By RODNEY HO/ rho@ajc.com, originally field Sunday, September, 20, 2015
The increasingly dated concept of a new fall season returns, courtesy of the broadcast networks.
This mean, we get some of the biggest network shows coming back. Among them: "The Big Bang Theory," "Gotham," "The Voice," all three "NCIS" shows," "Law & Order: SVU," "The Simpsons," "Family Guy," "60 Minutes," "Castle," "Modern Family," "Grey's Anatomy," "Scandal," "How To Get Away With Murder," "Shark Tank," "Blue Bloods," and "Once Upon a Time," to name a few.
CBS also says goodbye to "CSI" on Sunday night after 16 years with returns of some earlier cast members, including William Peterson.
And some new-ish shows pop up, including the "retooling" of "Heroes" on NBC called "Heroes Reborn" on Thursday and TV adaptations of two movies: "Minority Report" on Fox Monday and "Limitless" on CBS Tuesday. Plus, "The Muppets" are revamped on ABC Tuesday in a "Office"-style mockumentary.
Other notable news shows: NBC's "Blindspot" Monday featuring a woman with massive tattoos on her found in Times Square that sounds a bit like "Prison Break" meets "The Blacklist." Ryan Murphy on Tuesday returns on "Fox" with a show that includes some of the glibness of "Glee" with the darkness of "American Horror Story." And on Sunday, ABC rolls out Don Johnson in the oil-drenched soap "Blood & Oil" which evokes a bit of "Dallas" of yore.
This covers Monday, September 21 through Sunday, September 27, 2015.
MONDAY
"The Big Bang Theory" 8 p.m. CBS (ninth season debut) — Sheldon is confused about Amy calling a timeout on their relationship.
"Gotham " 8 p.m. Fox (second season debut) — Penguin is asked for help from an unlikely source.
"Dancing With the Stars " 8 p.m. ABC — Can Kim Zolciak redeem herself after her awful salsa last week?
"The Voice " 8 p.m. NBC (ninth season debut) — Adam Levine and Blake Shelton have been on every season, joined by Gwen Stefani and Pharrell Williams.
"Life in Pieces " 8:31 p.m. CBS (new series) — A family's ups and downs as seen through the eyes of each of its members.
"Minority Report " 9 p.m. Fox (new series) — The TV-adaptation of the 2002 sci-fi film about a cop in a futuristic hi-tech squad that, in 2065, attempts to stop horrific crimes before they happen with help from a mysterious precognitive man.
"Scorpion " 9 p.m. CBS (second season debut) — A nuclear-powered Russian satellite is knocked out of orbit and the team reunites to divert its course before it detonates over Southern California.
"NCIS: Los Angeles " 9:59 p.m. CBS (seventh season debut) — Callen goes rogue and embarking on a secret mission that leaves Sam and the team in the dark.
"Blindspot " 10 p.m. NBC (new series) — An unidentified woman with amnesia is found in Times Square covered with tattoos, including one tattoo bearing an FBI agent's name.
"Castle " 10:01 p.m. ABC (eighth season debut) — Castle searches for a missing Beckett following a call from a mysterious stranger.
TUESDAY
"The Muppets" 8 p.m. ABC (new series) — Jim Henson's lovable puppets return to the small screen in this mockumentary-style series that follows their personal and professional lives.
"NCIS" 8 p.m. CBS (13th season debut) — Gibbs fights for his life aboard a Navy hospital ship after being shot.
"Scream Queens" 8 p.m. Fox (new series) — Ryan Murphy blends horror and sororities.
"Fresh Off the Boat" 8:30 p.m. ABC (second season debut) — Louis reluctantly brings the family along on a business trip to Gator World
" Dancing With the Stars " 9 p.m. ABC — Double elimination. Kim Zolciak is in trouble.
" NCIS: New Orleans " 9 p.m. CBS (second season debut) — A military convoy is bombed on a bridge.
"Bastard Executioner " 10 p.m. FX — Charges of treason are leveled against an unlikely suspect.
"Limitless " 10 p.m. CBS (new series) — A man named Brian Finch develops superhuman abilities after taking a mysterious drug called NZT.
"Public Morals " 10 p.m. TNT — Rusty seeks revenge after discovering two of his soldiers were murdered.
WEDNESDAY
"Survivor " 8 p.m. CBS (31st season debut) — Twenty returning castaways, who were voted in by fans, arrive in Koh Rong, Cambodia.
"Rosewood " 8 p.m. Fox (new series) — A brilliant private pathologist (Morris Chestnut) helps the Miami police department solve its toughest investigation.
"The Middle " 8 p.m. ABC (seventh season debut) — Sue's excitement about moving into her dorm turns to dread when she's forced to cut her hair.
"The Mysteries of Laura " 8 p.m. NBC (second season debut) — A boy is abducted and the police must delve into his family's secrets in order to rescue him before time runs out.
"The Goldbergs " 8:30 p.m. ABC (second season debut) — Erica and Barry help Lainey plan a big house party inspired by the movie "Risky Business."
