By RODNEY HO/ rho@ajc.com, originally filed Sunday, September 18, 2016
If you still watch broadcast TV, this is the week where your DVR will fill up - and fast.
Among the biggest shows including CBS's "The Big Bang Theory" (10th season on Monday), NBC's "The Voice" (season 11 on Monday), CBS's "NCIS" (14th season Tuesday), CBS's "Survivor (33rd season Wednesday), NBC's "Law & Order: SVU (18th season Wednesday), Fox's "Empire" (third season Wednesday), ABC's "Modern Family" (eighth season Wednesday), ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" (14th season Thursday), NBC's "The Blacklist" (fourth season Thursday), ABC's "Shark Tank" (eighth season Friday), Fox's "The Simpsons (28th season Sunday) and ABC's "Quantico" (second season Sunday).
A few shows end their summer seasons, notably CBS's "Big Brother" and USA's "Mr. Robot" Wednesday and Starz' "Power" and "Survivor's Remorse" Sunday.
And if that DVR still has space, the broadcast networks are carting out a few new shows, most of which will be distant memories in 12 months time. They include Kevin James' "Kevin Can Wait" on CBS Monday, Kristen Bell and Ted Danson in a comedy "The Good Place" on NBC Monday, Milo Ventimiglia and Mandy Moore on highly anticipated NBC drama "This is Us" Tuesday, Kiefer Sutherland as president in ABC's "Designated a Survivor" Wednesday, a series about a female Major League Player in Fox's "Pitch" Thursday, a reboot of "MacGyver" on CBS Friday and a merger of animation and real life on Fox's "Son of Zorn" Sunday.
This covers Monday, September 19 through Sunday, September 25.
MONDAY
"The Big Bang Theory" 8 p.m. CBS (1oth season debut) — The gang deals with the awkward aftermath of an overnight liaison between Sheldon's mother and Leonard's father
"Dancing With the Stars" 8 p.m. ABC — Could Rick Perry be the first to go home?
"Gotham" 8 p.m. Fox (third season debut) — Gordon works as a bounty hunter while seeking answers about the Indian Hill escapees.
"The Voice" 8 p.m. NBC (11th season debut) — Two new judges: Alicia Keys and Miley Cyrus.
"Kevin Can Wait" 8:30 p.m. CBS (new series) — Kevin (Kevin James), a newly retired police officer, faces tougher challenges at home than he ever did on the streets
"The Case of: JonBenet Ramsey" 9 p.m. CBS—The unsolved JonBenét Ramsey murder is investigated by original investigators and new experts.
"Lucifer" 9:01 p.m. Fox (second season debut) — Lucifer's mother escapes from hell as he and Chloe investigate the killing of a stand-in actress.
"Major Crimes" 10 p.m. TNT — Major Crimes inches closer to the enigmatic mastermind in the Dwight Darnell murders.
"The Good Place" 10 p.m. NBC (new series) — Eleanor Shellstrop (Kristen Bell) enters the afterlife and begins her process of becoming a better person.
"Mary + Jane" 10 p.m. MTV — While at a bridal shower, Jordan and Paige partake of a new cannabis product that enables them to hear the inner monologues of everyone in attendance.
TUESDAY
"Brooklyn Nine-Nine" 8 p.m. Fox (fourth season debut) — Jake and Holt continue their new lives in Florida under the Witness Protection Program.
"Dancing With the Stars" 8 p.m. ABC (special night) —The first elimination.
"NCIS" 8 p.m. CBS (14th season debut) — The NCIS team investigates a deadly car explosion in Washington, D.C. that is linked to an NCIS special agent who disappeared six months ago while on a deep undercover assignment in Argentina.
"The Voice" 8 p.m. NBC (time slot debut) — The blind auditions continue.
"New Girl" 8:31 p.m. Fox (sixth season debut) — Nick returns early from his summer in New Orleans.
"Bull" 9 p.m. CBS (new series) — Renowned psychologist Dr. Jason Bull heads a prolific trial consulting service.
"Scream Queens" 9:01 p.m. Fox (second season debut) — It's years after the horrors of Kappa House, and Dean Munsch buys an abandoned hospital.
