The third week in September is when all hell breaks loose, at least on your television. That’s when all the networks start rolling out their new comedies and dramas for the season (there are no new reality shows this year), and of course they save a few to debut in mid-season – January – in case some of these bets don’t pay off.
With cable and streaming video continuing to erode their audiences the stakes are higher than ever for the networks. Here is a snapshot of the five biggest networks (yes, we’re counting the CW as a network) and how well they did preparing for this upcoming season.
CBS
Programming philosophy: If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Biggest hits in 2015: NCIS, Big Bang Theory, NCIS: New Orleans.
Number of new shows: Seven (two at midseason).
Most promising new show: Life in Pieces. It’s an edgy comedy with an all-star cast that tells four short stories each week. This is the first time CBS has shied away from it’s three-camera sitcom formula and it could be a home run.
Biggest risk: Supergirl. Executive producer Greg Berlanti has worked wonders for DC Comics’ superheroes with the CW’s Arrow and The Flash, but will his magic touch work on this secondary character on a big network? We’ll have to wait for November to find out.
First to get cancelled: Please, CBS does not cancel shows.
Obligatory series based on a movie: Limitless, Rush Hour.
Obligatory reboot of an old show: None.
Overall grade: C
NBC
Programming philosophy: Let’s see what sticks.
Biggest hits in 2015: The Voice, Blacklist, America’s Got Talent.
Number of new shows: Eleven (five in midseason).
Most promising new show: Blindspot. Almost all of NBC’s dramas have rather confusing concepts but this is the one getting the biggest push. Created by Martin Gero and Greg Berlanti (there’s that name again) this is about a Jane Doe who wakes up naked in Times Square covered in tattoos but with no memory. Each tattoo is a clue to a mystery.
Biggest risk: Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris. All evidence points to the fact that the variety show is over, but if anyone can pull off this weekly live show it is song-and-dance man NPH. With guests like Reese Witherspoon and Ricky Martin he actually has a chance.
First to get cancelled: Heartbreaker, a show about a heart surgeon’s love life. Yawn.
Obligatory series based on a movie: None.
Obligatory reboot of an old show: Heroes Reborn, Coach.
Overall grade: D
Fox
Programming philosophy: Who needs American Idol, we have Empire.
Biggest hits of 2015: Empire, American Idol, Gotham.
Number of new shows: Ten (five in midseason).
Most promising new show: Scream Queens. Glee and American Horror Story impresario Ryan Murphy returns with this camptastic take on the slasher genre where a sorority house is besieged by a killer. Emma Roberts, Lea Michele, and Jamie Lee Curtis star which all sounds good. The first season of every Ryan Murphy show is amazing, until it goes downhill quickly.
Biggest risk: Grandfathered and The Grinder. Fox is having a hard time with comedy and these new shows with old favourites may or may not be the solution. The first stars John Stamos as a playboy grandfather who must raise a baby alone and the second stars Rob Lowe as an actor who played a lawyer on TV and now thinks he can run his brother’s law firm. Oh, and his brother is Fred Savage. Remember him?
First to get cancelled: Does it count that American Idol has been cancelled already?
Obligatory series based on a movie: Minority Report.
Obligatory reboot of an old show: The X-Files.
Overall grade: B+
ABC
Programming philosophy: Please, Saint Shonda, help us.
Biggest hits of 2015: Dancing with the Stars, How to Get Away with Murder, Modern Family.
Number of new shows: Ten (five in midseason).
Most promising new show: The Muppets. Seriously, how do you mess up The Muppets? This should attract viewers young and old, even though the show is filmed like a Modern Family-style mockumentary about the puppets’ — sorry, Muppets’ — real lives. Maybe this concept is too sophisticated for kids, but there is probably enough of the Swedish Chef to keep them giggling.
Biggest risk: Of Kings and Prophets. ABC yanked this from the fall schedule in June to recast and retool this retelling of the Bible’s Book of Samuel, which spells trouble. However, there is a history of Christian shows doing very well on television (just don’t tell that to NBC’s cancelled The Bible Continues) so this might be a home run. We’ll have to wait until midseason to see.
First to get cancelled: Blood and Oil, a soap about a family that got rich from the black stuff. Wasn’t this already called Dallas?
Obligatory series based on a movie: Uncle Buck.
Obligatory reboot of an old show: The Muppets.
Overall grade: A-
The CW
Programming philosophy: #Teens #Superheroes #SuperheroTeens.
Biggest hits of 2015: The Flash, Arrow, Supernatural.
Number of new shows: Three (two in midseason).
Most promising new show: Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. A young woman (Rachel Bloom) leaves New York and follows her ex to LA. There are musical numbers. This is the most promising show because it is the only new show on The CW’s fall lineup. But hey, they know what works for them.
Biggest risk: DC’s Legends of Tomorrow. With Arrow and The Flash, the CW has a history of making caped crusaders into big business (even if they never wear capes). Will this show about a bunch of superheroes take flight or will fans just be too fatigued?
First to get cancelled: I guess it has to be Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, right?
Obligatory series based on a movie: None.
Obligatory reboot of an old show: None.
Overall grade: B
