners with O'Bannon, who ultimately has fun at Shea's expense.
"Flipping Virgins " 11 p.m. HGTV (new series) — Property expert Egypt Sherrod guides newbies through the process of buying and reselling homes in this series shot in Atlanta.
WEDNESDAY
"Big Brother " 8 p.m. CBS — The final three are set.
"Masterchef " 8 p.m. Fox (sixth season finale) — The Top 3 contestants create dishes for 30 restaurant guests who are in the judges' culinary orbits
"America's Got Talent " 9 p.m. NBC (10th season finale) — Atlanta's Craig Lewis Band are in the finals but not favored to win it all.
"Dating Naked " 9 p.m. VH1 (second season finale) — Chris and Kerri choose whether they want to pursue a romantic relationship with each other or with one of the other daters.
"The Jim Gaffigan Show " 10 p.m. TV Land — Jeannie's sister visits and goes on a date with Dave, which worries Jim and Jeannie.
" The League " 10 p.m. FXX — Pete and Andre stop speaking, and the league holds an auction draft, which leads to big problems.
" Impastor " 10:30 p.m. TV Land (first season finale) — Buddy flees Ladner after realizing there's a hit out on him.
THURSDAY
"Jeff Dunham: Unhinged in Hollywood" 8 p.m. NBC— Jeff Dunham performs live at the Dolby Theatre.
"Thursday Night Football" 8:25 p.m. CBS (eighth season debut) — Denver at Kansas City. The Broncos have won the last six meetings of these longtime rivals.
"Mat Franco's Got Magic" 9 p.m. NBC — Magician Mat Franco, Season 9 winner of "America's Got Talent," is captured traveling from Rhode Island to Las Vegas, wowing celebrities.
"Project Runway" 9 p.m. Lifetime — Fashion and technology collide when the designers seek recycled electronics in dumpsters in the season's second unconventional-materials challenge. So far, Atlantan Edmond Newton is doing well. He won his second challenge last week.
"Documentary Now" 10 p.m. IFC — A look at an Iceland festival that celebrates Al Capone.
"Graceland" 10 p.m. USA (third season finale) — The agents struggle in the aftermath of the gang war.
"Sex & Drugs & Rock 'n Roll" 10 p.m. FX (first season finale) — Gigi gets set up with a producer from the West Coast by Greg Dulli, a move that thrills Johnny—but mostly because Flash hates the idea.
FRIDAY
"Keith Richards: Under the Influence" 3:01 a.m. Netflix — A documentary about the indefatigable Rolling Stones rock icon.
"Cold Justice" 8 p.m. TNT (third season finale) — Kelly and Yolanda try to determine if two murder cases in Texas are connected.
"Tyler Perry's For Better or Worse" 9 p.m. OWN — Pam introduces her manager, Curtis, to Marcus and Angela, who immediately realize that her life may be in jeopardy.
"Atlanta Plastic" 10 p.m. Lifetime (first season finale) — Dr. Baron helping an Iraq war veteran who wants to get her body back in shape, and a woman whose dramatic weight loss has left her with sagging skin.
"Z Nation" 10 p.m. Syfy — The heroes are reunited, but soon find themselves navigating an unexpected tragedy as they engage in fierce fighting with both zombies and bounty hunters who are eager to capture Murphy, dead or alive.
WEEKEND
"Cedar Cove" 8 p.m. Saturday Hallmark (two-hour third season finale) — Olivia gives Paul advice on romance, but her relationship with Jack is plagued by uncertainty.
"Iyanla Fix My Life" 9 p.m. Saturday OWN (fourth season debut) — Walter's attempt to be a better father to his youngest son takes a hit when news comes that his former wife is dating a rock star.
"Blunt Talk" 9 p.m. Saturday Starz — Walter's attempt to be a better father to his youngest son takes a hit when news comes that his former wife is dating a rock star.
" Survivor's Remorse" 9:30 p.m. Saturday Starz — Cam feels the pressure on his first game back in Boston, while on a cultural tour of a plantation, M-Chuck delves into ongoing racial tensions.
" CMT Crossroads" 10 p.m. Saturrday CMT — REO Speedwagon and Sara Evans.
"The 67th Annual Emmy Awards " 8 p.m. Sunday Fox — Brooke Burke-Charvet and Chris Harrison host the legendary pageant, not to be mistaken for Donald Trump's Miss Universe.
"Keeping Up With the Kardashians " 8 p.m. Sunday E! (10th season debut) — Brooke Burke-Charvet and Chris Harrison host the legendary pageant, not to be mistaken for Donald Trump's Miss Universe.
"Fear the Walking Dead" 9 p.m. Sunday AMC — The family tries to escape L.A. but it's not traffic that hinders them.
"Ray Donovan" 9 p.m. Sunday Showtime — Ray comes up with a fix to help Mickey; Bridget gets into a fight..
"Masters of Sex" 10 p.m. Sunday Showtime — Johnson objects to Masters' program, due to missteps in protocol.
"Project Greenlight" 10 p.m. Sunday HBO — After a long break, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck again seek a new great filmmaker.
"The Strain" 10 p.m. Sunday FX — Justine gets in trouble with the mayor.
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