Sorry “Abbott Elementary” and “Grey’s Anatomy” fans — there won’t be new episodes airing anytime soon.
Some viewers may be unaware, but striking screenwriters and actors have brought production to a screeching halt, including on many popular shows like “Law & Order” and “1923.” So fans will have to wait to find out if Janine and Gregory can really be just friends on “Abbott” or if Kim Raver’s Dr. Teddy Altman survives after collapsing on “Grey’s.” But there’s plenty of new characters and familiar faces heading to screens via already-completed shows that are ready to air.
Some creative programming — including shows imported from other countries, competition series and the broadcast arrival of the Paramount Network hit “Yellowstone” — will round-out gaps in the TV schedule.
Here’s a sampling of notable shows debuting in the strike-challenged season ahead:
Adapted from books
Books remain popular inspiration for Hollywood. “ The Other Black Girl, “ based on the novel by Zakiya Dalila Harris, follows Nella, (Sinclair Daniel), a Black editorial assistant in publishing who is thrilled by her company’s new hire of another Black woman, Hazel (played by Ashleigh Murray). Nella’s hope for an ally and confidante is repeatedly squashed, leaving her to wonder if the two are in competition. “The Other Black Girl” is a genre-blending mix of social satire, commentary and creepiness streaming now on Hulu.
Jesse L. Martin returns to NBC in “ The Irrational, “ playing a behavioral science expert with a keen understanding of what makes people tick. This skill makes him an in-demand problem solver and translator-of-sorts for government agencies and big corporations. The show is based on Dan Ariely’s book, “Predictably Irrational” and premieres Sept. 25. Episodes will also stream on Peacock.
In “ Wilderness,” Jenna Coleman (“Doctor Who” and “Victoria”) and Oliver Jackson-Cohen (“Mr. Malcom’s List”, “Surface”) are Liv and Will, a young couple whose marriage is on the rocks. They plan a vacation to set things right but what Will doesn’t know is that Liv has cooked up an itinerary he wasn’t prepared for. The thriller is adapted from a book of the same name by B.E. Jones, with Ashley Benson and Eric Balfour also starring. “Wilderness” debuts Friday on Prime Video.
Brie Larson brings the Bonnie Garmus novel “ Lessons in Chemistry “ to life for Apple TV+. It’s about Elizabeth, a female scientist in the 1960s who works in a chemical lab, is smarter than most but is only permitted to do menial work by sexist colleagues. A romance with a fellow chemist named Calvin (Lewis Pullman), who sees Elizabeth as an equal, sets in motion her winding, fascinating and empowering road to a fulfilling life and career. The show debuts Oct. 13.
The heartbreaking-yet-hopeful WWII novel “ All the Light We Cannot See “ by Anthony Doerr has been turned into a four-episode series directed by Shawn Levy for Netflix. It follows the story of Marie (played by newcomer Aria Mia Loberti) as a blind, young woman in hiding in German-occupied France and a Nazi solder named Werner (Louis Hoffman). He’s an orphan who was drafted against his will and the show explores how their lives intersect. The limited series also stars Mark Ruffalo and Hugh Laurie and debuts Nov. 2.
Spin-offs, prequels, sequels
Hollywood loves a safe bet and a number of new shows debuting this fall feature some not-so-new characters or tie-ins to films and other series that have proved popular.
“The Walking Dead” served as a mainstream introduction to several talented actors: Danai Gurira, Steven Yeun, Lauren Cohan, Jon Bernthal and yes, Norman Reedus. Reedus’ character Daryl Dixon also emerged as a heartthrob. He now fronts his own spinoff called “ The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon,” taking place in France after the events of the original show. Daryl may be in a new country but walkers are still out there, and they’ve evolved. The show airs Sundays on AMC and streams on AMC+.
The massively popular “ John Wick “ movie franchise starring Keanu Reeves is getting a three-night prequel event series called “ The Continental: From the World of John Wick “ on Peacock. It stars Mel Gibson and Colin Woodell as a younger version of Ian McShane’s character from the movies. “The Continental” debuts Sept. 22.
Young adult superheroes need education too, and that’s the backdrop of the new Prime Video series “ Gen V,” a spin-off of “The Boys.” Superheroes-in-training are enrolled at Godolkin University School of Crimefighting, where they fraternize in between high-stakes competitions of strength and ability. Like “The Boys,” the show takes an irreverent approach.
