TV is one place where hope springs eternal every fall, as the major broadcast networks ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox plus their smaller sibling CW offer up dozens of new shows they’ll hope viewers will take to heart.

But in the age of 500 other channels worth of options, plus streaming platforms Amazon, Hulu and Netflix, the choices are pretty overwhelming these days.

Fox has high hopes for new drama “Pitch,” about the first female pitcher in Major League Baseball.

Close

Several promising series, including a new reboot of “24,” won’t debut until mid-season (January, most likely).

Still, there’s plenty of hope in this new Golden Age of TV, in which the lines blur more every year between movies and TV and which medium has the best entertainment to offer.

Here are 10 of the more intriguing shows that might appeal during the first half of the 2016-17 season:

Son of Zorn (Debuts Sept. 11, 8:30 p.m. on Fox):
This may be the most offbeat show on the fall schedule, a live-action/animated comedy starring Jason Sudeikis as the voice of animated character Zorn, who returns to Earth after 10 years from a land called Zephyria and attempts to immerse himself in the lives of his human son and ex-wife (played by Cheryl Hines of “Curb Your Enthusiasm”) while annoying her current husband (Tim Meadows) along the way.

The great comedic cast, plus the fact this comes from Hollywood’s most inventive comedy-filmmaking duo Phil Lord and Chris Miller (the “21 Jump Street” and “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” and “Lego Movie” franchises) gives viewers true hope for magic.

[lz_ndn video=31332102]

Kevin Can Wait (Debuts Sept. 19, 8:30 p.m. on CBS):
“Kevin” marks the return of “The King of Queens” star Kevin James to prime-time sitcoms after a few years of middling success in movies. Here, he plays a retired cop who finds that his home life is more fraught with risk than his time on the streets.

Judging by his longterm appeal on “King” and the fact that James is a devout Catholic in real life, this could be a great new sitcom for all ages.

Who do you think would win the Presidency?

By completing the poll, you agree to receive emails from LifeZette, occasional offers from our partners and that you've read and agree to our privacy policy and legal statement.

This Is Us (Debuts Sept. 20, 10 p.m. on NBC):
This ensemble character-driven dramedy follows a group of people who all have the same birthday and how their lives come to intersect.

This looks and feels like a show in the vein of another NBC classic, “Parenthood,” and further hope comes from innovative creator Dan Fogelman (“The Neighbors,” “Galavant”) and the powerhouse producing duo of John Requa and Glenn Ficarra, who co-directed a strong group of feature films including the outstanding dramedy “Crazy Stupid Love.”

Designated Survivor (Debuts Sept. 21, 10 p.m. on ABC)
This could be the most intriguing thriller of a season in which Americans are immersed in an intense run for the White House, since it stars Kiefer Sutherland as a low-level Cabinet member who is forced to become the U.S. president instantly when the Capitol building is destroyed during the State of the Union address.

[lz_ndn video=31229925]

Sure, most people thrown into that situation would likely be overwhelmed, but we’re talking Kiefer Sutherland here, the man who saved the world nine times already as Jack Bauer on “24.” Here’s hoping this show maintains the same patriotic and conservative edge of his prior classic.

Speechless (Debuts Sept. 21, 8:30 p.m. on ABC):
Minnie Driver leads this show as the mother of three kids, one of whom is a special needs child.

“It’s not a disability show. We’re telling family stories here,” Scott Silveri, executive producer and writer of the show, said at the TV critics press gathering this summer. Silveri, who worked on “Friends,” said his special-needs brother was the inspiration for the main character in the series played by Micah Fowler, a young actor who has cerebral palsy in real life.

The focus on differently-abled children should bring a touching and timely new twist to the proceedings, while its placement in the middle of ABC’s lineup of family sitcoms including “The Goldbergs” and “Modern Family” should ensure that this is both funny and a breakout new hit.

[lz_third_party includes=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4u55WK6AbaM”]

Pitch (Debuts Sept. 22, 9 p.m. on Fox):
This drama about the first female Major League Baseball pitcher — played by Kylie Bunbury — has a strong supporting cast including former “NYPD Blue” and “Saved by the Bell” star Mark-Paul Gosselaar as her catcher.

One of TV’s most respected drama directors, Paris Barclay, is among a creative team that also includes lead producer Dan Fogelman. Fox is trying to peg this as a sports version of “The West Wing” meets “Friday Night Lights.”

[lz_third_party includes=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0wLCGwYZ3g”]

MacGyver (Debuts Sept. 23 at 8 p.m.on CBS):
The original “MacGyver” provided seven seasons of over-the-top scientific fun when Richard Dean Anderson played a guy who could save the day each week with everyday objects like scissors and candy bars rather than guns.

This reboot, starring “X-Men: First Class” star Lucas Till is brought to us by the original producers — always a good sign — and the combo of its family-friendly time slot and vastly improved present-day visual effects means this could be a real blast for the whole family to enjoy. But sad news for fans of the original: Anderson will not be part of this updated version.

[lz_ndn video=31171685]

No Tomorrow (Debuts Oct. 4, 9 p.m. on CW):
What would you do if you believed an asteroid was going to hit earth and end the world in a few months? This new romantic comedy shows how one man handled it by deciding to race through his bucket list, and the woman who joins him.

“Jane The Virgin” executive producer Ben Silverman teamed with co-executive producer Corinne Brinkerhoff for “No Tomorrow,” which is billed as an hourlong comedy. Like Jane, “No Tomorrow” is based on a Latin American format. The original Brazilian series, “How To Enjoy The End Of The World,” was nominated for an International Emmy in 2013. The CW gave this a good time slot, which shows its confidence in the show.

Frequency (Debuts Oct. 5, 9 p.m. on CW):
There are five time travel-themed series coming this season, but the one that seems most intriguing is this reboot of the cult classic 2000 movie “Frequency,” which starred Jim Caviezel as a man who lost his fireman father (Dennis Quaid) in a fire when he was a boy, then managed to re-establish contact with him and save him through a miracle 30 years later.

This series gender-flips the lead role with actress Peyton List playing the daughter who bends time to communicate with her dad, but early word is this show captures the movie’s powerful emotional center.

[lz_ndn video=31135363]

Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life (Debuts Nov. 25 on Netflix):
“Gilmore” was a cult-classic favorite for seven seasons on the WB network, and fans have been begging for its return ever since.

Now, their wishes have come true, as Netflix saves the day with four 90-minute episodes, all dropping at one and each covering what happens in one season of a year. Even more remarkable: Producers found a way to bring now-superstar cast member Melissa McCarthy back into the fold.