What to Watch: September 2026

by Julian Spivey

Photos: NBC, Apple & MGM

SCTV (Netflix) – Tuesday, September 1
Today is a long time coming for a lot of classic comedy television fans – “SCTV” finally comes to streaming. “SCTV,” which aired from 1976 to 1984, was essentially Canada’s version of “Saturday Night Live.” “SCTV,” which stood for Second City Television, was an offshoot of Toronto’s Second City comedy troupe, and the TV show helped launch the careers of comedy greats like John Candy, Eugene Levy, Catherine O’Hara, Rick Moranis, Martin Short and more. Netflix has acquired the rights to stream all 135 episodes of the series in the U.S., beginning today, though don’t be surprised if some sketches have either been altered or excised altogether due to music rights.   

NFL Season Opener: New England Patriots @ Seattle Seahawks (NBC/Peacock) – Wednesday, September 9
The 2026-27 NFL season kicks off on Wednesday, September 9 (why Wednesday this year instead of its usual Thursday night, I don’t know) on NBC and streaming on Peacock with a rematch of February’s Super Bowl LX with the defending champion Seattle Seahawks welcoming the New England Patriots to Lumen Field in Seattle. The game is set to kick off at 7:20 p.m. (CST).

78th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (NBC) – Monday, September 14
The best television shows and performances will be honored at the 78th annual Primetime Emmy Awards on Monday, September 14th at 7 p.m. (CST) on NBC. This year’s ceremony will be hosted by Emmy-winner and “Law & Order: SVU” star Mariska Hargitay and the network will be sure to remember some of its all-time greatest shows in this it’s 100th year of operation. HBO Max’s medical drama “The Pitt” leads all series with 25 nominations. HBO Max’s “Hacks” leads all comedies with 24 nominations. Among the other major nominees for this year’s awards are Apple TV’s “Widow’s Bay” and “Pluribus” and the Netflix anthology series “Beef.” 

American Hostage (MGM+) – Sunday, September 20
MGM+ is bringing the real-life crime story of Tony Kiritsis, who held his mortgage broker hostage for more than 60 hours in Indianapolis in 1977 and would only talk to local radio reporter Fred Heckman, in the limited series “American Hostage,” premiering Sunday, September 20. Emmy-winner Jon Hamm plays Heckman, the radio reporter tasked with keeping Kiritsis, played by Giovanni Ribisi, calm during the ordeal. Created by Shawn Ryan and Eileen Myers, the series will consist of eight episodes airing on Sundays between September 20 and November 1. 

Brothers (Apple TV) – Wednesday, September 23
The last time Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson teamed up for a television series led to HBO’s “True Detective,” which viewers have ranked as the 12th greatest television drama of all time based on IMDb user ratings (it was almost certainly higher before the anthology series aired three more seasons). The friends have reunited for “Brothers,” an Apple TV comedy series, in which the acclaimed actors play fictional versions of themselves who see their friendship tested when they decide to live together on McConaughey’s ranch. The series, which premieres Wednesday, September 23, is sure to be wild. 

Farm Aid (CNN) – Saturday, September 26
Farm Aid, the annual charity concert that raises money for American farmers, will take place on Saturday, September 26 from the Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater in Virginia Beach, Va. The concert will air live on CNN, beginning at 6 p.m. (CST), and feature performances from Farm Aid founders Wille Nelson, John Mellencamp and Neil Young, and featuring current Farm Aid board members Dave Matthews, Margo Price and Nathaniel Ratefliff. Hopefully, this year’s telecast won’t have performances interrupted by commercials on CNN, but I’m not going to hold my breath.