Hump day already during premiere week and there’s nothing exactly great yet to define the new fall TV season. In our week long look at what the broadcast networks are planning for you, we do find a couple of shows in the not so bad category today, though, which may be an improvement. I guess it’s pretty striking how much of the schedule is staying the same, so much so that NBC is emphasizing its similar “Chicago” shows by running them back to back to back for the first time.
NEW SHOWS
“All-American” (CW, 9 p.m., Oct. 10). There’s a “Friday Night Lights” feel as well as a tinge of “The O.C.” to the story of a promising player from South Crenshaw High (Daniel Ezra) who seeks better opportunity at Beverly Hills High School. Issues of race and income disparities ensue in a show that has a more realistic view of high school than, say, “Riverdale.” Both shows are in part from Greg Berlanti, who has more than a dozen shows on the air. Taye Diggs, Cody Christian, Samantha Logan and Monet Mazur round out the cast.
“A Million Little Things” (ABC, 10 p.m., tonight). We can blame “This is Us” for any rise in overly sincere, emotion-manipulating dramas (which are still superior to more shows about cops, hospitals and superheroes). This one has a bunch of thirtysomething friends mulling the surprise suicide of one of their friends (Ron Livingston, we hardly knew ye). It’s a plot that worked better in “The Big Chill.” The vaguely familiar cast includes James Roday (of “Psych”), Grace Park (“Battlestar Galactica”), David Giuntoli (“Grimm”) and Romany Malco (“Weeds”).
“Single Parents” (ABC, 9:30 p.m., today). When Liz Meriwether went from being single to a mom, her interests changed from “New Girl” to this new sitcom, about the bonding of struggling parents. This one seems like it may work, with a nifty cast that includes Teran Killiam, Leighton Meester, and the funny, if out of place, Brad Garrett.
RETURNING SHOWS
“Empire” (Fox, 8 p.m., tonight), “The Goldbergs” (ABC, today), “Survivor” (CBS, 8 p.m., today), “Chicago Med” (NBC, 8 p.m., today), “Riverdale” (CW, 8 p.m., Oct. 10), “American Housewife” (ABC, 8:30 p.m., today), “Modern Family” (ABC, 9 p.m., today), “Seal Team” (CW, 9 p.m., Oct. 3), “Chicago Fire” (NBC, 9 p.m., today), “Star” (Fox, 9 p.m., today), “Criminal Minds” (CBS, 10 p.m., Oct. 3), “Chicago P.D.” (NBC, 10 p.m., today),
OF NOTE ON CABLE
“Clique” (Pop, 10 .m., starts Nov. 7), A six-episode limited series about a group of interns at a corrupt corporation, a British import from the makers of “Skins,” with Aisling Franciosi and Synnove Karlsen.
“Stan Against Evil” (IFC, 10 p.m., Oct. 31). A third season of the comedy horror series starring John C. McGinley, last seen fighting a group of 17th century demons that had been accidentally released.
“Tell Me a Story” (CBS All Access, streaming, Oct. 31) From Kevin Williamson of “Dawson’s Creek” and “Scream” fame, comes an anthology series that adds the horror element to classic fairy tales. Based on a Spanish format, it’s described as a psychological thriller set in New York City.