Honestly, if you thought the "Golden Age of Television" was dead because of the strikes last year, you're about to be proven very wrong. Fall is back. Not just back, but aggressively crowded. We’re looking at a fall TV preview 2024 lineup that feels like a massive traffic jam of prestige dramas, weirdly specific reboots, and the return of some absolute heavyweights.
Remember when we all thought broadcast TV was just for doctors and cops? Well, it mostly is, but this year it’s leaning into "comfort food with a twist." We’ve got Kathy Bates reinventing a legend, a cruise ship doctor who definitely shouldn't be that handsome, and a Batman spin-off that feels more like The Sopranos than a comic book.
The Network Heavy Hitters You Can't Avoid
Let’s talk about CBS first. They’re basically the king of the "modern classic" right now. Matlock premiered on September 22, and if you're expecting a carbon copy of Andy Griffith, stop. Kathy Bates plays Madeline "Matty" Matlock, and there’s a massive twist in that pilot that I won't spoil, but it completely recontextualizes why she’s there. It's smart. It’s also pulling huge numbers—around 6.4 million viewers on average.
Then there’s the Young Sheldon shaped hole in our hearts. CBS is filling it with Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage, which kicked off October 17. It’s a multi-cam sitcom, which feels a bit "throwback," but people love Montana Jordan’s Georgie.
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Over at ABC, it’s the Ryan Murphy show. Again. Doctor Odyssey (September 26) is basically "9-1-1 on a boat." Joshua Jackson plays Dr. Max Bankman. It’s campy. It’s glossy. It features Don Johnson as a sea captain. Do you need a plot? Probably not. It’s just vibes and medical emergencies at sea.
- 9-1-1 (ABC, Sept 26): Returning for Season 8 with a literal "bee-nado."
- Abbott Elementary (ABC, Oct 9): Season 4 is here to save the sitcom genre once again.
- High Potential (ABC, Sept 17): Kaitlin Olson is a single mom turned police consultant. It's already been renewed for Season 2 because people actually watched it.
The Streaming War Gets Darker
If you’re over the broadcast stuff, the streamers are going for the jugular this season. The Penguin on HBO/Max is the big one. Colin Farrell is unrecognizable. It’s a gritty, rain-soaked look at Gotham’s underworld that takes place right after the 2022 Batman movie. It’s heavy.
Netflix isn't playing around either. The Diplomat Season 2 (October 31) brings Keri Russell back just in time for some political tension. And we can't forget Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story. It’s Ryan Murphy (yes, him again) doing the true crime thing. It’s controversial. It’s buzzy. It’s exactly what Netflix wants you talking about at the water cooler.
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Returning Favorites and Final Farewells
We’re saying goodbye to some big ones. Yellowstone Season 5, Part 2 finally arrives on November 10. No Kevin Costner? That’s the big question. Everyone is wondering how Taylor Sheridan will wrap this up without John Dutton on screen. It’s going to be a bloodbath, metaphorically or literally.
The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon – The Book of Carol (September 29) brought Melissa McBride back to the fold. If you stopped watching the main show five years ago, this might actually be the thing that pulls you back in. It’s atmospheric and weirdly beautiful for a show about rotting corpses.
Other quick hits for your calendar:
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- Silo Season 2 (Apple TV+, Nov 15): Rebecca Ferguson is back underground.
- Squid Game Season 2 (Netflix, Dec 26): Technically late fall, but the hype starts now.
- The Old Man Season 2 (FX, Sept 12): Jeff Bridges and John Lithgow just being incredible actors.
Why This Season Actually Matters
Most people think the fall TV preview 2024 is just about filling time until the holidays. But industry-wise, we're seeing a shift. Advertising revenue actually overtook consumer spend this year for the first time in a while. That means more commercials, sure, but also more "safe" bets on networks. They want shows that people will watch live.
At the same time, we're seeing "hybrid" models everywhere. Shows like The Penguin are airing on HBO and streaming on Max simultaneously. The lines are blurred. You’ve got to be a detective just to figure out where your favorite show moved to—looking at you, Law & Order: Organized Crime, which is now a Peacock exclusive.
Actionable Tips for Your Watchlist
Don't let the sheer volume of content paralyze you. Here is how to actually navigate this mess:
- Check the "Sneak Peeks": Networks like CBS are doing "sneak premiere" episodes weeks before the regular time slot. If you missed the Matlock premiere in September, it’s already on Paramount+.
- Watch the Promos: Doctor Odyssey and Rescue: HI-Surf live and die by their stunts. If the promo doesn't grab you, the show probably won't either.
- Bundle Up: If you're chasing the "prestige" stuff, you're going to need Max and Apple TV+ this season. Most of the network stuff (ABC/NBC) ends up on Hulu or Peacock the next day.
Practical Next Steps:
Start by auditing your subscriptions. You don't need all of them at once. Grab Max for The Penguin in September, then maybe swap it for Netflix in October when The Diplomat and Outer Banks Season 4 (Part 1 on Oct 10) drop. Also, set a calendar alert for November 10 if you’re a Yellowstone fan, because that’s going to be the biggest TV event of the year, hands down.
The fall 2024 season isn't just a return to form—it’s a reminder that even in the age of TikTok, a well-told story on a 50-inch screen still has a hold on us.