FALL PREVIEW 2015: Sunday

And here is Sunday! A night with a major overhaul on ABC and very little changed elsewhere.

Past Sunday previews: 2014   2013   2012   2011   2010

ABC
7:00 America's Funniest Home Videos (26th season)
8:00 Once Upon a Time (5th season)
9:00 BLOOD & OIL
10:00 QUANTICO

ABC needed a major overhaul here and they are changing more here than any other night. At 7pm, America's Funniest Home Videos returns for its 26th season but it is going through an overhaul as Tom Bergeron stepped down as host after over a decade. Replacing him is Alfonso Ribeiro so we'll see if that has any effect. I'm not sure the host plays a huge role in the ratings. Once Upon a Time returns at 8pm. It had a very strong fall with its "Frozen" storyline but it was much weaker in the spring. Two new dramas follow. At 9pm is the Dallas-esque Blood & Oil starring Don Johnson. The show seems like it could fit the ABC brand but reviews have been lukewarm and it seems like a bit of an odd pair with Once. At 10pm is Quantico. This was originally supposed to be Of Kings and Prophets while Quantico was to air Tuesdays at 10pm. Then Of Kings wasn't ready and things got shuffled around. Quantico has a little bit of buzz but it's going to have a tough time in this slot. I'm not sure these two shows are going to solve ABC's Sunday woes.

CBS
7:00 60 Minutes (48th season)
8:00 Madam Secretary (2nd season)
9:00 The Good Wife (7th season)
10:00 CSI: Cyber (2nd season)

CBS is pretty much keeping things the same on Sundays with one little change at 10pm. 60 Minutes continues as the institution at 7pm. It will get a football bounce as always in the fall. Madam Secretary returns at 8pm after a strong fall with a football halo and a weak spring. Despite its continuing downward trend, The Good Wife keeps the relatively prime spot of 9pm on Sundays. It seems like it might have been time to move to 10pm. Instead, 10pm goes to year two of CSI: Cyber instead of the mothership that is ending with a two hour movie on the first Sunday of the fall season. This is a tough task for Cyber especially when the lineup starts half an hour late on doubleheader Sundays. Overall, this should continue to do OK on Sundays with football giving the lineup a boost. The spring could be rough though unless changes are made.

NBC
7:00 Football Night in America (10th season)
8:30 Sunday Night Football
NBC continues to have Sunday Night Football in the fall and it will continue to dominate the ratings whether its slightly up or slightly down from last year. As of now, there is no plan for the spring but NBC has a lot on deck, as always. I could see The Biggest Loser and dramas going here possibly.

FOX
7:00 NFL Overrun/The OT/Animated Encores
7:30 Bob's Burgers (6th season)
8:00 The Simpsons (27th season)
8:30 Brooklyn Nine-Nine (3rd season)
9:00 Family Guy (14th season)
9:30 The Last Man on Earth (2nd season)

FOX's Sunday night lineup is staying the same as it was in the spring. The animated anchors continue where they are but they are another year older. Brooklyn Nine-Nine had a mostly successful move to Sunday nights last year and proved to be much more compatible with The Simpsons than one would think. The Last Man on Earth enjoyed a critically acclaimed first season and didn't tank in the ratings, especially compared to fall entry Mulaney. Just like CBS, the FOX lineup will get a boost from football in the fall but the bigger question is if it will be able to hold up at all in the spring. It's always the benefit and problem on Sunday night shows on football networks.

New Sunday Show Survival Chances
Blood & Oil (ABC) - Fair. I think this is on brand for ABC but I'm not sure the quality is there and I don't love the timeslot for it. Therefore, I'm pretty skeptical but we'll see.

Quantico (ABC) - Poor. Quantico might actually be a decent show but this timeslot is going to kill it. Tuesday 10pm & Sunday 10pm seem to be cursed timeslots for ABC. I just don't see it succeeding where it is.