Here is the list of the programming options to expect on TV this coming week:
On October 14, the 22nd season premiere of NCIS will air on CBS at the special time of 9 PM tonight followed by the debut of the new prequel series NCIS: Origins at the special time of 10 PM. NCIS: Origins is the prequel that follows a young Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Austin Stowell) in 1991, years prior to the events of NCIS and is narrated by Mark Harmon (who, of course, originated the role in the franchise original series NCIS). In this version, Giibbs is starting his career as a newly minted special agent at the fledgling NCIS Camp Pendleton office where he forges his place on a gritty, ragtag team led by NCIS legend Mike Franks (Kyle Schmid). The cast includes Mariel Molino and Diany Rodriguez.
The new series Beyond Black Beauty will debut online on Amazon Prime on October 15. The series follows young equestrian Jolie Dumont (Kaya Coleman), whose Olympic dreams are dashed when her mother moves them from Belgium to her family’s urban ranch in Baltimore. An angry Jolie wants to escape until she bonds with a spirited horse named Black Beauty. Jolie will learn to embrace her heritage while continuing toward her Olympic-hopeful future and discover the value of family and home. The cast includes Gina James, Sagine Sémajuste, Lisa Berry and Gilles Marini.
On October 15, the CBS dramas FBI, FBI: International and FBI: Most Wanted will all air their premieres at 8, 9 and 10 PM respectively; meanwhile, that same day, the 4th season of American Horror Stories will premiere on FX on Hulu.
The finale of the second season of Tell Me Lies will air online on Hulu on October 16.
On October 17, the third season of The Lincoln Lawyer will premiere online on Netflix; meanwhile, that same day, the new CBS drama Matlock will air in its regular timeslot of 9 PM starting tonight followed by the second season of Elsbeth at 10 PM.
The Bribox drama Passenger will debut online on October 17. The series explores a close-knit community who are unwilling to face their fears of change, of outsiders and of the unknown. Set in the fictional small Northern town of Chadder Vale, Former Met Police Detective Riya Ajunwa (Wunmi Mosaku) investigates a series of strange and inexplicable crimes that have the townsfolk spinning on an axis. Riya arrived in decaying Chadder Vale five years ago and has since been searching for that ‘one big crime’, the challenge that will make her feel alive again. Then one night, local girl Katie Wells (Rowan Robinson) mysteriously disappears. The town barely has time to register her absence before she reappears the next day, apparently safe and sound. The townsfolk ask few questions and normal life resumes. But for Riya, a relative outsider to the Chadder Vale way of life, none of this sits right. As a series of strange happenings and increasingly shocking crimes start unfolding within the town, the residents resort to short-sighted theories and blame outside influences such as the fracking site and its manager Jim Bracknell (David Threlfall). As things become stranger, the people push back on Riya’s absurd notion that something is not right with this town. But what are they so afraid of? Barry Sloane also stars.
Also on October 17, the Hallmark+ movie The Groomsmen: First Look will debut online. This trilogy of films follow the lives of three best friends with different backgrounds, cultures, and sexual orientations. Jonathan Bennett plays Danny, a baseball coach with a heart of gold; Tyler Hynes plays Jackson, a stylish and charming social media agent and B.J. Britt plays Pete, a kind-hearted pediatrician with a knack for planning.
The limited series Rivals will debut online on Disney+ on October 18. Set against the backdrop of the drama, excess, and shocking antics of the power-grabbing social elite of 1980s England, this series delves headfirst into the ruthless world of independent television in 1986. The ensemble cast includes Aiden Turner, David Tennant, Luke Pasqualino and Victoria Smurfit (among others).
On October 18, the Hallmark Channel holiday movie ‘Twas the Date Before Christmas will debut at 8 PM. To prevent her family from canceling the “Chamberlain Family Christmas Olympics,” Jessie (Amy Groening) lies and says she’s inviting a date to the long-standing holiday tradition. She meets Bryan (Ryan Buckley) on a dating app, and he agrees to spend the holiday with her and her family. As Jessie and Bryan engage in eccentric activities like the search for the Christmas tree star, gift wrapping contest and snowball fight, they start to develop real feelings for each other. Soon her family begins to catch on to their secret and Bryan suspects she may be hiding the real reason for her unusual Christmas date request. As the celebrations continue, Jessie must work to keep all her stories straight and save her date with Bryan.
