The Collider Weekly TV Guide is a rundown of notable episodes, premieres, returns, finales, and opportunities to catch up on great shows (or cast an eye to the occasional TV train wreck). Check out our picks for the week of Monday, September 21st:
Monday, 9/21
GothamSeason 2 Premiere, “Rise of the Villains: Damned If You Do…” (FOX, 8 p.m.) – The Season 2 opener of this disappointing Batman adapatation sees Penguin (Robin Lord Taylor) making an unlikely pact with Gordon (Ben McKenzie), while Bruce (David Mazouz) begins to investigate his father, beginning with his private office. Check out Dave’s reviewhere.
Minority ReportSeries Premiere, “Pilot” (FOX, 9 p.m.) –GodzillascribeMax Borensteinpenned the pilot for this admirably breezy, good-humored sci-fi series, adapted fromSteven Spielberg’sMinority Report, starringMeagan Goodas an ambitious cop in 2065 and Stark Sands as the pre-cog who begins to provide her with pre-crime information. Check out Chris’s reviewhere.
BlindspotSeries Premiere, “Pilot” (NBC, 10 p.m.) – This thoroughly mediocre action-drama from NBC stars Thor co-starJaimie Alexanderas a mysterious woman who is discovered in a duffel bag in Times Square, covered in tattoos that provide clues to a enormous criminal conspiracy and her past. Check out Chris’s reviewhere.
ScorpionSeason 2 Premiere, “Satellite of Love” (CBS, 9 p.m.) – A nuclear powered Russian satellite is in danger of detonating over Southern California in the Season 2 premiere of this mildly entertaining procedural, causing the team to reunite to save the West Coast and, apparently,Gene Simmons, who guest stars as himself.
Tuesday, 9/22
The MuppetsSeries Premiere, “Pilot” (ABC, 8 p.m.) – The world’s most adored and admired puppets return to television after two successful film iterations of their antics, which now revolve as much around the production of a new show as new sketches. Check out Allison’s reviewhere.
Scream QueensSeries Premiere, “Pilot” (FOX, 8 p.m.) –Ryan Murphydoubles down on his loathsome brand of horror-comedy in this, er, gushy series that centers on a sorority house and the other denizens of a college campus that find themselves being not-so-randomly butchered by someone in a bright-red devil costume. Check back for Perri’s review.
Fresh Off the BoatSeason 2 Premiere, “Family Business Trip” (ABC, 8:30 p.m.) - In the Season 2 premiere, Louis (Randall Park) packs up the brood for a trip to Gator World, where Eddie (Hudson Yang) takes on the “Death Roll.” Check back for Allison’s review.
LimitlessSeries Premiere, “Pilot” (CBS, 10 p.m.) – This mundane adaptation of theBradley Cooper-starring action-thriller of the same name sees Cooper returning to his role, now a political candidate who begins to mentor a new user of the super-drug he abused in the film, played byJake McDorman, who co-starred with Cooper inAmerican Sniper.
Wednesday, 9/23
RosewoodSeries Premiere, “Pilot” (FOX, 8 p.m.) – This by-the-numbers procedural premieres with the brilliant pathologist Dr. Beaumont Rosewood Jr. (Morris Chestnut) teams up with Det. Annalise Villa (Jaina Lee Ortiz) for the first time on a case that hits a little too close to home for the good doctor.
EmpireSeason 2 Premiere, “The Devils Are Here” (FOX, 9 p.m.) – Lucious (Terrence Howard) is still in jail as the second season of this unpredictable, generous melodrama opens, and Jamal (Jussie Smollett) must fend off the specter of a hostile corporate takeover from the rest of the family, led by Cookie (Taraji P. Henson).Chris Rockguest stars in the premiere as a dangerous inmate and former business acquaintance of Lucious and Cookie from the rapper’s drug-dealing days. Check back for Allison’s review.
black-ishSeason 2 Premiere, “THE Word” (ABC, 9:30 p.m.) – Season 2 of this irrepressible, very funny sitcom starts off by confronting the N word, which becomes a subject of expected familial contention when Jack (Miles Brown) uses the word during a elementary school production and is lined up for expulsion from his school. Check back for Chris’s review.
Thursday, 9/24
ScandalSeason 5 Premiere, “Heavy is the Head” (ABC, 9 p.m.) – The fifth season of this largely unwatchable political melodrama sees Olivia (Kerry Washington) and Fitz (Tony Goldwyn) reunited (and it feels sorta good), but puts the rest of Olivia’s team in a tough spot in terms of assisting Command. Meanwhile, visiting royalty enlists Olivia and her gang to play defense over the fallout from a recent tragedy. Check back for Allison’s review.
Heroes RebornSeries Premiere, “Brave New World; Odessa” (NBC, 8 p.m.) – Attempting to smooth out the rather rampant problems that plaguedHeroesin its later seasons,Heroes Rebornpremieres with superheroes both new and old in hiding following a perceived terrorist attack in Odessa, Texas.
How to Get Away With MurderSeason 2 Premiere, “It’s Time to Move On” (ABC, 10 p.m.) – Annalise, played by the invaluable, Emmy-winningViola Davis, prepares to defend a brother-sister pair who are accused of killing their parents in the Season 2 premiere of this ludicrous procedural-melodrama. Meanwhile, Rebecca’s disappearance becomes a very public issue for everyone but Annalise and Frank (Charlie Weber).
The PlayerSeries Premiere, “Pilot” (NBC, 10 p.m.) – This frankly outrageous, risible action-drama bringsWesley Snipesto television as Mr. Johnson, the enigmatic leader of a gambling organization that places money on whether upcoming crimes can be solved or not by Alex Kane (Philip Winchester). Well, this clearly can’t miss.
Saturday, 9/26
Blunt Talk, “Goodnight, My Someone” (Starz, 9 p.m.) - A visit to Los Angeles by his estranged son promptsPatrick Stewart’s Walter to try and smooth out some outstanding drama between him and his scion, while Celia (Dolly Wells) gets dragged into some unwanted family drama.
Sunday, 9/27
Brooklyn Nine-NineSeason 2 Premiere, “New Captain” (FOX, 8:30 p.m.) - Season 2 of this raucously funny series, a police-centric comedy in the vein of the belovedParks & Recreation, opens with the addition of a new captain to the titular precinct, in the personage ofBill Hader.
Fear the Walking Dead, “Cobalt” (AMC, 9 p.m.) – Following Nick (Frank Dillane) and Daniel’s wife getting carted off by the National Guard, the latest episode of the AMC’s increasingly excellent horror-drama sees Madison (Kim Dickens) and Travis (Cliff Curtis) planning to get Nick back alongside Daniel (Ruben Blades), even as the Guard is growing even more fearful and reactionary. Check out Chris’s recaps of the seasonhere.
The Last Man on EarthSeason 2 Premiere, “Is There Anybody Out There?” (FOX, 9:30 p.m.) – With the Season 2 premiere of this intermittently brilliant FOX comedy, the last couple in the world, played wonderfully byWill ForteandKristen Schaal, decide to take a road trip out of Tucson to see the rest of the dead Earth, promising far more of the show’s initial, wondrous sense of invention. Check back for Allison’s review.
The Strain, “Fallen Light” (FX, 10 p.m.) – As Season 2 creeps towards its end, Eph (Corey Stoll) hits a wall in regards to relationship with Nora (Mia Maestro), just as he must make a set of decisions that makes him choose between his son’s (Max Charles) safety and a chance at wrangling in the epidemic in New York City. Check out Haleigh’s recaps of Season 2here.
