Upfronts Week is here and as per usual, today is all about NBC and Fox. The new Fox schedule as well as my thoughts are here. Below are my thoughts on NBC as well as their new Fall schedule. Check it out!
Thoughts On Cancelled Series:
I loved Allegiance. And I feel like I was the only person watching this show so it’s no surprise this was cancelled but it still hurt all of the same. What a great show!!! So good! If you have a few hours free, I’d still recommend catching what did air On Demand so you can see what you were missing! Same goes for Constantine which I really enjoyed and am bummed about being cancelled even though this also was no surprise.
I really enjoyed A to Z and Marry Me but I confess I didn’t watch live and often waited every few weeks to do mini marathons On Demand. I wonder how many others enjoyed these shows but didn’t watch live. These were great shows. I really hope NBC doesn’t get discouraged here and doesn’t give up on the idea of the romantic comedy because people do want to see this.
Thoughts On New Series:
Let’s start with the dramas…HEROES REBORN was announced at last year’s upfronts so it’s super exciting to see it finally on the schedule. We all know how much of a Heroes fan I am. It’s one of my favorite shows ever. I am super pumped for this! SHADES OF BLUE is bound to be great. I am so excited that Jennifer Lopez is acting on the small screen. I love her acting and all of her movies so I’m interested in seeing her transition to acting in a serialized drama. The Hunger Games fans should tune in as well as Dayo Okeniyi is starring in this show! Also Ray Liotta and Drea De Matte among others. Great cast! BLINDSPOT looks absolutely amazing. Like a mash up of The Bourne Identity and Minority Report with a kick butt female MC played by Jaimie Alexander who I love from Kyle XY and her work in the Marvel Universe. Absolutely cannot wait for this one!
GAME OF SILENCE initially doesn’t intrigue me but the cast and crew attached does. David Hudgins is behind this so I know that I’m going to like this even though I initially was hesitant and not compelled. Michael Raymond-James who I loved on Once Upon A Time and Terriers and Larenz Tate who I loved on Rescue Me are both on this show so that also gives me a great feel for the tone of the show. Long story short, I am super excited and if the cast and crew attached were not attached, I totally wouldn’t be excited so this is a fine example of why creators, writers, casting directors, and the right actors matter. CHICAGO MED is going to be my first Chicago xyz show I watch from NBC. I wanted to get into Chicago Fire and Chicago P.D. but for reasons I’ve explained before, I just haven’t gotten into those. I’m excited for Med though as Laurie Holden who I loved on The Walking Dead and Yaya Dacosta who is great in everything she’s in both star in this drama so I am totally excited to watch just because of these two! And HEARTBREAKER doesn’t seem interesting at all but I’m excited to see Shelley Conn on the show as I loved her on The Lottery and Terra Nova.
As for the comedies? Rob Lowe is on 2 different networks this Fall and if I had to pick one of the shows that he’s on this Fall to watch in its entirety, I’d choose YOU, ME AND THE END OF THE WORLD since it’s an apocalyptic story and I love those. This is a one hour dramedy and I’m hoping it delivers. We’ll see. Then there’s SUPERSTORE and I honestly don’t even care what it’s about because America Ferrara is attached to this and I have been waiting for so long for America to return to the small screen because I’ve missed her weekly on my TV ever since Ugly Betty. I am so excited for her return! Now Robe Lowe isn’t the only person starring on 2 different networks this Fall. Meaghan Rath who I loved on Syfy’s Being Human is also starring in PEOPLE ARE TALKING with Mark-Paul Gosselaar. If they pull back on the laugh track, this could become something I see more people watching. It seems entertaining enough and has the potential to grow into something really great but I wonder if it will get the chance to. Hmm.
Finally, I’m very excited about THE WIZ LIVE (and will probably go bananas when the first trailer goes live) as well as NPH’s live one hour variety show, BEST TIME EVER WTH NEIL PATRICK HARRIS. That is going to be something else!
Now for the Fall 2015 Schedule…
New series are in CAPS.
