For the first time in a while, I reach for my sweaters when I leave the house. To me, this means fall is officially here – equinox be damned.
While my weekly cool-weather walks for Pumpkin Spice Lattes are at the top of my wish list (basic, I know), one of my other favorite things about fall is that it’s the best season for TV.
Not only do we see the annual favorites arrive, but there is also an excuse to cozy up in front of the small screen with a blanket and a candle. If you don’t know what to watch this season, I have a solution for all types of moods. I’ve even linked the places where they are available in the UK and US. Don’t mention it.
For mindless fun: Gilmore Girls
I’ve had so many repeat trips to Central Perk and Springfield that I’ve somehow neglected Stars Hallow. After multiple recommendations, I started my first watch-through of Gilmore Girls last fall… but with 153 episodes available, all 45 minutes long, I only got halfway through season four.
The series follows Lorelai and Rory Gilmore, a mother and daughter duo living in a small town where it seems to be permanently September, and they both have endless budgets to spend on coffee and takeaways, which seems like every day.
The stakes are usually quite low, with most of the drama dealing with petty squabbles with the townspeople and Lorelai’s rich, nosy mother. But that’s part of the charm of Gilmore Girls: I can turn this on in the background and scroll on my phone or turn it on while I’m cooking.
Plus, I finally know what my friends are talking about when they say they’re Team Dean, Team Jess, or Team Logan. If you need a sitcom that feels like a warm hug this fall, this should be on your list. Plus, the theme song is a banger.
Gilmore Girls is available on Netflix and ITVX in the UK, and Netflix in the US.
For group watches: The Great British Bake Off
If the turning leaves aren’t enough to get you in the autumn mood, the return of Bake Off certainly will.
If you’ve somehow missed this wholesome show, The Great British Bake Off (or The Great British Baking Show in America) brings together a group of amateur bakers from across the UK to compete in three weekly challenges, which are judged by two experienced professionals, Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith.
The best thing about this competition is that everyone is rooting for each other. There is no trouble or rivalry here. It’s this wholesome atmosphere that makes Bake Off one of the best series to invite friends and family to watch together. We have often hosted parties where everyone brings something sweet – homemade or otherwise.
Bonus points if you create a bingo where you can include things like Hollywood Handshakes, people forgetting to turn on the oven and a contestant with the dreaded soggy bottom.
Bake Off starts on Tuesday, September 24 in the UK on Channel 4. US viewers can watch it on Netflix the following Friday or watch it the same day it airs on Channel 4 by using a VPN.
To feel focused: Only murders in the building
While I’m craving feel-good TV most this season, this whodunnit has just the right balance of comedic fun and film noir. Add the power trio Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez, and you have the perfect recipe for a light-hearted crime series.
The three protagonists play the role of residents of the Arconia building in New York, who are brought together when a suspicious murder takes place under their noses. United by their love of true crime, Charles, Oliver and Mabel join forces to create their own podcast to solve the mystery and hold the perpetrator accountable.
I recommend watching Only Murders if you’re ready to pay attention to the fine details. This show often reveals clues (and red herrings) in numerous scenes, some of which are not recalled until much later. If you pay close attention, you might be able to guess the killer before it is revealed. It gives you a satisfying feeling when you succeed.
If your detective skills aren’t that sharp, that’s no problem. Instead, you can enjoy the incredible celebrity cameos (Meryl Streep and Paul Rudd are the highlights), homages to film genres, and musical touches throughout. The show is currently rolling out its fourth season, so it’s the perfect time to jump on the hype train.
Only Murders in the Building releases new episodes on Tuesdays on Hulu in the US, and on Wednesdays Disney+ in Great Britain.
For current events: Veep
The upcoming US election will dominate headlines this fall, and when candidate Kamala Harris was announced, I was one of many who first started watching the 2010 comedy Veep, which follows the fictional Vice President of the United Staten, Selina Meyer, played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
This series is written by Armando Iannucci, the same creator of the British show The Thick of It. Like its British counterpart, this satire’s ridiculous plots end up being much closer to real life than the writer ever expected.
Memes of Selina claiming she wants to run for president are circulating like wildfire online, as are clips of her and the team dealing with the many mishaps in the political landscape. Watching it, you wonder if these scenes are similar to what you would find behind closed doors in DC.
If you find the real debates and meetings a bit much, Veep is a light-hearted look at the political landscape. But more generally, it’s a great show, with 17 Emmys to prove it.
Veep is available on HBO/Max in the US and on Sky Comedy/Now Entertainment in the UK.
For the live TV experience: Strictly Come Dancing
The only thing missing from this list is a Saturday night classic, with everyone tuning in on social media and capturing the best moments. Luckily, Strictly fills that void perfectly – and this weekend it starts.
Now in its twentieth year, Strictly Come Dancing invites a group of celebrities from all walks of life to train in the Latin and Ballroom arts. Every week they perform different dance styles and are judged on their performances by a jury. However, these scores only represent 50% of the votes. The other half comes from the public.
That means you can get popular celebrities who provide the entertainment factor, rather than the best dancing skills. In the past we’ve seen iconic moments like Anne Widecombe being dragged across the dance floor like a sack of potatoes (see above), and Scott Mills dressed as a crab.
Even if you’re not the biggest dance fan, you’ll definitely enjoy the incredible costumes, questionable live covers of songs and awkward jokes from presenters Tess and Claud.
Strictly Come Dancing starts on Saturday September 14 on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. American viewers have the American equivalent, Dancing with the Stars, on ABC. Alternatively, you can watch Strictly from anywhere by using our guide on how to watch BBC iPlayer from abroad.
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