ARROW With alllll of Season 5’s cast additions, including a new ragtag team, “the one thing that anchors and pulls everybody through is Oliver,” executive producer Wendy Mericle previews. “He’s very much the focus of the first nine [episodes].” In the light of day, the hero is taking his new role as mayor “seriously,” yet failing on the job, forcing Thea to pick up the slack. “She, like Oliver, is trying to figure out her legacy through City Hall,” the EP says. Elsewhere, a guilt-wracked Felicity is “doubled down in the bunker,” while Dig is similarly “trying to figure out how he can get that sense of himself back, after killing his brother.” As for this year’s Big Bad, Prometheus presents a “very personal” threat, Mericle promises, “and the ending will be, correspondingly, very specific to Oliver.” BONUS SPOILER!: Don’t expect an “Olicity” reunion in the near future. “They’re both in crisis mode. Oliver’s got two really big jobs, and [Felicity] is spinning out about Havenrock,” Mericle explains. “Until they’ve gotten some clarity for themselves, there’s not much room for the relationship side of things.” RETURN DATE: Wednesday, Oct. 5 at 8/7c (The CW)

THE BIG BANG THEORY If the hookup between Leonard’s dad (Judd Hirsch) and Sheldon’s mom (Laurie Metcalf) doesn’t derail Leonard and Penny’s imminent nuptials, the arrival of the bride’s anxiety-plagued mom (Sons of Anarchy‘s Katey Sagal) and drug-dealing brother (30 Rock‘s Jack McBrayer) should do the trick. “She’s quite neurotic,” exec producer Steve Molaro says of Penny’s never-before-seen mama. “This is her first time meeting Leonard’s parents and friends and she wants to make a really good first impression. How she and her family come off to these people is extremely important to her.” Beyond the premiere, Molaro hints that Amy and Sheldon will flirt with cohabitation, though “it will be viewed very clearly as an experiment, because the easiest way to get Sheldon on board with the idea is to disguise it as a [situation] where he’s collecting data, and something he can ultimately reconsider in the name of science.” Bernadette, meanwhile, will find herself struggling to adjust to her new life as a mom-to-be. “She is on record for not really liking kids and not really wanting to have them. And now she’s pregnant. We’re having fun digging into those emotions.” BONUS SPOILER!: Molaro confirms that Pretty Little Liars‘ Brandon Jones will guest star in an early episode as The Flash. Well, a version of him anyway. “He appears in one of Sheldon’s dreams,” reveals the EP. “He does insane things. It’s a Flash we may not be used to.” RETURN DATE: Monday, Sept. 19 at 8/7c (CBS)

BLACK-ISH Yes, we learned at the end of the ABC comedy’s second season that another little Johnson is on the way, but “this is not going to be the season of… pregnant-belly Bow,” series creator Kenya Barris says. Though the “later-in-life pregnancy” certainly will be woven throughout Season 3, “We don’t want it to cloud the narrative of our general family show,” he adds, promising, “The times when we do talk about it will be poignant.” The season opens at Disney World, which may not prove to be the happiest place on Earth once Dre and his family hire a VIP guide (played by Community‘s Jim Rash) to escort them around the parks. “This actually came from my real life,” Barris says. “I wanted to make sure we actually got a full day’s adventure in,” but when Barris’ guide couldn’t shorten the wait time on every single ride, his kids balked, and “I lost my mind,” the EP says, laughing. Back at home, Barris says Bow’s brother Johan (Hamilton musical star Daveed Diggs) will be around for “eight to 10” episodes to give his sister some needed “aid in the house, and at the same time, he’s a bit of a thorn in Dre’s side.” He adds that Johan “represents that entitled way [Dre’s] kids could become, if he’s not careful.” BONUS SPOILER!: The Johnsons’ Season 3 Halloween costumes “will be Pixar-based,” Barris hints. RETURN DATE: Wednesday, Sept. 21 at 9:30/8:30c (ABC)

THE BLACKLIST Season 4 resumes just moments after Alexander Kirk revealed himself to (possibly) be Liz's real father, which sets up a major arc for the year. "[Kirk] is a character who has a firm grasp on truths about Elizabeth Keen's past, unlike any character we've had before," series creator Jon Bokenkamp teases. "Over time, he will be unpacking truths that are undeniable about who Elizabeth Keen is, where she comes from, what her connection is to Kirk, to her mother and, ultimately, to Reddington." As for Red's mental state: Given the emotional wringer he was put through last year, Bokenkamp says the mood between him and Liz will be "a bit chillier" when the show returns. In fact, it will be "a beat or two" before the characters share any screen time. BONUS SPOILER!: Though Megan Boone is a new mom in real life, Bokenkamp assures us the actress is back to work full-time. "Even though the shape of the show has shifted because [Liz is] MIA and in the custody of Alexander Kirk, she is clearly a key part of what the show is," he says. "We'll be seeing much more of her than we had in the past." RETURN DATE: Thursday, Sept. 22 at 10/9c (NBC)

BLINDSPOT As revealed during our recent chat with the cast, Season 2 will pick up three months after last May’s finale, with Jane having spent that time at a CIA black site — and things will only get more harrowing for our leading lady during the sophomore debut. According to star Jaimie Alexander, Jane and Weller will have an “emotionally loaded” fistfight during the opening hour, while the rest of the FBI team grapples with major trust issues within the group. Among the newcomers, the NSA will get involved in Jane’s case by way of The Good Wife’s Archie Panjabi, whose recurring character heads up a secret division of the government organization. BONUS SPOILER!: Series creator Martin Gero promises “a lot of Jane’s backstory” will come to light in the first two episodes — including her real name, which starts with an “A.” RETURN DATE: Wednesday, Sept. 14 at 10/9c (NBC)

