Now that the dust has settled from Thursday’s massive cancellation spree and you have grieved the loss of some shows that are gone too soon, it’s time to look toward the future. Now that several networks have some pretty big holes in their schedules – is ABC still technically a network if all they show is Shondaland programs? – they are unveiling their new shows that they hope against all evidence to the contrary will be the next big thing (network shows seem to have a worse success rate than marriages at this point). But hope springs eternal and several networks have released some trailers for the new shows that will compete for your affection and viewership this fall. Let’s see what they are offering up (hope you like time travel more than I do)….
NBC
Timeless – “Timeless is a thrilling action-adventure series in which a mysterious criminal steals a secret state-of-the-art time machine, intent on destroying America as we know it by changing the past. Our only hope is an unexpected team: a scientist, soldier and history professor who must use the machine’s prototype to travel back in time to critical events. While they must make every effort not to affect the past themselves, they must also stay one step ahead of this dangerous fugitive. Can this handpicked team uncover the mystery behind it all and end his destruction before it’s too late?” (NBC official synopsis)
This Is Us – “Sometimes life will surprise you. This refreshingly honest and provocative series follows a unique ensemble whose paths cross and their life stories intertwine in curious ways. We find several of them share the same birthday, and so much more than anyone would expect. From the writer and directors of Crazy, Stupid, Love. comes a smart, modern dramedy that will challenge your everyday presumptions about the people you think you know.” (NBC official synopsis)
ABC
Conviction – “Lawyer and former First Daughter Hayes Morrison (Atwell) is about to accept a job offered from her sexy nemesis, NY District Attorney Wayne Wallis, to avoid jail time for cocaine possession and avoid hurting her mother’s Senate campaign. Working with his team at the new Conviction Integrity Unit will let her use her brilliant mind to turn over cases where there is credible suspicion of wrongful conviction, and give her a chance to turn things around with her high-powered political family.” (ABC official synopsis)
Designated Survivor – “Designated Survivor centers on Tom Kirkman (Sutherland), a lower cabinet member who unexpectedly becomes president after a devastating attack on Washington. He will struggle to prevent the country and his own family from falling into chaos, as he is thrust into one of the most difficult presidencies in history.”
Downward Dog– “Downward Dog is about a struggling millennial, Nan (Allison Tolman), from the point of view of her lonely and philosophical dog, Martin. One session at obedience school already makes them realize that even at their worst, they may be the best thing for each other.” (ABC official synopsis)
Imaginary Mary – “Imaginary Mary centers on Alice (Elfman), a fiercely independent career woman whose life is turned upside-down when she meets the love of her life – a divorced father with three kids. This triggers even more upheaval when the slightly unhinged imaginary friend she created as a child suddenly reappears to help her navigate the transition from single girl to a woman ready for a family.” (ABC official synopsis)
Speechless – “Maya DiMeo (Driver) is a mom on a mission who will do anything for her husband Jimmy, her kids Ray, Dylan, and JJ, her eldest son with special needs. As Maya fights injustices both real and imagined, the family works to make a new home for themselves, and searches for just the right person to give JJ his ‘voice.’” (ABC official synopsis)
Still Star-Crossed – “Still Star-Crossed, a period drama from Shondaland, picks up where the famous story of Romeo and Juliet ends, charting the treachery, palace intrigue and ill-fated romances of the Montagues and Capulets in the wake of the young lovers’ tragic fate.” (ABC official synopsis)
Time After Time – “Time After Time delivers a fantastical cat and mouse adventure through time when famed science fiction writer H.G. Wells is transported to modern day Manhattan in pursuit of Jack the Ripper. Once H.G. arrives in New York City, he finds a world he never thought possible and a young woman who captivates him.” (ABC official synopsis)
Fox (descriptions from TV Line)
APB – “A tech billionaire purchases a troubled police precinct in the wake of a loved one’s murder, but can this eccentric and enigmatic figure’s cutting edge approach fix the broken ways of these blue blooded veterans?”
The Exorcist -“A modern reinvention inspired by William Blatty’s original 1971 book, the propulsive, serialized psychological thriller follows two very different men tackling one family’s case of horrifying demonic possession, and confronting the face of true evil.”
Lethal Weapon – “When Texas cop and former Navy SEAL Martin Riggs suffers the loss of his wife and baby, he moves to Los Angeles to start anew. There, he gets partnered with LAPD detective Roger Murtaugh, who, having recently suffered a “minor” heart attack, must avoid any stress in his life.”
Making History -“Three friends find a way to travel through time for truth, justice and riches, which complicates their lives in 2016. They visit some of the greatest moments of the past as they try to resolve their personal problems, while history and pop culture comically collide.”
The Mick – “A hard-living, foul-mouthed woman moves to affluent Greenwich, Conn., to raise the spoiled kids of her wealthy sister who has fled the country to avoid a federal indictment.”
Shots Fired – “An expert investigator digs into a series of racially charged shootings in a small Tennessee town. Alongside a special prosecutor sent to the town by the Department of Justice, she must navigate the media attention, public debate and social unrest that comes with such volatile cases, as they seek justice before the divided town erupts.”
Prison Break
Pitch -“The all-new FOX Series, PITCH, tells the emotional story of GINNY BAKER who became the first woman to play Major League Baseball.”
Star – “Three talented singers, desperate for a new start and with ambitions of stardom, navigate the cut-throat music business on their road to success.”
Son of Zorn – “An animated warrior from a faraway island in the Pacific Ocean returns to Orange County, CA, to win back his live-action ex-wife and teenage son.”
CBS
Man With a Plan – “A contractor, whose wife goes back to work, starts spending more time with his kids and discovers the truth every parent realizes: his little angels are maniacs.”
Pure Genius– “A young silicon valley tech titan enlists the aid of a veteran surgeon with a controversial past in establishing the the high tech hospital of the future.”
The Great Indoors – “An adventure reporter must adapt to the times when he becomes the boss to a group of millennials in the digital department of a famous outdoor magazine.”
Kevin Can Wait – “A newly retired police officer looks forward to spending more quality time with his wife and three kids only to discover he faces much tougher challenges at home than he ever did on the streets.”
Bull – Inspired by the early career of Dr. Phil McGraw, Michael Weatherly stars as Dr. Jason Bull. Brilliant, brash and charming, he’s the ultimate puppet master combining psychology, intuition and high tech data to learn what makes jurors and the accused tick.
Training Day – “Based on the hit feature film, this crime thriller begins 15 years later when an idealistic young police officer is appointed to an elite squad of the LAPD and he is partnered with a seasoned yet morally ambiguous detective.”
MacGyver – “A secret agent unlike any other, MacGyver escapes perilous situations with nothing but a paper clip, his trusty knife and his wit. A dynamic reimagining of the hit TV series, this action packed origin story follows a young hero as he undertakes missions to save lives and change the world.”
Any early reactions? Shows that pique your interest? I’ll update as additional new trailers are released.
As Heather's World Turns 