CBS
The Big Bang Theory
Premieres: Monday, Sept. 22, at 8 p.m. on CBS
Stars: Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki, Kaley Cuoco
What to expect: Parsons may have won his third Emmy for playing Sheldon Cooper, and he, Cuoco, and Galecki may be making a whopping $1 million an episode now, but not much has changed for TV’s top-rated comedy. Says Parsons, ”Nobody’s had to adopt a child or have a full-time pet or monkey on the show—God, kill me!” —Stephan Lee
Stars: Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki, Kaley Cuoco
What to expect: Parsons may have won his third Emmy for playing Sheldon Cooper, and he, Cuoco, and Galecki may be making a whopping $1 million an episode now, but not much has changed for TV’s top-rated comedy. Says Parsons, ”Nobody’s had to adopt a child or have a full-time pet or monkey on the show—God, kill me!” —Stephan Lee
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The McCarthys
Debuts: Thursday, Oct. 30, at 9:30 p.m. on CBS
Stars: Laurie Metcalf, Tyler Ritter, Jack McGee, Joey McIntyre
What it’s about: Another funny family joins CBS’s Thursday lineup when Metcalf returns to her Roseanne sitcom roots as Marjorie McCarthy, the passive-aggressive matriarch of a Boston clan learning to navigate life with their newly out gay son (Ritter). ”It’s people wanting to do the right thing but not quite having the lingo that goes with it yet,” Metcalf says of the multi-cam comedy penned by Brian Gallivan, former Happy Endings writer and creator of the web series Sassy Gay Friend. —Marc Snetiker
Stars: Laurie Metcalf, Tyler Ritter, Jack McGee, Joey McIntyre
What it’s about: Another funny family joins CBS’s Thursday lineup when Metcalf returns to her Roseanne sitcom roots as Marjorie McCarthy, the passive-aggressive matriarch of a Boston clan learning to navigate life with their newly out gay son (Ritter). ”It’s people wanting to do the right thing but not quite having the lingo that goes with it yet,” Metcalf says of the multi-cam comedy penned by Brian Gallivan, former Happy Endings writer and creator of the web series Sassy Gay Friend. —Marc Snetiker
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Mom
Premieres: Monday, Sept. 29, at 8:30 p.m. on CBS
Stars: Anna Faris, Allison Janney
What to expect: Recovering alcoholic Christy (Faris) and her formerly estranged mother Bonnie (Janney) reached a détente last season—but things immediately fall apart this year when the pair (and Christy’s kids) lose their home. The mother-daughter duo also courts trouble when they try to help another addict (guest star Jaime Pressly) get sober. Sure, it’s dark—but Faris is having a blast all the same. ”I love playing messes in general,” she says. ”That’s because I can relate so well.” —Hillary Busis
Stars: Anna Faris, Allison Janney
What to expect: Recovering alcoholic Christy (Faris) and her formerly estranged mother Bonnie (Janney) reached a détente last season—but things immediately fall apart this year when the pair (and Christy’s kids) lose their home. The mother-daughter duo also courts trouble when they try to help another addict (guest star Jaime Pressly) get sober. Sure, it’s dark—but Faris is having a blast all the same. ”I love playing messes in general,” she says. ”That’s because I can relate so well.” —Hillary Busis
2 Broke Girls
Premieres: Monday, Oct. 27, at 8 p.m. on CBS
Stars: Kat Dennings, Beth Behrs
What to expect: Titular broke girls Max (Dennings) and Caroline (Behrs) are about to meet one decidedly un-broke woman: Kim Kardashian, who appears in season 4’s premiere. ”It shows she has a great sense of humor about herself,” says Executive Producer Michael Patrick King. A glitzy new location’s also on deck this season when the gals get side gigs at a schmancy Manhattan restaurant. And, yes (for those keeping count), this means they’ve got three jobs now. —Hillary Busis
Stars: Kat Dennings, Beth Behrs
What to expect: Titular broke girls Max (Dennings) and Caroline (Behrs) are about to meet one decidedly un-broke woman: Kim Kardashian, who appears in season 4’s premiere. ”It shows she has a great sense of humor about herself,” says Executive Producer Michael Patrick King. A glitzy new location’s also on deck this season when the gals get side gigs at a schmancy Manhattan restaurant. And, yes (for those keeping count), this means they’ve got three jobs now. —Hillary Busis
ABC
Modern Family
Premieres: Wednesday, Sept. 24, at 9 p.m. on ABC
Stars: Ed O’Neill, Ty Burell, Julie Bowen, Eric Stonestreet, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Sofia Vergara
What to expect: Mitch (Ferguson) and Cam’s (Stonestreet) season 5 nuptials seem to have spurred a few family members to amorous action—Haley (Sarah Hyland) starts examining her feelings for Andy (returning guest star Adam DeVine), while Manny (Rico Rodriguez) embarks upon his very first relationship. ”Manny’s had many girlfriends but none that existed outside of his imagination so far,” says Executive Producer Christopher Lloyd. ”So this one is actually three-dimensional.” —Amy Wilkinson
Stars: Ed O’Neill, Ty Burell, Julie Bowen, Eric Stonestreet, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Sofia Vergara