Sunday
7-8:20pm Football Night in America
8:20-11pm NBC Sunday Night Football
Monday
8-10pm The Voice
10-11pm BLINDSPOT
Tuesday
8-9pm The Voice
9-10pm HEARTBREAKER
10-11pm BEST TIME EVER WITH NEIL PATRICK HARRIS (Through November) / Chicago Fire (Premieres in November)
Wednesday
8-9pm The Mysteries of Laura
9-10pm Law & Order: SVU
10-11pm Chicago P.D.
Thursday
8-9pm HEROES REBORN
9-10pm The Blacklist
10-11pm THE PLAYER
Friday
8-8:30pm Undateable
8:30-9pm PEOPLE ARE TALKING
9-10pm Grimm
10-11pm Dateline NBC
Returning: The Blacklist, Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D., Grimm, Law & Order: SVU, The Mysteries of Laura, The Night Shift, Undateable, America Ninja Warrior, America’s Got Talent, The Biggest Loser, The Celebrity Apprentice, Food Fighters, Hollywood Game Night, Last Comic Standing, Running Wild with Bear Grylls and The Voice
New Dramas: BLINDSPOT, HEARTBREAKER, HEROES REBORN, THE PLAYER
New Event Series: COAT OF MANY COLORS, THE REAPER
New Alternative Series: BEST TIME EVER WITH NEIL PATRICK HARRIS
New Comedies: PEOPLE ARE TALKING
Musical: THE WIZ LIVE
Midseason: CHICAGO MED, GAME OF SILENCE, SHADES OF BLUE, COACH, CROWDED, HOT & BOTHERED, SUPERSTORE, YOU, ME AND THE END OF THE WORLD, EMERALD CITY
NBC says the decision on the future of “A.D. The Bible Continues” and “American Odyssey” will come at a later date after their respective seasons have ended.
NEW COMEDIES
COACH
Craig T. Nelson (“Parenthood”) reprises the iconic role that earned him an Emmy in this follow-up to the beloved series that ran for nine seasons. With original creator Barry Kemp at the helm, Hayden Fox’s story picks up 18 years later when the retired coach gets back in the game to assist his son, who was just hired as head coach at an Ivy League university in Pennsylvania… where they know nothing about sports. Between dealing with the eggheads on campus and his hostile daughter-in-law at home, Coach will soon learn that he’s not in Minnesota anymore. Talk about a Hail Mary!
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CROWDED
No more sex, booze, and paying the bills naked. After 20 years of parenting, empty nesters Mike (Patrick Warburton, “Seinfeld”) and Martina (Carrie Preston, “True Blood”) are finally reclaiming their wild side. Yet when their two grown daughters both unexpectedly move back in, and Mike’s parents scratch their plans to spend their golden years in Florida, their roost is full again. From executive producer Sean Hayes, this new (and very timely) family comedy proves that life is crazy with a full house, especially the second time around. The cast includes Patrick Warburton, Carrie Preston, Stacy Keach, Carlease Burke, Mia Serafino and Miranda Cosgrove.
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HOT & BOTHERED
If you think the steamy sex, sensational scandals and wrenching heartbreak on Latino soap operas are a little extreme, just wait until you see what happens behind the scenes. Eva Longoria (“Desperate Housewives”) stars in this new comedy about Ana Sofia, a sizzling TV superstar and her lively family of cast and crew all competing to steal the spotlight. When the cameras turn off, the drama turns up as Ana battles pesky network execs, drunken script writers, narcissistic co-stars, and an unfortunately familiar new onscreen love interest. The cast includes Jencarlos Canela, Diana Maria Riva, Jose Moreno Brooks, Alex Meneses, Amaury Nolasco, Jadyn Maria and Izzy Diaz.
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PEOPLE ARE TALKING
If you can think it, they will say it. From producer Will Packer (“Ride Along”) and director Pam Fryman (“How I Met Your Mother”) comes this unabashed new comedy about two diverse couples who are both neighbors and best friends. As they go through life side-by-side, they can’t help but analyze and obsess about everything. From topics like sex and race, to the fact that the trusted new babysitter might just be a porn star, nothing is out of bounds for this wildly outspoken foursome. The cast includes Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Tone Bell and Bresha Webb.
