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Upfronts: NBC debuts new fall schedule dominated with dramas (Trailers & full descriptions inside)

Update (6/5): Heartbreaker star Melissa George is pregnant with her second child, and for that reason the new medical drama is now being held for a midseason start. Taking its place in the Tuesdays-at-9 timeslot is another new hospital-set series, Dick Wolf’s Chicago Med. This post and NBC’s fall schedule have been updated below to reflect these changes.

For TV lovers, this is one of the most exciting times of the year. It’s mid-May and the Upfronts are currently taking place in New York City. In case you’re not aware, the Upfronts is an annual event where the major networks (namely NBC, FOX, ABC, CBS, and The CW) present their upcoming slates of fall and midseason programming to advertisers and the press. The Upfronts are held to get advertisers excited to spend their money on primetime commercials, and the press is there to spur buzz for the public at large. Every year the nets pump out some great content, so without further ado, let’s dive right in!

NBC is first out of the gate this Upfront season, presenting four new dramas, one fresh comedy, and a special variety series hosted by Neil Patrick Harris for the fall. The Blindspot, from executive producer Greg Berlanti (The Mysteries of LauraThe FlashArrow), stars Jaimie Alexander (Thor) in the Peacock’s most anticipated new drama. The mystery thriller about an amnesiac covered in tattooed clues has landed the plum post-The Voice spot on NBC’s fall schedule: Mondays at 10. Following The Voice on Tuesdays at 9 is new medical drama Heatbreaker starring Melissa George (The SlapGrey’s Anatomy, In Treatment) another Dick Wolf spinoff Chicago Med. At 10 is Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris, a new variety show promising “stunts, skits, pranks, audience interaction, musical numbers, giveaways and unlimited surprises.” Chicago Fire will return for its fourth season in that timeslot when NPH’s show ends in November. Wednesday’s crime procedurals The Mysteries of LauraLaw & Order: SVU, and Chicago P.D. remain in tact. The Blacklist is sticking to Thursday nights at 9, sandwiched between event series Heroes Reborn and new drama The Player. This Las Vegas thriller hails from John Davis and John Fox, the executive producers behind the popular James Spader-led series, and it stars Wesley Snipes and Philip Winchester (Strike Back) in a fun twist on the action-crime genre. Friday is the sole night dedicated to NBC comedy with the returning Undatable at 8 (its third season will be completely comprised of live episodes) and new multi-cam sitcom People are Talking starring Mark-Paul Gosselaar (Saved by the Bell). At 9 it’s the return of dark fairly-tale genre fare Grimm and newsmagazine Dateline.

New series being held for midseason or later include dramas hospital-set Heartbreaker with Melissa George, Shades of Blue (starring Jennifer Lopez), Game of Silence (starring Revolution‘s David Lyons and Once Upon a Time‘s Michael Raymond-James), and the Wizard of Oz-inspired Emerald City. Comedies coming soon include You, Me, and the End of the World with Rob Lowe (Parks & Rec), Superstore with America Ferrera (Ugly Betty) and Ben Feldman (A to Z), Hot & Bothered with Eva Longeria (Desperate Housewives), the revival of Coach starring Craig T. Nelson, and Crowded with Patrick Warburton (Rules of Engagement) and Carrie Preston (True Blood). Reality series First Dates and Little Big Shots hosted by Steve Harvey, as well as TV specials The Wiz Live!The Reaper, and Dolly Parton in Coat of Many Colors, are also coming soon.

Jump after the break to preview NBC’s new fall and midseason series with video clips and descriptions. Continue reading Upfronts: NBC debuts new fall schedule dominated with dramas (Trailers & full descriptions inside)

Upfronts: FOX relies on fresh family sitcoms & recognizable dramas for upcoming TV season

