New seasons of network television shows are sure to entertain this fall.

Many shows’ premieres have been pushed back this fall due to the pandemic, leaving fans eager for their favorites to return. Here’s what to expect this fall as the most awaited returning show premieres of fall 2020 (contains spoilers for previous seasons).  

The Voice

After finishing last season with remote filming, NBC’s singing talent show was pushed back from a September premiere to an October 19th first episode. The program held virtual auditions for its new season and now uses a virtual audience for the show, where contestants previously sang to an audience while the judges sat with their backs turned. Blake Shelton, Gwen Stefani, Kelly Clarkson, Nick Jonas, and John Legend are this season’s coaches.

Black-ish

ABC’s hit comedy was originally scheduled to return mid-season, but producers felt the show could shine a light on current struggles with the pandemic, so they arranged for it to return on October 21st. The first episode found the Johnsons at the beginning of the pandemic, with Bow (Tracee Ellis Ross) continuing to work as an essential medical worker, and others in the family taking social distancing less seriously. Judy Reyes and Parminder Nagra guest-starred on the episode. Meanwhile, Dre’s (Anthony Anderson) divorced parents reunited at the end of last season and maybe seen less on the show as the characters embarked on a spin-off called Old-ish.

Chicago Med, Fire, and PD

The NBC powerhouse of shows set in Chicago that all run on the same evening will premiere November 11th at 8/7C with a new Chicago Med episode. On Chicago Fire, Kidd (Miranda Rose Mayo) continues her leadership role in teaching young girls about self-confidence but struggles to help one youth who doesn’t show up for class. Many fans hope to learn if Brett (Kara Killmer) and Casey (Jesse Spencer) will admit their feelings for each other. Like many other shows, all the Chicago dramas left off a few episodes early last season, leaving viewers hanging.

Star Trek: Discovery

The CBS All Access show premiered October 15th, with Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and much of the rest of the Discovery’s crew headed into the 32nd-century far future thanks to some time crystals and a complex plot twist. This is further ahead than the show has ventured before, and the characters will learn the future Federation is mostly collapsed. David Ajala joins the cast as Cleveland Booker, a new character who may break some rules while Burnham has a search to continue.

Grey’s Anatomy

The pandemic also caused an early end to the last season of ABC’s medical hit Grey’s Anatomy, entering its 17th season this fall. As a result, the fall finale was less of a cliffhanger than usual, although Andrew Deluca’s (Giacomo Gianniotti) exit after being suspended was left open. Dr. Bailey (Chandra Wilson) and other doctors were concerned about his mental health after his behavior unraveled while trying to diagnose Dr. Webber (James Pickens, Jr.). These and different planned storylines will continue, amid an early focus on pandemic-related stories. The two-hour premiere is on November 12th at 8/7C.

The Good Doctor

Previews for ABC’s medical drama The Good Doctor shows Dr. Shaun Murphy (Freddie Highmore) expressing what we all feel about the pandemic right now: “I just want it to be over!” Sadly, season 3 ended with the death of Dr. Melendez (Nicholas Gonzalez) following a building collapse. Dr. Claire Brown (Antonia Thomas) was especially heartbroken as she’d recently realized she was in love with Melendez. Meanwhile, Shaun and Lea (Paige Spara) also finally confessed their feelings to each other—just in time to be physically kept apart by the pandemic. Dr. Alex Park (Will Yun Lee) announced he would leave the hospital to move closer to his son in Phoenix. The Good Doctor premieres Monday, November 1st, at 10/9C.

This Is Us

The last season of NBC’s drama ended with a powerful fight between brothers Kevin (Justin Hartley) and Randall (Sterling K. Brown) that will have ramifications for years to come. Also present in the plot will be Covid-19, with the characters acknowledging social distancing and the stress of the pandemic. The two-hour season premiere will be October 27th at 7/6C.

FANTASTIC!!