Here’s what you can expect from the major TV networks this Fall – the most unusual start to a TV season EVER:
ABC
“The Bachelorette” is currently in production, aiming for a Tuesday 8pm timeslot. “Shark Tank” (Fridays 8pm) will be filming its new season in Las Vegas. “Dancing with the Stars” (Mondays 8pm) and “The Goldbergs” (Wednesdays 8pm) are looking to get underway soon, but neither are concrete. What’s going to help ABC get through the rest of the year are game shows. They’re holding many pre-taped episodes of Sunday favorites “Celebrity Family Feud”, “Press Your Luck” and “Match Game”. However, they may be moved to a different night to make way for the previously announced Sunday double-header of “Supermarket Sweep” with Leslie Jones and “Who Wants to Be A Millionaire” with Jimmy Kimmel. “Supermarket” has filmed some episode, while “Millionaire” should be back in production soon. New episodes of “Card Sharks” with Joel McHale have also been filmed, and the new season of “The $100,000 Pyramid” with Michael Strahan is expected to be filmed later this month.
NBC
A similar game show strategy is underway for the new version of “Weakest Link” with Jane Lynch, which could be on the air as soon as next month. Of course, NBC has “Sunday Night Football”, which is expected to once again be TV’s No. 1 series if the NFL can play this Fall. 8 episodes of “American Ninja Warrior” will take-up Monday nights for a while beginning Sept. 7, and the Canadian acquisition “Transplant” will be on Tuesdays at 10pm starting Sept. 1, following the final weeks of “America’s Got Talent”.
CBS
Besides “60 Minutes”, “Big Brother” and consecutive nights of “Love Island” will carry CBS through for a while. The network also has a new season of “The Amazing Race” in the can that’s anticipated to air Wednesdays at 8pm. “S.W.A.T.” could arrive on Wednesdays at 10pm soon.
FOX
Out of the “big four”, FOX is the one that’s come very prepared. They’ve saved new series “NEXT” (Tuesdays 9pm) and “Filthy Rich” (Mondays 9pm) and a new season of “Masterchef Junior” (Wednesdays 9pm). Their Sunday night animation block (“The Simpsons”, “Bless the Harts”, “Bob’s Burgers” and “Family Guy”) will be all new. And Thursday Night Football and “WWE Smackdown” on Fridays covers those evenings. Their acquisitions: Season 1 of “L.A.’s Finest” (Mondays 8pm) and the broadcast premiere of “Cosmos: Possible Worlds” (Tuesdays 8pm). All FOX has to really worry about is getting a new season of “The Masked Singer” (Wednesdays 8pm) up and running.
THE CW
We’ve got a similar position here, as The CW has holdover episodes of the final season of “Supernatural” (Thursdays 8pm) and the acquisition of Patrick Dempsey’s “Devils” (Wednesdays 8pm) and more.
What will benefit ALL: animated holiday specials (which could see a record number of airings and high ratings), Presidential and VP Debates and Election Night coverage on Nov. 3