FOX follows NBC as the second major network to announce its new programs for the upcoming 2015-16 season. A pair of dramas and comedies, as well as a comedy-horror anthology, are premiering on FOX this fall. Minority Report, inspired by Steven Spielberg’s 2002 film starring Tom Cruise, takes place 10 years after the demise of Precrime. Stark Sands stars as a former Precog, and with the help of a police detective played by Meagan Good (Deception), he attempts to solve crimes with the flickering visions he still receives. The sci-fi crime adventure is paired with Gotham on Monday nights at 9. (It has been announced that Morena Baccarin–who plays Ben McKenzie’s James Gordon’s love interest–has been upped to series regular for Gotham season 2.) FOX’s Tuesday lineup is all-new for the fall, featuring new single-camera sitcoms Grandfathered, starring John Stamos, and The Grinder, starring Rob Lowe. Rounding out the night at 10 is Ryan Murphy’s latest creation, one-hour comedy horror anthology Scream Queens with Emma Roberts, Lea Michele, and Jamie Lee Curtis. Empire sits tight at 9 on Wednesday, leading out of new crime procedural Rosewood starring Morris Chestnut (V) as a brilliant private pathologist in Miami. (Empire‘s episode count jumps to 18 episodes for season 2, musician Ne-Yo will write music alongside Timbaland’s production, and upcoming guest stars include Chris Rock, Alicia Keys, and Lenny Kravitz.) Veteran Bones and the returning Sleepy Hollow are paired on Thursday. Masterchef Junior movies to Fridays at 8, leading into World’s Funniest hosted by Terry Crews. Sunday’s lineup, including animated and live action fare, remains in tact: Bob’s BurgersThe SimpsonsBrooklyn Nine-NineFamily Guy, and The Last Man on Earth are all-new come September.

New series being held for midseason or later include dramas The Frankenstein Code (from Homeland 24 executive producer Howard Gordon, loosely based on Mary Shelley’s creation) and Lucifer (starring a charismatic Tom Ellis as the Lord of Hell in the City of Angels). Six-episode event series The X-Files is primed to premiere Sunday, Jan. 24 following the NFC Championship game. New Girl, entering its fifth season, is also being saved for a January launch for two reasons: star Zooey Deschanel is pregnant, and the network wants to run it without interruptions this time around. New Girl will join newbies Grandfathered and The Grinder on Tuesdays, as well as midseason sitcom The Guide to Surviving Life. (There will be room on the schedule since Scream Queens has a limited run.) Also on tap for midseason is a new animated comedy from the minds of Seth MacFarlane and Mark Hentemann (Family Guy), Bordertown. A three-hour production Grease: Live with Julianne Hough and Vanessa Hudgens will air live Sunday, Jan. 31. Lastly, American Idol will be back in January for its 15th and final season.

Jump after the break to preview FOX’s new fall and midseason series with video clips and descriptions. Continue reading Upfronts: FOX relies on fresh family sitcoms & recognizable dramas for upcoming TV season

Upfronts: ABC sticks with what it knows works, adds ‘The Muppets’ & conspiracy thrillers for good measure

Update (6/2): Due to casting changes, Deadline reports that biblical saga Of Prophets and Kings is being yanked from ABC’s fall schedule and will debut at a later time. Conspiracy thriller Quantico moves into the Sunday 10pm timeslot following Once Upon a Time and fellow freshman Blood & Oil (formally known as Oil). The network has not disclosed what will take over the now-vacant Tuesdays-at-10 slot. This post has been amended to reflect the changes.

Number three is ABC–the third network to present at the Upfronts this week, that is. One look at the Alphabet network’s fall schedule and you’ll notice not much has changed from its 2014-15 grid. In fact, Monday (with Dancing with the Stars and Castle), Wednesday (with comedy lineup The Middle, The GoldbergsModern Family, and black-ish, plus country music drama Nashville), and Thursdays dedicated to prolific showrunner Shonda Rhimes (Grey’s AnatomyScandal, and How to Get Away with Murder), all remain exactly the same. The changes? Sitcom Fresh off the Boat has been bumped to 8:30 to make room for new Tuesday at 8 anchor The Muppets. That’s right–Jim Henson’s famous puppets are coming back to primetime in a half-hour documentary-style show, promising a more adult version of the Muppets that’ll “explore the [their] personal lives and relationships.” Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. sits tight at 9, leading into new conspiracy thriller Quantico. On Friday, Last Man Standing is joined by new multi-cam family sitcom Dr. Ken starring Community‘s Ken Jeong and Trophy Wife scene stealer Albert Tsai; newsmagazine 20/20 follows at 10. With Revenge complete and Resurrection cancelled, ABC’s Sundays nights will now consist of Once Upon a Time leading into new soap Oil Blood & Oil (starring Don Johnson as a ruthless oil tycoon) and biblical saga Of Kings and Prophets and conspiracy thriller Quantico.

