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2015 Fall TV preview

Get ready for all the drama this season.

This fall, dramas dominate most networks’ newest offerings, though there are a fresh new crop of comedies as well to lighten up the lineups.

Some shows will have a slightly familiar ring to them. It started with the success of “Fargo” last year, but the trend of movies getting a second life as TV series continues this year with “Limitless” and “Minority Report,” even as the reboot train keeps chugging along with new leases on life for “The Muppets” and “Heroes: Reborn.”

Medical shows continue prove popular with two dramas (“Chicago Med,” “Code Black”) and a comedy (“Dr. Ken”) slated to premiere later this year. Though new crime-solving duos seem to be taking a bit of a break (just “Rosewood” fills the usual formula), conspiracy theories abound (“Blindspot,” “Quantico”) along with less-than-conventional takes on serial killers (“Scream Queens,” “Wicked City”).

ALREADY PREMIERED
The Bastard Executioner
Sept. 15, 9 p.m. FX
From the creator of “Sons of Anarchy,” this medieval drama follows the life of a warrior-turned-journeyman executioner (Lee Jones) as he navigates the political and supernatural influences at work in 14th-century northern Wales. Also starring: Stephen Moyer (“True Blood”), Katey Sagal (“Sons of Anarchy”)

Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris
Sept. 15, 9 p.m., NBC
The host with the most takes to the stage once more, but this time as the star of his very own one-hour variety show that will feature skits, performances, mini game shows and appearances by fellow celebs.

SEPT. 21
Life in Pieces
7:30 p.m. CBS
A comedy revolving around three generations of a family as they deal with reaching different milestones in their lives (example: impending empty nesters vs. new baby vs. Grandpa turning 70), which will be told in four short stories each episode.

Minority Report
8 p.m. Fox
Based on the 2002 film by Steven Spielberg, Fox’s series picks up 10 years after the end of “Precrime” law enforcement in D.C. However, a few “precogs,” those who can see crimes before they happen, still exist, though they only see some clues, not all that’s needed to stop a crime. One precog is Dash (Stark Sands), who teams up with Det. Lara Vega (Meagan Good) to use his gift for good. Also starring: Wilmer Valderrama (“That ’70s Show”)

Blindspot
9 p.m. NBC
A woman (Jaimie Alexander) is found naked in Times Square with no memory of her past except for one big clue: the series of tattoos covering her body. Using the tattoos, the FBI begins to uncover a larger conspiracy, while she tries to find out the truth about herself. Also starring: Sullivan Stapleton (“Strike Back”)

SEPT. 22
The Muppets
7 p.m. ABC
Miss Piggy and Kermit already have made headlines with their very public breakup and subsequent hookups with other celebs. In the same vein, this doc-style show will focus on the lives and relationships of the Muppets as they live in our world and deal with very human problems and desires, both at work and at home.

Scream Queens
7 p.m. Fox
When the dean (Jamie Lee Curtis) at Wallace University decrees that Kappa Kappa Tau must accept anyone who wants to pledge, the Kappa president (Emma Roberts) makes it her mission to haze the hell out of them. When one pledge dies, it reawakens a 20-year-old murder mystery, and a serial killer could be on the loose. From creator Ryan Murphy (“Glee,” “American Horror Story”). Also starring: Skyler Samuels, Lea Michele, Abigail Breslin, Keke Palmer, Niecy Nash, Nick Jonas and Ariana Grande

Limitless
9 p.m. CBS
Another movie that’s getting the TV treatment this season. When Brian (Jake McDorman) is given the mysterious drug NZT by Sen. Edward Morra (Bradley Cooper, in a recurring role), his mental and physical abilities suddenly seem to have no bounds. Quickly on his trail, though, is the FBI, who recognize the drug’s effects from a failed program that killed two people years ago, though they want to use his newfound powers to help them solve cases.

SEPT. 23
Rosewood
7 p.m. Fox
Private pathologist Dr. Beaumont Rosewood (Morris Chestnut) teams up with Det. Annalise Villa (Jaina Lee Ortiz) to solve crimes in Miami, which means flashy cars, minimal clothing and zipping around on a boat from time to time. However, the smooth-talking Rosie has a heart condition that puts an end date on his own life expectancy within the next decade. Also starring: Lorraine Toussaint (“Orange is the New Black”)

SEPT. 24
Heroes Reborn
7 p.m. NBC
A reboot of the 2006 series, NBC revisits their version of “X-Men” in a 13-episode miniseries. After being blamed for a terrorist attack, those with special abilities mostly are in hiding or on the run, but some have turned vigilante while others are trying to spread the truth about what really happened in the attack. A mix of new characters joins old ones from the original series.

The Player
9 p.m. NBC
Wesley Snipes stars as a Vegas pit manager who oversees high-stakes gambling based on the ability of military operative-turned-security expert Alex (Philip Winchester) to stop real-life crimes from happening. His first target is the man he believes to have killed his wife.

