(Photo by Lucasfilm/Disney+)

FALL 2020 TV SURVEY: 30 MOST ANTICIPATED RETURNING SHOWS

For Rotten Tomatoes’ annual Fall TV Survey, we asked 1,000 of our users what they’re most looking forward to in the coming TV season and to reflect on the best shows from seasons past.

While the fall TV season might not necessarily look the same as it did a year ago, there’s still plenty of programming headed to the small screen in the next few months. The main difference: premiere dates. Sure, there are fewer shows coming back, but the more noticeable change is the fact that most shows won’t premiere in September (or even October) like normal. Theoretically, though, many of our favorite series are headed back to TV before 2020 is over.

The first question in our Fall TV Survey was which returning shows fans were most looking forward to. Readers were given more than one vote, allowing them to spread the love around. (Come on, who only watches one single show?)

Unsurprisingly (for anyone who’s seen it, at least), The Mandalorian topped the list — by a wide margin. Around 47 percent of users are looking forward to the live-action Star Wars series’ second season, with 30 percent of women and 52 percent of men all voting for the Disney+ hit. The title is by far the most universally beloved series across all demographics with 50 percent of respondents in the 18-34 age bracket; 47 percent in the 35-54 bracket; and 21 percent in the 55 and over bracket.

FX’s Fargo, with the delayed season 4 (starring Chris Rock) premiering in September, was in second place among Rotten Tomatoes users at 18 percent. And in third, NBC’s time-jumping tearjerker This Is Us, with 16 percent of respondents saying they’re looking forward to season 5 (21 percent of women, 9 percent of men). Grey’s Anatomy scored much higher among women than men (13 percent vs. 4 percent), while men were far more excited about the return of Fargo (18 percent vs. 7 percent) and Star Trek: Discovery (17 percent vs. 6 percent). And while 15 percent of users aged 55 and up were excited about The Crown (and 10 percent of users aged 35-54), just 6 percent of the 18-34 demo were looking forward to the historical Netflix drama.

Read on to find out all of Rotten Tomatoes users’ most anticipated returning series.

Disagree with the survey results? Tell us in the comments who you think should have made the list or have been ranked higher.

The Voice (2011)

#30

Synopsis: America's best undiscovered talent goes head-to-head on teams led by four of today's biggest musical icons, who playfully compete against... [More]

Starring: Carson Daly, Kelly Clarkson, Ariana Grande, John Legend

Directed By: John de Mol, Alan Carter, Mark Burnett, Audrey Morrissey

Bull (2016)

#29

Synopsis: Dr. Jason Bull is the charming and cocky founder of successful trial consulting firm Trial Analysis Corporation, where he and... [More]

Starring: Michael Weatherly, Geneva Carr, Yara Martinez, Jaime Lee Kirchner

Directed By: Paul Attanasio, Phillip C. McGraw, Jay McGraw, Justin Falvey

A Million Little Things (2018)

#28

Synopsis: It has been said that friendship isn't one big thing, it's a million little things. That is certainly true for... [More]

Starring: David Giuntoli, Romany Malco, Allison Miller, Christina Moses

Directed By: D.J. Nash, Aaron Kaplan, Dana Honor, David Marshall Grant

Blue Bloods (2010)

#27

Synopsis: Tom Selleck stars as Frank Reagan, the New York Police Commissioner, and patriarch of the Reagan clan, a multigenerational family... [More]

Starring: Tom Selleck, Donnie Wahlberg, Bridget Moynahan, Will Estes

Directed By: Leonard Goldberg, Kevin Wade

Evil (2019)
93%

#25

Synopsis: Skeptical psychologist Kristen Bouchard joins David Acosta, who is training to be a Catholic priest, and a blue collar contractor... [More]

Starring: Katja Herbers, Mike Colter, Aasif Mandvi, Michael Emerson

Directed By: Michelle King, Robert King, Liz Glotzer

Fear the Walking Dead: Season 6 (2020)
89%

#24

Adjusted Score: -1%

Critics Consensus:

Starring: Lennie James, Alycia Debnam-Carey, Maggie Grace, Colman Domingo

Directed By: Robert Kirkman, Heather Cappiello, K.C. Colwell, Janice Cooke

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999)

#23

Synopsis: This groundbreaking series from executive producer Dick Wolf's "Law & Order" franchise chronicles the ripped-from-the-headlines investigations of the NYPD's Special... [More]

