FALL PREVIEW 2019: Thursday

Here is my Fall Preview for Thursday, a night with big chances on NBC and CBS and no changes on the other three networks. There are also three shows with announced final seasons.

ABC
8:00 Grey's Anatomy (16th season)
9:00 A Million Little Things (2nd season)
10:00 How to Get Away with Murder (6th season)

ABC still is airing juicy dramas on Thursday nights but the TGIT moniker is gone. What's not gone is Grey's Anatomy as the ever-popular medical drama remains one of ABC's top shows heading into Season 16. Its run has been so impressive and it's not done yet. A Million Little Things returns at 9pm for season two. It moved to this slot in January and saw growth from its low rated Wednesday airings in the fall. We'll see if it can keep the momentum up after being off the air since February. At 10pm is How to Get Away with Murder entering its sixth and final season. Once a buzzy water cooler show, it has become one of ABC's lowest rated dramas so the final season announcement was a good idea, but it will probably suffer through its last year with minuscule ratings.

CBS
8:00 Young Sheldon (3rd season)
8:30 THE UNICORN
9:00 Mom (7th season)
9:30 CAROL'S SECOND ACT
10:00 EVIL

CBS had to say goodbye to The Big Bang Theory after 12 seasons, nine of them on Thursday nights. It leaves a void in the CBS schedule that will be filled by Big Bang spinoff Young Sheldon. Sheldon did well following Big Bang the last two seasons but how it does on its own is a major question mark. It is followed by new comedy The Unicorn, which has gotten some of the best buzz of the fall. Even with the good reviews, its fate is probably somewhat tied to how Young Sheldon does as an anchor. At 9pm is Mom which continues to be a reliable anchor. Mom is followed by the new Patricia Heaton comedy Carol's Second Act. Heaton had impressive runs in Everybody Loves Raymond and The Middle totaling 18 years. We'll see if luck can strike a third time for Heaton. At 10pm is the new spooky drama Evil. From The Good Wife creators, it has also gotten some buzz, but it's in a real tough slot. CBS seems excited about this show so I'm surprised they didn't give it a better spot on their schedule.

NBC
8:00 Superstore (5th season)
8:30 PERFECT HARMONY
9:00 The Good Place (4th season)
9:30 SUNNYSIDE
10:00 Law & Order: SVU (21st season)

NBC is introducing some new blood on the night too. They are anchoring the night with their three strongest shows from a troubled night. Superstore continues to hold its own as an 8pm anchor and has turned into one of NBC's cornerstone shows. The final season of The Good Place takes over the 9pm slot. This has always defied expectations, but it doesn't seem like a show meant to be in an anchor slot especially when we know it won't continue beyond this season. New comedies take the :30 slots. Bradley Whitford's church choir comedy Perfect Harmony and Kal Penn's immigration comedy Sunnyside both seem like NBC sitcoms, which unfortunately means niche audiences. I don't think either of these shows, whether good or bad in quality, stand a chance of being a breakout hit. At 10pm is the Law & Order: SVU entering its record-breaking 21st season. Once the season begins, it will have run for more seasons than any other drama in TV history and that's quite an accomplishment. It is not announced as a final season, but it very well could be.

FOX
8:00 Thursday Night Football
Of course FOX will continue to air football on Thursday nights. As of now, the midseason plan is the return of Last Man Standing with new comedy Outmatched and new drama Filthy Rich.

CW
8:00 Supernatural (15th season)
9:00 Legacies (2nd season)

The CW is returning its lineup from last fall. At 8pm is the 15th and final season of Supernatural, a show that is older than the network it is airing on. Supernatural has been an iconic show for the CW and will likely go down in history as the most successful show to ever air on the network. It has started to slip though so the announced final season makes sense. At 9pm is Legacies, which proved to be a decent companion to Supernatural last year but certainly doesn't seem capable of taking over as an anchor.

New Thursday Show Survival Chances
The Unicorn (CBS) - Fair. I didn't feel great about this show's chances when it was announced but the positive reviews have made me start to think it might be able to find an audience.

Carol's Second Act (CBS) - Good. I think Patricia Heaton is enough of a draw and this is enough of a compatible show with Mom that it will be able to get a second season.

Evil (CBS) - Good. I think this stands a serious chance at renewal just based on its auspices. Unless it completely falls flat on its face (which could happen I suppose), I think it has a decent chance.

Perfect Harmony (NBC) - Fair. I'm not high on NBC Thursdays in general but nestled after Superstore, this seems to have the better chance of the two new comedies.

Sunnyside (NBC) - Poor. I think this may be the next I Feel Bad or Abby's and that is certainly not a good thing.

Check back tomorrow for Friday!