TV Guide Magazine August 29, 2022

“Accept no substitutes!” You’ve probably heard that famous advertising line in any number of TV commercials and read it in umpteen print ads. We could say the same about the issue you’re reading right now! TV GUIDE MAGAZINE’s Fall Preview has been one of the most eagerly awaited magazine issues since 1953, when TV GUIDE first hit the national newsstands as the No. 1 source for television programming. Many other outlets, from magazines to entertainment shows to websites, have imitated us over the years, but we are still the real deal—authoritative and reliable. We take 70TH ANNUAL Sam Heughan Jimmy Smits Mayim Bialik Weird Al Norman Lear the responsibility of informing our readers about new and returning shows seriously, and proudly. Our writers and editors value original reporting, going to…

Smart Watch Spend 30 minutes on an animated return Catch the colorful antics of CIA operative Stan Smith and his family—and 1,601-year-old space alien Roger—when the Seth MacFarlane comedy American Dad! resumes its 17th season. Monday, Sept. 5, 10/9c, TBS If you have an hour, watch this reality series Grab a glass of wine and follow six Americans to the City of Lights in Real Girlfriends in Paris, where romantic adventures are just the beginning of a new life in a new city. Monday, Sept. 5, 9:15/8:15c, Bravo If you have a free evening, check out this docuseries For five lush nights in a row, Garth Brooks narrates America’s National Parks, which offers views of our nation’s most inspiring spots—starting with the Grand Canyon. Monday, Aug. 29, 9/8c, National Geographic Have a free day? Binge these classic…

Still waters run deep for a British police officer (Harry Styles), a teacher (The Crown’s Emma Corrin, above, with Styles) and a museum curator (David Dawson, The Last Kingdom) in My Policeman, a story of forbidden passions set mainly in 1950s England (premieres Friday, Nov. 4, Prime Video). Some 40 years later, the trio (played by Linus Roache, Gina McKee and Rupert Everett), still reeling with regret, sense a last chance to settle things among them. Based on the novel by Bethan Roberts, the film is one of two big releases this fall for Styles—the other being Olivia Wilde’s Don’t Worry Darling. —Robert Edelstein The Show We’re Talking About in the Office Posters for the original Woodstock advertised the festival as three days of peace and music. When the promoter of that 1969…

Your favorite stars returned to July’s Comic-Con International in San Diego, where TV Guide Magazine and TVInsider.com teamed up with Hollywood Branded to capture all the fun when they stopped by our (Un)branded Celebrity Lounge. From pop culture trivia to music games to selfie stations, there was something for everyone—not to mention epic photo ops! ARCHER Spy games! Archer executive producers Matt Thompson (left) and Casey Willis (right) flanked the FXX cartoon’s voice actors Chris Parnell, Amber Nash, Aisha Tyler and Lucky Yates as they scored some sweet swag by proving their TV knowledge—and quick buzzer skills. Mallory would be so proud. THE SANDMAN Game of Thrones alum Gwendoline Christie was excited for viewers to watch her raise hell as Lucifer, the ruler of the underworld, in Netflix’s gorgeous adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s comic…

@TVGMMattRoush Bad Sisters Fridays, Apple TV+ THE FAMILY THAT slays together—or tries to—stays together in this macabre tale of mordantly dark humor from the gifted Sharon Horgan (Catastrophe). She plays Eva, the eldest of five Garveys in Ireland, who raised her sisters after the death of their parents and would kill for them. Turns out they all share the murder gene, with a common enemy: John Paul (Claes Bang, smarmy and smug), the cruel and manipulative husband of timid Grace (Anne-Marie Duff). We know from the start that he died, when a shocking sight gag sets the series’ tone. But who did it? And how? That’s the mystery that gleefully unfolds over 10 episodes. Bitter Bibi (Sarah Greene), who lost an eye thanks to J.P., is more than ready to “give nature a helping…

@TVGMMattRoush I was expecting some closure in the series finale of The CW’s Tom Swift. Instead, we were left with cliffhangers that felt more like a season finale. What gives? Do they at least plan to make a movie to tie up the loose ends? —Bonnie MATT ROUSH: Forget a movie—at least on The CW, which has shed a number of shows in advance of the sale of the network. (Maybe the next season of Nancy Drew, from which Tom spun off, can give lip service to what happened next.) What most likely happened here was that the producers were taken by surprise by the quick cancellation, given The CW’s previous track record of keeping low-rated shows afloat, and weren’t able to course-correct and provide a satisfying series ending. I see that Ellen…