New series being held for midseason or later include dramas The Catch (which looks to be yet another instant-classic Shondaland show starring The Killing‘s Mireille Enos; it will join Shonda’s “TGIT” lineup once Murder‘s limited run ends), another intriguing conspiracy thriller The Family (starring Bourne Identity franchise actress Joan Allen; it will replace Of Kings and Prophets on Sunday nights when the biblical drama finishes its limited run), and LA-set Wicked City, a serial killer investigative drama starring Gossip Girl‘s Ed Westwick and Parenthood‘s Erika Christensen (this one’ll air between the fall and spring runs of Quantico on Tuesdays). There are two comedies on tap for midseason: Raising Hope‘s Martha Plimpton is back in a new messy family single-cam sitcom, The Real O’Neals, and Mike Epps stars in Uncle Buck, a single-cam half-hour inspired by John Hughes’ 1989 film that starred John Candy. The former will eventually take over the Tuesdays-at-8:30 timeslot when The Muppets‘ limited run ends and Fresh off the Boat returns to its 8pm anchor; the latter has not been scheduled yet. Elsewhere, returning series Galavant will again bridge the gap between Once Upon a Time‘s fall and spring runs, and Marvel’s Agent Carter will do the same when S.H.I.E.L.D. goes on winter break. (The action is moving from New York City to Los Angeles in Agent Carter season 2.) It’s been confirmed that Juliette Lewis will be the sole actor returning to Secrets & Lies in its sophomore season; she’ll reprise Detective Andrea Cornell when the series steps in to fill the void left by Nashville when the country music soap takes its hiatus. John Ridley’s American Crime will return at some point, taking a page out of Ryan Murphy’s American Horror Story–it’s officially been labeled an anthology series and season 2 will feature “a completely different scenario and a completely different crime, placed in a different part of America.” Also like AHSAC will bring back some cast members from season 1 playing different characters.

Jump after the break to preview ABC’s new fall and midseason series with video clips and descriptions. Continue reading Upfronts: ABC sticks with what it knows works, adds ‘The Muppets’ & conspiracy thrillers for good measure

Upfronts: CBS benches multi-cam sitcoms to clear the way for single-cams & ‘Supergirl’

CBS is the last of the Big Four Networks to present its upcoming portfolio of new series. Three new dramas and two single-cam comedies are debuting in the fall. Perhaps the most high-profile show of the bunch is Supergirl from Greg Berlanti (the prolific producer behind The CW’s Arrow and The Flash) and starring Glee‘s Melissa Benoist. She stars as Kara Zor-El, Superman’s cousin, and the show plans to follow her journey of “embracing her superhuman abilities and be the hero she was always meant to be.” When the new TV season kicks off in September, The Eye’s Monday nights will consist of The Big Bang Theory, new feel-good single-cam sitcom with a large ensemble cast Life in Pieces, and returning procedurals Scorpion and NCIS: Los AngelesSupergirl will join the second half of that lineup in the plum Mondays-at-8 timeslot in November when TBBT and Life in Pieces move to Thursday. Tuesday is home to flagship NCIS, spinoff NCIS: New Orleans, and the Bradley Cooper-produced Limitless, which is a sequel series to his 2011 sci-fi film about expanding the limits of the mind with the fictional drug NZT. (Cooper features prominently in the pilot, and he will recur on the series.) Survivor kicks of Wednesday nights, followed by Criminal Minds and new medical drama Code Black toplined by Marcia Gay Harden and Luis Guzman–it’s being described as ER on steroids; looks intense. When Thursday Night Football concludes in November, the night’s lineup will look like this: The Big Bang TheoryLife in PiecesMom, new sitcom Angel in Hell starring Glee‘s Jane Lynch with Maggie Lawson (Psych), and Elementary. Fridays pack The Amazing RaceHawaii Five-0, and Blue Bloods. And lastly Sunday screens Madam SecretaryThe Good Wife, and CSI: Cyber.

New series being held for midseason or later include spinoff Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders with Gary Sinise and a TV adaptation of buddy-cop franchise Rush Hour starring Jon Foo as Detective Lee and Justin Hires as Det. Carter. To make room for Supergirl on Mondays and Limitless on Tuesdays, CBS is benching sitcoms 2 Broke GirlsMike & Molly, and The Odd Couple, as well as drama Person of Interest for midseason. It’s been confirmed that POI‘s next season is shortened to 13 episodes; all signs (shorter episode count, dwindling ratings, and the fact that CBS shortened and saved for midseason The Mentalist before ending it) point to this being the fifth and final season for the epic procedural/serial hybrid. CBS also made it official that flagship CSI: Crime Scene Investigation will not be returning for a 16th season; instead, it will wrap up storylines with a two-hour finale airing Sunday, Sept. 27 that will bring back original stars William Petersen and Marg Helgenberger. CSI star Ted Danson is relocating to spinoff CSI: Cyber to play opposite Patricia Arquette, kicking out Cyber‘s Peter MacNicol in the process.

