Fall 2022 Schedule of Sci Fi and Fantasy Shows on the Broadcast Networks and Cable Channels

[Updated]

Who watches the linear networks these days?  Not nearly as many as used to based on the dwindling ratings results each year.  But the broadcast networks and cable channels are still out there and still putting out programming to justify their existence.  They just offer less and less in the way of sci fi and fantasy because it is more expensive to produce and doesn’t perform as well (nor has it ever) in the same-day ratings metrics.  But they still have a few shows to offer this Fall.  Below I take a look at the upcoming schedule, paltry as it is, and go to this link for my look at the premieres on the streaming services (and how much those will cost you in subscription fees).

The Fall season is already upon us, getting off to an early start this week with the premieres of Stargirl Season 3 on The CW and Rick & Morty Season 6 on Adult Swim.  But not too many more are on the way as I only count fourteen total on the schedule for the next few months vs. over twenty from last Fall.  That doesn’t mean that scripted output over all is slowing, just more and more shows are going to the streaming services.  Also, The CW is in the process of changing ownership, and it only has three shows scheduled of interest to sci fi and fantasy shows for Fall whereas it used to be heavy on Arrow-verse shows and other genre entries.  And I am expecting even less from that network in the years to come as the genre does not fit into its new “wholesome” image.

Stargirl gets things kicked off on August 31st with its third season premiere, acting as bridge between the Summer and Fall seasons.  That show is tangential to the Arrow-verse and it is the only entry from that franchise on the Fall schedule for the first time in a non-COVID impacted season since the second year that Arrow aired.  (The third season of Superman & Lois and the ninth and final season of The Flash will arrive at Mid-Season.)  Also getting off to an early start is the sixth season of Rick & Morty which has its sixth season premiere on September 4th.

The Fall season for the Big Four broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC) kicks off later in September and NBC’s Quantum Leap revival will lead off the genre entries on September 19th.  The next week will see La Brea return for its second season on September 27th, and the supernatural comedy Ghosts will be back for its second year on CBS on September 29th.  Neither ABC nor FOX have any genre shows to offer for Fall as they are far too busy with their procedurals, sitcoms, and reality shows.

The CW has a second round of genre premieres set for the first two weeks of August, but that only includes two shows.  The fantasy drama Kung Fu will be back for its third season on October 5th.  The Supernatural prequel series The Winchesters has its bow on October 11th.  Last year, the network had seven genre shows on the schedule for Fall, this year’s “new and improved” CW has only three.

Syfy has two shows to offer in Fall, though neither of them are sci fi.  The Chucky TV series proved a hit last year (by basic cable standards) and will be returning for a second season on October 5th.  That will be joined the same night by the supernatural dramedy Reginald the Vampire.  The latter show looks like another acquisition for Syfy, and those tend to not last long on the network, so don’t get too attached to it.

FX’s American Horror Story will be back at some point in Fall for its eleventh season.  And the final eight episodes of AMC’s The Walking Dead will start airing on October 2nd (assuming anybody cares by that point).  HBO’s sci fi comedy Avenue 5 is supposed to be back for its second season this Fall (consider its timeslot on the schedule tentative at this point), and it is possible that the second half of the first season of The Nevers could hit at some point in the next few months as well (but that latter show seems to have slipped into Never-never land so I didn’t add it to the schedule).  And Showtime has announced an October 9th premiere date for its vampire series Let the Right One In.

Mid-Season will bring a few shows of interest including The Ark on Syfy (which comes from Stargate‘s Dean Devlin) and the return of the fan-favorite supernatural dramedy SurrealEstate which was uncancelled by the same network.  You can see the full schedule as it currently stands below, and be sure to check back regularly to our Sci Fi TV Premieres Page for new additions to the line-up. And watch for my preview of the genre entries on the streaming services coming later this week.

Fall 2021 Schedule of Sci Fi and Fantasy Shows

SciFiTVSite.com: Follow our Sci Fi TV Schedule for all the currently airing and upcoming sci fi and fantasy television shows, and keep up with what is airing/streaming each week with our Weekly Listings.

CancelledSciFi.com: Keep up with the status updates of all the currently airing sci fi and fantasy shows with our Cancellation Watch posts. And be sure to follow the Cancelled Sci Fi Twitter Site  for breaking news and updates.