Rueben's Ramblings

Here is the list of the programming options, including the fall TV premieres and debuts, to expect on TV this coming week:

On September 20:

9-1-1 will air its season premiere on FOX at 8 PM followed by the new drama The Big Leap at 9 PM. The Big Leap revolves around a group of diverse, down-on-their-luck characters attempting to change their lives by participating in a potentially life-ruining reality dance show featuring a modern reimagining of “Swan Lake.” The ensemble cast includes Scott Foley (Scandal and Felicity), Teri Polo (The Fosters), Piper Perabo (Covert Affairs), Ser-Darius Blain (Jumanji reboot franchise) Mallory Jansen (Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD and Galavant), Kevin Daniels (Modern Family), Raymond Cham Jr. (Five Points), Jon Rudnitsky (SNL and Catch-22), Anna Grace Barlow (The Goldbergs) and newcomer Simone Recasner.

The new NBC drama Ordinary Joe will debut at 10 PM. The series centers on Joe Kimbreau (James Wolk from Zoo and Tell Me a Story), as he makes a pivotal, life-changing decision at his college graduation and follows him on three parallel timelines: as a police officer, as a music star, and as a nurse. The cast includes Natalie Martinez (Under the Dome and The Fugitive), Elizabeth Lail (You and Once Upon a Time), Adam Rodriguez (CSI: Miami), Charlie Barnett (Chicago Fire).

The 19th season premiere of NCIS, now on its new night, and at its new time of 9 PM, will air on CBS followed by the debut of the new spin-off NCIS: Hawai’i at 10 PM. The spin-off will be centered on the island with the first female Special Agent in Charge, Jane Tennant (Vanessa Lachey from Truth Be Told) and her unwavering team of specialists. The cast includes Noah Mills (The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and The Brave), Enver Gjokaj (Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD and Dollhouse), Alex Tarrant (800 Words), Yasmine Al-Bustami (The Originals and The Chosen), Tori Anderson (Blindspot and No Tomorrow) and Jason Antoon (Famous in Love and Claws).

On September 21:

The Resident will air its 5th season premiere on FOX at 8 PM followed by the debut of the new drama Our Kind of People at 9 PM. Our Kind of People follows a strong-willed, single mom (Yaya DaCosta from Chicago Med) as she sets out to reclaim her family’s name and make an impact with her revolutionary hair care line that highlights the innate, natural beauty of black women. But she soon discovers a dark secret about her own mother’s past that will turn her world upside-down and shake up this community forever. The cast includes Morris Chestnut (The Resident), Joe Morton (Scandal and Eureka), Rhyon Nicole Brown (Empire), Lance Gross (Hawaii 5-0) as well as soap legend Debbi Morgan and L. Scott Caldwell (Lost and All Rise).

FBI and FBI: Most Wanted will air their season premieres on CBS at 8 and 9 PM respectively followed by the new spin-off series FBI: International that will debut at 10 PM. Headquartered (and filmed) in Budapest, elite operatives of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s International Fly Team travel the world with the mission of tracking and neutralizing threats against American citizens wherever they may be. The Fly Team’s Special Agent Scott Forrester (Luke Kleintank from The Man in the High Castle), their accomplished and dedicated leader, puts his missions ahead of his personal life and is rarely seen without the team’s “secret weapon” – their trusty Schutzhund dog, Tank. The team includes Heida Reed (Poldark), Carter Redwood (The Long Road Home), Vinessa Vidotto (Lucifer) and Christiane Paul (Counterpart).

The 4th season premiere of New Amsterdam will air on NBC at 10 PM.

On September 22:

The season finale of Nine Perfect Strangers will air on Hulu online while the season premieres of Chicago Med, Chicago Fire and Chicago P.D. will air on NBC at 8, 9 and 10 PM respectively; and the 4th season premiere of A Million Little Things will air on ABC at 10 PM.