Jump after the break to preview CBS’s new fall and midseason series with video clips and descriptions. Continue reading Upfronts: CBS benches multi-cam sitcoms to clear the way for single-cams & ‘Supergirl’

Upfronts: The CW keeps its successful status-quo alive, introducing just one new series this fall

The CW, CBS’s sister network, unveiled its 2015-16 fall schedule at the Upfronts, too, and you’ll see that very little has changed. The network was quick to mention that The CW is coming off its most-watched season in years, and the crowd applauded its success during awards seasons with Jane the Virgin star Gina Rodriguez winning the Golden Globe for Best Actress. And as the old saying goes, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Only one new show will debut in October when The CW kicks off its fall programming slate, a one-hour romantic comedy with musical elements called Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. It gets the Mondays-at-8 slot leading into Jane the Virgin. On Tuesdays there’s The Flash with iZombie, Wednesday airs Arrow with CW veteran Supernatural entering its 11th season, executive producer Julie Plec gets her own night a la Shonda Rhimes with The Vampire Diaries and its spinoff The Originals paired on Thursday nights, and period soap Reign moves to Fridays tagged with America’s Next Top Model.

Saved for midseason is another Greg Berlanti superhero series, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow (an Arrow/Flash spinoff) and another Julie Plec drama, the apocalyptic Containment. Returning series Beauty and the Beast and The 100 sit on the bench for a future debut.

Jump after the break to preview The CW’s new fall and midseason series with video clips and descriptions. Continue reading Upfronts: The CW keeps its successful status-quo alive, introducing just one new series this fall

TV reminder: ‘South Park’ season 17 premieres tonight (9/25) at 10PM on Comedy Central

South Park takes on the NSA in the season 17 premiere episode titled “Let Go, Let Gov.” The logline goes like this:

When Cartman manages to get himself behind the doors of the NSA, he doesn’t like what he finds in his personal file. He thinks it’s time he told everyone the truth. Meanwhile, Butters finds someone new to listen to his prayers.

Watch two clips, one featuring Cartman and the other Butters, after the break.

South Park returns tonight (Wednesday, 9/25) at 10PM on Comedy Central. Continue reading TV reminder: ‘South Park’ season 17 premieres tonight (9/25) at 10PM on Comedy Central

Preview ‘Revolution’ season 2 ahead of next week’s premiere (inside J.J. Abrams teases new supernatural element)

NBC’s action-packed drama that poses the question “what would happen if the lights went out” returns for its second season next week so there’s no better time to catch a new preview of what’s to come in Revolution. At Comic Con we learned that the nukes set off at the end of season 1 do in fact go off and decimate large sections of North America. We also learned that the lights will turn off again, and this time for good. In the new preview clip embedded above you’ll hear from the cast and they spill s’more season 2 details: time jumps three months into the future, our main band of survivors makes camp at a fictional town in Texas named Willoughby, and you’ll also catch glimpses of Rachel’s encounter with her dad (played by Stephen Collins), Monroe’s fight club, and Neville’s beard. “It’s the same Revolution everybody knows and loves,” says Tracy Spiridakos (Charlie Matheson), “but with a different little kick to it.”

What might that kick be? Executive producer J.J. Abrams teases it in an interview posted after the break. When the power goes out for good early in the season, Abrams describes a “rip” in reality that occurs. In essence, a supernatural element is being introduced into Revolution this season and Abrams says it will provide the launchpad for more compelling storytelling and higher stakes. Get the tantalizing scoop after the break; below that is a season 1 recapper.

Revolution returns Wednesday, September 25 at 8PM on NBC. Continue reading Preview ‘Revolution’ season 2 ahead of next week’s premiere (inside J.J. Abrams teases new supernatural element)

Preview NBC’s ‘The Michael J. Fox Show’ with the cast

Michael J. Fox returns to TV in the NBC sitcom The Michael J. Fox Show this fall on NBC. In it he plays Mike Henry, one of New York’s most beloved news anchors who decides to put his career on hold and spend time with his family after he is diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. The series starts with Mike about to sit back in the anchor seat after being out of the game for five years. His family, led by his wife played by Breaking Bad‘s Betsy Brandt, plays a big part in his recovery and endurance. Check out this extended first look at the show and mark the books: The Michael J. Fox Show premieres September 26 on NBC. (Watch the official trailer here.)

Comic Con: Upcoming seasons of ‘Family Guy’ & ‘American Dad’ previewed at the Con

It’s full steam ahead for FOX’s Family Guy which returns this fall for its 12th season. Here’s a five minute preview of the upcoming season.