CHICAGO FIRE There are “a few more” bumps in the road for Casey and Dawson, but they are “firmly a couple” next season, executive producer Michael Brandt confirms, adding that the pair has some “decisions” ahead of them. “They have a foster child; that’s not permanent. They're not married, and you can't be on truck together if you're married. So they have a lot of things to work out.” The show will also continue to “play with” the possibility of a relationship between Severide and Kidd (aka “the angel on his shoulder, trying to keep him straight”), while fast-paced new pal Travis (Grey’s Anatomy‘s Scott Elrod) tempts the rescue squad lieutenant. As for the Jimmy vs. Boden showdown, “It gets about as ugly as it can get,” Brandt warns. Also on tap: Otis wants to be on the first mission to Mars, Brett and Mouch write “steamy romance novels” about firefighters and Molly’s celebrates its centennial in Episode 100. BONUS SPOILER!: Viewers will meet Dawson’s “wacky” but “old-fashioned” parents, who are celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary. RETURN DATE: Tuesday, Oct. 11 at 10/9c (NBC)

CHICAGO MED Love is the prognosis for many! Connor hits it off with Dr. Charles’ epidemiologist daughter (90210‘s Mekia Cox), which leads to “mixed feelings” on the shrink’s part, executive producer Diane Frolov previews. Will attempts to move on with pathologist Dr. Nina Shore (Colin Donnell’s real-life wife, Patti Murin), but he “can never quite get rid of his feelings for Natalie,” says EP Andrew Schneider. Complicating things for the doc is “gung-ho” med student Jeff Clarke (Chicago Fire‘s Jeff Hephner), who “rubs up against” the newly minted attending. “On top of that, there’s a triangle that forms,” Frolov adds. “Jeff and Natalie are very attracted to each other, and they start up a romance.” Meanwhile, April is “really avoiding” Tate and his son because of her TB diagnosis. Outside the ER, Dr. Sarah Reese is working at a coffee shop, but it’s not long before Dr. Charles approaches her about a psych residency. BONUS SPOILER!: With his PTSD under control, “Ethan will be training a [Navy] corpsman to deal with gunshot wounds” in a storyline based on a real program, Frolov shares. RETURN DATE: Thursday, Sept. 22 at 9/8c (NBC

CHICAGO P.D. Voight’s decision to shoot his son’s killer lands Lindsay in a tight spot in the season premiere. “She’s identified by Commander Crowley as knowing more than anybody else does, due to her closeness with” the Intelligence Unit sergeant, executive producer Matt Olmstead previews. The opener is “a real crucible episode for Lindsay in terms of what she’s going to do.” On the romance front, Ruzek is moving on from his ex, and Antonio hits it off with Chicago Fire‘s Sylvie. “He’s reluctant [to start a relationship] — there’s no way it should happen — but she’s a bit more like, ‘Why not?'” Olmstead describes. Meanwhile, Burgess gets a new partner (Quantico‘s Li Jun Li) who is coming off “the worst job in the city” (writing parking tickets), because she rebuffed the advances of her commander. BONUS SPOILER!: An early installment shines the spotlight on Platt when “she’s jumped and attacked and beaten within an inch of her life,” Olmstead previews. “It’s a real tour de force episode for [portrayer] Amy Morton.” RETURN DATE: Wednesday, Sept. 21 at 10/9c (NBC)

CODE BLACK Rob Lowe joins the cast as Colonel Ethan Willis, a “maverick” military doctor who is embedded at Angels Memorial but is “not responsible to administration,” executive producer Michael Seitzman previews. That causes conflict between the hospital staff and the newcomer. “He gets into a lot of combat with [Dr.] Campbell,” the EP teases. With a trio of first-year residents entering the fray, Malaya’s “learning to be a teacher,” in addition to dealing with the “reverberations” of being attacked last season. Mario, meanwhile, is confronted with the reappearance of his estranged father (Suits‘ Eric Roberts). As for the docs who won’t be back, where Christa and Neal went will be something of a mystery. BONUS SPOILER!: Angus gets “a big surprise” in the season premiere that “dramatically” affects his life in an eight-episode arc. “Something happens to [his brother] Mike,” Seitzman hints. RETURN DATE: Wednesday, Sept. 28 at 10/9c (CBS)

CRAZY EX-GIRLFRIEND Viewers returning to West Covina for Season 2 won’t have to wait long to find out how Josh reacts to Rachel’s post-coital confessions in the finale, series co-creator Aline Brosh McKenna says, but that doesn’t mean that it’ll be all happy reprises and jubilant dance numbers from here on out. “One of the themes of our season is how hard it is to change, even if you know what you want out of life, even if you’ve learned lessons about yourself,” she says, adding that Rebecca and Josh — as well as Greg — have a lot of areas for self-improvement, “irrespective of whether [they’re] in a relationship or not.” The song-and-dance rom-com’s sophomore run also will include a ballet duet for Josh and Valencia; a “pop-style” number for an L.A. hipster played by Brittany Snow (American Dreams), who’ll be around for four episodes; and a visit from Yael Grobglas (Jane the Virgin), as someone “completely different from Petra,” McKenna previews. As for Darryl and White Josh, the EP notes comedies’ tendency to “park” fan-favorite couples somewhere “and have them be adorable,” adding, “We don’t want to do that.” BONUS SPOILER!: Speaking of popular pairings, “The central love story of the show is Paula and Rebecca,” McKenna reminds viewers, teasing that “the ramifications of everything they’ve been through start to shake out,” resulting in “a big storyline” for the besties. RETURN DATE: Friday, Oct. 21 at 9/8c (The CW)

