MONDAY
POST PICK: The Blacklist, Sept. 23, 10 p.m., NBC
Nonstop suspense drives “The Blacklist,” a thriller about a notorious criminal, Raymond Reddington (James Spader, above left), who turns himself in to the FBI and saves his hide by offering to help the agency find elusive terrorists. There’s one catch, however. He insists on working with someone high-level agents have never heard of — a rookie named Elizabeth Keen (Megan Boone). Reddington’s interest in Keen verges on the unseemly. After all, she is married and planning to adopt a baby with her husband Tom (Ryan Eggold). But the agency is willing to accommodate Reddington’s demands — a suite at his favorite Washington D.C., hotel — in order for the access he gives them to a network of terrorists.
Unpredictable, enigmatic, with an easy enjoyment of things most human beings would find cruel, Reddington is one strange cookie and the always watchable Spader is just the right oddball to play him. He is surrounded by an able cast (Harry Lennix and Diego Klattenhoff) as the agents. As Keen, Boone proves she has the necessary skills and moxie to go toe-to-toe with a master scene-stealer. “The Blacklist” is NBC’s best new drama in ages.
Sleepy Hollow, Sept. 16, 9 p.m., Fox
Ichabod Crane (Tom Mison) is transported from Washington Irving’s “Legend of Sleepy Hollow” to the modern-day Westchester town, where his speech, attitude and wardrobe have the local cops convinced he’s a nut job. They can’t put him away so fast, though: There’s a killer on the loose and Crane knows who it is — the infamous Headless Horseman. Fun, fun, fun.
Mom, Sept. 23, 9:30 p.m., CBS
Alcoholism is funny again! Chuck Lorre, who has worked with a slew of celebrity addicts (Brett Butler, Charlie Sheen), channels his authority on the topic into a sitcom about mother-and-daughter drunks. The good news: there are some laughs here. Fortunately for viewers, Lorre knows how to hire talent: Anna Faris and the delightful Allison Janney may do for “Mom” what Jim Parsons did for “The Big Bang Theory” and Melissa McCarthy did for “Mike & Molly.”
Hostages, Sept. 23, 10 p.m., CBS
This Jerry Bruckheimer nail-biter — about a rogue FBI agent, Duncan Carlisle (Dylan McDermott), who takes hostage the family of Dr. Ellen Sanders (Toni Collette) — might be a movie disguised as a TV show. She’s about to operate on the president and he wants her to kill him — or else. The plot is a checklist of LA cliches, from the philandering mate (Tate Donovan) and the truculent teenage daughter (Quinn Shepard) to the stubble on McDermott’s chiseled jaw. Can Collette save the show? Well, she’s certainly its craftiest actor.
We Are Men, Sept. 30, 8:30 p.m., CBS
Three single guys of a certain age — Jerry O’Connell, Kal Penn and Tony Shalhoub — try to persuade the youngest member (Chris Smith) of their suburban “Entourage” posse not to get married. For a while, they have the upper hand. The casting is not especially inspired here and we won’t even start on the jokes.
TUESDAY
POST PICK: Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Sept. 24, 8 p.m., ABC
This is easily the most anticipated show of the season.
“S.H.I.E.L.D.” will feature Agent Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg, below right), who also appeared in “The Avengers,” as well as other Marvel heroes — just not Iron Man and Captain America. The series stars Ming-Na Wen (“ER”) as Agent Melinda May, a weapons expert; Brett Dalton plays Agent Grant Ward, a black ops specialist; and Chloe Bennett (below left) is Skye, a computer hacker. Scottish actor Iain De Caestecker is technology specialist Leo Fitz, while his partner-in-crime is lifesciences expert Jemma Simmons, played by British actress Elizabeth Henstridge.
Joss Whedon and his team — his brother, Jed, and sister-in-law, Maurissa Tancharoen — created the series and wrote the terrific pilot. Joss may not lend his talents to the entire series — he has another “Avengers” movie to make —but where would you rather have him apply his talents?
Dads, Sept. 17, 8 p.m., Fox
Best friends and business partners Eli (Seth Green) and Warner (Giovanni Ribisi) freak out when their respective fathers (Martin Mull and Peter Riegert) move in with them. These dads are what you would expect from creator Seth MacFarlane: they’re politically incorrect — but they’re not that funny.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Sept. 17, 8:30 p.m., Fox
This sitcom about a cocky detective asks the question: Can Andy Samberg act? The “Saturday Night Live” grad knows his shtick, but what happens when the mighty Andre Braugher, who plays his new boss, walks in the room? Samberg looks like an amateur.