At Family Guy‘s Comic Con panel it was revealed that one member of the Griffin family will be killed off and replaced with a new character this season. “It could be anyone, any one of our six main cast,” said showrunner Steve Callaghan. I was sitting in the Ballroom 20 crowd and like everyone else around me I wasn’t sure if he was joking or not but in retrospect I don’t think he was. What else? Season 12 guest stars include Adam Levine, Bryan Cranston, Tony Sirico, Jeff Daniels, Liam Neeson, Conan O’Brien, and Ashton Kutcher. As The Cleveland Show is MIA this season, Cleveland is moving back to Spooner Street and he’s bringing his new family with him! The Family Guy Simpsons crossover episode will likely be a one-hour event and may feature a five-minute chicken fight between Peter and Homer, but don’t expect it to air until season 13. And yes, a Family Guy movie is in the works but a timeline has yet to be discussed.

After the break watch a nearly six minute preview of the 10th season of Seth MacFarlane’s other animated comedy American Dad. This marks the final season on FOX as AD will continue to air new episodes on TBS when season 11 premieres in fall 2014. “It’s going to be the same American Dad, just in a different place,” promised co-creator Mike Barker. What else? Upcoming guest stars include Zooey Deschanel, Alison Brie, Ellie Kemper, Stanley Tucci, Mae Whitman, Mariah Carey, T.J. Miller, and Olivia Wilde. There’s also an American Dad movie idea where fans will finally travel to Roger’s home planet. Continue reading Comic Con: Upcoming seasons of ‘Family Guy’ & ‘American Dad’ previewed at the Con

‘The Walking Dead’ finale sees new ratings record, preview season 4 here!

The Walking Dead season 3 finale on March 31 managed to break a new ratings record for the cable hit. 12.4 million viewers tuned into the final episode of the season which saw the death of a major character. The previous record-holding episode was the February 10 midseason premiere which garnered 12.3 million viewers–the finale just beat it out. 6.8 million in the coveted 18-49 demo watched this episode, another all-time high for the series.

AMC president Charlie Collier: “Two words: Grateful. Dead. It’s a joy that we get to work with such tremendous talent to makeThe Walking Dead and Talking Dead come to life for audiences that continue to engage and grow. In just three seasons, The Walking Dead has become a pop-culture phenomenon, entertaining millions of passionate viewers and obliterating traditional lines between cable and broadcast television.”

Now check out this preview of season 4 which is set to debut on AMC in October. Though you won’t find new footage, you will hear tantalizing tidbits from the show’s producers and stars. “There’s a broader, bigger world out there. Now that we’ve introduced that there are more survivors out there, it’s only going to get more and more interesting,” says EP David Alpert. “We will be getting into more world building, more civilization being brought back, more of a bigger sense of community,” spills EP and Walking Dead comic book creator Robert Kirkman. “The Governor is still out there. The war is not over,” shares EP Denise Huth. Fans can also expect more transformation out of trigger-happy Carl. “Is Carl going to be Rick? Or is Carl going to be The Governor? Right now it can go either way,” posits Huth.

TV reminder: ‘South Park’ season 16 premieres tonight!

They’ve made it this far. South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker have completed (or are probably still in the process of completing) the 224th episode of the crude animated series to air on Comedy Central. The episode to kick off season 16 is titled “Reverse Cowgirl” and the log line goes something like this:

After a South Park citizen meets with an unfortunate accident, the TSA steps in to prevent it from happening again… One of the boys had been told time and time again about leaving the toilet seat up after he goes to the bathroom, but he didnt listen. His actions have consequences and ultimately result in an unimaginable catastrophe.

Embedded above is a thirty second preview featuring the one and only Randy Marsh. Might this be a Randy-centric episode? If so, it’s got classic South Park written all over it.

South Park premieres tonight (3/14) at 10PM on Comedy Central. The show will continue to air Wednesday nights at 10 for an additional six weeks, and then take its usual extended hiatus and return with the second half of the season in October.

‘Fear Factor’ returns to NBC this December

That read that right, folks. NBC is rebooting Fear Factor, the reality game show that originally ran from 2001-2006. Host Joe Rogen is back and so are the disgusting and adrenaline pumping tasks the human competitors must face. Paul Telegdy, NBC’s president of alternative and late night TV, marked the occasion with these words: “We have taken the groundbreaking Fear Factor franchise that many fans remember fondly and have ramped it up to make it even more challenging and competitive than ever before. Once again, the contestants will have to face their ultimate fears to prevail — and the tension and drama of that process will make for some riveting television.” Watch a 2-minute preview of what’s in store for the new season above. Fear Factor returns December 12 and will air Mondays at the 8PM-10PM timeslot.

[Via Deadline]