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SUPERSTORE
America Ferrara (“Ugly Betty”) and Ben Feldman (“Mad Men,” “A to Z”) star in a hilarious workplace comedy (from the producer of “The Office”) about a unique family of employees at a super-sized megastore. From the bright-eyed newbies and the seen-it-all veterans to the clueless summer hires and in-it-for-life managers, together they hilariously tackle the day-to-day grind of rabid bargain hunters, riot-causing sales and nap-worthy training sessions. The cast includes Mark McKinney, Lauren Ash, Colton Dunn, Nichole Bloom and Nico Santos.
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YOU, ME AND THE END OF THE WORLD
In this bold adrenaline-fueled new one-hour comedy drama, the news that a comet is on an unavoidable collision course with Earth sets in motion the most hilariously unexpected chain of events imaginable. Set against the backdrop of apocalyptic chaos and starring Rob Lowe (“Parks and Recreation”), Jenna Fischer (“The Office”), Megan Mullally (“Will & Grace”) and Mathew Baynton (“Yonderland”), the story follows an eclectic group of seemingly unconnected characters around the world as their lives start to intersect in the most unexpected ways. When we say eclectic, we mean a rebellious priest, an unhinged white supremacist, a mild-mannered bank manager, a germ-phobic cyber-terrorist and an American five-star general. Some of these misfits are destined to make it to a bunker deep beneath the English suburbs of Slough and, as a result, will become the hugely unlikely (and totally unsuitable) future of mankind. Wouldn’t that be a disaster! The cast also includes Joel Fry, Paterson Joseph, Gaia Scodellaro, Pauline Quirke, Fabian McCallum and Kyle Soller.
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NEW DRAMAS
BLINDSPOT
From executive producer Greg Berlanti (“Arrow,” “The Flash,” “The Mysteries of Laura”) comes “Blindspot”: A vast international plot explodes when a beautiful Jane Doe, completely covered in mysterious, intricate tattoos, is discovered naked in Times Square with no memory of who she is or how she got there. But there’s one tattoo that is impossible to miss: the name of FBI agent Kurt Weller, emblazoned across her back. “Jane,” Agent Weller and the rest of the FBI quickly realize that each mark on her body is a crime to solve, leading them closer to the truth about her identity and the mysteries to be revealed. The cast includes Sullivan Stapleton, Jaimie Alexander, Audrey Esparza, Rob Brown, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Ukweli Roach and Ashley Johnson.
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CHICAGO MED
Executive producer Dick Wolf delivers the newest installment of the compelling “Chicago” franchise, an emotional thrill ride through the day-to-day chaos of the city’s most explosive hospital and the courageous team of doctors who hold it together. They will tackle unique new cases inspired by topical events, forging fiery relationships in the pulse-pounding pandemonium of the emergency room, and through it all, familiar faces from the Chicago police and fire departments will intertwine as this third team of Chicago heroes hits the ground running. The cast includes Oliver Platt, S. Epatha Merkerson, Laurie Holden, Nick Gehlfuss and Yaya Dacosta.
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GAME OF SILENCE
Carol Mendelsohn, executive producer and veteran of the “CSI” phenomenon, and David Hudgins (“Parenthood,” “Friday Night Lights”) present a gripping new drama about a successful Atlanta attorney (David Lyons, “Revolution”) whose long-lost childhood friends unexpectedly reappear after 25 years. When a dark secret they thought they had buried resurfaces, the brotherhood bands together to right the wrongs of their shared past — a journey that will push the limits of their loyalty and quench their thirst for revenge. The cast includes David Lyons, Michael Raymond-James, Larenz Tate, Bre Blair, Conor O’Farrell, Deidrie Henry, Demetrius Grosse and Claire Van Der Boom.