SEPT. 27
Blood & Oil
8 p.m. ABC
A young couple (Chace Crawford, Rebecca Rittenhouse) heads to North Dakota to make their fortune but nearly loses everything in a car accident. As they rebuild their lives, they find themselves going head to head for a piece of potentially oil-rich land against the biggest oil tycoon in the area, Briggs (Don Johnson), who reluctantly admires Billy’s (Crawford) business savvy, especially compared with his slacker son (Scott Michael Foster), whom he’s disowned.

Indian Summers
8 p.m. PBS
Set in the 1930s, the miniseries explores the intersection of the ruling English class and their Indian subjects in Simla, in what is present day India, during the final years of the British empire. The story is told from both English and Indian points of view, as most of the former are content to continue partying in their home away from home and some of the latter are beginning to agitate for independence.

Quantico
9 p.m. ABC
A class of new recruits arrives at FBI base Quantico for training. They face the same troubles, temptations and tests as any good-looking group of people forced to live with and compete against one another would face, but then the biggest terrorist attack on American soil since 9/11 occurs. One of the recruits (Priyanka Chopra) is arrested for the attack, but when she’s given the chance to escape, she does so with the intent to find out which of her fellow recruits is responsible to clear her own name.

SEPT. 29
Grandfathered
7 p.m. Fox
Restaurant owner and ultimate bachelor Jimmy (John Stamos) is pretty set in his ways—until he discovers he’s got a son (Josh Peck) and a granddaughter. Soon, he’s learning how to babysit while also teaching his adorkable son the finer points of dressing and dating.

The Grinder
7:30 p.m. Fox
After eight successful seasons playing a lawyer on TV, Dean (Rob Lowe) moves back home, much to the initial chagrin of his real-life lawyer brother Stewart (Fred Savage). Though Stewart has the law degree, he doesn’t have the public speaking chops or presence required to command the attention of a courtroom, which is exactly where his brother’s talents come into play.

SEPT. 30
Code Black
9 p.m. CBS
A group of first-year residents cut their teeth in LA County Hospital’s ER, the busiest, most notorious in the nation whose physical and human resources are constantly stretched to the limit. Residency director Dr. Leanne Rorish (Marcia Gay Harden) keeps the residents and patients in order with the help of senior nurse Jesse Sallander (Luis Guzman), Dr. Neal Hudson (Raza Jaffrey) and Dr. Rollie Guthrie (William Allen Young).

OCT. 1
Benders
9 p.m. IFC
Hockey’s hot, and the action has crossed over into the scripted variety. A group of guys from all walks of life bond over their obsessive love for their amateur ice hockey team, the Chubbys. They talk love and relationships in the bro-iest way possible: chatting rinkside as they wait to take the ice

OCT. 2
Dr. Ken
7:30 p.m. ABC
Doctor-turned-actor Ken Jeong (the “Hangover” franchise) finds art imitating life in this new sitcom in which he plays a doctor with a questionable bedside manner. At home, he’s got two kids he’s cluelessly trying to raise with his therapist wife (Suzy Nakamura).

OCT. 4
Home Fires
7 p.m. PBS
At the beginning of World War II, the focus of the English village of Great Paxford turns on its women and social group The Women’s Institute. In the group, the women form new relationships, bond with one another over their troubles and try to keep up morale on the home front while the men go off to war.

OCT. 7:
Casual
Hulu
Jason Reitman (“Up in the Air,” “Juno”) executive produces a comedy for the streaming service that centers on a recently divorced mom (Michaela Watkins) who moves in with her bachelor brother (Tommy Dewey) after her breakup. They help each other navigate the world of online and real-life dating while also raising her teenage daughter (Tara Lynne Barr).

American Horror Story: Hotel
9 p.m. FX
Lady Gaga stars in the latest installment of Ryan Murphy’s anthology series as the mysterious Countess, owner of the titular hotel. Wes Bentley plays an LAPD detective who checks in to check out a series of murders. Other guests and residents staying at the hotel include characters played by Matt Bomer, Cheyenne Jackson, Angela Bassett, Naomi Campbell, Kathy Bates, Evan Peters, Max Greenfield and Sarah Paulson.

OCT. 8
Super Mansion
Crackle
What happens after a superhero’s past his or her prime? They become roommates in a mansion, of course. De facto leader Titanium Rex (voiced by Bryan Cranston) and his band of washed-up heroes harken for the old days but find themselves banding together to fight some good old-fashioned bad guys in the present. This animated series from the makers of Robot Chicken also features the voices of Jillian Bell, Seth Green, Keegan-Michael Key, Nick Kroll, Chris Pine, Anton Yelchin and Famke Janssen.