The season premieres of S.W.A.T., Fire Country and Blue Bloods will all air on CBS at 8, 9 and 10 PM respectively on October 18; meanwhile, that same day, the second season of the psychological thriller The Devil’s Hour will premiere online on Amazon Prime.
Also on October 18, the Peacock drama Hysteria! will debut online. When a beloved varsity quarterback disappears during the “Satanic Panic” of the late 1980s, a struggling high school heavy metal band of outcasts realize they can capitalize on the town’s sudden interest in the occult by building a reputation as a Satanic metal band, until a bizarre series of murders, kidnappings, and reported “supernatural activity” triggers a leather-studded witch hunt that leads directly back to them. The cast includes Allison Scagliotti, Anna Camp, Bruce Campbell, Garret Dillahunt and Julie Bowen.
The Netflix film Woman of the Hour will debut online on October 18. This movie is the stranger-than-fiction story of an aspiring actor in 1970s Los Angeles and a serial killer in the midst of a years-long murder spree, whose lives intersect when they’re cast on an episode of The Dating Game. The movie is directed by and stars Anna Kendrick, Daniel Zovatto and Tony Hale.
On October 19, the Hallmark Channel holiday movie Holiday Crashers will debut at 8 PM. Best friends Toni (Lyndsy Fonseca) and Bri (Daniella Monet) have worked at the same card shop for more years than they should as both struggle to find their true life’s path. This holiday season, Toni and Bri decide to shake up their humdrum world by creating new identities to crash the amazing Christmas parties from the shop’s confidential invitations. All harmless fun! Until Toni gets mistaken for a lawyer, which isn’t too far off the mark since she did finish law school… just never completed the bar exam. Toni and Bri are then whisked away to a fancy corporate Christmas retreat in the snowy Vermont mountains by handsome business mogul, Justin (Chris McNally), whose crush on Toni is real even if her legal career isn’t. And Bri is along for the ride as she has eyes for Vinny (Jag Bal), a valet who may have a secret of his own. Can a distraction help Bri find what path in life she’s supposed to follow? Will Toni end up with the guy of her dreams or in a blizzard of trouble?
The Great American Family holiday movie A Vintage Christmas will debut on October 19 at 8 PM. A dedicated preservationist battles a developer’s ambitions to tear down a historic Post Office with ties to her family. The choice of old versus new threatens to divide the small town unless there is a solution for the greater good of all concerned. Merritt Patterson and Christopher Russell star.
On October 20, the finales of Moonflower Murders and Van der Valk will air on PBS tonight at 9 and 10 PM respectively; meanwhile, that same day, the 5th season premiere of The Equalizer will air at the special time of 9:30 PM on CBS.
The Hallmark Channel holiday movie Scouting for Christmas will debut on October 20 at 8 PM. Angela (Tamera Mowry-Housley) has been a busy realtor since her amicable divorce a couple of years ago to Dakota, a paleontologist whose adventures kept him anywhere but home. Now, she is a devoted if often harried, single mom to a smart and loving 10-year-old girl, Brooklyn. Angela’s busy schedule makes it hard for her to find time for much of anything — or anyone — else. As it is, she can barely get Brooklyn to her scout meetings on time, much to the disapproval of the other mothers. When Brooklyn gets the idea to have William (Carlo Marks), the owner of her favorite bakery, cater her scout troop’s posh annual holiday event, she asks Angela to work with him on pitching the idea to the moms in charge. Despite sensing that her daughter might be trying to play cupid, she agrees to help and finds herself enjoying time with him, but is reluctant to open her heart and life to someone new. When Dakota returns, missing her, Angela must decide what is best for her daughter and best for her heart.
Lastly on October 20, the Great American Family holiday movie Christmas Wreaths and Ribbons will debut at 8 PM. A wreathmaker (Kristin Wollett) slips on ice and injures her arm which puts her holiday wreath deliveries in jeopardy until a selfless neighbor (Casey Elliott) steps up to keep her business afloat.
Mark your calendars!
Rueben's Ramblings 