The networks have sprinkled returning hits throughout September and October, with FXX’s The League kicking things off with its sixth season premiere this Wednesday and CBS waiting until the final week of October to bring out the fourth season of 2 Broke Girls.
Check out my picks of returning favourites including The Mindy Project, Parenthood, Homeland and more. Be sure to keep an eye out for a preview of the new programs that will also debut this fall.
The League (Returns Wednesday, Sept. 3 at 10 p.m. on FXX Canada)
The sixth season opens with Kevin (Steve Rannazzisi) struggling with being married to the Shiva champ while the gang finds Andre’s (Paul Scheer) new found confidence to be unbearable. Look for the season premiere to feature football players Ryan Shazier, Carlos Hyde and Patrick Lewan.
New Girl (Returns Tuesday, Sept. 16 at 9 p.m. on City and Fox)
The fourth season has lined up a bunch of guest stars that will be featured in the Jess-centric (Zooey Deschanel) stories. Jessica Biel will play Kat in the season premiere who is described as “the hottest scientist in the world.” Jess and Kat will compete for the affections of Reid Scott’s (Veep) Ted.
With It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia not returning until midseason, we’ll see Kaitlin Olson recur as Ashley, who is Jess’ high school nemesis who just happens to be engaged to her father (played by Rob Reiner). Once Upon A Time’s Julian Morris will play Ryan, a new teacher who replaces Jess when she nabs the vice principal position.
The Mindy Project (Returns Tuesday, Sept. 16 at 9:30 p.m. on City and Fox)
So, let’s get the bad news out of the way first. Fox has only ordered 15 episodes for The Mindy Project’s third season (season one had 24 and season two had the standard 22). Apparently Fox chief Kevin Reilly thinks that some shows can work better in small doses. Hopefully they’ll order the more.
Season three will find Mindy (Mindy Kaling) and Danny (Chris Messina) giving their relationship a real chance after coming together at the top of the Empire State Building in last season’s finale. Obviously things won’t go as smoothly as they hoped as they’ll hit some snags, including Danny’s divorce not being final and Danny’s mom (played by Rhea Perlman). Shonda Rhimes, of the ABC primetime soaps, will play herself in an episode that will air this fall.
Parenthood (Returns Thursday, Sept. 25 at 10 p.m. on Global and NBC)
The final 13-episode season of Parenthood will be about the circle of life, so I guess we will be crying a lot on Thursday nights, yet again. In the season premiere, we’ll meet Chris – Julia’s ex-boyfriend from law school, and they’ll be working together at a new job. Chris’ appearance will definitely throw a wrench into the reconciliation Joel (Sam Jaeger) and Julia (Erika Christensen) were headed towards when last season wrapped.
The final season’s trailer, which debuted during last Monday’s Primetime Emmys, drove a lot of fans crazy, teasing a pregnancy! Is Amber (Mae Whitman) really pregnant? Or is it a fake out?
Saturday Night Live (Returns Saturday, Sept. 27 at 11:30 p.m. on Global and NBC)
Lorne Michaels states that SNL is still in the middle of a rebuilding phase. Departing ahead of the sketch show’s 40th season are Nasim Pedrad (who’ll be joining Fox’s Mulaney), John Milhiser, Noel Wells and Brookes Wheelan. Other than Colin Joost staying put, there’s been no other official announcement of who’ll be sticking around. Meanwhile, UCB’s Alison Rich was recently hired as a writer.
Expect a tribute for announcer Don Pardo, who passed away this summer. Looking ahead to February 15, 2015, the show will air a three-hour primetime special to commemorate its 40th season – looking for appearances by former cast members, hosts and musical guests.
Revenge (Returns Sunday, Sept. 28 at 10 p.m. on ABC)
Will the Revenge narration shift on the show like in the latest season four promo? Madeleine Stowe’s Victoria wants Emily Thorne to pay as executive producer Sunil Nayar told TV Guide that that this upcoming season will be “a totally different show.” Bring on the reincarnation!
