The New Season (2021)

[ClarkKent_DC]

It's that time of year again!

Continuing the tradition started by Doctor Hmmm? back in 2010, and followed inconsistently since (2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020), here's a catchall thread about any and all shows debuting or returning this fall, with an emphasis on the shows that don't generate their own threads.

[ClarkKent_DC]

TVLIne helpfully provides a roundup with capsule descriptions of the happenings on several returning shows: "Fall TV Preview 2021: Exclusive Scoop and Photos on 20+ Returning Favorites!"

I'm most looking forward to Chicago Fire (the only one of the "One Chicago" shows I watch). Last season ended with a cliffhanger: The rescue squad needed to save somebody trapped in a boat sinking in Lake Michigan.

They put on their SCUBA gear and looked, and just before all four of them ran out of oxygen, they hear knocking and found the guy in a compartment of the boat. But it started taking on water, and debris shifted and blocked the way they got into that section, and as the other firefighters waited on the shore, and as the boat sank deeper into the lake, our four heroes and the guy they went to save were all in the position where they were going to drown if they didn't suffocate first.

How, pray tell, do they got out of THIS? Tune in Wednesday night at 8 (Eastern) on NBC!

[Jeff of Earth-J]

Jeff of Earth-J said:

Apple+ is launching a new series based on Isaac Asimov's Foundation, which I would definitely watch, but Tracy says we already subscribe to enough channels we never watch.

Tracy's spy told her what I posted, and she says we can get Apple+ if we cancel Disney+ and Netflix. (Apparently there is also a new show featuring Jon Stewart on Apple+ Tracy is interested it.) 

[Richard Willis]

IIRC, it's possible to pause Netflix without cancelling it. Don't know if Disney+ has that option.

[Jeff of Earth-J]

Earlier this year, we bought Disney+. We watched WandaVision, we watched The Mandalorian, and after that... nothin'. It was like Disney stopped making stuff. So we cancelled it. The day after we cancelled it, we found out that Peter Jackson (the documentary filmmaker behind They Shall Not Grow Old) has done a six hour documentary using footage from the Beatles' "Let It Be" sessions!

[Rob Staeger (Grodd Mod)]

Oh, I'd heard about that -- didn't realize it was on Disney+! That might finally be the straw that gets me to break down and subscribe for a while.

[ClarkKent_DC]

An original cast member from The Rookie departs in the season premiere.

From TVLine: "The Rookie Boss Breaks Down Series Vet's 'Heartbreaking' Season 4 Exit"

[Richard Willis]

I haven't started watching The Rookie yet, but finally discovered Nathan Fillion's earlier series Castle.

When I decided to check it out I was able to DVR the first half-dozen episodes. By then, I had fallen in love with the characters and the approach of the show. I bought the whole series on DVD. Now when I want to watch something that is joyous and well-written I know where to look.

[Jeff of Earth-J]

Perhaps I'm jumping the gun a bit here, but Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, a spin-off of star trek: discovery which follows Captain Christopher Pike's Enterprise, is slated to launch in 2022. 

[ClarkKent_DC]

From over in the "The New Season (2020)" thread:

ClarkKent_DC said:

Some hopeful news about All Rise: there's negotiations to do a third season on the OWN channel. From Deadline: "‘All Rise’ Eyes Comeback With Season 3 Pickup By OWN After CBS Cancellation"

All Rise rises again! 

The deal is confirmed: OWN will carry reruns of Seasons 1 and 2 beginning Dec. 1 and new episodes in 2022. HBO Max and Hulu get the streaming rights and will do likewise.

• From The Hollywood Reporter: "‘All Rise’ Revived for Season 3 at OWN"
• From Variety: "‘All Rise’ Revived at OWN for Season 3"
• From Deadline: "‘All Rise’ Resurrected With Season 3 Pickup By OWN; Most of the Cast Led By Simone Missick to Return"

Marg Helgenberger landed another show, so she's not returning. But as everyone's options expired, they're all getting a pay bump to come back. Good for them. 

[ClarkKent_DC]

Station 19 and Grey's Anatomy returned last week. Both opened with a title card explaining that they're taking place several months into the future, read aloud and tailored for each show:

This season, Station 19/Grey's Anatomy portrays a fictional, post-pandemic world which represents our hopes for the future.
In real life, the pandemic is still ravaging first responders/the medical community. Get the latest information on how to protect yourself and your loved ones from COVID-19 at GetVaccineAnswers.org

They're also all-in on the crossovers, even though the One Chicago shows have decided to forgo them for this season because, y'know, COVID. With the One Chicago shows, I only regularly watch Chicago Fire and watch only the crossover episodes of the others. But with Station 19 and Grey's Anatomy, they're trying to do them almost every week, and if you're a fan of one, you risk missing something important if you don't watch them both. Like last season, when a doctor from Grey's Anatomy was stabbed to death on Station 19.

In the season premiere for both shows, part of the action takes place in a park where there's a big festival going on. At one point on Station 19, some dumbass who's high on mushrooms is playing with fireworks and blows a hole in his cheek. Naturally, they intend to take him to Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital, but they can't right away ...

... because the dumbass has a buddy who is also high on mushrooms who steals Station 19's fire truck. Said fire truck gets broadsided by another vehicle and knocked on its side, causing a traffic jam that makes it impossible for the rescue squad and ambulance to get to the park. Worse, the fire chief on scene is utterly unconcerned about the fuel leaking from the damaged rig ... and a juggler at the festival drops one of his flaming torches ...

... and, well, that's the end of Station 19's fire truck!

(As noted elsewhere, Station 19 and Grey's Anatomy regularly break suspension of disbelief and grind it into sawdust.)

So a bunch of the firefighters transport the wounded guy to the hospital on foot. Over on Grey's Anatomy, it so happens that the hospital chief and department heads are interviewing doctors; Grey Sloan is short-staffed because two left in the previous season's finale (plus the guy who was stabbed to death), plus, y'know, COVID. During one interview, Dr. Webber enters and says, "You're the candidate for plastic surgery?"

"Yes ...?"

"You now have privileges. We have someone in the ER who blew his face off. C'mon."

[ClarkKent_DC]

Mark Harmon retires from NCIS after 19 seasons, per TVLIne: "Mark Harmon Exits NCIS After 19 Seasons — Here Are the Best Moments From Gibbs' Goodbye Episode"

[ClarkKent_DC]

TVLine helpfully handicaps which network shows have a future, and which ones might be headed to Cancellation Heaven: "2022 Renewal/Cancellation Scorecard: What's Coming Back? What's Already Axed? What's Still on the Bubble?"