Rueben's Ramblings

Here is a long list of the programming options to expect on TV this week now that the Fall TV Season has started:

The new drama Forever will air a special sneak preview on ABC at 10 PM on September 22. The show is about Doctor Henry Morgan (Ioan Gruffudd from Ringer and the Fantastic Four franchise), New York City’s star medical examiner, who has a secret. He doesn’t just study the dead to solve criminal cases, he does it to solve the mystery that has eluded him for 200 years – the answer to his own inexplicable immortality. The cast includes Alana de la Garza (Law & Order), Joel David Moore (Bones) and veteran actor Judd Hirsch (Taxi).

Also on September 22, the new fall drama Scorpion will debut on CBS at 9 PM followed by the season finale of Under the Dome at 10 PM. Scorpion is inspired by a true story about eccentric genius Walter O’Brien (Elyes Gabel from Body of Proof) and his team of brilliant misfits who comprise the last line of defense against complex, high-tech threats of the modern age. As Homeland Security’s new think tank, O’Brien’s “Scorpion” team includes Toby Curtis (Eddie Kaye Thomas of American Pie franchise), an expert behaviorist who can read anyone; Happy Quinn (Jadyn Wong from Being Erica), a mechanical prodigy; and Sylvester Dodd (Ari Stidham from Huge), a statistics guru. Pooling their extensive technological knowledge to solve mind-boggling predicaments amazes federal agent Cabe Gallo (Robert Patrick from The Unit), who shares a harrowing history with O’Brien. However, while this socially awkward group is comfortable with each other’s humor and quirks, life outside their circle confounds them, so they rely on Paige Dineen (Katharine McPhee from Smash), who has a young, gifted son, to translate the world for them. At last, these nerdy masterminds have found the perfect job: a place where they can apply their exceptional brainpower to solve the nation’s crises, while also helping each other learn how to fit in.

Another new drama to debut on FOX on September 22 is Gotham, which will debut at 8 PM followed by Sleepy Hollow, which will be back for its second season at 9 PM. Gotham takes a look at the early years of Commissioner Gordon when he was just Detective James Gordon (Ben McKenzie from Southland and The O.C.) – on the job for only two weeks. The cast includes Erin Richard (Open Grave) as Barbara Kean, Gordon’s fiancée; Donal Logue (Terriers and Vikings) as Harvey Bullock, Gordon’s partner; David Mazouz (Touch) as young Bruce Wayne; Jada Pinkett Smith (The Matrix franchise) as gang boss Fish Mooney; newcomer Camren Bicondova as Selina Kyle (the future Catwoman); Robin Lord Taylor (The Walking Dead) as Oswald Cobblepot (soon to be The Penguin) and Sean Pertwee (Elementary) as Wayne butler Alfred Pennyworth.

Lastly on September 22, The Blacklist will return for its second season on NBC at 10 PM

On September 23, Chicago Fire will be back on NBC for a new season at 10 PM while that same night Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. will be back on ABC for another season at 9 PM followed by the timeslot premiere of Forever at 10 PM.

Also on September 23, NCIS will be back for its 12th season at 8 PM on CBS followed by the debut of spin-off series NCIS: New Orleans at 9 PM and the fourth season of Person of Interest at 10 PM. NCIS: New Orleans is the spin-off series about the local field office that investigates criminal cases affecting military personnel in the Big Easy. Leading the team is Special Agent Dwayne Pride (Scott Bakula from Quantum Leap), aka “King,” a native of NOLA who is driven by his need to do what is right. Working with Pride is Special Agent Christopher LaSalle (Lucas Black from The Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift), who plays hard but works harder; and Special Agent Meredith “Merri” Brody (Zoe McLellan from Dirty Sexy Money), a charismatic and tough interrogator who transferred from the Great Lakes office in search of a fresh start. Supporting them is coroner Dr. Loretta Wade (CCH Pounder from Warehouse 13), who is as eccentric as she is smart.

On September 24, the timeslot debut of the new NBC drama The Mysteries of Laura will air at 8 PM followed by the season premieres of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Chicago P.D. at 9 and 10 PM respectively. Also, Nashville will return that same night for a new season on ABC at 10 PM.

It will be a big night on September 25 for Shonda Rhimes with three back-to-back shows on ABC with Grey’s Anatomy back at 8 PM and Scandal at 9 PM followed by the debut of the new drama How to Get Away With Murder at 10 PM. How to Get Away With Murder tells the story of brilliant, charismatic and seductive Professor Annalise Keating (Viola Davis from The Help), who gets entangled with four law students from her class, “How to Get Away with Murder”. Little do the students know that they will have to apply what they learned to real life. The cast includes Aja Naomi King (Emily Owens, M.D.), Jack Falahee (Twisted), Katie Findlay (The Killing), Tom Verica (American Dream), Liza Weil (Gilmore Girls and Scandal), Charlie Weber (Buffy, the Vampire Slayer), Billy Brown (Hostages and Sons of Anarchy), Matt McGorry (Orange is the New Black), Latino star Karla Souza (Instructions Not Included) and Alfred Enoch (the Harry Potter franchise).

Also on September 25, will be the start of the final season of Parenthood on NBC at 10 PM as well as the return of Bones on FOX at 8 PM.

On September 26, Hawaii Five-0 and Blue Bloods will be back on CBS for their new seasons at 9 and 10 PM respectively.

Then, the mid-season finale of Outlander will air on September 27 on Starz at 9 PM; and the movie Midnight Masquerade will air at 9 PM on the Hallmark Channel. The movie is about a beautiful, young businesswoman (Autumn Reeser) inherits her father’s billion-dollar candy company and searches to find romance in the mysterious, handsome “prince” she danced with at a costume ball. The cast includes Christopher Russell and Richard Burgi.

Lastly on September 28, CSI will be back for its 15th season on CBS at 10 PM. That same night, ABC will welcome back Once Upon a Time at 8 PM followed by the second season of Resurrection at 9 PM and Revenge at 10 PM; and Ray Donovan and Masters of Sex will both air their season finales on Showtime at 9 and 10 PM respectively.

Also on September 28, PBS will air season 7 of Miss Marple, starting with the movie Endless Night at 9 PM. Acclaimed British actress Julia McKenzie (Cranford) returns as spinster sleuth Miss Marple. Miss Marple befriends a charming working-class chauffeur who recounts his romance with an American heiress. Despite being warned off by an elusive gypsy woman, they plan their dream home at a local spot known as Gypsy’s Acre. Not long after the young couple is wed, a tragic death fuels speculation of a gypsy curse. When two suspicious deaths follow, Miss Marple begins to sort out the clues, but can she solve the mystery before she finds herself in danger? The cast includes Tom Hughes (Silk) and Joanna Vanderham (The Paradise).

Lastly, the season finale of The Lottery will air on Lifetime on September 28 at 10 PM.

Mark your calendars!