‘This Is Us’ advances to Elite Eight in Entertainment Weekly’s fall cover battle

This Is Us is in the Elite Eight of Entertainment Weekly’s fall cover battle — so let’s keep pushing!

We’re nearing the start of the fall television season, and with that comes the return of This Is Us. The series is perhaps the hottest show heading into the return of television’s sweet spot, but that’s a debate which soon will be settled. Obviously, This Is Us fans are going to be extremely biased towards the show as a fall favorite, but Entertainment Weekly is stepping in to tally votes.

The magazine is running a contest, voted on by fans, that will determine which show appears on the cover of its fall television preview issue. Right now we’re down to the last eight shows — dubbed the Elite Eight, like in March Madness. This Is Us has cut through the competition thus far, but the cream has risen to the top making the push harder than ever before to get to the championship.

Here’s how things match up as we head into the Elite Eight voting stage:

• This Is Us vs. Shameless
• American Horror Story vs. Saturday Night Live
• Riverdale vs. The Flash
• Grey’s Anatomy vs. Stranger Things

With the exception of a few shows, that’s a heavy hitting lineup. This Is Us has its work cut out if it wants to get past Stranger Things or American Horror Story. If things shake out the way we want, those two shows seem to be the ones standing in the way of a title.

Don’t sleep on Shameless, the hit Showtimes series currently carrying the network as a flagship series. Neither of the CW shows will stand a chance on paper against This Is Us, but both have very passionate fan bases who could come out in droves to force a victory. Say what you will about Grey’s Anatomy being past it’s prime, but it’s in the Elite Eight for a reason.

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Be sure to vote for This Is Us and pass word along to your friends so that we can claim the title of top fall television series.