What to expect: Mitch (Ferguson) and Cam’s (Stonestreet) season 5 nuptials seem to have spurred a few family members to amorous action—Haley (Sarah Hyland) starts examining her feelings for Andy (returning guest star Adam DeVine), while Manny (Rico Rodriguez) embarks upon his very first relationship. ”Manny’s had many girlfriends but none that existed outside of his imagination so far,” says Executive Producer Christopher Lloyd. ”So this one is actually three-dimensional.” —Amy Wilkinson
The Goldbergs
Premieres: Thursday, Oct. 2, at 9 p.m. on The CW
Stars: Wendi McLendon-Covey, Jeff Garlin, Troy Gentile, Sean Giambrone, Haley Orrantia
What to expect: The family comedy sitcom kicks off on a high note as Adam (Giambrone) and Barry (Gentile) form a Twisted Sister-inspired heavy metal garage band. ”I was obsessed with them as a kid…I remember running down the hallway screaming ‘We’re Not Gonna Take It,’ recalls series creator Adam F. Goldberg. ”It was really one of those childhood anthems that really stirred you up and made you want to rebel.” Other relics of the 1980s—including John Hughes films, old-school photo developing shops, Princess Diana’s larger-than-life wedding, and Back to the Future—have inspired other season 2 episodes. Teases McLendon-Covey, who plays smothering matriarch Beverly Goldberg: ”If you think that the stories from last year were a little bizarre, these keep getting more bizarre!” —Nina Terrero
Stars: Wendi McLendon-Covey, Jeff Garlin, Troy Gentile, Sean Giambrone, Haley Orrantia
What to expect: The family comedy sitcom kicks off on a high note as Adam (Giambrone) and Barry (Gentile) form a Twisted Sister-inspired heavy metal garage band. ”I was obsessed with them as a kid…I remember running down the hallway screaming ‘We’re Not Gonna Take It,’ recalls series creator Adam F. Goldberg. ”It was really one of those childhood anthems that really stirred you up and made you want to rebel.” Other relics of the 1980s—including John Hughes films, old-school photo developing shops, Princess Diana’s larger-than-life wedding, and Back to the Future—have inspired other season 2 episodes. Teases McLendon-Covey, who plays smothering matriarch Beverly Goldberg: ”If you think that the stories from last year were a little bizarre, these keep getting more bizarre!” —Nina Terrero
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FOX
The Mindy Project
Debuts: Tuesday, Sept. 16, at 9:30 p.m. on Fox
Stars: Mindy Kaling, Chris Messina, Ike Barinholtz
What to expect: Yes, Mindy (Kaling) and Danny (Messina) are a real couple after last season’s swoon-worthy kiss atop the Empire State Building, but it’s not happily ever after. Morgan’s (Barinholtz) cousin Lou (played by It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia‘s Rob McElhenney) may come between them. ”Even though Mindy and Danny are clearly a couple now, Morgan really wants Mindy to hook up with Lou because that means he and Mindy will be related, which means Morgan can do Thanksgiving at her nice apartment,” says Barinholtz. ”Morgan loves Danny, but Morgan is kind of obsessed with Mindy becoming a Tookers in one way or another.” —Stephan Lee
Stars: Mindy Kaling, Chris Messina, Ike Barinholtz
What to expect: Yes, Mindy (Kaling) and Danny (Messina) are a real couple after last season’s swoon-worthy kiss atop the Empire State Building, but it’s not happily ever after. Morgan’s (Barinholtz) cousin Lou (played by It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia‘s Rob McElhenney) may come between them. ”Even though Mindy and Danny are clearly a couple now, Morgan really wants Mindy to hook up with Lou because that means he and Mindy will be related, which means Morgan can do Thanksgiving at her nice apartment,” says Barinholtz. ”Morgan loves Danny, but Morgan is kind of obsessed with Mindy becoming a Tookers in one way or another.” —Stephan Lee
NBC
A to Z
Debuts: Thursday, Oct. 2, at 9:30 p.m. on NBC
Stars: Ben Feldman, Cristin Milioti, Henry Zebrowski, Lenora Crichlow
What it’s about: The crazy guy from Mad Men and the How I Met Your Mother mother!? It’s a match made in ”Hey, I know that actor!” heaven in NBC’s new rom-com about one couple’s relationship from A (for acquaintances) to Z (for…spoiler?). Each episode themes around a letter, and each season hopes to tell one complete alphabetical story. ”It’s like an old Penny Marshall movie on one hand, and it’s super-modern on the other,” says Feldman. Plus, expect some deep dives into favorite pop culture titles like Laverne & Shirley and Back to the Future. —Marc Snetiker
Stars: Ben Feldman, Cristin Milioti, Henry Zebrowski, Lenora Crichlow
What it’s about: The crazy guy from Mad Men and the How I Met Your Mother mother!? It’s a match made in ”Hey, I know that actor!” heaven in NBC’s new rom-com about one couple’s relationship from A (for acquaintances) to Z (for…spoiler?). Each episode themes around a letter, and each season hopes to tell one complete alphabetical story. ”It’s like an old Penny Marshall movie on one hand, and it’s super-modern on the other,” says Feldman. Plus, expect some deep dives into favorite pop culture titles like Laverne & Shirley and Back to the Future. —Marc Snetiker