Upcoming Premiere Dates

Finally, finally, finally, September is upon us. While network TV is mostly disappointing most of the time, I can't not get excited for the crush of fall pilots. Sure most of them won't survive the year (or even through Christmas), but every year I jump in with both feet and hope for the best. Some years are better than others (2004 and 2007 were particularly good as I recall). This fall is looking pretty mediocre, I must say, but still looks a fair bit more promising than last season. Honestly though, it's midseason that looks promising for new programming. For fall, I'm mostly stoked for returning shows. Three months without The Vampire Diaries, The Good Wife, Nikita, and Castle is simply too damn long. "Well, hello, dead ex-girlfriends!" Fade to black. Meeeean.

Anyway, here's the day by day on when shows are starting. Showtimes are subject to timezones and I'm simply not willing to parse that out here. Please note that times are subject to change, but with the new season starting next week, the September premieres are pretty set in stone. Beyond that, it's hard to be sure.

The list below is kind of daunting, so if you want it in calendar format, our good friend Michael Ausiello has graciously generated one HERE.

***SEPTEMBER***

Tuesday, September 13

• Parenthood (NBC)
  
• Ringer (CW)
• 90210 (CW)
  

Wednesday, September 14

• Survivor (CBS)
• H8R (CW)
• America's Next Top Model (CW)
• Up All Night (NBC)
• Free Agents (NBC)

Thursday, September 15

• The Vampire Diaries (CW) Wooo!
• The Secret Circle (CW)
• It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (FX)
• Archer (FX)

Monday, September 19

• Dancing with the Stars (ABC)
• How I Met Your Mother (CBS, 2 episodes)
• Two and a Half Men (CBS, if you're curious enough to tune in for Ashton)
• 2 Broke Girls (CBS)
• Castle (ABC)
• Hawaii Five-O (CBS)
• The Playboy Club (NBC)

Tuesday, September 20

• NCIS (CBS)
• Glee (Fox)
• The Biggest Loser (NBC)
• Dancing with the Stars results show (ABC)
• NCIS: Los Angeles (CBS)
• New Girl (Fox)
• Raising Hope (Fox)
• Body of Proof (ABC)
• Unforgettable (CBS)

Wednesday, September 21

• The X Factor (Fox)
• The Middle (ABC, one hour)
• Criminal Minds (CBS)
• Modern Family (ABC)
• Harry's Law (NBC)
• CSI (CBS)
• Law & Order: SVU (NBC)
• Revenge (ABC)

Thursday, September 22

• The Big Bang Theory (CBS, 2 episodes)
• Charlie's Angels (ABC)
• The X Factor results (Fox)
• Community (NBC)
• Parks and Rec (NBC)
• Grey's Anatomy (ABC, 2 hour premiere)
• Person of Interest (CBS)
• The Office (NBC)
• Whitney (NBC)
• The Mentalist (CBS)
• Prime Suspect (NBC)

Friday, September 23

• Kitchen Nightmares (Fox)
• Nikita (CW)
• A Gifted Man (CBS)
• CSI: NY (CBS)
• Fringe (Fox)
• Supernatural (CW)
• Blue Bloods (CBS)

Sunday, September 25

• The Amazing Race (CBS)
• The Simpsons (Fox)
• The Cleveland Show (Fox)
• Desperate Housewives (ABC)
• The Good Wife (CBS) Wooo!
• Boardwalk Empire (HBO)
• Family Guy (Fox)
• American Dad (Fox)
• Pan Am (ABC)
• CSI: Miami (CBS)

Monday, September 26

• Terra Nova (Fox)
• Gossip Girl (CW)
• Hart of Dixie (CW)
• Mike & Molly (CBS)

Wednesday, September 28

• Suburgatory (ABC)
• Happy Endings (ABC)

Thursday, September 29

• How To Be a Gentleman (CBS)
• Private Practice (ABC)

***OCTOBER***

Sunday, October 2

• Dexter (Showtime)
• Homeland (Showtime)
• Hung (HBO)
• How to Make It in America (HBO)
• Ken Burns: Prohibition (PBS)
  

Monday, October 3

• House (Fox)

Wednesday, October 5

• American Horror Story (FX)
• South Park (FX)

Thursday, October 6

• The League (FX)

Monday, October 10

• Bored to Death (HBO)
• Enlightened (HBO)

Tuesday, October 11

• Last Man Standing (ABC)

Wednesday, October 12

• Psych (USA)

Sunday, October 16

• The Walking Dead (AMC)
  

Friday, October 21

• Chuck (NBC)
• Grimm (NBC)
• Boss (Starz)

Sunday, October 23

• Once Upon a Time (ABC)

***NOVEMBER***

Tuesday, November 1

• Covert Affairs (USA)

Sunday, November 6

• Hell on Wheels (AMC)
  

Thursday, November 3

• Bones (Fox)
• Burn Notice (USA)

Wednesday, November 23

• I Hate My Teenage Daughter (Fox)

Beyond that, the dates for shows are pretty foggy. Midseason is always kind of up for grabs (depending on how and when other shows get the axe), but here are the shows you can look forward to around January or February of 2012, with some tentative premiere dates included for some... No particular order...

• Shameless (Showtime--January 8th)
• House of Lies (Showtime--January 8th)
• Southland (TNT--January 17th)
• Smash (ABC--February 6th)
• Apartment 23
• Cougar Town
• Good Christian Bitches/Belles
• Missing
• The River
• Scandal
• Work It
• The 2-2
• Undercover Boss
• Alcatraz
• American Idol
• The Finder
• Touch
• 30 Rock
• Are You There Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea
• Awake
• Bent
• Best Friends Forever
• The Firm
• The Voice
• The Frame
• One Tree Hill
• Re-Modeled