It’s that time in the month when we point out the unmissable shows coming up streaming platforms and TV networks, and the schedule is jam-packed this September.
If you’re looking for something brand new to watch, we have some exciting recommendations. This September lands with a generous offering of premiere series, ranging from the fiery crime drama Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist, Peacock’s mainstay; to Hulu’s new comedy gem How to Die Alone; to the highly anticipated reboot of Matlock, starring none other than the incomparable Kathy Bates.
Other notable series over the next few weeks include: The Penguin, the first spin-off of The Batman movie; Brilliant Minds, a medical drama inspired by the fascinating life of Dr. Oliver Sacks; and Apple TV+’s latest Mexican production, Familia de Medianoche.
So too, Paramount+’s Tulsa King and Netflix’s true-crime anthology series Monster return for their second seasons. Here’s our pick of the most promising new releases for the month ahead.
Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist
Peacock | Season Premiere | Release date: Thursday, September 5
Based on the iHeart true crime podcast of the same name, the series chronicles how an armed robbery on the night of Muhammad Ali’s historic comeback fight in 1970 “changed not only one man’s life but ultimately transformed Atlanta into the ‘Black Mecca.”
The official synopsis for the series reads:
“When a hustler named Chicken Man (Kevin Hart) hosts an afterparty to celebrate the fight with a guest list of the country’s wealthiest, the night ends with the most brazen criminal underworld heist in Atlanta’s history. Suspected of masterminding the crime, Chicken Man is hellbent on clearing his name but must convince his old adversary, J.D. Hudson (Don Cheadle), one of the first Black detectives in the city’s desegregated police force, who is tasked with bringing those responsible to justice.”
Created by Shaye Ogbonna, Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist premieres on September 5 with its 8 episodes.
How to Die Alone
Hulu | Season Premiere | Release date: Friday, September 13
How to Die Alone is an American sitcom created by and starring Natasha Rothwell. Rothwell was hilarious as Kelli in the hit series Insecure and gained critical attention playing Belinda in The White Lotus. The new series How to Die Alone follows a woman who is forced to break from her routine after a near-death experience.
Here’s a synopsis of How to Die Alone:
“Starring Natasha Rothwell, How to Die Alone follows Mel, a broke, fat, Black JFK airport employee who’s never been in love and forgotten how to dream, until an accidental brush with death catapults her on a journey to finally take flight and start living by any means necessary.”
Joining Rothwell in the comedy series are Conrad Ricamora (How to Get Away with Murder), Jocko Sims (New Amsterdam) and KeiLyn Durrel Jones (Succession). How to Die Alone will launch with four episodes, followed by the premiere of new episodes on Fridays.
Tulsa King
Paramount+ | Season: 2 | Release date: Sunday, September 15
Get ready for more crime, action, and drama when Paramount+’s Tulsa King returns this fall.
For those who haven’t yet seen the series, here’s a quick recap: Tulsa King is a crime drama that centers on Dwight “The General” Manfredi (Silvester Stallone), one of New York’s toughest mob leaders. Viewers meet Manfredi when he is released from prison after serving a 25-year sentence. Trouble arises when Dwight reclaims his old position in the New York crime network and his boss surprises him by sending him to Tulsa, Oklahoma.
The new installment follows Dwight “The General” Manfredi as he expands and protects his growing empire in Tulsa.
According to the Tulsa King season 2 description:
“Dwight and his crew continue to build up and defend their growing empire in Tulsa, but just as they get their bearings, they realize that they’re not the only ones who want to stake their claim. With looming threats from the Kansas City mob and a very powerful local businessman, Dwight struggles to keep his family and crew safe while keeping track of all his affairs. Plus, he still has unfinished business back in New York.”
New cast members include Frank Grillo, who will apparently play the season’s new villain.
The Penguin
Max | Season Premiere | Release date: Thursday, September 19
Matt Reeves’ DC Universe began its epic journey with The Batman in 2022 and continues its trajectory with the original series The Penguin, in which Colin Farrell reprises his iconic role as villain Oswald “Oz” Cobb. Created by Lauren LeFranc, the limited series runs for eight episodes and resumes the character’s story one week after the events of the original film.
The first spin-off of The Batman, this is a crime drama that gives us a detailed look at the mechanics of organized crime in this new version of Gotham. “Set shortly after the events of The Batman, Oz Cobb, A.K.A. the Penguin, begins his rise in the underworld of Gotham City as he contends with the daughter of his late boss, Carmine Falcone, for control of the crime family’s empire,” describes the plot.
