TV This Fall: Sundays

After a crazy weekend, there's nothing like Sunday night television to get you ready for the week ahead. Luckily, you've got some great options for TV this fall on Sundays. Let's check it out below!

SUNDAYS:
8:00-9:00
The Amazing Race (CBS, premieres 9/30), Football Night in America (NBC, premieres tonight!), The Simpsons/Bob's Burgers (Fox, 9/30), Once Upon a Time (ABC, 9/30)
9:00-10:00
The Good Wife (CBS, 9/30), Sunday Night Football (NBC, premieres tonight!), Family Guy/American Dad (Fox, 9/30), Revenge (ABC, 9/30)
10:00-11:00
The Mentalist (CBS, 9/30), Sunday Night Football (NBC, premieres tonight!), 666 Park Avenue (ABC, 9/30)

First off, let me remind everyone that The CW does not air original programming on Sunday nights. Not that it would matter due to all the great competition. Things start off hot at 8 with a bunch of big names. Obviously, Football Night in America looks to be the big starter for NBC's night, and they should be highly successful in leading the ratings. Other than that, it's a tight race. The Simpsons and Bob's Burgers are a reliable start to Sunday nights, but they don't stand a chance of beating the competition. The Amazing Race is always a great performer for CBS, especially since it moved here, but, as was the case last year, time delays can put a damper on the show's performance. Additionally, the NFL announced that the 4:15 games that always run overtime into primetime will be starting ten minutes later this season, which means the delays will be even worse! Still, CBS is confident that audiences will stick around even through the delays (as a fan of The Good Wife at 9, I can say that some nights, when faced with fifty minute delays, I chose to go to bed early instead), so we'll see what effect that has this season. But the biggest show of this timeslot is Once Upon a Time, which, after being one of last season's biggest hits, is coming back stronger than ever. I'm sure it was a hot show to catch up with over the summer and that means more new viewers, so the show should have a great performance this fall.

At 9:00, we have one of the hardest match-ups on the schedule. Sunday Night Football will obviously rule here, but we've got three other networks. Family Guy and (to a lesser extent) American Dad are very popular among young audiences, so they'll tune in if they aren't focused on the game of the night. The real race is between CBS and ABC, who pitted their two buzziest hits head-to-head. CBS has The Good Wife, who already spent one season in the timeslot. The Good Wife, while lacking an Emmy nomination for Best Drama Series this year, looks to regain some steam next year (sexier storylines, huge guest stars). ABC moved their breakout hit from last season, Revenge, to Sundays at 9 following the end of their soapy hit Desperate Housewives. Replacing one buzzy series with another seemed like a great route for ABC, and the show has a whole lot of anticipation riding on this season. Like Once Upon a Time, I think a lot of viewers caught up with this show over the summer or introduced their friends, plus the early timeslot could get some more eyes. As far as The Good Wife vs. Revenge is concerned, it's going to be a neck-and-neck race, I can really see either one taking the crown, but I'm giving the advantage to Revenge for now.

Finally, at 10, we've got three completely different shows. Sunday Night Football will continue to rule the night, but CBS has moved The Mentalist to Sunday nights, in hopes of getting an audience similar to what the now-canceled CSI: Miami did for so many years. The competition is ABC's mysterious new drama, 666 Park Avenue. The show has been described as sexy, magical, dark, scary, thrilling, and just plain great. It seems to combine the magical elements of Once and the thriller and sexy aspects of Revenge and combined it into one show, so audiences from Once and Revenge may stick around for 666. I'll give The Mentalist the advantage just because I think it skews to an older audience that may still be around that late at night, while 666 is definitely going for a younger audience who may not be completely reliable for good live ratings. But keep an eye on 666, it has potential to be the breakout hit of the fall.

What are you watching Sunday nights this fall? I know that, in addition to The Good Wife, ABC's entire Sunday night lineup is must-see for me! Let me know your schedule in the comments section below!

Evan