Starring: Mariska Hargitay, Ice-T, Kelli Giddish, Peter Scanavino

Directed By: Dick Wolf, Warren Leight, Julie Martin, Mariska Hargitay

The Rookie (2018)

#22

Synopsis: Starting over isn't easy, especially for small-town guy John Nolan, who, after a life-altering incident, is pursuing his dream of... [More]

Starring: Nathan Fillion, Mekia Cox, Alyssa Diaz, Richard T. Jones

Directed By: Alexi Hawley, Mark Gordon, Nathan Fillion, Michelle Chapman

Young Sheldon (2017)

#21

Synopsis: It's 1989 and 9-year-old Sheldon Cooper has skipped four grades to start high school along with his less-intellectual older brother.... [More]

Starring: Iain Armitage, Zoe Perry, Lance Barber, Annie Potts

Directed By: Chuck Lorre, Steven Molaro, Jim Parsons, Todd Spiewak

The Blacklist (2013)
91%

#20

Synopsis: For decades, ex-government agent Raymond "Red" Reddington has been one of the globe's most wanted fugitives. But then he agreed... [More]

Starring: James Spader, Diego Klattenhoff, Amir Arison, Hisham Tawfiq

Directed By: Jon Bokenkamp, John Eisendrath, John Davis, John Fox

black-ish (2014)
92%

#19

Synopsis: Dre Johnson (Anthony Anderson) has it all: a great job, a beautiful wife, Rainbow (Tracee Ellis Ross), four kids and... [More]

Starring: Anthony Anderson, Tracee Ellis Ross, Yara Shahidi, Marcus Scribner

Directed By: Ken Whittingham, Anton Cropper, Kenya Barris, Courtney Lilly

The Goldbergs (2013)

#18

Synopsis: In the 1980s, geeky Adam uses a video camera to document his family's crazy life. His mother, Beverly, is overprotective... [More]

Starring: Wendi McLendon-Covey, Patton Oswalt, Sean Giambrone, Troy Gentile

Directed By: Adam F. Goldberg, Doug Robinson, Alex Barnow, Chris Bishop

Grey's Anatomy (2005)
83%

#17

Synopsis: The medical drama series focuses on a group of doctors at a hospital in Seattle, including several who began their... [More]

Starring: Ellen Pompeo, Chandra Wilson, James Pickens Jr., Kevin McKidd

Directed By: Shonda Rhimes, Mark Gordon, Betsy Beers, Krista Vernoff

The Amazing Race: Season 32 (2020)

#16

Adjusted Score: -1%

Critics Consensus:

Starring: Phil Keoghan, DeAngelo Williams, Gary Barnidge, Will Jardell

Directed By: Jerry Bruckheimer, Bertram van Munster, Jonathan Littman, Elise Doganieri

NCIS (2003)

#15

Synopsis: Naval Criminal Investigative Service Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs leads a group of colorful personalities in investigating crimes -- ranging... [More]

Starring: Mark Harmon, Sean Murray, Wilmer Valderrama, Brian Dietzen

Directed By: Chas. Floyd Johnson, Mark Horowitz, Mark Harmon, Frank Cardea

Family Guy (1999)

#14

Synopsis: Animated series "Family Guy" features the adventures of the Griffin family. Endearingly ignorant Peter and his stay-at-home wife, Lois, reside... [More]

Starring: Seth MacFarlane, Alex Borstein, Seth Green, Mila Kunis

Directed By: Seth MacFarlane, Rich Appel, Alec Sulkin, Steve Callaghan

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina: Part 4 (2020)
68%

#13

Adjusted Score: -1%

Critics Consensus: Though it leaves some fan favorites high and dry, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina's final season hits enough emotional highs to serve as a fitting farewell to the Queen of Hell.