OCT. 16
Truth Be Told
7:30 p.m. NBC
Two diverse couples (Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Vanessa Lachey, Tone Bell and Bresha Webb), who are conveniently besties and neighbors, discuss love, sex, relationships and race—basically they’ll tackle anything and everything from the cute to the uncomfortable with a dose of humor.

OCT. 19
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
7 p.m. CW
When Rebecca (Rachel Bloom) runs into ex-boyfriend Josh (Vincent Rodriguez III) from 10 years ago and he mentions he’s moving to California, on a whim she packs up her successful life in New York and follows him out West with a song and a dance (a la “500 Days of Summer”). Once there, she struggles to connect with him and, oh, he has a non-Facebook-official girlfriend, leaving Rebecca to doubt her sanity and wrestle with the level of her desperation.

OCT. 26
Supergirl
7:30 p.m. CBS
CBS gets into the superhero game with Superman’s female counterpart and cousin, Kara Zor-El (Melissa Benoist), who escaped home planet Krypton at age 12 and was raised on Earth by a foster family. After 12 years hiding her abilities, now-24-year-old Kara decides to step out of the shadows and into the skies as Supergirl, complete with iconic cape and tights and logo. She learns, however, that having superhuman powers doesn’t solve all your very human problems.

OCT. 27
Wicked City
9 p.m. ABC
The 1980s gets its time in the spotlight as the Sunset Strip maintains a high of rock ‘n’ roll, cocaine—and murder. The show follows a serial killer (Ed Westwick) who falls in dark, twisted love with a sociopath (Erika Christensen), and together they prowl the famed strip of Sunset Boulevard for victims while detectives try to solve the mystery of the killings.

OCT. 31
Ash vs. Evil Dead
8 p.m. Starz
Thirty years after Ash (Bruce Campbell) and his friends went to a cabin in the woods, found a book of the dead and unleashed its evil into the world (see: 1981 movie “The Evil Dead”), Ash finds himself fighting alongside a crew of younger allies as well as Lucy Lawless in the midst of a new war against the Deadites. This newest iteration of the Evil Dead franchise brings 21st century polish to the gore without forgetting its campy roots.

NOV. 5
Angel from Hell
8:30 p.m. CBS
Dermatologist Allison (Maggie Lawson) runs into Amy (Jane Lynch) one day … and keeps running into her all over town. Amy then reveals herself as Allison’s guardian angel who sees Allison headed down a bad path in her relationships and the way she’s dealing with the relatively recent death of her mom.

NOV. 6
Master of None
Netflix
Dev (Aziz Ansari, also the series’ co-creator) is a pretty stereotypical Millennial who can’t decide what to do with himself. The story will touch on things as serious as the plight of the elderly and the immigrant experience to lighter fare, such as how to find the most delicious pasta for dinner. Reports say the show’s material will be based partly on Ansari’s stand-up, as well as his recent book, “Modern Romance.” Also starring: Ansari’s parents, as his parents.

NOV. 8
Flesh and Bone
8 p.m. Starz
It’s Claire’s (Sarah Hay) final attempt to make it as a dancer in a major ballet company, and she captures the attention of the complicated, demanding artistic director (Ben Daniels). The series goes beyond the superficial beauty of the ballet show and also explores the gritty side of the ballet world: sex, drugs and a whole lot of other issues the dancers struggle with while trying to stay on top.

NOV. 15
Into the Badlands
9 p.m. AMC
In this martial arts series set in a fictional, feudal land that resembles the Antebellum South (but also has cars and motorcycles and a touch of steampunk), a warrior (Daniel Wu) restlessly yearns for something more than killing while continuing to do what he does best. He rescues a boy (Aramis Knight), who is wanted for some unknown reason by the Widow (Emily Beecham), who wants to seize power from one of the powerful barons who rule the land.

NOV. 17
Chicago Med
8 p.m. NBC
Executive producer Dick Wolf adds to his “Chicago Fire” and “Chicago P.D.” network of shows with this new medical drama, in which characters from Wolf’s other two series will appear from time to time, including the pilot. Keeping the city’s “most explosive” hospital running is a team of doctors (Oliver Platt, Nick Gehlfuss, Colin Donnell and Brian Tee), head of hospital Sharon Goodwin (S. Epatha Merkerson) and nurse April Sexton (Yaya DaCosta).

NOV. 19
The Art of More
Crackle
New York’s auction houses have more than glamour and prestige going for them, they’ve also got crime and intrigue. Former soldier Graham (Christian Cooke) uses his knowledge of antiquities smuggling rings from his time in Iraq as a way into this world, working for an art collector (Cary Elwes). He crosses paths with a real estate shark (Dennis Quaid), who becomes romantically involved with an auction house CEO’s daughter (Kate Bosworth), who is an account executive in her own right. It’s not clear exactly what everyone wants, except that they want more of it.

ekdelossantos@redeyechicago.com | @elisekdelo