5 broadcast shows to watch with the kids this fall

We’re almost at the end of the summer, and that means it’s all about TV. Broadcast networks bring back their top shows in the fall, and 2024 is no different.

The great thing about fall TV is that it tends to be TV-14. The broadcast networks don’t want heavy violence or language. Nudity is strictly limited as well. So you can feel comfortable watching some shows as a family. Now you just need to know which shows are worth watching.

5 broadcast TV shows suitable for the family

Ghosts

The first on the list is a 30-minute comedy series that brings all sorts of lessons in life, Ghosts. We have characters from different time periods who are dead and have a human who helps them figure out the way of the world now. They also help (and often hinder) the humans! There are lessons in humility, empathy, selflessness, and more much.

The fourth season premieres on Thursday, Oct. 17 at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT on CBS. It will pick up with the big cliffhanger at the end of the third season, so you’ll want to spend some time now catching up with the kids. They’re sure to find the whole series entertaining.

Accused

If your teens love crime shows, Accused is a crime anthology series that is worth checking out. The benefit of this series is that it gets you to check your bias throughout. We get to meet the person on trial, but we have no idea what that person has done. We learn the story through a series of flashbacks, and then we find out whether that person is acquitted or found guilty.

Accused season 2 premieres on Tuesday, Oct. 15 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Fox.

NCIS: Origins

If you already watch NCIS with your teens, then you’ll want to turn to the prequel series that is arriving this fall. It focuses on Gibbs in the 1990s, as he joins NCIS and becomes one of Mike Franks’ team members. This won’t just give your kids another entertaining series, but it will bring up topics like the sexism of the 1990s.

NCIS: Origins premieres on Monday, Oct. 14 with a two-hour premiere at 9 p.m. ET/PT. It will move to the 10 p.m. ET/PT timeslot the following week.

Superman & Lois

The CW has drastically changed over the years, but if you have kids who love the Arrowverse, it’s time to see how the last of the shows comes to an end. It’s all about Superman & Lois, and there is time to catch up on the first three seasons if you need to! This one tells the story of Superman as he is an adult with two sons of his own. There are still threats to humanity out there.

Superman & Lois premieres on Thursday, Oct. 17 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on The CW.

Scrabble (and then Trivial Pursuit)

Do you have kids who love game shows? There are two new ones arriving in fall 2024, and they will air back to back. Scrabble kicks off Monday nights for The CW, with a show that is focused on wordsmiths looking to use their skills to beat others and control the Scrabble board. This is followed by Trivial Pursuit, which sees players answer quiz questions to collect pie pieces. Yes, just like the board games you play at home!

Scrabble and Trivial Pursuit begin on Monday, Oct. 7 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on The CW.