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Game of Thrones might be over (cue tears for our collective loss), but there is still plenty to get excited about in September! Our TV trends expert, Amanda Thornton, has scoured the releases and gives us a list of some of the more interesting debuts. Read the list below and see what just can’t be missed.

September TV Trends

By Amanda Thornton

 

The Emmys

CBS, airs September 17 at 8pm

The 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards is upon us again. The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences has chosen Stephen Colbert to host the awards, which are sure to be more noteworthy than past years. This year is unlike others in that Game of Thrones latest season aired after the nomination cut-off date, which has caused a shakeup in the competitive drama categories. The nominees include veterans Better Call Saul and House of Cards, and the freshmen series Stranger Things, The Handmaid’s Tale, Westworld, This Is Us, and The Crown. It’s gonna be a close race!

REVIEW: I’m probably even more excited by the Emmys this year because of two separate nominees. Ex-scientologist Leah Remini is nominated for Outstanding Informational Series         for A&E’s “Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath.” Current scientologist, Elisabeth Moss is nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for Hulu’s “The Handmaid’s Tale.” If they are to cross paths, it will be awkward, so hopefully they’ll catch that on camera or Stephen will address the elephant in the room.

Fire Chasers

Netflix, all episodes air September 8

Fire Chasers takes viewers into the heart of California’s devastating recent wildfires. The series will follow both the Los Angeles County Fire Department and Cal Fire, as well as women at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s “Fire Camp” and two artists documenting through photography and “artifact retrieval.” It will also interview victims of wildfires who have lost their homes to the blazes.

REVIEW: Fires are horrifying to witness. The series looks to be very intense and adrenaline pumping. I’m most looking forward to witness the firemen and women fighting the blazes in action and the personalities of them because we all know: firefighters are badass. Most people haven’t witnessed firefighters on the front line doing their job against a wildfire, so this should be an enthralling series to watch.

The Vietnam War

PBS, premieres September 17 at 8pm

In an immersive narrative, Ken Burns and Lynn Novick tell the epic story of the Vietnam War as it has never-before been told on film. THE VIETNAM WAR features testimony from nearly 80 witnesses, including many Americans who fought in the war and others who opposed it, as well as Vietnamese combatants and civilians from both the winning and losing sides. The 10-part series airs September 17-21 at 8pm and September 24-28 at 8pm.

REVIEW: If you’ve never watched a Ken Burns documentary for a history class, he is the master at creating immersive and actually entertaining documentaries about compelling moments in American history. The Vietnam War is a very divisive war and still spurs debates in history classes today. This will be a must-watch documentary for both the history buffs and the leisurely viewers out there.

Epicly Later’d

Viceland, premieres September 6 at 10p

“Epicly Later’d” was one of Vice’s first digital series that launched in early 2000′s. The revamped series will return to the airwaves with original host Patrick O’Dell. O’Dell will examine the ups and downs of professional skateboarding. He explores the past lives and current adventures of skateboarding’s most engaging characters, including never-before-seen footage of Bam Margerawho struggles to overcome substance abuse and the loss of his best friend, skating great Chad Muska and Vice’s own Spike Jonzewho looks back on his career and discusses how skateboarding influenced his work.

REVIEW: I honestly don’t know much about skateboarding. Most of what I know comes from playing Tony Hawk’s Underground on PlayStation 2 as a kid. That being said, this series looks like an interesting inside look on a sub-culture I don’t know a lot about. Having missed the web series when it first came out, I’m looking forward to watching this revamped version.

Released

OWN, premieres September 30 at 10pm

The first 90 days after being released from incarceration are said to be the hardest. This new documentary on Oprah Winfrey’s OWN will take a look at the lives of several men and women re-entering the world after being in prison.

Released will present autobiographical portraits of formerly incarcerated individuals as they walk out of the prison doors for the first time and during their first 90 days out while each attempts to reconnect with loved ones. The series will tell each of their stories through a diary lens and shed light on life after incarceration.

REVIEW: Already anticipating tearing up when I watch this. Solely going by the trailer, it looks like this will be a heart-wrenching show. I’m looking forward to seeing what the newly released individuals think of the world today compared with what they knew of it when they were originally incarcerated. Overall, this series looks like an intriguing one.