5 new shows to watch this weekend across Netflix, Hulu, and more (September 25

We are now living in a post-Emmys world. Several shows made history at the 2026 Emmys, and you have plenty of time to stream them this fall. However, these new and returning shows were released earlier this week or will premiere this weekend.

Netflix has two shows to watch: one is a reality competition show set in a chocolate factory, while the other is a reboot of an iconic sitcom. FX welcomes back its long-running horror series for season 13, and NBC kicks off a new season of Saturday Night Live. However, my top pick of the week is a reunion for the stars of True Detective.

Wonka’s The Golden Ticket

A game beyond pure imagination

I remember watching Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factoryand wishing that I could actually visit the titular factory. Netflix made that dream a reality in their new competition series Wonka’s The Golden Ticket. 12 lucky golden ticket winners and a partner of their choosing enter the factory and compete for a chance to win a prize of $3 million, which is described as a six-figure annual income for 30 years.

In the show, you’ll see some of the chocolate factory’s staples, including lickable wallpaper, edible plants, and a recreation of the chocolate river (it’s not real chocolate this time). You’ll even hear a familiar voice talking to the contestants, as the show used AI to recreate Gene Wilder’s voice to honor the legendary performance. Let’s see if the series can capture the “world of pure imagination.”

The first seven episodes ofWonka’s The Golden Ticketare now streaming on Netflix. Episodes 8–9 premiere on Sept. 30.

American Horror Story season 13

Ryan Murphy’s long-running franchise returns

Ryan Murphy has created plenty of hit shows, including the Monsteranthology series and American Crime Story.However, I’ll always associate Murphy with American Horror Story, the FX anthology series he created with Brad Falchuk. The 13th season is changing things, as it will release episodes with shorter runtimes—roughly 22 to 33 minutes.

As for the theme of season 13, Murphy has been extremely secretive by keeping the plot under wraps. The promotional images and cast announcements make it seem like a best-of season, as characters from previous seasons will appear. It wouldn’t be American Horror Storywithout its legacy cast members, including Sarah Paulson, Emma Roberts, Evan Peters, and Jessica Lange. American Horror Storyis an institution at Disney, making it one of our top shows of the month on Hulu.

The first three episodes ofAmerican Horror Storyseason 13premiere on Sept. 24 at 9 p.m. ET on FX and Hulu. View thefull release schedule.

A Different World

Back to Hillman College

I wasn’t around at the height of A Different World, the beloved spin-off of The Cosby Show. However, I do know that the show became an important celebration of Black culture, especially in its portrayal of HBCU culture. The show went off the air in 1993, but Netflix decided to make a sequel series to A Different Worldand set it in the present day.

In the sequel series, Deborah Wayne (Maleah Joi Moon), the daughter of Whitley Gilbert (Jasmine Guy) and Dwayne Wayne (Kadeem Hardison), is a freshman at Hillman College. Deborah has a lot to prove, considering her family’s history at Hillman. Netflix’s A Different Worldis more dramedy than sitcom, but the spirit of the original remains in the sequel.

All episodes ofA Different Worldare now streaming on Netflix.

Saturday Night Live season 52

Live from New York

Death, taxes, and Saturday Night Live returning to NBC for another season are certainties. Since 1975, Saturday Night Livehas been a comedic staple of late-night television. SNL has launched so many careers, with many of those performers going on to reprise their iconic characters in movies. As long as Lorne Michaels is around, SNLwill continue on.

The season 52 premiere is an important one for New Yorkers, as New York Knicks superstar Jalen Brunson is the host. Fresh off an NBA championship, Brunson becomes the fifth NBA star to host behind Bill Russell, Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, and LeBron James. The musical guest will be KATSEYE.

Saturday Night Liveseason 52premieres live across time zones on Sept. 26 at 11:30 p.m. ET/8:30 p.m. PT on NBC and Peacock.

Brothers

A star-studded reunion

Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson are two of Hollywood’s best stars. The Texas natives will charm you to death, but they can also act, as evidenced in their memorable turns in the Emmy-winning first season of True Detective. The duo’s new show, Brothers, is nothing like True Detective.McConaughey and Harrelson are playing fictionalized versions of themselves in this new Apple TV comedy.

After the engagement of Harrelson’s daughter falls apart, Woody and his family head to McConaughey’s ranch for some quality time. It’s during this outing that Harrelson and McConaughey learn from the latter’s mother (Holland Taylor) that they might be brothers. Even though it’s a fictional show, I could totally see Harrelson and McConaughey as siblings. Brothers gives off fun-loving vibes, which should translate to a lot of laughter and smiles.

The first two episodes ofBrothersare now streaming on Apple TV. New episodes will be released every Wednesday through Nov. 4.

More shows that should be on your radar

Speaking of those Emmy-winning shows, if you’re looking for the ones that made history, try Hackson HBO Max and Widow’s Bayon Apple TV. On the true crime front, no streamer does it better than Netflix, which has recent hits like Death of the Pastor’s Wifeand The Idaho Murders: College Nightmare.