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Halloween is nearly upon us; if you are the sort of person who partakes, it’s possible that Halloween parties already are looming. And when you’re not figuring out your costumes (or, depending on the level of craft you’re putting into making your costume, when you are), there’s a real lineup of spooky-themed programming this week in new TV. Plus The Lincoln Lawyer, whose third season is dropping on Netflix this week.
But! If you’re in the mood for more seasonal autumn tidings — and you’re not already partaking in a Halloween countdown or other seasonally appropriate fare on your watchlist — then check out this week’s new premieres and see what the best option is for you.
The Lincoln Lawyer season 3
Genre: Legal drama
Release date: Oct. 17
Showrunner/creator: Ted Humphrey
Cast: Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Becki Newton, Neve Campbell, and more
Based on the fifth book of the Lincoln Lawyer series, The Gods of Guilt, season 3 picks up with Mickey Haller (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo) taking on a case more personal than ever before: A former client of his has been murdered, and he believes someone is being framed for the crime.
Genre: Ryan Murphy horror
Release date: Oct. 15, with all episodes
Showrunner/creator: Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk
The episodic American Horror Story spinoff is back. As with most things AHS (take your pick) the lead-up is a bit secretive — but from the trailer we know we have a stellar lineup: leprechauns, clones, “the thing under the bed,” and presumably more. Henry Winkler and Victor Garber will be there! And if you don’t like it — well, there’s always the next episode to hopefully improve.
Family Guy Halloween Special
Genre: Animated seasonal special (Seth MacFarlane version)
Release date: Oct. 14
Showrunner/creator: Seth MacFarlane
Cast: Seth MacFarlane, Alex Borstein, Glen Powell, and more
It’s not quite the seasonal tradition of The Simpsons’ “Treehouse of Horror” lineup, nor even the Halloween sagas of the Bob’s Burgers kids (and parents). But Family Guy is here with a new Halloween special — released well in advance of Halloween, so you don’t have to crowd your festivities — and it features a big guest star: the Hit Man himself, Glen Powell.
Genre: A comedy of errors (and possibly real Satanic Panic risks)
Release date: Oct. 17, with all episodes
Showrunner/creator: Matthew Scott Kane
Cast: Emjay Anthony, Anna Camp, Julie Bowen, and more
It’s the 1980s; a beloved small-town varsity quarterback has disappeared, and religious groups are starting to take notice of the moral impurity threatening the children. Which is really bad timing for nerdy high schooler Dylan (Emjay Anthony), who was finally getting some traction with his heavy metal band by… capitalizing on the sudden rise in interest around the occult. With a bizarre series of murders, kidnappings, and strange events all gripping the town, the Satanic Panic and hysteria are getting whipped into a flurry. And Hysteria! is all the better for it.