Fall 2016 TV Preview: New debuts and returning favourites to watch this season

The fall 2016 TV lineup is brimming with must-see programming - no matter what your fancy. From action revivals to highly anticipated dramedies (ahem, Sarah Jessica Parker's return to HBO!), political thrillers, royal histories and a host of LOL-worthy sitcoms (including one very exciting crossover!), we've rounded up all the new and returning shows you'll want to have in your downtime arsenal this season. Click through our gallery to plan your attack...

LETHAL WEAPON
PREMIERE Sept. 21, City
The blockbuster franchise that inspired four
movies and originally starred Mel Gibson and Danny Glover is getting the
small-screen treatment this fall. A new generation will see Damon Wayans
and Clayne Crawford as the veteran LAPD detective and fearless
rookie cop in this update of the action-packed buddy comedy.
Photo: © Rogers Media

THE GREAT INDOORS
PREMIERE Oct. 27, Global
A renowned reporter (comic Joel McHale) returns from his adventures in the wild to Outdoor Limits magazine's headquarters, where he's tasked with joining the office's young digital team. They learn from one another even as they hilariously clash over story ideas and workplace etiquette.
Photo: © Global

BETTER THINGS
PREMIERE Sept. 8, FX Canada
Louis C.K.'s longtime collaborator and Louie castmate Pamela Adlon stars in this funny series, which the pair co-created. It follows a working actress and single mother raising her three daughters in Hollywood. "It’s not comedy or dramedy," explains Pamela of the genre-defying project. "It’s like the incredible feelings show.”
Photo: © Bell Media

DIVORCE
PREMIERE Oct. 9, HBO Canada
Sex and the City devotees should know that the role that returns Sarah Jessica Parker to TV is a far cry from Carrie Bradshaw. In this dramedy, she and Thomas Haden Church are a couple going through a drawn-out separation. Scenes from a divorce do lend themselves to laughs – tune in and see.

KIM'S CONVENIENCE
PREMIERE Oct. 4, CBC
Toronto actor Ins Choi was inspired
by his own relatives to write a play
about a Korean immigrant family
and the downtown convenience
store they run. Now he has adapted
the hit stage production into a
heartfelt, urban TV comedy about
putting down roots and family
dynamics.
Photo: © CBC

THE GOOD PLACE
PREMIERE Sept. 19, Global
Kristen Bell stars
alongside Ted Danson
in this comedy about a
woman who passes
away and finds herself
in The Good Place. It's
a town where it's
impossible to curse,
always sunny and full
of people who have
done good deeds
throughout their lives.
The only problem?
Turns out, Eleanor
Shellstrop (Kristen)
is not one of those
people.
Photo: © Global

THE CROWN
PREMIERE Nov. 4, Netflix
Monarchists take note! This 10-part drama follows
Queen Elizabeth II's reign from her early years to the present. With the
sovereign in the spotlight, expect to see her 1947 wedding as well as her
work with British politicians over several decades dramatized with beautiful
period costumes and terrific acting. Brit Claire Foy stars as Her Majesty,
while Doctor Who's Matt Smith transforms into the Duke of Edinburgh.
Photo: © Netflix

BULL
PREMIERE Sept. 20, Global
Saving a client in court
isn't about proving something to a
judge, it's about winning over a
jury. That's where psychologist
Dr. Jason Bull comes in. Based on
the early career of Dr. Phil (who
co-wrote the pilot), the drama stars
NCIS's Michael Weatherly as the
head of a trial-consulting firm that
helps clients get a read on jurors,
witnesses and the accused.
Photo: © Global

THIS IS US
PREMIERE Sept. 20, CTV
It's safe to say that this emotional
dramedy from the writer of Crazy, Stupid, Love has
already found a place in viewers' hearts. Since its
release in May, the online trailer has been viewed
more than eight million times. The show slowly
reveals the unexpected ways all the characters
(including Mandy Moore and Gilmore Girls' Milo
Ventimiglia) are connected.
Photo: © Bell Media

DESIGNATED SURVIVOR
PREMIERE Sept. 21, CTV
Fans of 24
will be thrilled to see
Canadian Kiefer Sutherland
back on the small screen. In
this new drama, he plays Tom
Kirkman, a cabinet member
who unexpectedly becomes
the President of the United
States. He takes over the Oval
Office to help the country
recover from a deadly attack.
Photo: © CBC

HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER
PREMIERE Sept. 22, CTV
True to form, this crime drama from Shonda Rhimes wrapped with a cliffhanger that had fans clamouring to find out who shot Wes's dad, where Frank disappeared to and what's next for the Keating five.
Photo: © Bell Media

HEARTLAND
PREMIERE Oct. 2, CBC
This enduring homegrown fan favourite gets back in the saddle for a 10th season of family drama. We can't wait to pick up where the last season left off, with Amy (Amber Marshall) revealing to Ty (Graham Wardle) on their first wedding anniversary that she's pregnant with their first child!
Photo: © CBC

FRESH OFF THE BOAT
PREMIERE Oct. 12, shomi
Pack your bags! The Huang boys will be the fish out of water when they travel to their parents' homeland in this breakout sitcom's season premiere. The family's off to Taiwan to find Grandma and Uncle Gene (guest star Ken Jeong).
Photo: © Shomi

MADAM SECRETARY
PREMIERE Oct. 2, Global
President Dalton's offer to name Elizabeth (Téa Leoni) the new vice-president of the United States left fans wondering if the former CIA analyst could leave her secretary title behind. Look out for guest star Morgan Freeman, the show's Oscar-winning producer, in the first episode of the season.

JANE THE VIRGIN
PREMIERE Oct. 18, shomi
The show's titular heroine (Gina Rodriguez) tied the knot with Michael last season, but things took an unexpected turn when he was shot. Will he live to tell the tale? Check out season three of this comedic telenovela about one girl's outrageous life (yes, she was accidentally artificially inseminated) to find out.

NARCOS
PREMIERE Sept. 2, Netflix
Based on the true story of Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar (Wagner Moura), this dark drama takes viewers along for the ride as the world-famous criminal tries to outrun the authorities. Not caught up? There's still time to binge-watch the first season.

MOM
PREMIERE Oct. 27, City
Allison Janney and Anna Faris are comic gold as a mother-daughter duo recovering from addiction. Also back for the fourth season: recurring guest star Rosie O’Donnell as the ex-girlfriend of Bonnie (Allison) who comes between mother and daughter.

THE WALKING DEAD
PREMIERE Oct. 23, AMC
Find out who met their demise at the hands of Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) in the cliffhanger that had fans of the zombie survival drama in disbelief. The former Grey's Anatomy star says his villainous character is just getting started. “It’s a reset on The Walking Dead world. It’s Negan’s world now.”
Photo: © AMC

NEW GIRL
PREMIERE Sept. 20, City
In the season première marking the directorial debut of star Zooey Deschanel, Zooey's lovable character Jess tries to keep her feelings for Nick at bay, and Cece and Schmidt start life as newlyweds. Comedy worlds collide in October, when New Girl and Brooklyn Nine-Nine air two back-to-back crossover episodes.
Photo: © Rogers Media