It should be noted that Matt Reeves’ BatVerse is part of a separate universe from the main DC Universe and will be built under the direction of James Gunn and Peter Safran.
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story
Netflix | Season: 2 | Release date: Thursday, September 19
Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan’s true crime anthology series Monster returns with a second season titled Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menedez Story.
Following the massive success of Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, the second installment of the hit drama series will follow the real-life story of the Menendez brothers, including the murder of their parents in 1989 and their famous trial in the 1990s.
Per the official Netflix logline:
“While the prosecution argued they were seeking to inherit their family fortune, the brothers claimed – and remain adamant to this day, as they serve life sentences without the possibility of parole – that their actions stemmed out of fear from a lifetime of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse at the hands of their parents. Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story dives into the historic case that took the world by storm, paved the way for audiences’ modern-day fascination with true crime, and in return asks those audiences: Who are the real monsters?”
Actors Nicholas Alexander Chavez and Cooper Koch will play Lyle and Erik Menendez, respectively. Chavez has been critically acclaimed for his role as Spencer Cassadine on General Hospital. Meanwhile, Koch is best known for his recent roles in the horror films Swallowed and They/Them.
There will be nine episodes in the season.
Matlock
CBS | Season Premiere | Release date: Sunday, September 22
Great news: There’s a new Matlock in town. Decades after the endearing original series went off the air, CBS is resurrecting Matlock with a new cast. Oscar winner Kathy Bates will step into the famous lawyer’s shoes in a new crime series directed by Jennie Snyder Urman.
Premiering in 1986, the original series followed attorney Ben Matlock as he used his folk wisdom to solve cases that went to trial. Known for Andy Griffith’s strong performance and exciting courtroom scenes, Matlock helped lay the groundwork for many of the legal shows that followed throughout the 1990s and 2000s.
According to CBS’ official synopsis:
“Matlock is a modern reboot of the classic series created for CBS that sees the titular role taken up by Kathy Bates. After years retired from her career, Madeline Matlock rejoins the legal world in a powerful new firm where she uses her seasoned skills to win cases and expose the underlying corruption within the legal system.”
Fans will be able to catch the first episode of Matlock on Sunday, September 22 during a special preview. However, the series will then move to a regular schedule, airing its second episode (and all remaining episodes) beginning Thursday, October 9.
Brilliant Minds
NBC | Season Premiere | Release date: Monday, September 23
The talented Zachary Quinto returns to NBC. More than ten years after the end of Heroes, where the actor played serial killer Sylar, Quinto returns to the network as the lead in Brilliant Minds.
Inspired by the life and work of noted neurologist Dr. Oliver Sacks, the series promises to delve into the complexities of the human mind while tackling pressing social and philosophical issues. With a total of 13 episodes. Brilliant Minds follows Dr. Oliver Wolf Sacks and his group of interns as they treat neurology patients.
Here’s the official synopsis for Brilliant Minds from NBC:
“Inspired by the extraordinary life and work of world-famous author and physician Oliver Sacks, Brilliant Minds follows a revolutionary, larger-than-life neurologist and his team of interns as they explore the last great frontier – the human mind – while grappling with their own relationships and mental health.”
NBC has said the series’ cases are inspired by Sacks’ books, including The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat (1985) and An Anthropologist on Mars (1995). Brilliant Minds premieres Monday, September 23 on NBC after The Voice, and airs the following day on Peacock.
Familia de Medianoche
Apple TV+| Season Premiere | Release date: Wednesday, September 25
“Every day they save lives. Every day they fight for theirs,” announces the official trailer for Apple TV+’s first Mexican medical drama, entitled Familia de Medianoche aka Midnight Family.
With a total of 10 episodes, Familia de Medianoche follows a brave family of paramedics and their private ambulance as they face Mexico City’s most dire medical emergencies. The drama centers on the life of Marigaby Tamayo, played by Renata Vaca (Saw X), a talented medical student who, during the nights, works as a paramedic aboard her family’s personal ambulance. She is accompanied by her father, Ramón (Joaquín Cosío), and her brothers, Marcus (Diego Calva) and Julito (Sergio Bautista).
The series delves not only into the physical dangers faced by the family, but also the emotional and moral dilemmas that accompany their high-risk work.
Set to premiere on September 25, 2024, the series is an adaptation of the acclaimed Mexican-American documentary of the same name, written and directed by Luke Lorentzen.