At long last, fall TV is back. Well, sort of. ABC kicks things off with the return of a popular show this week, and there are some great game shows to check out while you wait for NBC and FOX to return with scripted dramas next week.
This does mean that there’s plenty to check out throughout the week. The schedules get busy, and you need to know what to watch or skip. We’ve got some suggestions for you—but keep in mind that the skips are so you watch on streaming the following day when you have more time.
What to watch: Name That Tune
Sometimes, you want to show off your musical knowledge, and that’s what Name That Tune offers. In the first episode of the new season, the Modern Family actors are going up against each other, showing off their skills. They have to name a tune in the number of notes they wager.
After the Modern Family stars, the show returns to everyday civilians with their chance to win big. Who will be able to guess everything right, and will you manage it at home?
Name That Tune airs Monday at 8/7c on FOX.
What to watch: High Potential
Next up is the return of ABC’s most popular freshman show of 2024. High Potential season 2 premieres this week, and it’s time to see how Morgan will deal with the Game Master. We know that this person, also likely with HPI, is going to cause some trouble for the entire LAPD, but he’s specifically targeting Morgan and her family.
Meanwhile, Karadec knows where Roman is. It’s time for Daphne and Oz to find him and get some answers about where he’s been for the last 15 years. What excuses that?
High Potential airs on Tuesday at 10/9c on ABC.
What to skip: 2025 NBC Fall Preview
NBC loves to highlight all the shows that are returning in the fall. This is great if it was put on a night when there wasn’t anything else on. However, it goes up against High Potential, and we all know the premiere of that series is more important to watch live.
So, skip the 2025 NBC Fall Preview live. You should be able to catch it on Peacock the following day, or you could DVR it so you can check it out later. It’s a rundown of what to expect from your favorite shows, so it’s not for everyone anyway.
2025 NBC Fall Preview airs on Tuesday at 10/9c on NBC.
What to watch: MasterChef
FOX is wrapping up a lot of its summer shows right now, and MasterChef is one of them. There’s a two-hour grand finale to check out, and you know you need to watch this one live. After all, you’ve spent every Wednesday watching the hopefuls prove their worth to Gordon Ramsay.
The three finalist duos will battle it out for the grand prize. To do that, they need to prepare a Michelin-quality three-course meal. No pressure, right?
MasterChef airs on Wednesday at 8/7c on FOX. It’s a two-hour episode.
What to skip: CBS Fall First Look
Like NBC, CBS is offering a first look at all the shows returning in the fall. The downside to CBS is that we have to wait until October, which means that watching this program probably isn’t at the top of your priorities right now. You can DVR it!
Of course, it’s airing on Friday night, when there’s very little else on. So, if you are struggling to find something to watch, then this could be worth it. I will say that PBS has Prohibition, and while we focus on the Big 5 networks, sometimes PBS is worth checking out to learn a little bit about the past.
CBS Fall First Look airs on Friday at 9/8c on CBS.
What to watch: 99 to Beat
Sunday night is a time to relax, and there are high chances that you’ll end up watching Sunday Night Football. I know that’s a staple in our house. But what if you’re not football fans?
Well, FOX has something worth checking out. 99 to Beat starts the night, and it will see Ken Jeong and Erin Andrews host 100 contestants going head-to-head in a series of games. Yes, this is all about just being the fastest.
99 to Beat airs Sundays at 8/7c on FOX.
What to watch: Sunday Night Football
We need to end with the Sunday Night Football game that’s worth checking out. The Kansas City Chiefs are heading to MetLife Stadium to play against the New York Giants.
Now, the Chiefs haven’t had the best start to their 2025 season, losing their first two games. The pressure is now on for them to win in one of the biggest games of the week.
Sunday Night Football starts at 8:20 p.m. ET/5:20 p.m. PT on NBC.