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Cheat sheet: Fall TV preview guide

By Alicia Lozano

WASHINGTON — As kids head back to school, it’s time to plan for another big fall event: new TV shows.

This upcoming season features dozens of premieres for your viewing pleasure. Here is a breakdown of what to expect and when:

“Intruders” (BBC America) Premieres: Aug. 23 at 10 p.m. “Dr. Who” star John Simm is a former L.A. cop who relocates to the Pacific Northwest with his wife, Mira Sorvino, in search of a simpler life. But her sudden disappearance sparks a parade of strange, and perhaps magical, happenings in the small town.

“Houdini” (History) Premieres: Sept. 1 at 9 p.m. This two-part miniseries stars Adrien Brody as the world-famous Harry Houdini.

“Utopia” (Fox) Premieres: Sept. 7 at 8 p.m. A reality series in which 15 contestants must spend an entire year building their own society with their own rules in the wilderness.

“Red Band Society” (Fox) Premieres: Sept. 17 at 9 p.m. A coming-of-age drama follows young cancer patients as they navigate the increasingly complicated world of adolescence.

“Madam Secretary” (CBS) Premieres: Sept. 21 at 8 p.m. Tea Leoni plays a former CIA agent who takes on the role of Secretary of State.

“Gotham” (Fox) Premieres: Sept. 22 at 8 p.m. The origin story of future Gotham police commissioner Jim Gordon.

“Scorpion” (CBS) Premieres: Sept. 22 at 9 p.m. Nerds form a team to solve some of the world’s most complex problems.

“Forever” (ABC) Premieres: Sept. 22 at 10 p.m. The New York City medical examiner can’t die, so he studies the dead in order to figure out what makes him so special.

“NCIS: New Orleans” (CBS) Premieres: Sept. 23 at 9 p.m. Scott Bakula, Lucas Black and Zoe McLellan take on the Big Easy in yet another crime drama.

“Black-ish” (ABC) Premieres: Sept. 24 at 9:30 p.m. Comedian Anthony Anderson tries to figure out what it means to be “black enough.”

“The Mysteries of Laura” (NBC) Premieres: Sept. 24 at 8 p.m. Debra Messing is an NYPD homicide detective who spends her days cleaning up the streets and her nights cleaning up her messy personal life.

“How to Get Away With Murder” (ABC) Premieres: Sept. 25 at 10 p.m. Viola Davis plays a law school professor whose students get into some serious trouble.

“Manhattan Love Story” (ABC) Premieres: Sept. 30 at 8:30 p.m. TV Guide says: This new comedy uses the power of voiceover to broadcast the internal monologues of a New York City dude (Jake McDorman) and a Midwestern transplant chick (Analeigh Tipton) as they navigate an awkward first date and subsequent budding romance.

“Happyland” (MTV) Premieres: Sept. 30 at 11 p.m. MTV’s newest teen drama about the inner workings of one of the country’s most popular theme parks.

“Stalker” (CBS) Premieres: Oct. 1 at 10 p.m. A division of the LAPD hunts stalkers and voyeurs from killing women. Starring Maggie Q and Dylan McDermott.

“Gracepoint” (Fox) Premieres: Oct. 2 at 9 p.m. Based on the British series “Broadchurch,” this drama follows a pair of cops (David Tennant and Anna Gunn) investigating the mysterious death of a young boy in an idyllic beach town.

“A to Z” (NBC) Premieres: Oct. 2 at 9:30 p.m. A romantic comedy that chronicles a relationship from beginning to end. Think “How I Met Your Mother” meets “500 Days of Summer.”

“Bad Judge” (NBC) Premieres: Thursday, Oct. 2 at 9 p.m. A successful judge, played by Katie Walsh, can’t seem to get her private life in order.

“Survivor’s Remorse” (Starz) Premieres: Oct. 4 at 9 p.m. Produced by LeBron James, this comedy follows a young rookie as he joins the big leagues and has to decide who to keep, and who to ditch, from his previously un- glamorous life.

“Mulaney” (Fox) Premieres: Oct. 5 at 9:30 p.m. Former SNL writer John Mulaney is a New York City writer who works for a game-show host and comedian played by Martin Short.

“The Flash” (CW) Premieres: Oct. 7 at 8 p.m. TV Guide says: “The CW’s highly anticipated Arrow spin-off stars Grant Gustin as Barry Allen, who becomes the fastest man alive.”

“Kingdom” (DirecTV) Premieres: Oct. 8 at 9 p.m. A family drama set in the violent, competitive world of mixed martial arts.

“Cristela” (ABC) Premieres: Oct. 10 at 8:30 p.m. Comedienne Cristela Alonzo is a busy lawyer-to-be balancing school, internships and a traditional Mexican-American family.

“Jane the Virgin” (CW) Premieres: Oct. 13 p.m. A virgin is artificially inseminated by her doctor. Things get tricky when she realizes the sperm donor is not only her former crush, but also her new boss.

“Marry Me” (NBC) Premieres: Oct. 14 at 9 p.m. A rom-com about a couple ready to get married if only they could get the marriage proposal right.

“The Affair” (Showtime) Premieres: Oct. 19 at 10 p.m. A look at the emotional and psychological effects of infidelity on two different marriages.

“Constantine” (NBC) Premieres: Oct. 24 at 10 p.m. Based on the DC Comics series Hellblazer, the titular character is a seasoned demon hunter is dragged into the timeless fight of good versus evil.

“The McCarthys” (CBS) Premieres: Oct. 30 at 9:30 p.m. A sports-obsessed Boston family is turned upside-down when a gay relative is asked to be an assistant coach.

“State of Affairs” (NBC) Premieres: Monday, Nov. 17 at 10 p.m. Queen of the rom-com Katherine Heigl returns to the small screen as a national security adviser to the president (Alfre Woodard), whose son (and Heigl’s fiance) is killed by terrorists.

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Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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