There will be a minimum number of changes in syndicated daytime TV this fall on local stations — KDKA and WTAE will stand pat with no significant changes to their schedules — but perhaps the most consequential change, if past is precedent, will be the arrival of “Judy Justice” on WPXI at 3 and 3:30 p.m. weekdays (beginning Sept. 9) as a lead-in to the station’s 4 p.m. news.

“Judy Justice,” which premiered in 2021 on Amazon’s Freevee and now streams on Freevee and Prime Video, is the successor series to the Judy Sheindlin-starring “Judge Judy.” When “Judge Judy” aired on Channel 11 at 4 and 4:30 p.m. as a lead-in to the 5 p.m. news, it made WPXI more competitive in the 5 p.m. time period. Will “Judy Justice” do the same?

Granted, the “Judy Justice” episodes are not new — they already streamed on Amazon’s services — but in a TV market like Pittsburgh, where plenty of viewers have not jumped on the streaming bandwagon, it will be interesting to see if “Judy Justice” moves the needle on ratings for Channel 11’s 4 p.m. newscast.

With “Judy Justice” taking over the 3 p.m. hour, “NBC News Daily” relocates to 1 p.m. next week.

Also at WPXI, “Sherri” exits the channel and the Pittsburgh TV market after its Sept. 6 airing. It will be replaced at 11 a.m. weekdays by “People Puzzler” at 11 a.m. and “Jeopardy!” reruns at 11:30 a.m., which relocate from their current early afternoon time periods.

WPGH

If the new “Judy Justice” isn’t enough Judy for you, the original “Judge Judy” reruns will air on Channel 53 at 4 and 4:30 p.m. starting next week, offering viewers who are willing to change the channel a daily two-hour block of Judy dispensing “justice.”

Next week “Steve Wilkos” bumps up an hour from 4 to 3 p.m.

And in late-night, “The Conners” will air at 1 a.m., “The Goldbergs” at 1:30 a.m., game show “Funny You Should Ask” at 2 a.m. and “Court Cam” at 3 and 3:30 a.m.

Crime show “Finally Caught” will air at 1:30 a.m. Sunday beginning Sept. 22.

WPKD

It’s only been a year since Channel 19 dropped its CW affiliation, became independent and adopted the KDKA+ branding, but even that may be short-lived now that the station is one that Paramount Global will consider selling.

For the time being, it’s business as usual as Channel 19 welcomes a new game show, “The Flip Side” (6 and 6:30 p.m. beginning Sept. 9), hosted by Jaleel White (Urkel on “Family Matters”). “Flip Side” pits two teams of players against each other to guess responses to surveys, à la “Family Feud.”

In late-night, reruns of “The Neighborhood” will air at 11 and 11:30 p.m. and “American Housewife” reruns at 12 and 12:30 a.m. starting next week.

WPNT

Pittsburgh’s CW affiliate already added “Good Morning Football Overtime” at 10 a.m. and “Karamo” at 11 a.m. weekdays on Channel 22.

This month “The Conners” moves into the 5 p.m. daily time slot (5 and 5:30 p.m. on Saturday).

“Crime Expose” will air at 10 p.m. weekdays beginning Sept. 23.

Beginning next week “True Crime News” airs at 1 and 1:30 a.m. weekdays, “Dateline” reruns at 2 a.m. and “The First 48” reruns at 3 a.m.

“The Liquidator,” a Canadian import about a seller of unwanted merchandise, airs at 4 a.m. Saturday beginning Sept. 14 and 4:30 a.m. Saturday beginning Oct. 12.

New ‘Faith’

WPCB-TV, Channel 40, debuts a new Cornerstone Television Network series, “Unscripted Faith” (3:30 and 8 p.m. Sept. 9), about real-life faith experiences. J. Anthony Gilbert and Angela Madden will host the conversation series.

‘Chicken Sisters’

Hallmark revamps its streaming service next week with the launch of Hallmark+, replacing the current Hallmark Movies Now.

Hallmark+ will cost $8 per month ($80 annually) and includes a monthly coupon for $5 off at Hallmark Gold Crown stores. The new streamer will have original content, including several unscripted shows.

When it launches Sept. 10, Hallmark+’s highest-profile original will be the scripted series “The Chicken Sisters,” based on the 2020 KJ Dell’Antonia novel. It’s a family drama set in a small Southern town about a decades-old rift between two families who own rival fried chicken restaurants.

Wendie Malick plays Gus, the matriarch/owner of one restaurant; Lea Thomson plays Nancy, the owner of the other. But the focus is on Amanda (Schuler Fisk), Gus’ daughter, who’s married to Nancy’s son.

Those characters are just the tip of the iceberg with a raft of siblings, friends, love interests and even ancestors (introduced in flashbacks). Margo Martindale (“The Americans”) classes up the proceedings as the show’s omniscient narrator.

“Chicken Sisters” is lighter than some Hallmark efforts (there’s more emphasis on humor), but the series also takes more risks with the suggestion of possible future infidelity and meta elements as a reality-show cooking competition comes to town, pitting the two restaurants against one another.

Adapted by showrunner/writer Annie Mebane (“Shrinking,” “Atypical”), “Chicken Sisters” is a sweet, entertaining enough trifle.

Channel surfing

WTAE-TV anchor reporter Elena LaQuatra announced on her Facebook page Monday the birth of her daughter, Emelina Flora. … Peacock will stream a live comedy special starring “Saturday Night Live” regulars. “Colin Jost & Michael Che Present: New York After Dark” (9 p.m. Sept. 12) will feature performances by New York club comics. … On Sept. 24 Netflix releases “Ellen DeGeneres: For Your Approval,” which is supposedly her final stand-up comedy special.

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)