The reboot of The Wonder Years will debut on ABC at 8:30 PM. The coming-of-age comedy will be set in the late 1960s, taking a nostalgic look at a Black middle-class family in Montgomery, Alabama, through the point of view of imaginative 12-year-old Dean Williams. Don Cheadle provides the voice of adult Dean while Dule Hill (The West Wing and Psych) will play patriarch Bill Williams.

On September 23:

The third season premiere of Doom Patrol will air on HBO Max online; while the two-hour season premiere of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit will air at 8 PM on NBC followed by the premiere of Law & Order: Organized Crime at 10 PM.

On September 24, the series finale of Goliath will air online on Amazon.

Also on September 24, the series premiere of the sci-fi drama Foundation will debut online on Apple TV+. Based on the epic saga by Isaac Asimov, the fantasy series focuses on what happens when revolutionary Dr. Hari Seldon (Jared Harris from The Crown and Chernobyl) predicts the impending fall of the Empire, he and a band of loyal followers venture to the far reaches of the galaxy to establish The Foundation in an attempt to rebuild and preserve the future of civilization. Enraged by Hari’s claims, the ruling Cleons – a long line of emperor clones – fear their unrivaled reign may be weakening as they’re forced to reckon with the potential reality of losing their powerful legacy forever. The cast includes Lee Pace (Pushing Daisies).

A special presentation of Frankie Drake Mysteries will air at 7 PM on Ovation on September 25.

Also on September 25, the Hallmark Channel movie Taking the Reins will debut at 9 PM. A writer (Nikki DeLoach) goes back to the family ranch to write an article about her passion for horses and discovers what ended her marriage and why she stopped riding horses. The cast includes Scott Porter (Hart of Dixie), Corbin Bernsen (Psych) and Janine Turner (Northern Exposure).

On September 26:

The UPtv movie Calling for Love will debut at 7 PM. Successful podcast host Samantha Desouza (Karissa Lee Staples from Necessary Roughness and S.W.A.T.) has a passion for music and an aversion to romance after a recent bad experience. Just when her show is thriving, she is thrown in the deep end by her boss and re-assigned to host Heartwaves, a feel-good love songs show with a segment that reunites lost loves. Despite her initial lack of enthusiasm, her first caller is the charismatic and charming Jake (Tajh Bellow from General Hospital) who has a problem she’s determined to help solve. What they didn’t expect was to fall for each other in the process. Now Sam must decide whether to shy away from love again, or to be a little more spontaneous and follow her heart.

The season finale of Power III: Raising Kanan airs on Starz at 8 PM followed by the debut of the new series BMF at 9 PM. BMF is inspired by the true story of two brothers who rose from the decaying streets of southwest Detroit in the late 1980’s and gave birth to one of the most influential crime families in this country. The cast includes Russell Hornsby (Grimm) and Steve Harris (The Practice) with rapper Snopp Dogg recurring.

The Hallmark Movies & Mysteries movie Rise and Shine: Benedict Stone will debut at 9 PM. Benedict Stone and his wife, Emilia (Tom Everett Scott and Mia Maestro) have separated after 10 years of trying for a baby. Benedict wants Emilia back, but Emilia needs space to figure out what she needs. So, when Benedict’s teenage niece Gemma (Ella Ballentine) mysteriously arrives on his doorstep his life is turned upside down. Benedict and his brother have been estranged for two decades but Gemma assures him her dad knows she’s there. When Gemma finds out that Benedict and Emilia are separated, she makes it her mission to get them back together. Love conquers all, doesn’t it?

The UPtv movie Romance in the Wilds will debut at 7 PM. Deep in the Rocky Mountains, lightning strikes a mining site, sparking a deadly wildfire and igniting an unexpected romance between a forest ranger and a geologist as they race to escape the flames. The cast includes Victor Zinck, Jr., Laura Vandervoort and Kate Vernon.

Lastly, also on September 26, the 4th season premiere of The Rookie will air on ABC at 10 PM; while that same night the Tony Awards will air on CBS at 9 PM and the second season premiere of The Walking Dead: World Beyond will air online on AMC+.

Mark your calendars!