"Empire " 9 p.m. Fox (second season debut) — The season picks up three months after the arrest and incarceration of Lucious.
"Law & Order: SVU " 9 p.m. NBC (17th season debut) — The squad revisit a crime scene where bodies were buried by a serial killer.
"Modern Family " 9 p.m. ABC (seventh season debut) — Haley tries to stopaAndy from proposing to Beth.
"Worst Cooks in America" 9 p.m. Food (seventh season debut) — Celebrities such as Barry Williams and Kendra Wilkinson learn how to cook.
"Big Brother " 9:30 p.m. CBS (17th season finale) — The winner is named.
"Black-ish " 9:31 p.m. ABC (second season debut) — Dre and Bow try to prevent Jack's expulsion after he uses the N-word
"Nashville " 10 p.m. ABC (fourth season debut) — uliette rides a career high and sings a duet with Steven Tyler.
THURSDAY
"Grey's Anatomy" 8 p.m. ABC (12th season debut) — Meredith adapts to new roommates.
"Heroes Reborn" 8 p.m. NBC (fifth season debut) — In this retooling of the original series, people with extraordinary abilities are in hiding and are hunted by those with nefarious motives.
"Project Runway" 9 p.m. Lifetime — Atlanta's Edmond Newton is on a solid path for the finale.
"Scandal" 9 p.m. ABC (fifth season debut) — Olivia and Fitz are blissful about their reunion, but Cyrus, Mellie and Huck must face the repercussions of assisting Command.
"How To Get Away With Murder" 10 p.m. ABC (second season debut) — Rebecca's disappearance has the students reeling.
"The Player" 10 p.m. NBC (new series) — A security expert encounters an elite gambling organization called the House that is led by the mysterious Mr. Johnson.
"Documentary Now" 10 p.m. IFC (first season finale) — A history of a seminal soft-rock band called the Blue Jean Committee.
FRIDAY
"The Amazing Race" 8 a.m. CBS (27th season debut) — Eleven teams begin Season 27 in Venice Beach, Cal.
"Last Man Standing" 8 p.m. ABC (third season debut) — Mike returns from a long road trip and finds life very hectic at home and at work. Meanwhile, a tornado is headed for town.
"Hawaii Five-O" 9 p.m. CBS (sixth season debut) — Five-0 investigates a centuries-old Oahu palace raid involving pirates.
"Shark Tank" 9 p.m. ABC (seventh season debut) — Ashton Kutcher appears as a "guest shark."
"Margaret Cho: Psycho" 9 p.m. Showtime — Her set includes tributes to Robin Williams and Joan Rivers.
"Blue Bloods" 10 p.m. CBS (sixth season debut) — A terrorist attack occurs in the Middle East and Frank fears that New York City may be hit next.
WEEKEND
"Murder in Mexico" 8 tonight Lifetime — The wife of former "Survivor" producer Bruce Beresford-Redman is murdered.
"Blunt Talk" 9 tonight Starz — A visit to Los Angeles by his estranged son prompts Walter to make peace with him.
" Survivor's Remorse" 9:30 tonight Starz — Chen launches a big event to promote Cam's shoe line.
"Once Upon the Time " 8 p.m. Sunday ABC (fifth season debut) — Emma seeks help from Merlin as she tries to fight her new dark urges in the Enchanted Forest.
"The Simpsons " 8 p.m. Sunday Fox (27th season debut) — Homer is diagnosed as a narcoleptic.
"Brooklyn Nine-Nine " 8:30 p.m. Sunday Fox (third season debut) — A new captain takes over after Holt is transferred to the public-relations department.
"Blood & Oil" 9 p.m. Sunday ABC (new series) — A young couple lock horns with a tycoon (Don Johnson) and his wife while trying to cash in on the North Dakota oil boom.
"CSI" 9 p.m. Sunday CBS (series finale) — Grissom and Willows return to help the CSIs solve a catastrophic case that paralyzes all of Las Vegas.
"Family Guy" 9 p.m. Sunday Fox (14th season debut) — The guys visit an abandoned asylum.
"Fear the Walking Dead" 9 p.m. Sunday AMC — The National Guard's plan for the neighborhood and its residents is revealed.
"Ray Donovan" 9 p.m. Sunday Showtime (third season finale) — Abby and Terry finally tell Ray the truth about Bridget..
"Vice" 9 p.m. Sunday HBO — A look at the criminal justice system in the U.S. features President Obama's visit to a federal correctional facility in Oklahoma.
"The Last Man on Earth" 9 p.m. Fox (third season debut) — Phil and Carol leave Tucson to take a road trip across the U.S.
"Masters of Sex" 10 p.m. Sunday Showtime (third season finale) — Masters and Johnson discover all of their hard work is now in jeopardy.
"Quantico" 10 p.m. Sunday ABC (new series)— A possible sleeper agent mixes in among new recruits at the FBI Academy in Quantico.
"The Strain" 10 p.m. Sunday FX — Eph faces a tough choice between Zack's safety and the security of New York City's population.
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