Syndication: What’s new this fall

…or not, as reruns, court shows dominate local schedules

As linear TV viewership continues to tumble, fall schedules for local television stations across the country certainly reflect the trend. Unlike last year when Sherri Shepard and Jennifer Hudson debuted with new syndicated talk shows, there is no such new programming being offered – especially with an ongoing work stoppage in Hollywood, meaning you’ll see more “everyday people” appearing on these type of shows as opposed to actors pushing their latest projects.

Also absent is any new off-network sitcoms – last year saw former ABC hit American Housewives come into syndication.

So what’s new this fall? If you like court shows – you are in luck – and you can thank Byron Allen as he has three new shows teed up, bringing the total to nine court shows produced by his company as the Hollywood studios – who weren’t interested in producing first-run syndicated shows in the 1960s but reversed course in the 1980s and 1990s as they discovered how to print loads of money from them –  have now mostly abandoned the genre. 

There’s two new game shows on tap as well, both tested on Fox stations beforehand.

So here’s the rundown for the new TV season for local TV. Everything premieres tonday, unless noted:

What’s New

The biggest new show in daytime this fall – is a local one with Spotlight Chicago premiering Monday at 3 p.m. on WGN-TV. According to a press release, the new show “[spotlights] Chicago events, showcase area individuals and organizations making a difference in the community, and feature visits to local attractions.”. It’s hosted by Sarah Jindra and Windy City Live veteran Ji Suk Yi, and it’s the second local show the Nexstar-owned station has in the daypart, with Daytime Chicago back for another season at 10 a.m.

As mentioned before, there are tons of new court shows premiering. Airing on their familiar home on CW 26 (WCIU), Judge Marilyn Milan and Judge Greg Mathis are in the new Allen Shows Justice For The People (1 and 1:30 p.m.) and Mathis Court (3 and 3:30 p.m.) respectively while their old shows The People’s Court (8 a.m.) and Judge Mathis (2 p.m.) remain in syndication as reruns. Also new from Allen on CW 26 is Equal Justice With Eboni K. Williams, (7 a.m. on CW 26; M-Wed and Fri. at 7 p.m. on The U), featuring the lawyer and former Real Housewives star as a judge presiding over cases. 

Meanwhile, remember the Cutlers? (no, not Jay – though he’s a panelist in the new Inside The NFL on The CW). We’re talking about the married couple Keith and Dana Cutler as the former Couples Court judges are fronting a new court show aptly named Cutlers Court, from Atlanta-based Crazy Legs Productions, who sold the show in syndication themselves on an all-barter basis. It airs weekdays at 7:30 a.m. on. CW 26.

Also new is Court Cam (11:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. on The U), basically off-network A&E reruns of wild courtroom antics hosted by Dan Abrams.

As reported last month here, CBS Media Ventures is launching repackaged old episodes of 48 Hours in syndication. In Chicago, 48 Hours is airing on My50 (WPWR) at 9 a.m. and at 8 p.m. as My Network TV programming is being pushed to 10 p.m. for the first time since 2016.

Also new to My50 are two new game shows: Person, Place, Or Thing (at 6 p.m. and midnight) and Who The Bleep Is That? (6:30 p.m. and 12:30 a.m.) Both were tested on Fox stations with Person getting tested during the summer of 2022 and Bleep earlier this year. Fox First-Run is offering both as replacements for the now-canceled You Bet Your Life. Meanwhile, sister station Fox 32 (WFLD) is adding off-GSN episodes of People Puzzler from Debmar-Mercury at 1 and 1:30 p.m.

Same name, different place

As mentioned earlier here, two shows from other stations are relocating. After eighteen years at CBS 2, the now out-of-production Dr. Phil is relocating to WGN to air weekdays at 1 p.m. replacing the also now out-of-production Rachael Ray. Also mentioned earlier, Warner Bros. The Big Bang Theory moved to WGN in primetime weeknights at 7 and 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 4 to begin its third syndication cycle. The former CBS sitcom moved to Nexstar and other station groups in big markets earlier this week after the Fox owned-and-operations declined to renew the show, Fox 32 and My50 included. Big Bang replaces black-ish, which is leaving syndication, and The Goldbergs, now reduced to a single run at 11:30 p.m.

Replacing Big Bang in prime access at 6 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on WFLD is Family Feud, shifting from the same time periods at sister station WPWR (two other episodes remain on My50 at 5 and 5:30 p.m.) iCRIME was dropped by My50 but remains on CW 26 (6 a.m.) and The U (11:00 a.m.).

Also on the move is the Chicago Bears’ post-game show Bears Post-Game Live, shifting from the Fox duopoly to Marquee Sports Network.  As mentioned earlier here, the Cubs’ regional sports network is expanding its Bears offerings adding Bears’ Den and adding a broadcast run for Bear Essentials over CW 26 Saturdays at 10:30 a.m.

What’s Out

In addition to what was mentioned the above, other syndicated shows not returning include weekday strips Relative Justice, Forensic Justice, reruns of Judge Jerry, The Carbonaro Effect, and Impractical Jokers, and off-net episodes of the most recent version of Magnum P.I., which is being replaced in its weekend time slots with the newer version of The Equalizer starring Queen Latifah, locally over CBS 2 here effective Sept. 16. Magnum was canceled by NBC earlier this summer.

[Editor’s Note: This post was updated September 28 as one show was pulled from a local station’s schedule before its premiere. – T.H.]