CRIMINAL MINDS Of the 13 serial killers who escaped prison in the May finale, eight thus far have been caught, partly thanks to Fugitive Task Force leader Luke Alvez (played by CSI: Miami‘s Adam Rodriguez). By the end of the premiere, he will agree to join the BAU full-time to help track Mr. Scratch and the others still on the lam. “The fun thing about that character,” says showrunner Erica Messer, “is, not that he’s a new [Derek], but what is Garcia going to think of the new guy? There’s something real in the workplace environment where a friend leaves and you’re like, ‘I’ll never love anyone the way I loved that friend,’ so she has to warm up to him.” Oh, speaking of workplace shake-ups… Thomas Gibson is of course gone and last appears in Episode 2, just before Paget Brewster returns as Prentiss (and as what turned out to be a series regular). When Messer spoke to us days before Gibson’s firing, she said that Hotch was heading off screen for “temporary duty,” at the FBI director’s bequest. Though “temporary” obviously became “permanent.” BONUS SPOILER!: How does one clean blood from saddle shoes…? Twin Peaks Sherilyn Fenn guest-stars in Episode 3 as someone related to the UnSub. RETURN DATE: Wednesday, Sept. 28 at 9/8c (CBS)

ELEMENTARY Season 5 opens with Sherlock and Joan mid-investigation on a mad bomber case, which leads them to Shinwell Johnson (True Blood‘s Nelsan Ellis), a former patient of Watson’s who did time in prison. “While this is a crime-based show, and we've met a lot of criminals, we've never really stopped to take the time to get to know and maybe even reform one,” executive producer Rob Doherty says. “Sherlock and Joan will go into a relationship with Shinwell with the best of intentions, but they'll find it's a very different kind of experience” collaborating with an ex-con. And after taking a bit of a backseat to Morland last season, Captain Gregson and Detective Bell will get their due. “We're looking to advance both of those characters down certain paths,” Doherty teases. BONUS SPOILER!: Will Moriarty return now that Natalie Dormer has been killed off on a certain HBO series? “I'm of two minds. As a tremendous fan of Game of Thrones, I was really bummed to see her go,” Doherty says with a laugh. “As an Elementary writer, it's hard not to get your gears turning.” RETURN DATE: Sunday, Oct. 2 at 10/9c (CBS)

EMPIRE “At the start of Season 3, we’re going very deep into the Cookie/Lucious relationship,” says showrunner Ilene Chaiken. “We’re learning about family and connections and history — in a way that makes me incredibly excited.” Part of that arc will find Taraji P. Henson’s alter ego “making it her mission to reclaim both the professional and the romantic sides of her life.” Enter Taye Diggs’ affluent councilman Angelo Dubois, whose charms will lure the typically confident Cookie into unexpected “fish out of water” territory. BONUS SPOILER: Jamal’s recovery — both physical and mental — from being shot by Freda Gatz is far from over. “He realizes he can’t just make music frivolously anymore,” teases Chaiken. “He’ll be self-examining in every way to make sure his life is meaningful.” Fret not, though, the middle Lyon son will still have time for a sexy love triangle. RETURN DATE: Wednesday, Sept. 21 at 9/8c (Fox)

FAMILY GUY The Griffin family is expanding in Season 15. An upcoming episode reveals that Peter frequented a sperm bank in his younger days, resulting in “dozens of Peters in all shapes, sizes, colors and ethnicities” showing up at his doorstep, executive producer Richard Appel reveals. “Except for one daughter, they’re all voiced by Seth MacFarlane, including a little-person Peter and an African-American mother Peter.” And just to quell any doubt of their relation, his kids fart out the Close Encounters theme, “which Peter answers in kind.” Other weirdness to look forward to: Quagmire discovers Tinder and immediately falls down that rabbit hole, eventually becoming a “Gollum-like creature whose finger is literally bleeding from swiping”; a behind-the-scenes episode, hosted by James Woods, reveals Peter to be a “complete diva who has to be fired”; and another episode recasts the citizens of Quahog as twisted versions of characters from The Great Gatsby, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Of Mice and Men. (The episode, appropriately enough, is titled “High School English.”) BONUS SPOILER!: Stewie's ex-girlfriend Olivia will rear her villainous head in the season premiere. RETURN DATE: Sunday, Sept. 25 at 9/8c (Fox)

THE FLASH In the idyllic Flashpoint existence he unwittingly created, Barry finally has what he’s always wanted – both of his parents – but he no longer has a relationship with Iris. “Now he has to approach her as a girl he had a schoolboy crush on for 14 years,” executive producer Aaron Helbing previews. Things are pretty different for the rest of Team Flash, too: Cisco is an ostentatious billionaire, Joe is depressed and Caitlin is…well, that remains something of a mystery, but she is still a doctor. And even if the action eventually reverts to the original timeline, “The whole season is affected because of [Flashpoint],” the EP affirms. At the CCPD, new series regular Tom Felton will make Barry’s life more challenging as his CSI boss (“He isn’t buying what Barry’s selling,” says EP Todd Helbing), and the troubles don’t end there for the speedster: Big Bads Savitar and Dr. Alchemy will wage “psychological warfare,” while Captain Cold returns in Episode 4. BONUS SPOILER!: The show’s take on Mirror Master (Star-Crossed‘s Grey Damon) “doesn’t use the [mirror] gun,” Todd Helbing reveals. “He’s a true meta, but he’s not necessarily warping into other dimensions.” RETURN DATE: Tuesday, Oct. 4 at 8/7c (The CW)

GILMORE GIRLS: A YEAR IN THE LIFE Series creator Amy Sherman-Palladino previously likened the four 90-minute chapters — “Winter,” “Spring,” “Summer,” and “Fall” — that comprise the Netflix continuation as mini-movies or “movie-lets,” as opposed to traditional episodes of television. And leading lady Lauren Graham tells us AS-P was absolutely speaking the truth. “Each one has a fairly big journey and are pretty distinct from each other,” she explains, singling out “Fall” — aka the revival’s quasi finale — as the installment that packs the most profound narrative punch. “‘Fall’ has the biggest events,” she shares. “It’s the culmination of the journey, so there are a lot of moments. And a lot of soul-searching and resolution. ‘Fall’ is very emotional.'” “Fall” also boasts those hotly anticipated final four words, and Graham warns fans to expect the unexpected. “I was surprised,” she confesses, before adding with a laugh. “I thought they would be, like, ‘Goodbye, Stars Hollow.'” Any other words we can safely rule out? Deadpans Graham: “‘I’m actually a vampire.’ End. Scene.” BONUS SPOILER!: AS-P spent a considerable amount of time planning and designing the “opening shot” of the premiere, “Winter,” because, as she explains, “It will be the first time we’ve seen Stars Hollow in a while, so I needed things to look a very specific way.” And by specific, we suspect (hope?) she means super Christmas-y. RETURN DATE: Friday, Nov. 25 at 3:01/2:01c (Netflix)

