Upfronts are over! As usual, stay tuned for my thoughts on CBS, The CW, Fox, and NBC. For ABC, keep reading!

My first thoughts on returning shows… I am over the moon thrilled that American Housewife was renewed! Fresh Off the Boat and black-ish were also renewed but DUH. Of course they would be!

As for the series finales, Scandal and The Middle aired their final seasons and I’m holding off on both because I’m a big baby… 🙁

Thoughts On Notable Cancelled Series:

Quantico hits the hardest even though we all knew it was coming. The ratings just weren’t there. But the show was great and I’m really grateful that we got it for as long as we did. Once Upon A Time is probably the next show I feel most strongly about being cancelled, though I’m glad that it did meet its end because after that reset, the show just wasn’t the same and not in a good way. I was willing to go on that ride but I’m not mad that ABC put a pin in it. Finally, there’s Designated Survivor. This show had SO much potential to be so epic, oh my goodness and it just didn’t rise to the occasion so I’m happy ABC is putting this show out of its misery. All of this said, I really hope everyone who worked on these shows moves onto really great shows!

As for new shows that were cancelled Ten Days in the Valley was a huge blow because that show was so great but nobody was watching and we knew that before the show even premiered – because it wasn’t marketed/promoted at all! Shame on you, ABC! The hardest hit comedy cancellation for me was The Mayor. That show was EVERYTHING but again, no one was watching. Grrr. *shakes fist*. I am really, really, really going to miss this show and bravo to everyone who was a part of making this show so amazing. You rock! Never forget you made something really great here. Then there’s The Crossing which was great but also lacked marketing and promotion but that one was sci-fi and ABC is flaky when it comes to sci-fi/fantasy so this was not surprising. I feel like they try sci-fi/fantasy for a season or two just to say they gave it a chance and then 9/10x the shows get cancelled because it’s not their next Lost. Which, I get but at the same time, it could be a LONG time before you find another Lost so maybe just lean into the speculative shows that you order because otherwise, why bother? Anyway, Kevin (Probably) Saves the World was a really fun show so that sucks that this show is gone but it was great while it lasted. And finally… Marvel’s Inhumans. Oh my goodness, that show was terrible. Never made it past the first episode. Thank you for yanking that off the air. What a mess.

Thoughts On New Series:

Starting with dramas… A Million Little Things doesn’t interest me which is too bad because I love dramas that follow a group of friends but I just can’t get into this one. I also feel like the trailer isn’t a great representation of the show? It feels like it’s trying to do too much.  I’ll watch the series premiere and let the work, not the trailer, speak for itself. The Fix is a must watch, obviously. It’s from attorney and author, Marcia Clark. Yes, Marcia Clark. And yep, this show is exactly what you think it is. So. A must watch. Grand Hotel is right up my alley. I love hotel dramas/settings (Las Vegas, Hotel Babylon, Jane the Virgin, etc…) so I am excited for this one. Let’s hope the writing is as strong as my love for these stories! The Rookie has a great cast (Nathan Fillion and Richard T. Jones to name a few) but ehh maybe read the room, ABC? I don’t think new cop dramas are really what people want to be watching in this climate??? Also, the title of the show will be dated soon enough so let’s just put a cap on it now and say this show will only last four seasons. I’m a terrible person, sorry everyone who works on this show. Whiskey Cavalier has a fun cast including Scott Foley, Lauren Cohan, Ana Ortiz, and Tyler James Williams but together, it’s an odd cast? Like, I like them all individually but together, it just doesn’t work for me yet. Perhaps I just need to see more of the show in its full context. So. Time will tell. I don’t see this show being must see TV, the concept is just blegh. But Bill Lawrence is attached to this so at least I know the comedic edge to this drama will be on point.

As for the comedies…first, there’s Single Parents, I am so glad that Leighton Meester is continuing with comedy. Woo! This show looks fun but it’s not must watch TV for me since I’m not a parent or single parent, so this doesn’t cling close to me like I’m sure it will to its desired audience. I was raised by a single mom so I have that perspective to look back on in watching the show.JJ Philbin and Liz Meriwether are creators and executive producers of the show which, if I wasn’t already in for this show, I would be after knowing that. I think relatability is key here in creating this show’s audience but the writing has to be top notch to keep that audience and who better than these writers? I think this show is in great hands, now it’s just a matter of the viewers showing up. Then there’s The Kids Are Alright which I guess is a dated version of The Middle. Yeaahhhh. I’ll watch but I don’t see the point in canceling one show just to give the greenlight to a new show that’s essentially a remix of what was literally just on the air. At least give the concept a breather before reviving it. Seems #toosoon. Schooled is a spin-off of The Goldbergs, which I don’t watch. But I love AJ Michalka so I’m tempted to watch anyway to support but honestly, I don’t see myself doing so. So…

Finally, on the reality front, I can’t say that I’m interested in either Dancing with the Stars: Juniors or The Alec Baldwin Show so there’s nothing to say here.

