While the idea of a Fall TV Premiere month in September feels more like an artifact of 1996 than 2026, I have decided to lean into the retro idea and spend a lot of time this month (in between covering the Paramount merger story that never ends) to highlight all the upcoming TV and streaming TV premieres worth watching.

Today, I take a look at some of the fall highlights from PBS and I’ll be focusing on other networks and streamers throughout the month. So if you work for one of them and would like a bit more love from the press, reach out to me with details.

If you have been reading Too Much TV for awhile, you know I am a big fan of PBS programming. In part, because a lot of its documentary schedule fits into my sweet spot for informative and entertaining TV viewing.

But I also enjoy highlighting PBS programming because they generally don’t get as much attention as they should. Thanks to the federal funding cutbacks that came earlier this year, PBS just has less money to spend on PR and press outreach. And with the collapse of so many entertainment news outlets, there are just fewer journalists around to cover the network.

So here is a look at some of the fall premiere highlights coming from public television, along with the official loglines. It’s not everything that is on the way, but it’s a solid jumping off point:

Wednesday, September 16th:
Nova: The Battle To Breathe
Witness an extraordinary medical revolution in the battle against cystic fibrosis, the most common fatal genetic disease in the U.S. Once a death sentence, CF saw life expectancies barely reach childhood. But in 2019 an apparent miracle treatment—Trikafta, a potent combination of three drugs—changed everything. People once bedridden and gasping for breath found themselves running marathons. Follow the decades-long scientific quest, fueled by desperate parents, that led to this breakthrough. Experience stories of joy, struggle, and unwavering hope as families confront a disease still marked by profound inequities in diagnosis and treatment. And ponder the implications for the future, as researchers explore whether a new age of "personalized" medicine has finally arrived.

Sunday, September 20th:
Bucks County USA
Filmed over four years in politically purple Bucks County, Pennsylvania, this series follows a community as it navigates one of the most contentious periods in recent American history. What begins as a battle over COVID-19 policies in local schools quickly expands into vitriolic debates about identity, parenting, and how kids should be educated.

At the center of the story are 14-year-old best friends Evi and Vanessa, whose families hold opposing political beliefs. As the adults around them become increasingly divided, the girls' friendship offers a reminder that disagreement does not have to end in dehumanization.

Wednesday, September 23rd:
Nova: Knowledge Keepers
In a fascinating exploration of human ingenuity, see how indigenous communities in North America have long practiced a distinct version of science and engineering. This journey reveals how deeply-held cultural traditions inform remarkable innovations, from ancient sea farming techniques that optimize ecosystems to celestial navigation methods perfectly adapted to extreme environments like the frozen Arctic. See how centuries of observation, experimentation, and adaptation have forged solutions to complex challenges like living in the harsh climate of the desert Southwest. Prepare to reconsider what you know about science and its role in our lives.

Wednesday, September 30th:
Nova: Stone Age Masterpiece
Deep in the gorges of southern France lies the Chauvet Cave, an archaeological treasure hidden from the world for millennia. Sealed by a rockfall 20,000 years ago, and rediscovered in 1994, it protects some of the world's oldest and best-preserved Stone Age art, including depictions of lions, mammoths, and rhinos that still vibrate with life. Join a team of scientists as they unlock the secret history of the cave, from giant bears that prowled through it to mysterious large fires that illuminated it. Watch as they uncover how these early humans created carefully planned compositions on the walls, upending our traditional understanding of art history and connecting us intimately to the dawn of human creativity.

Monday, October 5th:
Independent Lens: My Omaha
At a moment when families and communities are struggling to communicate across political divides, My Omaha asks whether we can still listen to one another—and what it takes to find common ground. Set against the political and racial divisions reshaping the United States, the film follows filmmaker Nick Beaulieu as he documents North Omaha's racial justice movement while attempting to reconnect with his terminally ill father, Randy, a conservative Christian and staunch Trump supporter.

Wednesday, October 7th:
Nova: Space Wars
A high-stakes war is silently escalating above our heads. Once purely a realm of scientific wonder, space is now a critical battleground, as global military powers race to weaponize it. Satellites, vital to our daily lives and economies, are vulnerable to attack both from adversaries and the debris that’s filling increasingly crowded orbits. What can we do to protect them when even the smallest objects, travelling at 17,000 miles per hour, can spell doom? What if the first-ever space battle has already happened without anyone knowing? Explore the technology and strategy of a rapidly developing arms race and hear how experts are wrestling with the implications of this looming conflict.

Wednesday October 14th - Wednesday, November 11th:
Nova: Evolution
Ponder this: All the incredible diversity of animal life on Earth sprang from a single organism. Every animal, no matter how weird, is related to every other. And behind each species is an incredible story of the millions of generations that gave rise to them. In this landmark series—featuring passionate scientists, gorgeous photography, and stunning animations of long-lost ancestors—discover how every animal we know and love today sprang from creatures that looked nothing like them. Full of surprising twists and turns over billions of years, each chapter in this epic tale reveals how animal life became so diverse and resilient through the awesome power of evolution.

Monday, October 26th:
Independent Lens: Seeds
Seeds is a visual exploration of centennial farmers in the Southern U.S. This film examines the decline of generational Black farmers and the significance of owning land. Through the perspectives of three different lives, the film creates an intimate portrait of farmers and the landscapes they steward, illustrating how generations of Black family farms persevere despite enduring obstacles.