THE GOLDBERGS Don’t you forget about… the comedy’s Season 4 premiere, which features a Breakfast Club homage. “All our kids are stuck in detention because they’ve mouthed off to Beverly, who’s now not just a mom but a teacher [at their school],” executive producer Adam F. Goldberg previews. While Bev is “learning and struggling with boundaries” in her new job, her children are paying the price. “Adam has nowhere to sit in the cafeteria, and Beverly is determined to make a ‘cool table’ for him, which completely backfires,” the EP shares. The smother also “subs for Home Ec, and because Erica thinks it’s a joke class, she makes it the hardest Home Ec class ever and ends up failing the entire football team.” BONUS SPOILER!: In the episode “She George Glasses Him,” Erica’s pursuit of Geoff Schwartz leads her to make some wacky choices. “She watches The Brady Bunch where Jan makes up her fake boyfriend, and she does the same thing,” Goldberg previews. RETURN DATE: Wednesday, Sept. 21 at 8/7c (ABC)

GOTHAM David Mazouz is high on "Five," as in the nickname sported by Bruce's doppelgänger. "People are thinking he's an evil version of Bruce, but he really isn't," says his portrayer. "He's a guy who was created for a very specific purpose, and he's 'lost' when we find him in Season 3." Other baddies, however, remain quite bad. Evoking the comic books, "You are going to see how the villains have become more and more part of the fabric of the city," says exec producer John Stephens. "It's become less of the police show that it was in Season 1" — especially with Jim Gordon now working as a bounty hunter. (The villains in fact have a new haunt to call home — Sirens, a nightclub run by Barbara and Tabitha and featuring the hypnotic Jervis Tetch aka The Mad Hatter as a main attraction.) The big story, though, revolves around the Court of Owls, glimpsed last spring. "That storyline is going to be upsetting, especially, as you'll see, at the end of Episode 4," Stephens warns. BONUS SPOILER!: No, that was not General Hospital villainess Constance Towers playing the Court of Owls' masked leader last May. "There is some physical similarity," Stephens notes, "but you will see who it is in Episode 2." RETURN DATE: Monday, Sept. 19 at 8/7c (Fox)

GREY’S ANATOMY The Meredith/Nathan/Maggie triangle will go from kinda weird to flat-out awkward as Maggie’s crush on McHottie shows no sign of letting up. Nathan, of course, is more interested in jumpstarting her widowed sister’s heart, leaving a still-relationship-resistant Mer caught smack right in the middle (what else is new!). Elsewhere, Jo’s abusive ex-boyfriend, er, husband will remain an off-screen presence through at least the early fall as she and Alex grapple with the repercussions of his scary pummeling of Andrew. Jackson and April, meanwhile, make a valiant attempt to stay in the Friend Zone while raising their new baby. Good luck with that, kids. BONUS SPOILER!: As previously reported, Arizona will be MIA the first two episodes; an early episode will reference her being in New York doing the co-parenting thing with Callie. RETURN DATE: Thursday, Sept. 22 at 8/7c (ABC)

HAWAII FIVE-0 With Steve having (again) dodged death, thanks to a liver transplant from his best bud, “There is an arc about Danny trying to get McGarrett to slow down a bit and appreciate the fact that he’s been given a second chance,” says showrunner Peter M. Lenkov. And in fact, “McGarrett does start the season sort of questioning his mortality and the choices he’s made.” But amid these introspective musings, a serial killer is on the loose and thoroughly vexing Five-0, teeing up the arrival of CSI: NY alum Claire Forlani as a criminal profiler who gives the team an assist. On the personal front, niece Sara and the family she’s going to “will be a big story” for Chin Ho; Kono is “finally reunited with Adam and sorts through life’s priorities, rebuilding the bond with her husband being No. 1”; and Episode 150, as TVLine first reported, will bring back Christine Lahti to wrap up the mythology involving Doris McGarrett and Wo Fat’s father; Michelle Borth and Sarah Carter will also guest-star, as Catherine and Lynn. BONUS SPOILER!: Danny will be dealing with a father’s worst nightmare — Grace’s first boyfriend — “but finding out who it is makes the ride so enjoyable,” Lenkov laughs. RETURN DATE: Friday, Sept. 23 at 9/8c (CBS)

HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER “The university is going to figure prominently” in Season 3, according to series creator Peter Nowalk, hence the casting of Dexter‘s Luna Vélez as Middleton’s new president. Scandal-plagued “Annalise’s teaching reputation is suffering,” the EP adds. “She needs to get her s–t together and go back and refocus on what her original passions were. That also means trying to get [the Keating 5] to care about school again. There’s a real feeling of, ‘Let’s get back to normal and move on.’ And we’ll see if that’s possible.” We’ll refrain from holding our breath, considering the opener introduces a new season-long murder mystery. Nowalk declines to reveal if the victim is a series regular, teasing only, “You’ll get an answer in the first episode.” The exec, meanwhile, is mindful of criticism that Season 2 became impossible to follow at times. “I’m hoping to correct that,” he confesses. “My goal this season is to make it simpler.” BONUS SPOILER!: The show is currently casting the recurring role of Russell, a thirtysomething acupuncturist who is soulful, sexy, quiet and — we saved the best for last — gay. So, the question is, who’s looking to get, ahem, pricked — Oliver or Connor? RETURN DATE: Thursday, Sept. 22 at 10/9c (ABC)

