Six Things We Already Know About Fall TV
A pre-upfront recap of everything new happening on television this fall.
Next week, broadcast TV networks will announce their fall schedules in a burst of euphoric hyperbole called “the upfronts,” and they will all go more or less like this:
- A comedian take the stage at a New York theater and tell lame jokes about the TV industry.
- The head of the network will come out next and say what a great year it’s going to be.
- The head of programming will announce the new and returning shows.
In the meantime, most of the new and reported shows were already revealed this week. Here are the high points of what we know so far:
1. There Won’t Be a “S.H.I.E.L.D.” Spinoff
ABC is reportedly not going forward with an “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” spinoff that would have starred Adrianne Palicki (Mockingbird) and Nick Blood (Lance Hunter). That’s likely good news for “S.H.I.E.L.D.” because Palicki and Blood have been the best thing the about the show this season. Agent Carter, though, was renewed for a second season.
2. “The Mindy Project” Is Down But Not Out
Ratings-challenged “The Mindy Project” will not be back this fall on Fox. The show is eyeing a two-season pickup at Hulu, which has been on a content-acquiring rampage the last few weeks and already has a deal in place for past “Mindy Project” seasons.
3. It’s the Great 2015 Nineties Dude Revival
Fox has green-lit half-hour comedies starring Rob Lowe as a TV lawyer in “The Grinder” (that show name will likely change) and John Stamos as a happy bachelor who learns he’s a father and a grandfather in the equally-badly-named “Grandfathered.” Mark-Paul Gosselar, who will always be Zach Morris, is back on NBC in a couple comedy (“People Are Talking”).
4. We’ll See More Prime-Time Superheroes
Producer Greg Berlanti, who created “Arrow” and “The Flash” for The CW will have two new super-shows this fall — “DC’s Legends of Tomorrow” for The CW and and “Supergirl” for CBS. “Legends of Tomorrow” will be in the same universe as “Arrow” and “The Flash” and will include characters from those shows like Atom (Brandon Routh), Firestorm (Victor Garbor) and Captain Cold (Wentworth Miller). “Supergirl” was considered too expensive for sister-network The CW, which is an encouraging sign.
5. “The Muppets” Actually Sounds Interesting
ABC is bringing back Kermit, Fozzie, and the gang in “The Muppets,” which sounds more like a take on “Modern Family” or “The Office” than a revival of “The Muppet Show.” EW says the show “will explore the Muppets’ personal lives and relationships, both at home at at work, as well as romances, break-ups, achievements, disappointments, wants and desires.” Well, alright, then.
6. Amy Schumer Is Getting a Comedy Special
Comedy Central’s “Inside Amy Schumer” is buzzing like crazy right now, and Schumer is finally getting a much-deserved HBO comedy special, directed by Chris Rock. The special will tape later this month in New York, and will air later this year.
Photos by Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for The Muppets Studio