11 TV shows Bostonians should know about this fall
Here’s your fall TV preview, Boston style.
Is there even a fall TV season anymore? With so many different channels, streaming platforms, show formats, and distribution models, the days of a regimented September to May season are long gone. Even Facebook had a show debut this fall, for crying out loud.With the options almost endless, it’s increasingly difficult to determine what shows are worth viewing, much less where, when, and how you can watch any given show. To make everything just a bit easier, we’ve narrowed the field to only shows that a Bostonian might want to know about, whether it be a show set in the city, one starring Massachusetts natives, or a series with some other local tie.This list of shows runs the gamut from brand-new to long-running, but each has its own local connection.
NEW
“A Million Little Things”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0aB4nA5MOQ
A Boston-set drama about a group of male friends who have to cope with the sudden death of one of their close friends, “A Million Little Things” has the feel of a guy-centric “This Is Us,” also with a heavy emphasis on emotions. Globe TV critic Matthew Gilbert gave the drama a “change the channel” rating in his fall preview guide, but other reviewers have been more charitable. It premiered on ABC earlier this week, and will regularly air Wednesdays at 10 p.m.
“Homecoming”
Julia Roberts in a series? The longtime film star will lead a show for the first time ever, playing a caseworker at a facility that treats soldiers returning from war. Among the names slated to appear in the Amazon series are Bobby Cannavale, Alex Karpovsky, Sissy Spacek, and “SMILF” star and Brookline native Frankie Shaw, who has an unspecified role in early episodes. All 10 episodes will land on Amazon Prime video on Friday, Oct. 2.
“The Romanoffs”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2qWLttWvYI
For his first show since the critically acclaimed “Mad Men,” Matthew Weiner is doing something very interesting with Amazon. Every episode of “The Romanoffs” will feature a different cast, with the only connection being that the characters are all descendants of the infamous Russian family. Boston native John Slattery, who played Roger Sterling on “Mad Men” (and Ben Bradlee Jr. in “Spotlight”), is slated to appear in the show’s fourth episode. The series debuts Friday, Oct. 12.
“Pod Save America”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkpcaGFhzCg
The wildly successful political podcast created by a group of former President Barack Obama staffers (including North Reading’s Jon Favreau and Dedham’s Tommy Vietor) will air four specials on HBO leading up to the midterm elections. Each episode will tackle the politics of the week, as Favreau, Vietor, and co-hosts Jon Lovett and Dan Pfeiffer host live shows in Miami; Austin, Texas; Philadelphia; and Irvine, Calif. The four specials will air on Friday nights, with the first debuting on Oct. 12 at 11 p.m.
RETURNING
“Grey’s Anatomy”
Ellen Pompeo on ‘Grey’s Anatomy.’
Everett native Ellen Pompeo has been outspoken about negotiating a high-paying new contract to return to this ABC medical drama, which started its 15th season with a two-hour premiere this past Thursday night. As Dr. Meredith Grey, she remains the show’s core, especially with the departure of two prominent cast members at the end of season 14.
“Blue Bloods”
Donnie Wahlberg and Bridget Moynahan on ‘Blue Bloods.’
Call us crazy, but wouldn’t it be fun to see Dorchester native Donnie Wahlberg and Longmeadow-raised Bridget Moynahan transfer out of this long-running NYC show and start a spinoff as members of Boston law enforcement? That silly suggestion aside, the duo will once again reprise their roles as siblings (Wahlberg as Det. Danny Reagan, Moynahan as Assistant District Attorney Erin Reagan) under the watchful eye of their father, NYPD Commissioner Frank Reagan (Tom Selleck) for a ninth season, starting Friday, Sept. 28 at 10 p.m.
“The Simpsons”
A scene from ‘The Town,’ the 2016 all-Boston episode of ‘The Simpsons.’
“The Simpsons” isn’t exactly a local show, with show-runner Mike Reiss going so far as to clarify that the show’s fictional setting of Springfield is not based on Springfield, Mass. But several of the show’s producers and writers hail from the state, which explains the easter egg-filled all-Boston episode from 2016. When the show returns for its 30th season on Sunday, Sept. 30 at 8 p.m., all eyes will be on the character of Apu, played by Tufts grad Hank Azaria, after a rise in concerns that the character’s portrayal is stereotypical and hurtful to Indian-Americans.
“Bob’s Burgers”
“Bob’s Burgers.”
After eight seasons and 150 episodes as a part of Fox’s Sunday night sitcom lineup, “Bob’s Burgers” still provides consistent laughs. Part of that is thanks to the voice acting of two local comics who voice main characters: Worcester native H. Jon Benjamin as Bob Belcher and Lexington native Eugene Mirman as his son, Gene. Like its fellow Sunday night Fox show “The Simpsons,” the series also has a deep roster of memorable recurring characters, including Milton native Jenny Slate as the delightfully bratty preteen Tammy Larsen and Worcester-raised Sam Seder as vengeful health inspector Hugo Habercore. The show will return for its ninth season at 8:30 p.m. on Sept. 30.
“Van Helsing”
Kelly Overton as Vanessa Van Helsing and Missy Peregrym as Scarlett Harker.
It’s not easy to fill Hugh Jackman’s shoes, but as Vanessa Van Helsing, Wilbraham native Kelly Overton does an admirable job playing another member of the vampire-hunting family. (Jackman played Gabriel Van Helsing in the 2004 film.) Because of Vanessa’s unique blood composition, she’s also able to turn vampires into humans and represents humanity’s last hope in the fight against the bloodsuckers. “Van Helsing” will swoop back onto SYFY for a third season on Friday, Oct. 5 at 9 p.m.
“Supernatural”
Misha Collins as Castiel on ‘Supernatural.’
“Supernatural” has been on the air so long, it actually debuted back when the WB and UPN were two separate networks: in 2005. Now on the CW, the show began as the story of two reporters tracking down demons around the country, but has morphed into something much larger. Boston native Misha Collins joined the show in its fourth season as the angel Castiel, who helps the good guys (“Team Free Will”) wage war against baddies of all shapes and sizes. The show’s 14th season will premiere on Thursday, Oct. 11 at 8 p.m.
“F is for Family”
‘F is for Family.’
Canton native Bill Burr has a reputation as a take-no-prisoners type of comedian, unafraid to air his opinions, even when (and perhaps especially when) they might offend people. It’s fitting, then, that Burr’s animated Netflix sitcom stars a short-tempered Irish-American father (Burr). But the show ultimately has plenty of heart underneath its coarse exterior. The third season of “F Is for Family” is set to land on the streaming platform sometime in November.
