Last week, I wrote about how difficult it is to find copies of TV Guide Magazine‘s annual Fall Preview issue. For the second year in a row, I had to buy a copy on eBay. Here are my thoughts:
This is a triple issue with listings covering September 8th through September 28th but I haven’t actually looked at the listings. The issue begins with regular features like the 20 Top Shows, The Roush Review, Soap Dish, and Cheers & Jeers (which is where I learned about an Acorn TV drama starring Alicia Silverstone called Irish Blood). There’s also a page devoted to the 40th anniversary of The Golden Girls. The Fall Preview section runs for 23 pages and includes the traditional primetime schedule grid.
Because I haven’t been paying attention to what new TV shows the broadcast networks have planned for this fall, I was shocked at the number of new shows reviewed in the issue. NBC has one (On Brand with Jimmy Fallon), CBS has four (Sheriff Country, Boston Blue, The Road, and DMV), FOX has two (Celebrity Weakest Link and 99 to Beat), ABC has one (9-1-1: Nashville), and The CW has one (Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent). That’s just nine shows, down considerably from the 16 new shows reviewed in the 2024 Fall Preview issue.
PBS follows the broadcast networks and then comes a mix of cable channels and streaming services: AMC, FX, MGM+, National Geographic, HBO, Hallmark, Netflix, Peacock, Prime Video, Apple TV+, Hulu, Disney+, and Britbox. Finally, there’s the Primetime Schedule grid with the new shows marked.
The issue is a flip magazine. If you turn it over, there’s another cover featuring to NBC’s Brilliant Minds, which gets a two-page write-up. There are then four pages dedicated to shows to watch on streaming services.
Honestly, I’ll probably never look at this issue again but I needed it for my collection. When TV Guide Magazine eventually folds, I think I’ll be relieved I don’t have to keep buying the Fall Preview issue every year.
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5 Replies to “Thoughts on TV Guide’s 2025 Fall Preview Issue”
About 75 years ago television sets became affordable, and TV replaced all the prime-time drama and comedy shows that used to be on radio. We seem to be moving into a new phase, with TV being the place where you watch old reruns, and the new shows will be on other viewing platforms. The time may not be far off when older tech-challenged individuals, or poor families who can’t afford home Internet service, may still only have home access to free broadcast TV via some type of antenna when there are no new episodes of anything to watch on their TV set.
L&O Toronto:CI aired this past season in Canada. The US airing is a repeat of it so it’s not really a new show. I never watched it but appearently there’s 10 episodes for the first season and 10 for the second, although CW will probably run all 20 as one season.
I remember when I had at least 10 shows a season to watch regularly. Now I’m pretty much only watching two or three on the broadcast networks.
You mentioned your probably never look at this issue of TV Guide again but like you, I need it from my collection so I ended up buying one on ebay like you. What surprise me I ended up buying next to the last of this issue up for sale on ebay at least so far. I just cannot figure why the 2024 and 2025 issues of t v guide fall preview issue it is so hard to find on ebay. They are the newest so you would think they would be the easiest to find.
About 75 years ago television sets became affordable, and TV replaced all the prime-time drama and comedy shows that used to be on radio. We seem to be moving into a new phase, with TV being the place where you watch old reruns, and the new shows will be on other viewing platforms. The time may not be far off when older tech-challenged individuals, or poor families who can’t afford home Internet service, may still only have home access to free broadcast TV via some type of antenna when there are no new episodes of anything to watch on their TV set.
yes its absolute.
with streaming tv taking over…….you’d be hard finding morale-raising work inside those clever covers!!!!—–i dont believe in miracles…..
L&O Toronto:CI aired this past season in Canada. The US airing is a repeat of it so it’s not really a new show. I never watched it but appearently there’s 10 episodes for the first season and 10 for the second, although CW will probably run all 20 as one season.
I remember when I had at least 10 shows a season to watch regularly. Now I’m pretty much only watching two or three on the broadcast networks.
You mentioned your probably never look at this issue of TV Guide again but like you, I need it from my collection so I ended up buying one on ebay like you. What surprise me I ended up buying next to the last of this issue up for sale on ebay at least so far. I just cannot figure why the 2024 and 2025 issues of t v guide fall preview issue it is so hard to find on ebay. They are the newest so you would think they would be the easiest to find.