IMPASTOR The TV Land comedy's second season picks up with Buddy still in police custody, suspected of murdering the real Jonathan Barlow. And although his initial plan to outsmart the cops fails, it's possible that Dora — still blissfully ignorant of Buddy's true identity — could prove his saving grace, as she strikes up a relationship with Detective Lovello. (But this is still Impastor we're talking about, so it doesn't take long for that relationship to take its own "dangerous" turn.) As for the other residents of Ladner: Schmidt and Ashlee attempt to move forward in their new relationship, Alexa and Russell become increasingly suspicious of Buddy, and an arsonist targets the church. (Oh, did we forget to mention that Buddy also falls into a criminal's deadly trap? That guy could use all the prayers he can get at this point.) BONUS SPOILER!: A major character's double life is exposed in the season premiere — and it's not Buddy. RETURN DATE: Wednesday, Sept. 28 at 10:30/9:30c (TV Land)

JANE THE VIRGIN The “very emotional” premiere picks up with Jane discovering that her new husband Michael has been shot. “He’s in the hospital, and they’re trying to keep him alive,” executive producer Jennie Urman previews. Meanwhile, flashbacks reveal “what happened with Jane and Michael after they had their first kiss. We learn a lot of unexpected things about the beginning of their relationship.” Elsewhere, Anezka is racing against the clock to give her sis a shot to keep her “Petra-fied.” Speaking of the twins, Rafael has “a definite point of view” regarding his future with the blonde he presumed to be his ex, following their finale hookup. Another pair of ex-lovers, Xo and Rogelio, are “going to double down on the things that are keeping them from being together,” Urman shares. Does that mean no baby for Jane’s pregnant mom? “Xo makes a choice that we’ll be exploring,” the EP hedges. BONUS SPOILER!: “Rafael has a surprising new attitude in this season,” Urman teases. RETURN DATE: Monday, Oct. 17 at 9/8c (The CW)

LAW & ORDER: SVU If you were hoping that Benson’s much-needed Parisian getaway with Tucker would set the stage for a less intense Season 18… um, have you ever watched this show? The NBC vet returns with “Terrorized,” an episode that starts with a child wandering alone in Central Park and ends with SVU working with the joint-terrorism task force to thwart a major attack on New York City. To complicate matters: The boy’s mother alleges that she has been raped and tortured, which leads to a (bigger-than-usual) clash between Olivia and ADA Barba. “They really go head-to-head on this one, because they’re on completely opposite sides of the position,” star Raul Esparza previews. “He seems to have no compassion whatsoever for her position.” The Sept. 28 episode features a cameo from Vice President Joe Biden, who discusses a real-life issue the show often highlights: the United States’ rape-kit backlog. Later, “Barba gets himself in hot water” in a case involving “rape fraud” — “someone pretends to be someone else in order to get someone to sleep with them,” Esparza explains — and E.T.‘s Henry Thomas and The Practice‘s Kelli Williams guest-star in an hour loosely inspired by Steven Avery, the man at the center of Netflix’s Making a Murderer docu. BONUS SPOILER!: Following the 2015 San Bernadino mass shootings, SVU will handle a case involving a phone company’s reluctance to work with law enforcement. RETURN DATE: Wednesday, Sept. 21 at 9/8c (NBC)

LEGENDS OF TOMORROW It’ll be some “time” before we find out what Hourman said to the Legends in the May finale, seeing as Season 2 opens months later, with Rip, Sara, Mick et al mysteriously scattered throughout time, which mild-mannered historian Nate Heywood (new series regular Nick Zano) discovers — and with Oliver Queen’s nudging aims to set right — in the premiere. “What makes Nick fun is he’s the wide-eyed neophyte. He doesn't know what superheroes are,” showrunner Phil Klemmer says of the Indiana Jones-like academic. “His infectious enthusiasm buoys the rest of our Legends, reminding them and the audience that time travel is fun.” Joining in the adventure is a new iteration of Vixen, plus JSA members such as Stargirl and Obsidian, while a Legion of Doom comprised of Reverse-Flash, Captain Cold, Malcolm Merlyn and Damien Darhk will keeps the heroes hopping by tinkering with time. “We had a singular bad guy in Season 1,” Klemmer reminds, “and now we have four, each with their own, somewhat competing agendas.” BONUS SPOILER!: Among the rejiggered team, Klemmer is most excited for people to witness the dynamic between Mick and Vixen: “To put a ‘greatest generation’ JSA member against a 2016 criminal scumbag makes for delicious tension!” RETURN DATE: Thursday, Oct. 13 at 8/7c (The CW)

LUCIFER Picking up two days after the finale’s bombshell drop, “Lucifer and Amenadiel have been on the hunt for mom,” says showrunner Joe Henderson. The brothers, though, aren't exactly best buds bound by a common goal. "There's a bit of jealousy. After all, Amenadiel’s not the one who got the marching orders from Dad.” Played by new series regular Tricia Helfer, Mum/”Charlotte” escaped with an agenda that is both “very emotional, and very genuine” — though it will shift, Henderson warns. This unexpected reunion soon summons the angel Uriel (Michael Imperioli), though whether he’s friend or foe to his bros “will be a mystery.” Maze has her own conflicted feelings about Charlotte; given the demon's old job as Hell’s chief enforcer, “She may be wanting to finish the job she started," says the EP. Chloe, meanwhile, will investigate Lucifer anew, having seen him survive a point-blank shooting — and this time she has a blood sample to work with…. BONUS SPOILER!: Seeing how Lucifer tends to "take her advice and twist it for his own purposes," Dr. Linda will wonder, "Is she helping him at all?" says Henderson. "And if not, maybe it's time to end their sessions for good.” RETURN DATE: Monday, Sept. 19 at 9/8c (Fox)

