October arrives with a particularly busy week of television. Alongside returning favorites including The Simpsons, Animal Control, the schedule brings several notable premieres across broadcast, cable and streaming.
ABC’s Scrubs begins its second season since returning to Sacred Heart, while Netflix offers a new adaptation of John Steinbeck’s East of Eden. HBO and HBO Max enter the legal-drama arena with War, Catherine Zeta-Jones leads AMC+’s revenge thriller Kill Jackie, and Disney+ opens the doors to the supernatural Coven Academy.
Here are our picks for what to watch this week.
Sunday, September 27
Sunday offers plenty for broadcast viewers, with The Simpsons returning to FOX alongside Grimsburg and Universal Basic Guys. Animal Control also premieres with it's fifth season on a new night on FOX. The night also includes Lanterns and Youth on HBO Max, and American Hostage on MGM+.
Monday, September 28
Monday is one of the quieter nights of the week, with All American saying its final farewell on the CW and Line of Fire continuing its strong start on NBC.
 |
Photo: Kevin Estrada/The CW. © 2026 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved. |
Tuesday brings one of the week's deeper lineups, including Doc and Best Medicine on FOX, Dancing with the Stars and RJ Decker on ABC, The Drop: A Snowfall Story on FX and The Real Housewives of New York City heating things up on Bravo.
Wednesday, September 30
Sacred Heart is back in session. Scrubs returns for its second season Wednesday at 8/7c on ABC, continuing the revival that reunited Zach Braff, Donald Faison, Sarah Chalke and John C. McGinley while introducing a new generation of doctors.
The season premiere, "My First Time in a While," finds J.D. turning to Turk and Elliot for help with Dr. Cox's care, while Elliot experiences a new burst of confidence. ABC is doubling up on opening night, with Episode 2, "My Mentee," following immediately afterward at 8:30/7:30c.
Wednesday also features Slow Horses, Ted Lasso, Brothers and Last Seen on Apple TV and The Ark on Syfy.
Thursday, October 1
Thursday delivers the week's biggest concentration of new series, with two particularly high-profile dramas arriving on streaming.
Florence Pugh takes center stage as Cathy Ames in Netflix's ambitious new interpretation of John Steinbeck's East of Eden.
Adapted by Zoe Kazan, the seven-episode limited series explores the multigenerational Trask family saga while placing additional focus on Cathy. Pugh is joined by Christopher Abbott as Adam Trask and Mike Faist as Charles Trask. All seven episodes arrive on Netflix Thursday, October 1.
 |
| GEOFFREY SHORT/NETFLIX. Copyright © 2026 Netflix, Inc. |
For viewers who prefer boardrooms and courtrooms to sprawling family sagas, War premieres Thursday on HBO and HBO Max.
The eight-episode HBO/Sky drama centers on rival London law firms Cathcarts & Sons and Taylor & Byrne, whose lawyers collide during a headline-making legal battle. Archie Renaux stars as ambitious young lawyer Johnny Warren, with Sienna Miller and Dominic West also among the principal cast. Episodes will roll out weekly on Thursdays.
Thursday's schedule also includes American Horror Story on FX and The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City on Bravo.
Friday, October 2
Friday closes the week with another pair of noteworthy premieres.
Catherine Zeta-Jones goes on the offensive in Kill Jackie, an eight-episode revenge thriller premiering exclusively on AMC+.
Zeta-Jones stars as Jackie Price, who has spent two decades enjoying a luxurious life while staying hidden from the dangerous past she left behind. When seven elite assassins are sent to kill her, Jackie decides that running isn't the answer, she'll hunt them instead.
The series comes from creatives associated with Killing Eve, Gangs of London and John Wick, which gives a pretty clear indication of the stylish, violent thriller territory Kill Jackie intends to occupy.
Disney+ heads to New Orleans for Coven Academy. The supernatural drama follows three teenage witches attending an elite magic school, where they encounter warlocks, dangerous secrets, forbidden relationships and an ancient supernatural conflict threatening their city. The cast includes Malina Weissman, Jordan Leftwich, Ora Duplass, Malachi Barton, Tiffani Thiessen and Devon Sawa.
Elsewhere Friday, the calendar includes Dark Matter on Apple TV, MobLand on Paramount+, Outlander: Blood of My Blood and S.W.A.T. Exiles on Starz and Anna Pigeon on USA network, making it an unusually packed end to the week.
Whether you're looking for comedy, prestige drama, witches, lawyers or assassins, the fall television season is officially underway with plenty of choices.
What will you be watching this week? Let us know in the comments below!