"Halt and Catch Fire" 10 p.m. AMC — Tensions rise over an offer to buy Mutiny; and Donna has a weekend alone, while Gordon and Cam bond over video games.
"Atlanta " 10 p.m. FX — Paper Boi goes nuts due to social media and Earn needs money.
"Marvel's Agents of Shield " 10 p.m. ABC (fourth season debut) — S.H.I.E.L.D. is again legitimatized and gets a new director as Coulson falls back into a roll as an agent.
"NCIS: New Orleans " 10 p.m. CBS (third season debut) — The team join forces with other federal agencies to track down a sniper targeting crowded areas of the city.
"This is Us " 10 p.m. NBC (new series) — Julie and Lindsie want Todd to bury the hatchet with son-in-law Will.
WEDNESDAY
"Blindspot" 8 p.m. NBC (time slot debut) — A corrupt DEA agent wants to sell missiles to a drug cartel.
"The Goldbergs" 8 p.m. ABC (fourth season debut) — The Goldbergs pay homage to the classic 1980s John Hughes' film "The Breakfast Club."
"Lethal Weapon" 8 p.m. Fox (new series) — An ex-Navy SEAL-turned-cop relocates to L.A. after the loss of his wife and baby in order to start over; and is partnered with a detective who's just returned to the job following a heart attack.
"Survivor" 8 p.m. CBS (33rd season debut) — Gen Xers vs. Millenials. Let's get it on!
"Speechless" 8:30 p.m. ABC (new series) — A mom is driven to do what's best for her family in this sitcom.
"Empire" 9 p.m. ABC (third season debut) — Hakeem was left at the altar, Lucious and Anika newly married, and someone falling off a roof during a fight.
"Law & Order: SVU" 9 p.m. NBC (18th season debut) — A child is discovered wandering alone in Central Park.
"Modern Family" 9 p.m. ABC (eighth season debut) — The Pritchett clan gather for Father's Day after the three families return from separate adventures.
"Big Brother" 9:30 p.m. CBS (18th season finale) — The finale three James Huling, Nicole Franzel, and Paul Abrahamian vie for $1 million.
"Black-ish" 9:31 p.m. ABC (third season debut) — Dre takes the family to Walt Disney World for a first-class, VIP vacation.
"Chicago PD" 10 p.m. NBC (fourth season debut) —Tthe team investigates a murder in which the victim appears to have been wearing a CPD-issued wire.
"Designated Survivor" 10 p.m. ABC (new series) — Kiefer Sutherland's character is thrust into the presidency when the entire cabinet and Congress die.
"Mr. Robot" 10 p.m. USA (second season finale)— Angela makes an unexpected acquaintance.
"Falling Water" 11 p.m. USA —A preview of "Falling Water," a drama about three disparate people who discover that they share a subconscious link via a common dream.
THURSDAY
"Easy"3:01 a.m. Netflix (new series) — Anthology series that explores diverse Chicago characters as they fumble through the modern maze of love, sex, technology and culture.
"Grey's Anatomy " 8 p.m. ABC (13th season debut) — One of the doctors becomes a patient, and Bailey attempts to deduce what happened
"Rosewood " 8 p.m. Fox (second season debut) — A new captain takes over the police department and immediately makes his presence felt.
"Superstore " 8 p.m. NBC (second season debut) — The staffers go on strike.
"The Good Place " 8 p.m. NBC (new series) — A flawed woman (Kristen Bell) finds out she's in a "heaven" type of place but realizes it was a mistake.
"Pitch " 8:59 p.m. Fox (new series) — A young pitcher adjusts to life in the spotlight after making history as the first woman to play Major League Baseball.
"Chicago Med" 9 p.m. NBC (second season debut) — Dr. Rhodes begins a fellowship in cardiothoracic surgery.
"Chopped" 9 p.m. Food (30th season debut) — Kefir and a basket ingredient with a "secret" history are at the forefront of the appetizer round.
"Notorious" 9 p.m. ABC (new series) — Behind the scenes of the murky relationship between criminal law and the media.
"The Blacklist" 10 p.m. NBC (fourth season debut) — Liz is abducted by a man claiming to be her father.
