EVERY NEW & RETURNING FALL SHOW ON ABC

The Writer’s Strike, the longest ever in history, has finally come to an end as the two sides have reached an agreement. However, it has caused delays in schedules for many network and streaming TV shows. Even though this includes ABC, the Fall line-up of new and returning shows is in full swing with plenty worth watching.

Viewers will have to wait a bit longer to catch new seasons of some of the network’s most popular shows, like Abbott Elementary, The Good Doctor, and Station 19. But there are new shows and new episodes of shows to watch now. Most of the new and returning shows this Fall are reality, competition, and other unscripted fare. But they are all entertaining and, in some cases, perfect for family viewing.

Dancing With the Stars (2005-)

Season 32

It’s tough to believe that Dancing With the Stars is already in its 32nd season. The dance competition series pairs celebrities, including actors, athletes, musicians, and others, with professional dancing partners. They train week after week in various styles of ballroom dance and then perform for a panel of judges. They receive critiques while viewers at home vote for their favorites until a final winner is crowned.

What Makes It Great?

Dancing With the Stars always has an interesting mix of celebrities, with someone for every age and type of viewer. This season includes celebrities like The Brady Bunch’s Barry Williams, singer-songwriter Jason Mraz, The Bachelorette star Charity Lawson, NFL running back Adrian Peterson, and social media personality Lele Pons. Fans love seeing how much effort the celebrities put into their practices and performances every week and the touching stories and personal struggles they share throughout.

Shark Tank (2009-)

Season 15

The reality TV series features a panel of venture capitalists, including Mark Cuban, Kevin O’Leary, and Lori Greiner listening to product and business pitches from entrepreneurs. After crunching the numbers and getting the facts, they decide if they want to invest. But these famous businesspeople on Shark Tank are “sharks,” which means they fight for the best deal possible, and among themselves if more than one of them likes a company and wants to be part of it. These sharks, however, can also help an entrepreneur turn a simple idea into a million-dollar company.

What Makes It Great?

Shark Tank has played a role in several massively successful businesses, including Manscaped, Scrub Daddy, and Kodiak Cakes. A small company called Doorbot that appeared on the show (and didn’t get an investment) went on to become Ring, later acquired by Amazon. Not every business that gets a deal is a success and not every business that’s turned away is a failure. The beauty of Shark Tank is not only in watching and learning about businesses and exciting concepts but also in following the companies after the episode airs.

America's Funniest Home Videos (AFV) (1990-)

Season 34

Airing for more than two decades and counting names like the late Bob Saget and Tom Bergeron among its most notable presenters, America’s Funniest Home Videos, known by fans as AFV, might be based on an antiquated format. But it’s still beloved by families. Every day viewers submit funny video clips, some planned but most candid, to see if they make the cut. The funniest videos are shown and the top three go home with cash prizes, voted on by the audience.

What Makes It Great?

There is something comforting about the old-school way of sharing funny videos, even if YouTube and curated content on social feeds make these a dime a dozen nowadays. From the charming hosting abilities of Alfonso Ribeiro to the throwback videos from decades ago with hilarious bumps, falls, cries, scares, and pet antics, America’s Funniest Home Videos (AFV) is a fun show to gather around the TV and watch with the whole family.

The Golden Bachelor (2023)

Season 1

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A spin-off of the widely successful reality dating show and ABC staple The Bachelor, The Golden Bachelor became a huge success when it premiered this Fall. Gerry Turner is the central focus, a 72-year-old retired restaurateur and widower trying to find love and companionship. “It’s never too late to fall in love…again” reads the show’s tagline. It follows the same format as The Bachelor with Gerry dating and getting to know various women, all aged 65 and older. He pares them down, one by one until he’s left with the one woman he chooses.

What Makes It Great?

With The Golden Bachelor, it’s refreshing to see a take on a popular genre focusing on the older generation. There are, after all, plenty of single men and women still looking for love well into their golden years. Gerry is endearing and the women are heartfelt, honest, and downright cooky, making the show just as entertaining as the original with a fresh, mature spin.

Celebrity Jeopardy! (2022-)

Season 2

Celebrity Jeopardy! involves celebrities playing the popular quiz show game to win money for charity. This season, with Ken Jennings as host, the players have included actors like Emily Hampshire, Christopher Meloni, and Macauley Culkin, athletes like Shane Battier, and professional wrestlers like Becky Lynch.

What Makes It Great?

Not nearly as serious as regular Jeopardy!, Celebrity Jeopardy! features questions that are easier for the general populace to answer, making it more fun to play along at home. There’s also an extra round of play and lots of lighthearted comedy. The commentary, reactions, and antics among players add to the entertainment value, especially when there’s a comedian playing.

Press Your Luck (2019-)

Season 5

A resurrection of the game show from the ‘80s, Press Your Luck has three players vying to earn spins, cash, and prizes through trivia questions and random spins. But watch out because when the Whammy rears its head on the game board, everything collected is lost, forcing them to start over from scratch. The person with the most money at the end of several rounds moves on to the second round where the stakes are higher and prizes personalized to them. But the Whammy still looms to wreak havoc.

What Makes It Great?

Upbeat, loud, and fun, Press Your Luck is one of the best TV shows of all time. It doesn’t involve much skill beyond choosing to take risks or not. But it’s entertaining to watch players get so excited to see gifts on the board that relate to something they’ve always wanted. When a player goes home with a massive prize package, it’s feel-good entertainment.

Bachelor in Paradise (2014-)

Season 9

Just because contestants from The Bachelor and The Bachelorette didn’t find love doesn’t mean the quest for it has to end. Bachelor in Paradise brings people who have appeared in various seasons of both shows to Mexico where they can search for a special someone among the group. Each week, there’s an uneven number of men and women and they pair up with who they want to get to know more. Whoever is left over and not chosen is sent home and new people join the mix.

What Makes It Great?

Bachelor in Paradise is the ultimate guilty pleasure, especially for fans of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette. People usually fit into various roles, from the flirt to the villain and the overly emotional one. The show is a good way to continue following favorites from other shows. But even fans who haven’t watched The Bachelor or The Bachelorette will love the drama of it all.

20/20 (1978-)

Season 46

The news series 20/20 features different stories in every episode that cover a wide range of topics. It might be human interest one day, politics the next, a celebrity interview, a true crime story, scandals, and more. Season 46 episodes have already highlighted stories like a love triangle that led to murder, a young woman who goes missing, and a blogger who helps bring a kidnapped child back home.

What Makes It Great?

With a talented group of correspondents taking on different episodes and subject matter, fans can pick and choose which they watch. It’s the type of show that can be tuned into at any time: the episodes aren’t connected but rather each is a compartmentalized story. While the focus has largely shifted from investigative journalism to true crime stories and celebrity scandals, there are sometimes special episodes and interviews worth watching, too.

2023-11-18T21:12:18Z dg43tfdfdgfd