MADAM SECRETARY If you thought Clinton vs. Trump was fraught, wait until Madam Secretary‘s presidential contest heats up. Before you ask: No, executive producer Barbara Hall isn’t going to reveal whether Elizabeth agreed to run as Dalton’s veep… at least, not yet. “The question that we left Elizabeth with has to be addressed in the season opener, but I will say that it’s not simple,” Hall previews, describing the election as “quite complicated” for many of the show’s mainstays. The faux presidential campaign will wrap not long after the real one does — within “the first eight or nine episodes,” per Hall — and it won’t even be the most dramatic part of the McCords’ lives in the first half of the season. As previously reported, Jason will experience a major trauma; what’s more, “There is an event that is much more personal for the McCord family that has to do with their security being breached,” the EP teases. Henry will continue his DIA work, and fans of Chris Petrovski will be happy to hear that returned Russian captive Dmitri will have a presence, so we can “get a glimpse into what his life is like following his reentry into American life,” Hall says. BONUS SPOILER!: Why does EP Morgan Freeman reprise his role of Chief Justice Frawley in the season premiere? The judge “tends to show up in [Elizabeth’s] life in very important moments and make an impression on her,” Hall hints. RETURN DATE: Sunday, Oct. 2 at 9/8c (CBS)

MARVEL’S AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. As teased in the season-ending time jump, there’s a new Director in town (played by Jason O’Mara), and “the relationship between him and Coulson may start out a little tense,” Clark Gregg reports. How will May and the others take to the new boss, especially with Daisy out shaking up the world as Quake and after Fitz’s POSSLQ Simmons gets promoted up the ranks? “They’ll always be a spy organization, so trust will always be an issue,” says co-showrunner Jed Whedon. “The dynamic has changed a lot at headquarters, so we’ll see how that affects everybody.” S.H.I.E.L.D. best solidify its ranks and quick, given that a new threat — Ghost Rider aka vengeful mechanic Robbie Reyes (Gabriel Luna) — is about to ignite. “He’s a violent character who comes with a lot of blood and a lot of fire,” says Whedon, adding: “His skull will be on fire exactly as much as we can afford!” BONUS SPOILER!: Sorry, ladies — Dublin native O’Mara’s character, whose name has yet to be revealed, “does not have an accent, which is too bad,” Gregg shares. “Jason has a beautiful accent, but not on our show.” RETURN DATE: Tuesday, Sept. 20 at 10/9c (ABC)

THE MINDY PROJECT Forget Danny vs. Jody: We just want to know if Mindy’s going to keep her now-expanded apartment in Season 5. “Mindy has to make this big decision, and all that extra space comes tied to one of the guys,” executive producer Matt Warburton says. “She’s going to realize, as a sensible New Yorker, that’s actually a pretty big deal.” The EP won’t tell us whether Dr. Lahiri chooses co-worker Jody or ex-fiancé Danny, but he promises the result will satisfy longtime viewers (and that we’ll see both men throughout the season). “I know some of the moves we’ve made have been a little controversial with some of the fan base,” he acknowledges, adding that Mindy’s choice will “launch us forward into a bunch of new stuff that we’re very excited about.” Among said stuff: Nasim Pedrad (SNL) as Leo’s pediatrician, Bryan Greenberg (How to Make It in America) as a pediatric nurse who has “an adversarial relationship with Mindy and the other doctors,” and Rebecca Rittenhouse (Blood & Oil) as “this insanely put-together, beautiful blonde woman who is physically everything Mindy pretends that she is for her confidence level,” Warburton says, chuckling. “They instantly un-hit it off.” BONUS SPOILER!: “We’re bringing back Mindy’s mom and brother for a really fun episode where we get to see Mindy’s childhood home,” Warburton says. “A lot of the episode takes place back in Concord, Mass.” RETURN DATE: Tuesday, Oct. 4 (Hulu)

NCIS A summer has passed, and yet no one has been deemed worthy to claim DiNozzo’s desk. “Gibbs has gone through a number of probies and said, ‘No one is good enough,'” shares Brian Dietzen, who plays Palmer. Cue Special Agent Alex Quinn (Blue Bloods’ Jennifer Esposito), the FLETC instructor “who basically shows up and says to Gibbs, ‘What the hell is wrong with you?!'” showrunner Gary Glasberg previews. As that answer is mulled, a case breaks that introduces Nick Torres, a long-undercover Special Agent (played by Wilmer Valderrama), “and by the end of the show, Gibbs has two people” to add to his team, says the EP. Gibbs is dealing with a different home life as well, in the form of a new roommate. “Fornell is living with Gibbs as he’s recuperating” from his season-ending shooting, says Glasberg. “Be prepared, because it’s some wonderful, light, funny stuff!” BONUS SPOILER!: The many new faces (including Duane Henry’s MI6 officer Clayton Reeves, who resurfaces in Episode 5) best get acclimated by winter, because the revamped team will be put to the test. “About halfway through the season, a significant story will kick in and carry us all the way to the finale,” says Glasberg. RETURN DATE: Tuesday, Sept. 20 at 8/7c (CBS)

NCIS: LOS ANGELES The long-unresolved mole issue “comes back to bite us in the ass,” says showrunner R. Scott Gemmill, “and the team has a limited time to solve it before they all get canned.” So dire will things get, one team member confesses to being the traitor, while the story at large impacts “all of our characters, especially Sam and his family,” says the EP. Amidst that tension, “a mission gone awry” will accommodate Daniela Ruah’s latest pregnancy (as well as “throw a wrench into the works” for poised-to-propose Deeks), while ” a bunch of action in the field” is on tap for Nell and maybe even Eric. On the personal front, Callen’s father is set to return, and we’ll find out more about Granger’s past (which has “some darkness to it,” Gemmill teases). BONUS SPOILER!: While Kensi is away, who will enter the fray? Arkady Kolcheck’s daughter, Anna (played by Bar Paly), will give the team a helping hand — “and we’ll push her relationship with Callen forward a bit, as well,” Gemmill says. RETURN DATE: Sunday, Sept. 25, at 8:30/7:30c (CBS)