Starring: Kiernan Shipka, Ross Lynch, Lucy Davis, Chance Perdomo

Directed By: Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, Jon Goldwater

The Simpsons (1989)
85%

#12

Synopsis: This long-running animated comedy focuses on the eponymous family in the town of Springfield in an unnamed U.S. state. The... [More]

Starring: Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith

Directed By: James L. Brooks, Matt Groening, Al Jean

The Good Doctor (2017)

#11

Synopsis: Shaun Murphy, a young autistic surgeon who has savant syndrome, relocates from a quiet country life to join the surgical... [More]

Starring: Freddie Highmore, Antonia Thomas, Hill Harper, Richard Schiff

Directed By: David Shore, Daniel Dae Kim, David Kim, Sebastian Lee

Supernatural: Season 15 (2019)
100%

#10

Adjusted Score: -1%

Critics Consensus:

Starring: Jared Padalecki, Jensen Ackles, Misha Collins, Alexander Calvert

Directed By: Jeremy Carver, Robert Singer, Phil Sgriccia, Adam Glass

The Masked Singer: Season 4 (2020)

#9

Adjusted Score: -1%

Critics Consensus:

Starring: Nick Cannon, Ken Jeong, Jenny McCarthy, Nicole Scherzinger

Directed By: Craig Plestis, Izzie Pick Ibarra, Alex Rudzinski

Superstore: Season 6 (2020)
93%

#8

Adjusted Score: -1%

Critics Consensus: As funny and poignant as ever, Superstore closes up shop with a superb sixth season that solidifies its place as one of TVs greatest workplace comedies.

Starring: America Ferrera, Ben Feldman, Mark McKinney, Lauren Ash

Directed By: Justin Spitzer, David Bernad, Ruben Fleischer, Gabe Miller

Bob's Burgers (2011)

#7

Synopsis: Bob Belcher is a third-generation restaurateur who runs Bob's Burgers with his loving wife and their three children. Bob believes... [More]

Starring: H. Jon Benjamin, Dan Mintz, Eugene Mirman, John Roberts

Directed By: Loren Bouchard, Jim Dauterive, Nora Smith, Rich Rinaldi

Star Trek: Discovery: Season 3 (2020)
91%

#6

Adjusted Score: -1%

Critics Consensus: With less canonical baggage and a welcome dose of character development, Discovery continues to forge its own path and is narratively all the better for it.

Starring: Sonequa Martin-Green, Doug Jones, Anthony Rapp, Mary Wiseman

Directed By: Alex Kurtzman, Bryan Fuller, Heather Kadin, Gretchen J. Berg

His Dark Materials: Season 2 (2020)
85%

#5

Adjusted Score: -1%

Critics Consensus: His Dark Materials' chilly emotional core and imposing complexity is unlikely to win over the unconverted, but its sophomore season rewards the faithful with impeccable production values and cerebral thrills.

Starring: Dafne Keen, Ruth Wilson, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Kit Connor

Directed By: Philip Pullman, Dan McCulloch, Jane Tranter, Joel Collins

The Crown: Season 4 (2020)
95%

#4

Adjusted Score: -1%

Critics Consensus: Whatever historical liberties The Crown takes in its fourth season are easily forgiven thanks to the sheer power of its performances - particularly Gillian Anderson's imposing take on The Iron Lady and newcomer Emma Corrin's embodiment of a young Princess Diana.

Starring: Olivia Colman, Tobias Menzies, Gillian Anderson, Emma Corrin

Directed By: Stephen Daldry, Philip Martin, Andy Harries, Suzanne Mackie

This Is Us (2016)
93%

#3

Synopsis: The Pearson family's generational story unfolds in this emotional drama. In moments of love, joy, triumph and heartbreak, revelations emerge... [More]

Starring: Milo Ventimiglia, Mandy Moore, Sterling K. Brown, Chrissy Metz

Directed By: Dan Fogelman, Jess Rosenthal, Charlie Gogolak, John Requa

Fargo: Season 4 (2020)
84%

#2

Adjusted Score: -1%

Critics Consensus: Though Fargo's ambitious fourth season struggles to maintain momentum, fine performances and a change of scenery make for an engaging -- if uneven -- departure from the series' norm.

Starring: Chris Rock, Jason Schwartzman, Ben Whishaw, Salvatore Esposito

Directed By: Noah Hawley, Warren Littlefield, Dearbhla Walsh, Joel Coen

The Mandalorian: Season 2 (2020)
94%

#1

Adjusted Score: -1%

Critics Consensus: With fan favorites and fresh faces galore both in front of and behind the camera,The Mandalorian's sophomore season solidifies its place as one of Star Wars's most engaging and exciting sagas.

Starring: Pedro Pascal, Gina Carano, Carl Weathers, Giancarlo Esposito

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