Now that David Clarke’s (James Tupper) been revealed to be alive, what will this mean for both Victoria and Emily (Emily VanCamp) – and does David know that Emily is Amanda?! Victoria gets a new love interest in form of Nestor Serrano (Graceland) and with Aidan dead (Barry Sloane will star on ABC’s The Visitors this midseason), is it finally time for Jack (Nick Wechsler) and Emily?
Homeland (Returns Sunday, Oct. 5 at 9 p.m. on Super Channel and Showtime)
Carrie’s (Claire Danes) ditching Brody’s baby and is heading “back into it” while Saul considers his role outside of the CIA in the special two-hour fourth season premiere.
According to The Guardian, this season will take a break from being action-heavy and more character-driven. Things will be set in Islamabad and Kabul – despite Carrie being offered the CIA station chief job in Turkey when season three ended. Suraj Sharma (Life of Pi and Million Dollar Arm) joins the cast as Aayan Ibrahim, a Pakistani medical student who crosses paths with Carrie. House of Cards and Strains Corey Stoll will play a station chief in Islamabad, Caddyshack’s Michael O’Keefe will play the Deputy Chief of Mission in Islamabad while In Treatment’s Laila Robins will play a US ambassador to Pakistan.
There aren’t any plans to bring back Dana (Morgan Saylor) or Jessica (Morena Baccarin). As for you shippers out there, a relationship between Quinn (Rupert Friend) and Carrie is definitely something showrunner Alex Gansa is “toying with,” but it’ll depend on whether or not Carrie is in any kind of emotional state to be open to a romance.
Arrow (Returns Wednesday, Oct. 8 at 8 p.m. on CTV and The CW)
Get ready for a slew of new characters to make their debuts in the third season. Prison Break’s Peter Stormare will play Wener Zytle, who takes over as Vertigo. Glee’s Nolan Funk has been cast as Cooper, Felicity’s (Emily Bett Rickards) hacker ex-boyfriend from MIT. Brandon Routh (Superman Returns, Chuck and One Life to Live) has joined the cast as Ray Palmer aka The Atom. Ray will be the new owner of Queen Consolidated. Look for Ray to also be involved with Felicity. David Cubitt (Traders) will play an A.R.G.U.S. operative – and Manhunter – who will keep Diggle (David Ramsey) busy. Matt Ward (Hellcats) has been cast as Simon Lacrois aka Komodo. Supernatural’s Amy Gumenick has been cast as Carrie Cutter aka Cupid, a villainess who has an obsessive crush on The Arrow. Lastly, J.R. Ramirez (Emily Owens, M.D.) has been cast as Ted Grant aka Wildcat, who will interact with Laurel (Katie Cassidy).
Meanwhile, Rila Fukushima will replace Devon Aoki as Katana (Aoki had to back out due to scheduling). Along with Karl Yune’s Maseo Yamashiro, they will be featured heavily in Oliver’s (Stephen Amell) Hong Kong flashbacks.
The big bad this season is Ra’s al Ghul, but could they get Liam Neeson to reprise the role he played in Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy? Neeson would be up for it! The actor told MTV News, “I would, in a heartbeat, if it came my way, yeah.”
With the new promo, could Olicity finally happen or will it be a fake out like last season’s finale?
The Walking Dead (Returns Oct. 12 at 9 p.m. on AMC)
While season five will begin in Terminus, expect this season to have different settings, including a possible medical facility where Beth will be located. The Wire’s Seth Gilliam will join the cast as a series regular, Father Gabrial Stokes, a character from the comics.
2 Broke Girls (Returns Oct. 27 at 8 p.m. on City and CBS)
The CBS comedy returns a bit late this year and you can blame the NFL and The Big Bang Theory for that (CBS is airing football on Thursday, which temporarily moves Bang to Monday nights). The season premiere will feature Kim Kardashian as herself, who shows up at the cupcake window.