The Goldbergs, Sept. 24, 9 p.m., ABC
Ready for a new “Wonder Years”? “The Goldbergs” chronicles family life through the eyes of 11-year-old Adam (Sean Giambrone), who turns his video camera on his gruff dad (Jeff Garlin), overbearing mom (Wendi McLendon- Covey) and siblings.
Trophy Wife, Sept. 24, 9:30 p.m., ABC
With two ex-wives and three stepkids, Pete (Bradley Whitford) seems like a catch to decades-younger Kate (Malin Akerman), who becomes wife No. 3. Marcia Gay Harden plays ex-wife No. 1 in this buzzy comedy.
Lucky 7, Sept. 24, 10 p.m., ABC
Seven gas station employees have been chipping into a lottery pool for years. Then they win. Money, as they say, changes everything, including friendships. Starring Matt Long and Christine Evangelista.
WEDNESDAY
POST PICK: Ironside, Oct. 2, 10 p.m., NBC
Remakes are tricky. Most don’t work. Remember “Charlie’s Angels” a few seasons ago? The only thing the new version of “Ironside” has in common with Raymond Burr’s hit, which ran on NBC from 1967-75, is that wheelchair. Blair Underwood (above left) is a fit, down-to-earth detective haunted by the memory of the attack on him, but determined to not let his disability slow him down. And this Ironside is a stud (every spinal cord injury is different, says executive producer Ken Sanzel)! The cast includes Broadway actor Pablo Schreiber, “Smash” survivor Neal Bledsoe, “Greek” alumna Spencer Grammer and Kenneth Choi (above right). This “Ironside” has a secret weapon: Brent Sexton (“The Killing”), as his anguished ex-partner, Gary, who was with him when he was shot in the back.
Back In The Game, Sept. 25, 8:30 p.m., ABC
A comedy about curve balls. Single mom and ex-jock Terry Gannon (Maggie Lawson) moves back in with her estranged father (James Caan), an ornery former pro baseball player. Their athletic grace did not rub off on Terry’s son, the laughingstock of the baseball diamond among his peers. This series attempts to score a home run by having Terry coaching a team of misfits like her son.
Super Fun Night, Oct. 2, 9:30 p.m., ABC
If you liked “Bridesmaids,” you’ll be all over “Super Fun Night.” Rebel Wilson, who co-starred in that movie, created this vehicle for herself as Kimmie Boubier, who likes to spend her Friday nights with her two roommates, Helen-Alice (Liza Lapira) and Marika (Lauren Ash). That girl-power dynamic shifts when one of the trio — take a guess — gets a job promotion and the other two feel left behind. Don’t cry. “Super Fun Night” will try hard to make you laugh.
The Tomorrow People, Oct. 9, 9 p.m., The CW
If you’re not maxed out on shows about the supernatural after “Sleepy Hollow” and “The Originals,” you might be up for “The Tomorrow People.” John, Cara and Russell are all about telekinesis, teleporting and, of course, telepathy. One glitch though: They can’t stop the paramilitary scientists trying to capture them. Getting pulled into this televortex is hunky Stephen (Robbie Amell), who feels a strange kinship with these stylish geeks. Could it be because Cara is played by Peyton List, who was so hot on “Mad Men” as the second Mrs. Roger Sterling?
THURSDAY
POST PICK: Once Upon a Time in Wonderland, Oct. 10, 8 p.m., ABC
Just in case you weren’t spending enough time in fairy tale land — or Storybrooke, where ABC’s “Once Upon a Time” takes place — now you can travel to an equally magical place: Wonderland.
Wonderland was first presented to viewers last season on “Once Upon a Time.” Cora (Barbara Hershey), the evil mother of Regina (Lana Parrilla), Mayor of Storybrooke and an Evil Queen herself, found her way back to her daughter as the Queen of Hearts after Regina had banished Cora to Wonderland years before.
The fantastical series stars Sophie Lowe (left) as Alice, who is helped by The Knave of Hearts (Michael Socha) and The White Rabbit (voiced by John Lithgow). Alice’s true love, Cyrus, is played by Peter Gadiot, while “Lost”’s Naveen Andrews plays the villain Jafar.
POST PICK: The Michael J. Fox Show, Sept. 26, 9 p.m., NBC
The Crazy Ones, Sept. 26, 9 p.m., CBS
“Mork & Mindy” star Robin Williams plays an ad exec who thinks he’s losing his touch, until his daughter (Sarah Michelle Gellar) convinces him otherwise. The pilot plays like a free ad for McDonalds. A whopper without fries.