Now for the Fall 2018 Schedule…

New series are in CAPS.

Sunday
7-8pm America’s Funniest Home Videos
8-9pm Dancing with the Stars
9-10pm Shark Tank
10-11pm THE ALEC BALDWIN SHOW

Monday
8-10pm Dancing with the Stars
10-11pm The Good Doctor

Tuesday
8-8:30pm Roseanne
8:30-9pm THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT
9-9:30pm black-ish
9:30-10pm SPLITTING UP TOGETHER
10-11pm THE ROOKIE

Wednesday
8-8:30pm The Goldbergs
8:30-9pm American Housewife
9-9:30pm Modern Family
9:30-10pm SINGLE PARENTS
10-11pm A MILLION LITTLE THINGS

Thursday
8-9pm Grey’s Anatomy
9-10pm Station 19
10-11pm How to Get Away with Murder

Friday
8-8:30pm Fresh Off the Boat
8:30-9pm Speechless
9-10pm Child Support
10-11pm 20/20

Saturday
8pm Saturday Night Football

Midseason Drama: For the People, Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., THE FIX, GRAND HOTEL, WHISKEY CAVALIER

Midseason Comedies: Roseanne, SCHOOLED

Midseason Reality: American Idol, The Bachelor

NEW DRAMAS:

A Million Little Things

They say friendship isn’t one big thing, it’s a million little things; and that’s true for a group of friends from Boston who bonded under unexpected circumstances. Some have achieved success, others are struggling in their careers and relationships, but all of them feel stuck in life. After one of them dies unexpectedly, it’s just the wake-up call the others need to finally start living. Along the way they discover that friends may be the one thing to save them from themselves.

“A Million Little Things” stars David Giuntoli as Eddie, Ron Livingston as Jon, Romany Malco as Rome, Allison Miller as Maggie, Christina Moses as Regina, Christina Ochoa as Ashley, James Roday as Gary, Stephanie Szostak as Delilah and Lizzy Greene as Sophie.

DJ Nash is writer and executive producer; Aaron Kaplan and Dana Honor are executive producers; and James Griffiths is the director on the pilot and an executive producer, from ABC Studios/Kapital Entertainment.

The Fix

Attorney and author Marcia Clark co-writes and executive produces a new legal drama about Maya Travis, an L.A. district attorney who suffers a devastating defeat when prosecuting an A-list actor for double murder. With her high-profile career derailed, she flees for a quieter life in Washington. Eight years later when this same celebrity is under suspicion for another murder, Maya Travis is lured back to the DA’s office for another chance at justice. This legal thriller is executive produced/co-written by Clark, Liz Craft and Sarah Fain, and is from Mandeville TV and ABC Studios.

“The Fix” stars Robin Tunney as Maya Travis, Adam Rayner as Matthew Collier, Merrin Dungey as CJ, Breckin Meyer as Alan Wiest, Marc Blucas as Riv, Mouzam Makkar as Loni Kampoor, Alex Saxon as Gabriel Johnson, with Scott Cohen as Ezra Wolf and Adewale Akinnouye-Agbaje as Sevvy Johnson.

Elizabeth Craft & Sarah Fain and Marcia Clark are writers and executive producers. David Hoberman, Todd Lieberman and Laurie Zaks are executive producers (Mandeville). Larysa Kondracki directed the pilot.

Grand Hotel

Eva Longoria executive produces this bold, provocative drama set at the last family-owned hotel in multicultural Miami Beach. Charismatic Santiago Mendoza owns the hotel, while his glamorous second wife, Gigi, and their adult children enjoy the spoils of success. The hotel’s loyal staff round out a contemporary, fresh take on an upstairs/downstairs story. Wealthy and beautiful guests bask in luxury, but scandals, escalating debt and explosive secrets hide beneath the picture-perfect exterior. The show is based on the Spanish series.

The series stars Demian Bichir as Santiago Mendoza, Roselyn Sanchez as Gigi Mendoza, Denyse Tontz as Alicia Mendoza, Bryan Craig as Javi Mendoza, Wendy Raquel Robinson as Mrs. P, Lincoln Younes as Danny, Shalim Ortiz as Mateo, Anne Winters as Ingrid, Chris Warren as Jason, Feliz Ramirez as Carolina and Justina Adorno as Yoli.

Brian Tanen is the writer and executive producer; Eva Longoria and Ben Spector (UnbeliEVAble), Ramon Campos and Teresa Fernandez-Valdes (Beta) are executive producers of the series. Ken Olin directed the pilot. The series is produced by ABC Studios.

