The 2019-2020 network television season starts next month and the networks are eager and/or desperate to attract viewers to their new and returning shows. Yes, that means fall preview specials. So far, it appears CBS is once again the only network airing a network special. ABC, NBC, and FOX have specials airing on local affiliates.. ABC, CBS, and NBC all aired network fall preview specials. FOX offered its special to affiliates to air locally. It doesn’t look like The CW is offering any sort of fall preview special this season.
Last season, CBS and NBC both aired network specials in prime time while FOX’s preview special aired locally on FOX affiliates.
ABC – “ABC’s Fall Preview Special”
September 4th, 2019 Update: You can watch “ABC’s Fall Preview Special” at ABC.com if you have a cable subscription.
September 2nd, 2019 Update: Donald Faison and Hannah Brown hosted “ABC’s Fall Preview Special,” which is repeating on many local ABC affiliates throughout September. I can’t find the full special at the ABC website but you can stream it through Hulu.
August 30th, 2019 Update: “ABC’s Fall Preview Special” airs nationally on ABC from 7-7:30PM ET on Sunday, September 1st.
My local ABC affiliate has this 30-minute special scheduled to air next Sunday. Unfortunately, there are no details in either my cable program guide or any online TV listings I’ve checked. After it airs, I’ll add information about the host(s).
CBS – “CBS Fall Preview Show”
September 10th, 2019 Update: You can watch this year’s “CBS Fall Preview Show” at CBS.com or through CBS All Access. It’s also repeating on cable channel Pop several times this month.
The half-hour “CBS Fall Preview Show” will air Monday, September 9th from 9-9:30PM ET on CBS. The special will stream live on CBS All Access. It will also be available through various other platforms, including CBS.com, CBS affiliate websites, cable companies, and more. CBS affiliates may also schedule the special locally. Hosts this year are Patricia Heaton of Carol’s Second Act, Billy Gardell and Folake Olowofoyeku of Bob Hearts Abishola, Mike Colter and Aasif Mandvi of Evil, Simone Missick of All Rise, and Walton Goggins of The Unicorn.
A full press release for the special is available here.
NBC – “The 2019 NBC Primetime Preview Show”
September 18th, 2019 Update: NBC aired an hour-long version of “The 2019 NBC Primetime Preview Show” from 10-11PM ET on Monday, September 18th. Watch it online at the NBC website.
D’Arcy Carden of The Good Place hosts “The 2019 NBC Primetime Preview Show,” a half-hour special airing on NBC affiliates.
FOX – “2019 FOX Fall Preview”
Nick Cannon and Erin Andrews host the “2019 FOX Fall Preview” special, a half-hour special airing on FOX affiliates. Cannon is the host of the FOX reality singing show The Masked Singer while Andrews is a reporter for FOX Sports.
Hit the comments with your thoughts on the 2019-2020 network TV fall preview specials. Be sure to check your local TV listings.
ABC’s fall preview WILL run on the full network this Sunday at 7 PM just before college football!!
Interesting. It wasn’t showing up in the ABC schedule when I was researching this year’s fall preview specials last week. I can’t find any information about it at the ABC website.
My listings show:
ABC on Sunday, Sept. 1 at 7pm.
FOX on Sunday, Sept. 1 at 12pm.
NBC on Friday, Sep 6 at 1:30 am.
CBS on Monday, Sept. 9 at 9pm.
Your times may vary, but this could help you find your airings.
No sign of a CW preview this year, although I think it’s been a few years since they had one.
FOX fall preview is on different times in different markets. NBC fall preview is at 1:37 am and replaces a Carson Daly rerun.
For anyone interested, Donald Faison and Hannah Brown hosted “ABC’s Fall Preview Special,” which you can stream through Hulu:
https://www.hulu.com/series/abc-fall-preview-special-f60c7d4d-75f1-473c-bbab-37a9be57146a
It may also repeat on your local ABC affiliate. I see it airing again this weekend.
So far, this season’s FOX fall preview special is not scheduled locally but I will be able to watch NBC’s special later this month.
“ABC’s Fall Preview Special” is available at ABC.com if you have a cable subscription:
https://abc.go.com/movies-and-specials/abc-fall-preview-special
“CBS Fall Preview Show” is available at CBS.com and through CBS All Access:
https://www.cbs.com/shows/fall-preview/video/
The Futon Critic is showing an one hour version of “The 2019 NBC Primetime Preview Show” in its listings, airing nationally on Monday September 16th from 10 to 11 pm.
I completely missed this. The hour-long version is available at the NBC website:
https://www.nbc.com/coming-soon-to-nbc/video/the-2019-nbc-primetime-preview-show/4030518“