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HEARTBREAKER
Based on the real life and achievements of Dr. Kathy Magliato, this unique character-driven medical drama follows Dr. Alex Panttiere (Melissa George, “The Slap”), an outspoken world-renowned heart-transplant surgeon and one of the few women in her field. Stubborn and fearless, Alex always operates on her own terms. She revels in a racy personal life that’s a full-time job in itself, manages the daily demands of skeptical faculty and dutiful interns, and pushes the boundaries of medical science to impressive new heights. The cast includes Melissa George, Dave Annable, Don Hany, Shelley Conn, D.L. Hughley, Jamie Kennedy, Maya Erskine, J. Louis Mills and Joshua Leonard.
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HEROES REBORN
From original creator Tim Kring, the supernatural phenomenon begins again with a fresh crop of inspiring heroes who take on the ultimate struggle between those with extraordinary abilities and those with nefarious motives to hunt and harness their powers. Epic adventures await these newly empowered allies as they cross paths with some of the original characters (such as the beloved “HRG” and fan-favorite time-traveler Hiro Nakamura), unlocking the mysterious fate of the universe and their place within it. The cast of “Heroes Reborn” includes Jack Coleman, Zachary Levi, Masi Oka, Judith Shekoni, Robbie Kay, Henry Zebrowski, Kiki Sukezane, Ryan Guzman, Danika Yarosh, Toru Uchikado, Eve Harlow and Gatlin Green.
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THE PLAYER
From the executive producers of “The Blacklist” and starring Wesley Snipes and Philip Winchester (“Strike Back,” “Fringe”) comes an action-packed Las Vegas thriller about a former military operative turned security expert who is drawn into a high-stakes game where an organization of wealthy individuals gamble on his ability to stop some of the biggest crimes imaginable from playing out. Can he take them down from the inside and get revenge for the death of his wife, or is it true what they say: The house always wins. The cast also includes Charity Wakefield and Damon Gupton.
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SHADES OF BLUE
In a provocative new drama, the iconic Jennifer Lopez stars as sexy New York detective (and single mother) Harlee Santos, who fell in with a tight-knit group of dirty cops, taking bribes and protection money that she uses to provide the best life for her honest and talented daughter. When she’s trapped by the FBI, however, and forced to inform on her own “brothers,” she’ll have to walk the fine line between love, loyalty, honor and betrayal, and try to keep it together for her daughter’s future. The cast also includes Ray Liotta, Warren Kole, Dayo Okeniyi, Drea De Matteo, Hampton Fluker, Vincent Laresca and Sarah Jeffery.
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NEW ALTERNATIVE SERIES
BEST TIME EVER WTH NEIL PATRICK HARRIS
Five Emmy Awards and a Tony Award make multi-talented Neil Patrick Harris the perfect star for this live one-hour show that is unlike any other currently on American television. Complete with stunts, skits, pranks, audience interaction, musical numbers, giveaways and unlimited surprises, this show proves that anything can happen, and it can happen to you. Based on the wildly popular British hit “Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway,” the modernized variety show format and its fearless, multi-talented star will make for one of the best nights ever on NBC.
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NEW EVENTS
COAT OF MANY COLORS
Based on the inspiring true story of living legend Dolly Parton’s remarkable upbringing, this once-in-a-lifetime movie special takes us inside the tight-knit Parton family as they struggle to overcome devastating tragedy and discover the healing power of love, faith, and a raggedy patchwork coat that helped make Dolly who she is today.
THE REAPER
Based on the best-selling memoir “The Reaper” by Nicholas Irving, this event miniseries recounts the 100-day Afghanistan deployment of Sgt. Nicholas Irving, nicknamed ‘The Reaper.’ The first African-American sniper, Irving tallied 33 official kills during this single deployment, a record that still stands today. “The Reaper” is a boots-on-the-ground thrilling and raw account of modern warfare and how it changes, shapes, and sometimes destroys the people who fight in it.
THE WIZ LIVE!
NBC embarks on its latest musical holiday tradition with a live television production of the groundbreaking Tony Award-winning musical that brought the vivid world of Oz to the streets of New York in a fresh, funky, sing-a-long journey down the yellow brick road.