The Millers, Oct. 3, 8:30 p.m., CBS
A 30-minute fart joke , with the witless Will Arnett. Beau Bridges and Margo Martindale must have bad karma to do this.
Welcome to the Family, Oct. 3, 8:30 p.m., NBC
Family comedy with Mike O’Malley and Ricardo A. Chavira (“Desperate Housewives”) about dads whose daughter and son are having a baby.
Sean Saves the World, Oct. 3, 9 p.m., NBC
Sean Hayes in the role he was born to play and play and play: Just Jack. But this time he’s Just Sean and he’s the gay dad of a teenage girl. Help me, Rhonda.
The Originals, Oct. 3, 9 p.m., The CW
Just what you need: a “Vampire Diaries.” Two brothers plot to win back their position in the supernatural hierarchy of New Orleans’ French Quarter.
Reign, Oct. 17, 9 p.m., The CW
“Reign” introduces us to the teenage Mary, Queen of Scots, many years before Elizabeth I had her executed for treason. Enjoy it for the clothes.
FRIDAY
Dracula, Oct. 25, 10 p.m., NBC
From role to role, Jonathan Rhys Meyers creates compelling and melancholy figures, whether it’s Elvis Presley, in a TV movie, or, most famously, his King Henry VIII in Showtime’s “The Tudors.” Cast as Dracula in the latest iteration of the classic story, Rhys Meyers knows he will be compared to the many men who have already played the role: Bela Lugosi, Christopher Lee and Gary Oldman. Still, he’s game. “I play the bad guy cause I look like one,” he says. The 10-week NBC series finds Dracula assuming the identity of Alexander Gray, an American entrepreneur who wants to bring modern science to Victorian society — specifically, electricity. Gray also wants revenge on those who cursed him with immortality centuries earlier. And then he becomes infatuated with a woman (Jessica De Gouw) who appears to be a reincarnation of his dead wife. Gothic to the nth degree, “Dracula” may be this fall’s sexiest supernatural drama.
Enlisted, Nov. 8, 9:30 p.m., Fox
Three boyish brothers live on a Florida base and get into some stuff. If this is premiering in November, Fox really doesn’t expect you to watch.
SATURDAY
Saturday Night College Football, Sept. 14, 8 p.m., ABC
On a night filled with sketchy Lifetime movies, reruns of CBS procedurals and the repetitive “48 Hours,” college football is a better bet. Alabama’s A.J. McCarron (left) is one of the stars of the season; he played against Virginia Tech a few weeks ago. Upcoming games include: Wisconsin at Ohio State (Sept. 28), Ohio State at Northwestern (Oct. 5), Iowa at Ohio State (Oct. 19) and Penn State at Ohio State (Oct. 26).
SUNDAY
Betrayal, Sept. 29, 10 p.m., ABC
More sophisticated than “Revenge,” ABC’s “Betrayal” unfolds slowly as the worlds of two married people collide and move — with disastrous results — towards infidelity.
“It has a cable sensibility,” says series creator David Zabel (”ER”). “The stories don’t take inexplicable turns.”
Zabel was approached by ABC to develop “Betrayal” from a hit Dutch series called “Overspel.” He says he was “disinclined” at first, until he watched it. “The material was really smart and adult in a way that felt really compelling as a writer,” he says.
The leads are relative unknowns. As photographer Sara Hanley, British actress Hannah Ware (right, with Chris Johnson) played the mayor’s daughter on “Boss.” Irish actor Stuart Townsend, who played the lead in ABC’s 2005 series, “Night Stalker,” is the love interest, lawyer Jack McAllister.
“I didn’t want to go right down the middle in terms of the normal casting list that you see when pilot season rolls around,” says Zabel. “Some of those actors are very good, but you tend to see the same names and faces; there’s a kind of sameness to it.”
*
We picked our favorites — here are the shows we hope are taken off the air as quickly as possible.
THE MILLERS. A preponderance of jokes about farting and masturbation told by senior citizens (Beau Bridges, Margo Martindale) easily makes this CBS series one to never watch.
DADS. Nobody wants to get stuck with their cranky, old parents. That’s the message of this Fox comedy. Nobody also wants to get stuck watching this show because our cranky, old parents are not necessarily funny.
SEAN SAVES THE WORLD. First question: Why did anyone think Sean Hayes could carry his own show? Second question: How many cliches can you have in one half-hour? Third: How long will it last?
WE ARE MEN. Prolonged adolescence might be a subject of great fascination to Hollywood script writers, but this “Entourage” for the Chuck Woolery set is depressing.
THE ORIGINALS. This spinoff of “The Vampire Diaries” has some of the most amateurish acting of the new season.