Tuesday, October 27th:
In Pursuit: Lessons Of American Leadership
Based on More Perfect’s groundbreaking IN PURSUIT project, Retro Report brings leadership lessons learned from presidents and first ladies vividly to life, weaving together new voices, archival material and documentary storytelling to honor America’s 250th birthday. Featuring Insights from Chief Justice John Roberts, Ken Burns, Sharon McMahon, Lonnie Bunch, Judy Woodruff, General Stanley McChrystal, and more.

Tuesday, November 10th:
We Chose To Go To The Moon
This is an immersive theatrical experience telling the dramatic story of America's race to space and the decision to land a man on the Moon. Created, written and narrated by writer and historian John Monsky and directed for the stage by Tony Award winner Michael Mayer, the production brings together a 45-piece orchestra and band, Broadway vocalists, and archival photographs to create an emotional history of mankind's journey to the Moon. Filmed at New York's Carnegie Hall in April 2026 against the backdrop of the Artemis II mission, the special features performances by Skylar Astin, Grammy nominee Brent Comer, Claybourne Elder, Elizabeth Gillies, Tony nominee Taylor Louderman, and Grammy and Tony nominee Joy Woods . Neil Armstrong's son Mark Armstrong and granddaughter Kali Armstrong also perform a tribute to the astronaut.

Monday, November 16th:
Crime And Punishment In America
This tells the consequential story of criminal justice in America as it has never before been told - from the colonial era to today. The series, directed by Lynn Novick, executive produced by Ken Burns and Sam Pollard, and narrated by Keith David, explores arguments Americans have had over the problem of crime, the purpose of punishment and the meaning of justice for more than 250 years.

Monday, November 23rd:
Independent Lens: Seasons Of Care
Exploring the depths of love, Storming: Seasons of Care follows a family providing 24-hour care for their son, Ryan, nearly 10 years after a traumatic brain injury left him in a coma. As his parents, Ken and Sue, navigate hope, grief, and uncertainty over Ryan's future, their journey reveals the resilience of love and the often invisible labor of caregiving.

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Earlier this year, Netflix announced it would being producing what it described as instadocs - quick-turn documentary series that could be produced and premiered within weeks instead of months or even years.

The streamer announced on Tuesday that its next instadoc was premiering Friday, November 4th.

Instdocs: The Decoy Plane tells the story of Donald Trump’s secret switching of planes after a NATO summit in Turkey.

Here is a first look at the trailer.

And here is the official logline of the documentary:

This is another opportunity to complain about Netflix’s annoying self-serving press coverage of their products on the wholly-owned house news organ Tudum. While Netflix just announced the instadoc this morning to the majority of the entertainment press, Tudum helpfully had an extensive piece on the project ready to go, along with comments from producers. And no, I am not going to link to it.

One of the interesting challenges about being a journalist is trying to decide whether something you have run across is just a fun little factoid, or an actual story worth pursuing.

Sometimes there is no clear answer to that question and that is where I find myself with this information. On the face it, it feels as if it might matter. But I haven’t been able to uncover enough additional information to decide one way or the other.

This thread on X by a person who calls themself “The 10 Percenter” highlights that one overlooked aspect of the ongoing WGA lawsuit seeking to block the merger of Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery is that apparently the WGA-East is footing all the legal bills for the lawsuit, even though it is a much smaller union than the WGA-W:

As a bit of context, it’s worth noting that based on his other tweets, “The 10 Percenter” is not a fan of much of the union’s current leadership. So that likely plays some role in his unhappiness with the arrangement.

But it’s a fascinating question and I think think hearing the perspective of either union would be helpful. I have reached out to a number of people trying to get some sort of comment - even on background - without any luck.

Which to be honest, is pretty typical for both branches of the WGA. Even during the Hollywood strikes, while I was able to get various board members and negotiators to speak with me on background or off-the-record, getting an official response from the union was almost impossible. It’s a weird situation.

Imagine someone sitting at home late at night and saying, “Play me something spacious and beautiful that I haven’t heard before. No vocals. Piano is fine, but nothing too sentimental.” Who gets played? That question is about to become much more important than musicians realize.

That’s the premise of this extended post on Digital Music News, and while it’s centered on the challenges facing the music industry, a lot of the lessons can be applied to content discovery and search results for streaming television and movies:

We are already seeing the first waves of this trend in the SVOD market. For instance, a majority of people using something like Roku TV don’t search for a specific app first thing. Or even for a specific title. They respond to what tiles and ads for content they see on the home page.

That’s why Netflix is so hesitant to integrate its content with other platforms. That is the first step towards the loss of importance of the app itself, and that importance is a primary component of Netflix’s business model.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1ST:
Jared Freid: The Family Plan (Netflix)
9/11: United We Stand—25 Years Later (ABC)
North Of North Season Two Premiere (APTN+)
1,000-lb. Sisters Season Premiere (TLC)
The Varnell Hill Show Series Premiere (Paramount+)
Untold: Raygun: Breaking Badly (Netflix)
Welcome To The Family: The Murder Of Dan Markel (Hulu)

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2ND:
Botched Homes Series Premiere (HGTV)
LEGO Star Wars: The Mandalorian (Disney+)
Lovesick Series Premiere (Netflix)
The Great American Road Rally (The CW)
The Runner (Prime Video)