Fall Preview: Networks Get Nostalgic
Believe it or not the broadcast networks still adhere to the ancient tradition of the “television season,” which begins in September and largely ends in May when most of their best shows conclude. Once upon a time that led to three months of dreaded summer reruns, another concept that seems almost quaint in the era of year-round viewing on cable and streaming services. Of course, the networks now fill much of their summer schedules with high-energy original programming, which serves the dual purpose of not having them go totally dark all summer and gives them robust platforms with which to promote their fall schedules in general and their new shows in particular.
Interestingly, when applied to freshman series that will begin in a couple months the word “new” seems almost as quaint as the phrase “traditional television season.” That’s because, more than ever before, it appears that network executives were busily leafing through vintage TV Guides from the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s (and a few more current) for inspiration while developing their latest crop of shows.
Many of them sound awfully familiar -- and I’m not just talking about the incredible surge of remakes and reboots. For better or worse, here’s an early rundown. (Note: These are not reviews; they are just summaries paired with remarks based on information that is currently available about each program.)
FBI: While not billed as a reboot of the classic ABC series The F.B.I. (1965-74) starring Efrem Zimbalist Jr. one could be forgiven for thinking so. Formidable super-producer Dick Wolf is the driving force behind this procedural starring Jeremy Sisto and Missy Peregrym although, unlike the producers of the original series (or the producers of Wolf's Law & Order franchise), it appears he won’t be ripping stories from headlines or actual F.B.I. cases for this version.
Think: The F.B.I., just not a Quinn Martin/Warner Bros. Production and not starring Efrem Zimbalist Jr.
God Friended Me: Feel-good drama about an outspoken atheist named Miles Finer (Brandon Michael Hall) who receives an unlikely social media friend request from God. (Presumably, this is not the same God we are all currently following on Twitter.) After accepting it, he finds himself changing as many lives as possible.
Think: Touched by a Friend Request
Happy Together: Will Damon Wayans Jr. finally get a “Happy Ending” in this comedy? Not likely. He plays Jake, an accountant to a Justin Bieber-esque Aussie pop star (Felix Mallard) who crashes with Jake and his wife Claire (Amber Stevens West) after a bad breakup with his girlfriend and discovers suburbia isn’t so bad.
Think: My Wife and No Kids
Magnum P.I.: Jay Hernandez (pictured at top) reprises the role made famous by Tom Selleck in the ‘80s as Hawaii-based private eye Thomas Magnum. In this update, Hernandez has traded Selleck’s dated mustache for contemporary stubble, but Magnum’s devil-may-care-attitude and red Ferrari remain the same (at least for a while).
Think: Magnum P.I.
Murphy Brown: Candice Bergen reprises to her Emmy-winning role as news anchor Murphy Brown, and she’s joined by original cast members Faith Ford, Grant Shaud and Charles Regalbuto along with newcomer Nik Dodani and veteran Tyne Daly. In this Trumped-up world of fake news and political division expect some honest social commentary from the stellar cast and biting dialogue from series creator and executive producer Diane English.
Think: Murphy Brown
The Neighborhood: Midwesterners the Johnsons (Max Greenfield and Beth Behrs) move to L.A. and into a predominantly African-American neighborhood making their new neighbor Calvin (Cedric the Entertainer) very wary.
Think: All in the Familyin reverse
All American: A rising high school football player (Daniel Ezra), born and raised in Compton, gets recruited by a Beverly Hills high school football coach (Taye Diggs) and moves in with him.
Think: Friday Night Fresh Prince of Beverly Hills
Charmed: Three sisters (Sarah Jeffery, Melonie Diaz, Madeleine Mantock) in a college town discover they are witches and are forced to embrace their powers. A reimagining of the ‘90s Aaron Spelling hit that aired on The WB from 1998 to 2006.
Think: Charmed
Legacies: A spin-off of The Originals set at the Salvatore School for the Young and Gifted; a school attended by young vampires, witches, warlocks and other teens that go bump in the night. Starring Danielle Rose Russell as Klaus' daughter Hope and Matt Davis reprising his role of Alaric from The Vampire Diaries.
Think: Beverly Hills 666
The Cool Kids: Vicki Lawrence, David Alan Grier, Leslie Jordan and Martin Mull head this comedy set in a retirement village. The men think they rule the roost. Lawrence plays a no-frills, sassy newcomer ready to topple the hierarchy.
Think: The Golden Guys (and One Girl)
Rel: Set in Chicago, Lil Rel Howery stars as, well, Lil Rel whose life is flipped after he discovers his wife cheated on him with his barber. Faced with single life, and possibly never getting a haircut again, he tackles his new normal head on.
Think: Every sitcom built around the hot comedian of the moment
I Feel Bad: Sarayu Blue stars as a mom navigating family, work and friends -- proving it’s impossible to have it all. Amy Poehler is the executive producer.
Think: Every family comedy ever in which things go wrong and hilarity ensues.
Manifest: After a turbulent flight a plane lands five years in the future creating a new reality for its passengers. Josh Dallas and Melissa Roxburgh head the ensemble.
Think: ABC’s flash-failureFlashForward
New Amsterdam: This is not a reboot of Fox’s 2008 series with the exact same name. Instead, it’s a medical drama about a doctor (Ryan Eggold) trying to provide exceptional care amidst hospital bureaucracy.
Think: Nurse Jackiewithout the drug issues (as far as we know).
ABC
The Conners: A Roseanne spin-off centering on the Conner family without their (presumably deceased) sharp-tongued matriarch.
Think: Valerie’s Family
Dancing with the Stars Juniors: The name evokes dreaded memories of the 2003 American Idol spin-off American Juniors.
Think: Dancing with Gen Z
The Kids are Alright: Mary McCormack and Michael Cudlitz head this comedy about an Irish-Catholic family with eight boys navigating life in the turbulent ‘70s.
Think: That ‘70s Bunch
A Million Little Things: Dramedy centering on a group of close friends rocked by tragedy all of whom decide to start living their lives to their full potential. James Roday, David Giuntoli, Romany Malco, Ron Livingston, Christina Moses, Christina Ochoa, Allison Miller, Lizzy Greene and Grace Park star.
Think: This Is Friends
The Rookie: Nathan Fillion returns for his fourth gig at ABC -- a dramedy about a newly divorced 40-year-old man who joins the L.A.P.D., becoming the oldest rookie on the force.
Think: Castle Goes to Southland
Single Parents: Leighton Meester and Brad Garrett head the ensemble in this comedy about a group of single parents attempting to maintain their personal lives while raising their kids.
Think: Every classic sitcom about a single parent, times five
Sundays with Alec Baldwin: The multi-Emmy winning co-star of 30 Rock and Saturday Night Live will now host a “smart” hour-long primetime talk show.
Think: The Dick Cavett Show,minus Dick Cavett
Ed Martin contributed to this column.
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Steve Gidlow
Steve Gidlow, a long-time columnist for MediaVillage ("Behind the Scenes in Hollywood"), has written about television and pop culture since 1994, beginning in Australia. Since moving to Hollywood in 1997, Steve has focused on celebrity interv…
