It List guide to fall TV: The most popular shows and highly anticipated spin-offs of the season

Kelsey Weekman

Welcome to the It List Fall Guide, where we share our picks for the best in entertainment. Catch the weekly It List here for the latest releases that we can't wait to watch, stream, listen to, read and binge.

The changing of the leaves often coincides with the changing of channels. Fall is peak TV season.

Many of the most-watched shows will be airing new episodes, and it can get overwhelming to keep up with them all. You don’t have to, though — Yahoo Entertainment breaks down all of your most-anticipated series yearbook style, by superlatives.

Brian Jordan Alvarez stars in
Brian Jordan Alvarez stars in "English Teacher" on FX. (Steve Swisher/FX) (Steve Swisher/FX)

  • When: Season 1 of English Teacher airs Mondays at 10 p.m. ET on FX. Episodes stream the next day on Hulu.

  • What to know: A gay teacher at a Texas high school reckons with personal and professional challenges.

  • Why you should be watching:Will and Grace actor and TikTok phenom Brian Jordan Alvarez has created his own Abbott Elementary, but with an edge.

Kelsey Grammer stars in the
Kelsey Grammer stars in the "Frasier" revival series, as well as its predecessor. (Chris Haston/Paramount+) (Chris Haston/Paramount+)

  • When: The first two episodes of Season 2 of the Frasier revival stream Sept. 19. on Paramount+.

  • What to know: After ending in 2004, the show follows snobby former psychiatrist Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer) into his “third act” in Boston, where he’s getting to know his estranged son.

  • Why you should be watching: After making a guest appearance last season, Frasier’s beloved radio station co-worker Roz Doyle will be a recurring cast member.

Quinta Brunson and Tyler James Williams in Season 3 of
Quinta Brunson and Tyler James Williams in Season 3 of "Abbott Elementary." (Gilles Mingasson/Disney) (Disney/Gilles Mingasson)

  • When: Season 4 of Abbott Elementary premieres Oct. 9 and airs Wednesdays at 9:30 p.m. ET on ABC. Episodes stream the next day on Hulu.

  • What to know: The Emmy-winning series follows bright-eyed teacher Janine Teagues (Quinta Brunson) and her eccentric colleagues, like her mentor (Sheryl Lee Ralph) and the chaotic principal (Janelle James).

  • Why you should be watching: Janine and Gregory Eddie (Tyler James Williams) might not technically be a couple yet, but the slow-burn romance finally ignited in the Season 3 finale, so the new season will likely address the fallout.

Justin Hartley in Season 1 of
Justin Hartley in Season 1 of "Tracker." (Sergei Bachlakov/CBS) (Sergei Bachlakov/CBS)

  • When: Season 2 of Tracker premieres Oct. 13 and airs Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.

  • What to know: Justin Hartley stars as a lone-wolf survivalist who roams the country seeking rewards and helping people solve mysteries.

  • Why you should be watching: The first season was the most-watched of the 2023-2024 season. Another first-year show hasn’t achieved that distinction since Survivor in 2000.

Most intriguing new era: Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage

Montana Jordan and Emily Osment star in
Montana Jordan and Emily Osment star in "Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage." (Bill Inoshita/CBS) (Bill Inoshita/Warner Bros.)

  • When: Season 1 of Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage premieres Oct. 17 and airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.

  • What to know: Young Sheldon aired its final episode in May, but the Big Bang Theory spin-off is getting a sequel of its own that follows Sheldon Cooper’s older brother and his wife.

  • Why you should be watching: Montana Jordan and Emily Osment star in the first program in the franchise to forego the inclusion of super-genius Sheldon. We’ll see if it packs the same punch — but it seems viewers are already attached to the young Texas parents.

The cast of
The cast of "Ghosts." (Bertrand Calmeau/CBS) (Bertrand Calmeau/CBS via Getty Images)

  • When: Season 4 of Ghosts premieres Oct. 17 and airs Thursdays at 8:30 p.m. ET on CBS.

  • What to know: Homeowners Sam (Rose McIver) and Jay (Utkarsh Ambudkar) share a massive country estate with an eclectic group of ghosts, from a saucy lounge singer to an upbeat ‘80s scout troop leader.

  • Why you should be watching: The ensemble comedy is based on a British series, but has come to be a beloved TV staple in its own right — not dissimilar to The Office, but with less cringey humor and more haunted chaos.

Carrie Preston stars as the title character in
Carrie Preston stars as the title character in "Elsbeth." (Michael Parmelee/CBS) (Michael Parmelee/CBS)

  • When: Season 2 of Elsbeth premieres Oct. 17 and airs Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET on CBS.

  • What to know: The dramedy spin-off of The Good Wife takes on a lighter tone, following Carrie Preston’s unconventional lawyer character, Elsbeth Tascioni.

  • Why you should be watching: Though Elsbeth’s wardrobe is certainly colorful and quirky, the way the show takes the procedural formula and dresses it up in fascinatingly fresh ways makes it a must-watch.

Queen Latifah in
Queen Latifah in "The Equalizer." (Michael Greenberg/CBS) (Michael Greenberg/CBS)

  • When: Season 5 of The Equalizer premieres Oct. 20 and airs Sundays at 9:30 p.m. ET on CBS.

  • What to know: The crime drama, which is a reboot of a 1985 series, stars Queen Latifah as a single mom and street vigilante who pursues her own redemption while helping others seek justice.

  • Why you should be watching: The emotional cliffhanger from the last season has us on the edge of our seats as much as the show’s high-octane stunts.

Kelly Reilly, left, and Cole Hauser
Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser in Season 5 of "Yellowstone." (Paramount Network/Courtesy Everett Collection) (Paramount Network/courtesy Everett Collection)

  • When: Yellowstone Season 5, Part 2, premieres Nov. 10 and airs Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on Paramount Network.

  • What to know: The contemporary Western drama follows conflicts among the ranch-owning Dutton family, the nearby Indian reservation, the national park and land developers.

  • Why you should be watching: The ultra-popular show hasn’t aired a new episode since January 2023, and its final season has been eagerly awaited even without the presence of Kevin Costner, who has moved on to focus on his Horizon movie franchise.

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