The fall TV season is upon us, and if that doesn’t have the same frisson of excitement as it once did — back when the summer was a wasteland of reruns rather than proliferating with new streaming series each week, well … who’s complaining? One small trend to emerge: After a dearth of legal dramas, suddenly they are back. Long live the legal drama!
Here’s a look at what’s on tap, in chronological order:
“The Good Fight” (Sept. 8 on Paramount+): The legal drama starring Christine Baranski and Audra McDonald is back for its sixth and final season of witty chaos, fiery office politics and eccentric courtroom wrangling. Andre Braugher and John Slattery join the cast this time out.
“Last Light” (Sept. 8 on Peacock): Matthew Fox (“Lost”) comes out of retirement to star in this doomsday action thriller adapted from the 2007 novel of the same name by Alex Scarrow about a world suddenly deprived of oil — and daily life as we know begins to collapse. It also stars “Downton Abbey” alum Joanne Froggatt. Executive producer Dennie Gordon says she was inspired by Alfonso Cuaron’s 2006 film “Children of Men,” and its depiction of a future “we can envision around the corner. And like that film, we hope to give our audience a shred of hope at the end; what is possible if we all come together and affect change?”
“American Gigolo” (Sept. 11 on Showtime): Inspired by the 1980 Richard Gere movie of the same name, the series stars Jon Bernthal as a man recently released from prison looking to get his bearings again. The setting is modern-day Los Angeles and the sex industry. Showrunner David Hollander was fired from the reboot following an investigation into allegations of misconduct, causing a pause in production. Will any of that affect the final result on screen? Time will tell. If you’re streaming it rather than watching it via cable, it drops a few days early on Sept. 9.
“The Jennifer Hudson Show” (Sept. 12 on Fox): Singer and actor Jennifer Hudson can now add talk show host to her resume. The Chicago native previously won an Oscar for her performance in “Dreamgirls” and recently starred in the Aretha Franklin biopic “Respect.” Her new gig is not for the faint of heart; many a talented celebrity has tried to make it as a talk show host, only to face cancellation after just one season. But there are always a few who manage to go the distance and Hudson will no doubt bring all her skills and charisma to bear in that quest.
“Quantum Leap” (Sept. 19 on NBC): It’s a reboot of the original, about a man who travels through time by temporarily inhabiting the bodies of other people — and then has to sort through their problems before he’s zapped into the next body. Raymond Lee is the lead this time out, playing the successor to Scott Bakula’s Dr. Sam Beckett. Ernie Hudson (“Ghostbusters”) also stars.
“Abbott Elementary” (Sept. 21 on ABC/Hulu): It’s a much-anticipated return for Quinta Brunson’s beloved sitcom about a group of wildly incompatible but always well-meaning and ultimately very funny teachers working at a Philly elementary school. It’s one of the best of the mockumentary form and it’s up for multiple Emmys this year. (Side note: The Emmy broadcast will air Sept. 12 on NBC).
“Reasonable Doubt” (Sept 27 on Hulu): Emayatzy Corinealdi stars as a high-powered criminal defense attorney who isn’t afraid to cut a few corners — and before you judge: It’s not as if the justice system is fair to begin with. If this sounds like Shonda Rhimes territory, it’s not — but you’re close: It comes from “Scandal” alum Raamla Mohamed. Kerry Washington, who starred in “Scandal,” is a producer here as well.
“Ghosts” (Sept. 29 on CBS): A young woman inherits a crumbling mansion, bumps her head and suddenly she can see and hear an entire houseful of pleasantly eccentric ghosts from across the centuries. That’s the show’s surprisingly effective premise — funny yes, but also quite moving at times — wherein a young couple struggles to turn the old place into a bed-and-breakfast. It returns for Season 2 and it’s well worth seeking out if you missed the first season (which you can stream on Paramount+).
“So Help Me Todd” (Sept. 29 on CBS): A legal drama with a mother-son twist: Marcia Gay Harden plays a successful attorney who hires her talented but less-than-successful offspring, played by “Pitch Perfect’s” Skylar Astin, as her law firm’s in-house investigator. But will Astin sing? Viewers (and fans of “Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist,” the last show on which he starred and sang) want to know!
“Family Law” (Oct. 2 on CW): A lawyer (yes, another legal drama! I wasn’t kidding!) who is also a recovering alcoholic goes to work with her estranged father, played by Victor Garber (“Alias”). The firm’s specialty? Well, it’s in the title: Family law. This one’s a Canadian production getting its U.S. premiere.
“Interview with the Vampire” (Oct. 2 on AMC): The 1994 movie adaptation of Anne Rice’s novel starring Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise deserves the same fate as vampires exposed to sunlight — it was That Bad. But here we are, with a new television adaptation, and if you’re one for optimism this may be for you! We’ll be seeing more of Rice’s gothic oeuvre; AMC acquired the rights to 18 of her books.
“Alaska Daily” (Oct. 6 on ABC/Hulu): Hilary Swank plays a reporter from New York who moves to Anchorage for a new start — and new stories to investigate. Created by “Spotlight” writer-director Tom McCarthy, it also stars Steppenwolf co-founder Jeff Perry (“Inventing Anna”). Curious to see how much they get right (or wrong) about how journalism actually works.
“Sherman’s Showcase” (Oct. 26 on IFC/AMC+): Both a loving tribute to and parody of “Soul Train,” the series comes from Diallo Riddle and Bashir Salahuddin, the same pair behind the Chicago-set HBO Max comedy “South Side.” Though “Soul Train” shot in Los Angeles for most of its run, it originally launched in Chicago. Salahuddin, a Chicago native, plays the hilariously oblivious Don Cornelius-esque character. And it’s very, very funny. Guest stars this season include Issa Rae, Dewayne Perkins and Chance the Rapper.
“Lopez vs. Lopez” (Nov. 4 on NBC): George Lopez returns to the sitcom format, this time with real-life daughter Mayan for a family sitcom about dysfunction and reconnection. We could use more comedies right now, and Lopez is a seasoned veteran.
“The Missing” (Nov. 10 on Peacock): From David E. Kelley, Mr. Legal Drama himself, the series is based on the novel “The Missing File” and it’s about a detective on a case. That’s about all I know. Barry Levinson (“Diner,” “Rain Man”) directs. The cast includes Constance Zimmer (“Unreal”) and Chris Sullivan (“This Is Us”).
Other returning shows: “Queen Sugar” (Sept. 6 on OWN), “Cobra Kai” (Sept. 9 on Netflix), “The Handmaid’s Tale” (Sept. 14 on Hulu), “Atlanta” (Sept. 15 on FX), “Los Espookys” (Sept. 16 on HBO) and “The Amazing Race” (Sept. 21 on CBS).
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