NEW GIRL Nick’s three-month romantic retreat with Reagan (guest star Megan Fox) in New Orleans was, by all accounts, a raging success. “He’s blossomed into a whole new better version of Nick Miller,” reveals exec producer Brett Baer. “He learned to do things like cook and actually enjoy a sunset. He’s a super version of himself.” And that does not sit well with Jess, who, as Baer notes, has spent much of the summer “trying to wrestle with her feelings for him,” and seeing this new and improved Nick “only makes things harder for her.” Reagan will have an off-screen presence for the next several months while portrayer Megan Fox, who gave birth to her third child in August, is on maternity leave. “Reagan is in Seattle for work,” explains the EP. “But she’ll return for the second half of the season and we’re really going to invest in the Nick/Reagan relationship.” By that time there may be an extra room for rent in the loft. Per Baer, newlyweds Schmidt and Cece “realize that to be thirtysomething and married and still live with three roommates is [not ideal]. So they’re searching desperately for a house.” BONUS SPOILER!: Nick isn’t the only one weathering a long-distance relationship at the start of Season 6. Winston’s main squeeze Aly (Nasim Pedrad) “is taking an FBI training course in Virginia,” says Baer. “But she pays him a little conjugal visit in Episode 3.” RETURN DATE: Tuesday, Sept. 20 at 8:30/7:30c (Fox)

ONCE UPON A TIME Series creators Eddy Kitsis and Adam Horowitz are excited to spend a season back in Storybrooke and “dig into each of our characters and explore what makes them who they are,” as they help Aladdin and others from the Land of Untold Stories deal with their suddenly resumed tales. “Whereas the Dark Curse gave you no choice, these people chose to pause their lives, for different reasons,” says Kitsis. “We see Emma really back in the position where she’s a Savior trying to help people find their happiness.” Meanwhile, as Regina deals with the “many ramifications” of splitting off (and seemingly snuffing) her sinister side, the purely Evil Queen will form a “delicious” plan to attack the heroes “with the style and grace you would expect” from the royal, Kitsis previews. Versus the Charmings, for example, “There is a very specific thing from the past that she set in motion that comes back into play.” Also: Might Zelena prefer her very twisted “sister”? BONUS SPOILER!: Morpheus (24’s Giles Matthey) has a vested interest in how Rumple’s mission to wake Belle plays out, but the EPs are mum on what it is. “I would say, though, that he is highly motivated and emotionally involved,” Kitsis hints. RETURN DATE: Sunday, Sept. 25 at 8/7c (ABC)

QUANTICO Hold onto your henleys: The former NATs will be “more grown up, more mature” when Season 2 opens, says showrunner Joshua Safran. And after a time jump of undisclosed length, the action will once again unspool on two tracks: one takes place over the course of several months, and the other within a single day. New CIA employee Alex “is maybe not so excited at what she’s being asked to do” since moving to the Agency; by the end of the premiere, Safran teases, she’ll have plenty to keep her busy. The exec producer adds that while Season 1 trafficked in twists and episode-ending cliffhangers, Season 2 is more about “the paths [the characters’] lives have taken.” To that end, for example, we’ll see Ryan — who’s still at the FBI, “free of the baggage that followed him around last year” — and others regularly mixing it up with Alex and some new faces, including CIA vet Owen Hall (L.A. Law‘s Blair Underwood) and sly rogue Harry Doyle (Looking‘s Russell Tovey). And if you’re mourning the loss of the FBI academy’s slick training montages, there’ll be plenty of opportunities to ogle the former recruits: “We have a cast that, if you can believe it or not, is even more fit than last year,” Safran reports, laughing. “There’s some amazing love scenes in Episode 2.” BONUS SPOILER!: “There is a couple together in the premiere,” Safran teases, “but it is not Caleb and Shelby.” RETURN DATE: Sunday, Sept. 25 at 10/9c (ABC)

SCREAM QUEENS Three years after the events of Season 1, the Scream Queens find themselves traversing the hellish hallways of a hospital owned by Dean Munsch, who is "taking on the healthcare system as her next mission," Jamie Lee Curtis explains. "It's a really fast right turn," she admits, with the Chanels transforming from sorority monsters to color-coordinated med students as part of Munsch's mysterious master plan. John Stamos and Taylor Lautner join the cast as a pair of twisted doctors — one of whom was the recipient of the world's first complete hand transplant — along with a parade of guest stars, including SNL‘s Cecily Strong, Arrow‘s Colton Haynes and Jerry O'Connell (pictured). No word yet whether the hospital is equipped to handle Red Devils. BONUS SPOILER!: Regarding this sweeping Season 2 switcheroo, Curtis assures us, "You know what's amazing about it? It makes sense!" RETURN DATE: Tuesday, Sept. 20 at 9/8c (Fox)

SHAMELESS A single Fiona is finally taking some time for herself. “She’s telling people that she should be the last on everybody’s call list,” executive producer Nancy M. Pimental previews. “She has better boundaries and more focus on what she wants,” like her career and “getting out of the ghetto.” For the Gallagher clan, this new attitude of Fiona’s is a bit of an adjustment. “They’re not dealing with it very well at all,” the EP says. “There’s a lot of conflict.” As for the kids’ futures, Ian is in “a good place — he has his meds and his bipolar a lot more in check,” while Debbie will stumble upon “a very interesting and unexpected relationship.” For alcoholic Lip, the question is “whether he is mature enough and free of his demons enough to take advantage of” the opportunities presented to him, Pimental says. Meanwhile, V, Kev and Svetlana’s unusual marriage is “going pretty well… until it goes Shameless,” star Shanola Hampton shares. BONUS SPOILER!: Dermot Mulroney, who played Fi’s fiancé Sean, now stars on CBS’ Pure Genius, but Pimental thinks “you can have closure without having another person there. And Fiona finds it.” RETURN DATE: Sunday, Oct. 2 at 9/8c (Showtime)

