TV Confessional: Premiere Week Is My Super Bowl

Forget pumpkin spice and football season, my real fall ritual is the glow of a new TV lineup. Premiere Week isn’t just another week of television; it’s my personal holiday, when familiar characters return like old friends and brand-new shows promise fresh obsessions.

Every crisp breeze, every football kickoff, every golden leaf drifting from the sky, for me, these aren’t just signs of fall. They’re the countdown clock to my favorite time of year: Premiere Week. While my friends are making fantasy football picks, I’m stockpiling snacks, clearing my DVR, and texting reminders to myself about what’s on when. This is my Super Bowl, my Oscars, my March Madness rolled into one long week of TV bliss.

I’ve been looking forward to this month all summer. The moment the leaves turn, my viewing schedule becomes a ritual. Some people buy pumpkin spice lattes; I re-watch last season’s finales to prepare for the new arcs ahead.

The Main Event: One Chicago and High-Stakes Heroism

Wednesday, October 1 brings the return of NBC’s massive One Chicago franchise — Chicago Med (Season 11), Chicago Fire (Season 14), and Chicago P.D. (Season 13). I’m bracing for cliff-hanger fallout, fresh faces, and those crossover nights that feel like event TV again. Yes, some of the changes feel risky, but they also open the door for richer stories and new heroes to root for.

And it’s not just Chicago. ABC is launching 9-1-1: Nashville on October 9, blending first-responder adrenaline with a country-music backdrop. And can't forget Grey's Anatomy's Season 22 (October 9) with the biggest cliffhanger leaving us to wonder who will survive the hospital explosion?

CBS debuts Sheriff Country on October 17, a spin-off from Fire Country led by Morena Baccarin. Both feel like they’re built to scratch that high-stakes drama itch. And the return of FBI (Monday, October 13) making Monday night exciting night to watch.

The Perfect Mix of Humor and Heart

Premiere Week isn’t all rescues and sirens. Abbott Elementary (Season 5, October 1 on ABC) is back to give me the laughter and warmth I crave. Ghosts (CBS, October 16), St. Denis Medical (NBC, November 3), and Happy’s Place (NBC, November 7) also return soon — all comfort-food shows for my weeknights.

And yes, CBS’s DMV (October 13) looks like a quirky gamble I can’t wait to try, while Peacock’s hit comedy The Paper is moving to broadcast for an even easier watch.

Why I Do This Every Year

I know Premiere Week isn’t technically a holiday. But for me, it’s a ritual — the pause button on real life. I make popcorn. I dodge spoilers. I text my friends during cliffhangers. And for a few nights in October, I get to feel the thrill of brand-new stories unfolding, the comfort of returning characters, and that particular buzz of anticipation only TV can bring.

This fall promises some of my most anticipated returns and boldest new shows yet. So bring me SUVs on simmering nights, ER crossovers, courtroom runs, and those quiet character moments no one sees coming. Because when the TV turns on, the rest of the world pauses just long enough for me to remember why I love this ritual.

So as October nights grow longer and the air turns crisp, I’ll be right here on my couch with snacks, schedules, and way too many feelings about fictional people. Premiere Week isn’t just about keeping up with TV — it’s about that ritual of starting fresh, making time for stories, and letting myself be swept up again. Here’s to another season of laughter, heartbreak, cliffhangers, and comfort, all wrapped up in the glow of the screen.