This week on TV might as well be described as a tidal wave of comedy content. Fall TV is back in full swing with 14 shows returning, 6 premiering, and 1 new comedy special for good measure. We here at The Laugh Button have you covered with your complete guide to the week with show breakdowns, appearances, and everything in between. So kick back, stretch out, and enjoy this week on TV.
On Monday, both The Big Bang Theory and Kevin Can Wait hit CBS. The former is back for season 10 with early season guests including Katey Sagal and Jack McBrayer. The latter sees the return of Kevin James to network television with his new comedy vehicle. NBC also drops its own new series, The Good Place. This 13-episode sitcom comes from Parks and Recreation creator Mike Schur and, like his previous show, features a smart, complex, female lead character. Kristen Bell stars as a New Jersey woman who attempts to change her life for the better, if she could only figure out what exactly it means to be a good person. (Oh, and—minor detail—she’s dead. Ted Danson will aid her in her journey.
On Tuesday, FOX brings back Brooklyn Nine-Nine for a fourth season and New Girl for a sixth. Then NBC premiers its new series This Is Us. Dan Fogelman (Galavant) moves on to an NBC dramedy series that had surprisingly strong buzz during the recent pilot season. This Is Us doesn’t exactly have a story that jumps out on paper—it’s an ensemble piece revolving around various people (some sharing the same birthday) whose lives intertwine in surprising ways—but it does have a cast led by Mandy Moore and Milo Ventimiglia, plus recent The People v. O.J. Simpson standout Sterling K. Brown.
On Wednesday, ABC owns the night with three shows returning including black-ish, The Goldbergs, and Modern Family. It also have a fourth when Speechless premieres for the first time. This single-camera family comedy has the distinction—rare among any current series—of centering on a family with a special-needs child: a teenager who appears to be the family’s sole voice of reason after a disappointing move to a new town. Minnie Driver, John Ross Bowie, and Cedric Yarbrough head the cast. You can watch the entire first episode right here.
On Thursday, the streaming services get into the mix alongside the return of Superstore to NBC. Michael Ian Black hosts a new Seeso original, Debate Wars, that pits teams of comedians/improvisers against each other to settle some of life’s most pressing arguments. Participants include Janeane Garofalo, Judah Friedlander, Eugene Mirman, Todd Barry, Gilbert Gottfried, Andy Dick, Phoebe Robinson, Dave Hill, and Aparna Nancherla. Then Easy, an anthology series from prolific indie filmmaker Joe Swanberg (Digging for Fire, Drinking Buddies) focuses on a diverse group of Chicago residents, played by the likes of Hannibal Buress, Orlando Bloom, Malin Akerman, Jake Johnson, Marc Maron, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Aya Cash, Dave Franco, Emily Ratajkowski, and more.
On Friday, Dr. Ken and Last Man Standing return to ABC and Transparent starts its third season on Amazon. However, the night belongs to Iliza Shlesinger and her new Netflix special, Confirmed Kills.
And finally, on Sunday, four premieres and they’re all from FOX. Bob’s Burgers, Family Guy, and The Simpsons fulfill your animation cravings while The Last Man on Earth kicks off season three.
So for everyone who has complaining that there hasn’t been anything on TV lately, this week is your Super Bowl. And for the icing on the cake, here’s a complete list of all of your favorite comedic appearances.
Monday September 19th
The Big Bang Theory season 10 premiere on CBS
The Good Place series premiere on NBC
Kevin Can Wait series premiere on CBS
John Oliver on Jimmy Kimmel Live
Terry Crews on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon
Damon Wayans Sr. on The Late Late Show with James Cordan
Katee Sackhoff, Natasha Lyonne, Doug Benson on @midnight with Chris Hardwick
Andy Samberg on Conan
Kevin James, Rachael Harris on Live with Kelly
Damon Wayans on The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Tuesday September 20th
Brooklyn Nine-Nine season 4 premiere on FOX
New Girl season 6 on FOX
This Is Us series premiere on NBC
America Ferrera on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Jesse Tyler Ferguson on The Late Late Show with James Cordan
Jeffrey Tambor on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah
Paul F. Tompkins, Janet Varney, Aya Cash on @midnight with Chris Hardwick
Brian Posehn on Conan
Tim Allen on The Talk
Kristen Bell, John Oliver The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Wednesday September 21st
black-ish season 3 premiere on ABC
The Goldbergs season 4 premiere on ABC
Modern Family season 8 premiere on ABC
Speechless series premiere on ABC
Tim Meadows on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Kristen Bell on The Late Late Show with James Corden
Grace Helbig, Scout Durwood & Jessica Rothe on Last Call with Carson Daly
Johnny Pemberton, Cheryl Hines, Artemis Pebdani on @midnight with Chris Hardwick
Eric Andre on Conan
Renee Zellweger on Chelsea
Anthony Anderson on The View
Ken Jeong on Live with Kelly
Thursday September 22nd
Debate Wars series premiere on Seeso
Easy premieres on Netflix
Superstore season 2 premiere on NBC
Ken Jeong on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon
Anthony Anderson on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Derek Waters, Rich Fulcher, Mae Whitman on @midnight with Chris Hardwick
Jeff Garlin on Conan
Whoopi Goldberg, America Ferrera on Watch What Happens Live
Amy Schumer on Chelsea
Friday September 23rd
Dr. Ken season 2 premiere on ABC
Iliza Shlesinger: Confirmed Kills premieres on Netflix
Last Man Standing season 6 premieres on ABC
Transparent season 3 premiere on Amazon
John Oliver on Jimmy Kimmel Live
Will Forte on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon
Dennis Leary on The Late Late Show with James Corden
Brian “Q” Quinn, James “Murr” Murray, Sal Vulcano, Joe Gatto on Live with Kelly
Tig Notaro on The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Whoopi Goldberg on The Wendy Williams Show
Sofia Vergara on Harry
Sunday September 25th
Bob’s Burgers season 7 premieres on FOX
Family Guy season 15 premieres on FOX
The Last Man on Earth season 3 premiers on FOX
The Simpsons season 28 premieres on FOX