The Rookie

Starting over isn’t easy, especially for small-town guy John Nolan who, after a life-altering incident, is pursuing his dream of being an LAPD officer. As the force’s oldest rookie, he’s met with skepticism from some higher-ups who see him as just a walking midlife crisis. If he can’t keep up with the young cops and the criminals, he’ll be risking lives including his own. But if he can use his life experience, determination and sense of humor to give him an edge, he may just become a success in this new chapter of his life.

The series stars Nathan Fillion as John Nolan, Alyssa Diaz as Angela Lopez, Richard T. Jones as Sergeant Wade Grey, Titus Makin as Jackson West, Mercedes Mason as Captain Zoe Andersen, Melissa O’Neil as Lucy Chen, Afton Williamson as Talia Bishop and Eric Winter as Tim Bradford.

Alexi Hawley is writer and executive producer; Mark Gordon, Nathan Fillion, Michelle Chapman and Jon Steinberg are executive producers on the series. Liz Friedlander directed and executive produced the first episode. Entertainment One (eOne) is the lead studio on “The Rookie,” a co-production with ABC Studios.

Whiskey Cavalier

“Whiskey Cavalier” is a high-octane, hour-long action dramedy that follows the adventures of tough but tender FBI super-agent Will Chase (codename: “Whiskey Cavalier”), played by Scott Foley. Following an emotional breakup, Chase is assigned to work with badass CIA operative Francesca “Frankie” Trowbridge (codename: “Fiery Tribune”), played by Lauren Cohan. Together, they lead an inter-agency team of flawed, funny and heroic spies who periodically save the world (and each other) while navigating the rocky roads of friendship, romance and office politics. The series is from writer/executive producer Dave Hemingson and executive producer Bill Lawrence with Warner Bros. Television.

The series stars Scott Foley as Will Chase, Lauren Cohan as Francesca “Frankie” Trowbridge, Ana Ortiz as Susan Sampson, Tyler James Williams as Edgar Standish and Vir Das as Jai Datta.

Dave Hemingson is writer and executive producer; Bill Lawrence and Jeff Ingold (Doozer Productions) are executive producers; Peter Atencio is director and executive producer (pilot), and Scott Foley is producer of the series from Warner Bros. Television.

NEW COMEDIES:

The Kids Are Alright

Set in the 1970s, this ensemble comedy follows a traditional Irish-Catholic family, the Clearys, as they navigate big and small changes during one of America’s most turbulent decades. In a working-class neighborhood outside Los Angeles, Mike and Peggy raise eight boisterous boys who live out their days with little supervision. The household is turned upside down when oldest son Lawrence returns home and announces he’s quitting the seminary to go off and “save the world.” Times are changing and this family will never be the same. There are 10 people, three bedrooms, one bathroom and everyone in it for themselves.

The series stars Michael Cudlitz as Mike Cleary, Mary McCormack as Peggy Cleary, Sam Straley as Lawrence, Caleb Martin Foote as Eddie, Sawyer Barth as Frank, Christopher Paul Richards as Joey, Jack Gore as Timmy, Andy Walken as William and Santino Barnard as Pat.

The series is inspired by the childhood of writer/executive producer Tim Doyle, who also narrates in voiceover as older Timmy. Randall Einhorn directed and was an executive producer on the pilot. The series is from ABC Studios.

Schooled

“Schooled,” a spinoff of the hit comedy “The Goldbergs,” is set in 1990-something. It follows the hilarious teachers of William Penn Academy – led by Tim Meadows (Principal Glascott), Bryan Callen (Coach Mellor) and AJ Michalka (Lainey Lewis) – who, despite their eccentricities and crazy personal lives, are heroes to their students.

Story by Marc Firek and Adam F. Goldberg. Teleplay by Marc Firek. The series is from Sony Pictures Television and ABC Studios. Adam F. Goldberg, Doug Robinson and Marc Firek are executive producers.

Single Parents

This ensemble comedy follows a group of single parents as they lean on each other to help raise their 7-year-old kids and maintain some kind of personal lives outside of parenthood. The series begins when the group meets Will, a 30-something guy who’s been so focused on raising his daughter that he’s lost sight of who he is as a man. When the other single parents see just how far down the rabbit hole of PTA, parenting and princesses Will has gone, they band together to get him out in the dating world and make him realize that being a great parent doesn’t mean sacrificing everything about your own identity.

The series stars Taran Killam as Will, Leighton Meester as Angie, Kimrie Lewis as Poppy, Jake Choi as Miggy, Marlow Barkley as Sophie, Tyler Wladis as Graham, Devin Trey Campbell as Rory, Grace Hazelett as Emma, Sadie Hazelett as Amy and Brad Garrett as Douglas.

The series is from 20th Century Fox Television and ABC Studios. JJ Philbin and Liz Meriwether are creators and executive producers, and Katherine Pope is executive producer. The pilot was directed by Jason Winer, who is also an executive producer.