THE SIMPSONS Think you know everything about Homer Simpson? Think again! “There’s a great episode in the middle of the year where we see how Homer learned to eat his feelings — how he learned to make himself feel better with food,” executive producer Al Jean reveals. “It turns into a satire of the movie Fitzcarraldo by Werner Herzog.” Additionally, Season 28 will shine a spotlight on Mr. Burns, both in the past (the premiere explores “an incident from his life that humiliated him and made him what he is today”) and in the present (where he gets an Oculus and hires the entire Simpson clan, minus Homer, to be his family). Also on tap for the new season: the show’s first-ever hour-long episode, a Trump University spoof and a Pokémon Go-themed episode (which Jean admits “might need to be adjusted based on what’s current”). BONUS SPOILER!: Glenn Close will return in early 2017 as the voice of Homer’s mother Mona. RETURN DATE: Sunday, Sept. 25 at 8/7c (Fox)

SUPERGIRL The sinister Project Cadmus, teased in Season 1, targets the Kryptonian cousins, triggering “a chain of events that forces Supergirl and Superman (Teen Wolf's Tyler Hoechlin) to team up,” says showrunner Andrew Kreisberg. In doing so, “They get to spend some time in each other's lives, which they haven't previously gotten to do,” as Kal-El schools his kin on how to “integrate both parts of her life into one.” On top of that, there’s the matter of the crash-landed space pod’s passenger, Mon-El of Daxam, who is poised to be both friend and foe. Meanwhile at the office, Kara’s supervisor, Snapper Carr, “is going to make Cat look warm and fuzzy,” while other new faces include Lena Luthor (who in the wake of brother Lex’s incarceration “is trying to change the face of her company,” starting with a rebranding as LCorp), NCPD cop Maggie Sawyer (who will have jurisdictional clashes with the DEO’s Alex) and Miss Martian (in a “great story for J’onn” aka Hank). BONUS SPOILER!: Kara’s isn't the only job change at CatCo. “Winn is actually going to get fired,” says Kreisberg, “and go work for the DEO, which will be really exciting.” RETURN DATE: Monday, Oct. 10 at 8/7c (The CW)

SUPERNATURAL “Dean, Mary and Cas are on the ‘Save Sam train,’ and that really drives them for the first three episodes,” executive producer Andrew Dabb previews. Once reunited, the Winchesters find themselves “pulled in two different directions” thanks to the dual threat of the British Men of Letters and Lucifer, who has taken on the vessel of a down-on-his-luck rock star (Rick Springfield). Everyone wants a piece of the fallen angel, including Crowley, who is looking to reclaim Hell and get payback for being humiliated. Lady Toni’s brethren, however, may turn out to be occasional allies in addition to stirring up trouble. “Sometimes, Sam and Dean will be working with them. Sometimes, they’ll be working against them,” Dabb hints. Meanwhile, the miraculous return of Mama Winchester has the brothers feeling “happy and conflicted” as she adjusts to a world that includes modern technology and angels. Speaking of heavenly creatures: Season 12 will spin “more personal” Cas stories and dig into his past a bit. BONUS SPOILER!: “We’re putting the focus more on the world of hunters, so some of our past fan favorite hunters will, hopefully, swing through the show,” Dabb teases. RETURN DATE: Thursday, Oct. 13 at 9/8c (The CW)

THE VAMPIRE DIARIES When TVD kicks off its final 16 episodes, the group’s main focus is still rescuing Damon and Enzo from the mysterious darkness currently consuming them. “This dark turn is different [from previous ones] because of the reason why Damon is dark and how he feels about where he is in his life,” executive producer Julie Plec explains. “This isn't the Damon who's in it for the thrill and the wicked perverse pleasure; he's doing this for a reason.” Bonnie will do her best to help, though “she’s had a pretty unlucky run of trying to get her magic back in the time since we’ve seen her. She’s a bit at the point of giving up.” Meanwhile, Stefan and Caroline are “as strong as can be, considering what’s going on. They’re finding comfort and safety in each other.” And although she’s wearing more hats than ever in Season 8 — “she has a relationship she values, but is also trying to be a respectful co-parent” — Caroline has “got it all going on,” Plec assures us. Elsewhere, Matt will look to his past for answers about his future, and Alaric may be tempted by the new nanny. BONUS SPOILER!: Unlike her fellow vampires, Caroline will be gainfully employed in Season 8. RETURN DATE: Friday, Oct. 21 at 8/7c (The CW)

THE WALKING DEAD We’d love to be able to tell you that the AMC drama’s Season 7 premiere won’t be as upsetting as you fear it’s going to be. Sadly, we can’t. In resolving the Season 6 finale’s “Who did Negan whack?” cliffhanger, “we spared no drop of awfulness, no iota of misery, no scintilla of pain,” showrunner Scott M. Gimple previously warned TVLine. In other words, “it does get gory.” However, after the blood and tears have dried, as the survivors attempt to figure out how to live under Negan and the Saviors’ rule, “there’s absolutely lightness… humor… warmth,” the EP promised. “It isn’t all misery.” (Thanks, Carol!) Plus, not only has the show promoted to series regular Jeffrey Dean Morgan (Negan), Tom Payne (Jesus), Xander Berkeley (Gregory) and Austin Amelio (Dwight), it’s cast Khary Payton as Ezekiel, the flamboyant leader of The Kingdom — and figured out how to handle his pet tiger! So to both our heroes and viewers, it may feel like, as Norman Reedus (Daryl) put it, “a completely brand-new world” — one that’s primed for a revolution. Even when Rick & Co. find a way to endure their new normal, they’ll still “want to win back their lives,” Gimple said. Which means that they’re heading toward what, in the estimation of leading man Andrew Lincoln, is “one of the greatest showdowns… since Terminus.” RETURN DATE: Sunday, Oct. 23 at 9/8c (AMC)