"How to Get Away With Murder" 10 p.m. ABC (third season debut) — The "Keating 5" begin their second year of law school with perhaps more baggage than they can handle
FRIDAY
"Transparent" 3:01 a.m. Amazon (third season debut) — Caitlyn Jenner will make a cameo this season.
"Longmire" 3:01 a.m. Netflix (fifth season debut) — Walt Longmire and his girlfriend survive a brutal attack.
"Hell's Kitchen" 8 p.m. Fox (16th season debut) — The final competition before the Summer Dance Slam heats up. Later, Dana plans a surprise for Faith's 16th birthday.
"Last Man Standing" 8 p.m. ABC (eighth season debut) — A bear wanders into Outdoor Man after Kyle leaves a door open on the loading docks.
"MacGyver" 8 p.m. CBS (new series) — Kell High School graduate Lucas Till stars as the new MacGyver.
"Dr. Ken" 8:30 p.m. ABC (second season debut) — Pat thinks Allison would be a good fit for a job opening at Welltopia.
"Shark Tank" 9 p.m. ABC (eighth season debut) — Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown touts the benefits of personalized shoe slides
"The Exorcist" 9:01 p.m. Fox (new series) — Two very different men tackle a family's horrifying case of demonic possession.
"Hawaii Five-O" 9 p.m. CBS (seventh season debut) — The body of a serial killer is found in Five-0 headquarters with an ivory chess piece in his mouth.
"Blue Bloods" 10 p.m. CBS (seventh season debut) — Evidence against Danny surfaces when the attorney general's office reviews his shooting of a serial killer.
"Van Helsing" 10 p.m. Syfy (new series) — After a three-year sleep, the mysterious Vanessa is resurrected in a world now ruled by vampires.
WEEKEND
"48 Hours" 10 p.m. Saturday CBS (29th season debut) — Always a sordid crime story nowadays.
"60 Minutes" 7 p.m. Sunday CBS (49th season debut) — Long-time "60 Minutes" newsman Morley Safer recently passed at age 84.
"Once Upon a Time" 8 p.m. Sunday ABC (sixth season debut) — The heroes plot to halt Hyde, and Emma develops a curious side effect.
"The Simpsons" 8 p.m. Sunday Fox (28th season debut) — Springfield burns to the ground.
"NCIS: Los Angeles" 8:30 p.m. Sunday CBS (eighth season debut) — There's a mole in the department.
"Son of Zorn" 8:30 p.m. Sunday Fox (new series) — The animated Zorn also spends time in the "real" world trying to connect with his son.
"Anthony Bourdain's Parts Unknown" 9 p.m. Sunday CNN (eighth season debut) — Bourdain visits Hanoi, Vietnam, and indulges in its singular cuisine with President Barack Obama.
"Family Guy" 9 p.m. Sunday Fox (14th season debut) — Stewie and Brian put together a children's band that rockets to the top.
"Power" 9 p.m. Sunday Starz (third season finale) — While in the middle of throwing the party of a lifetime, Ghost must slip away to retrieve evidence.
"Secrets & Lies" 9 p.m. Sunday ABC (second season debut) — The downward spiral of the heir to a private equity firm in Charlotte begins when his wife is found dead during a party for his father's retirement.
"Fear the Walking Dead" 9 p.m. Sunday AMC — Refugees flood into the hotel, including an unexpected refugee from the group. Meanwhile, Madison struggles to cope with the situation.
"Last Man on Earth" 9;30 p.m. Sunday Fox (third season debut) — Malibu under attack by a trio of armed invaders in hazmat suits
"Master of Sex" 10 p.m. Sunday Showtime — Masters and Johnson adjust to new partners.
"The Strain" 10 p.m. Sunday FX — New information surfaces from the Lumen.
"Quantico" 10 p.m. Sunday ABC (second season debut) — Alex is at "the Farm," the CIA's mysterious training facility, where she learns about the dark art of espionage
"Survivor's Remorse" 10:30 p.m. Sunday Starz (third season finale) — Reggie must deal with the surprise arrival of his father in Atlanta
"Motive" 11 p.m. Sunday USA (fourth season finale) — The whole team reunites when, three years after Judge Natalie Rodman's killer escaped, evidence in a recent homicide reveals the murderer may have resurfaced. The Season 4 finale.
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