2017 TV Upfronts: New Series Announcements – CBS, NBC, ABC, Fox, The CW
With the 2017 TV upfront presentations heating up, we’re starting to get an idea of new series making their way to the airwaves. Several new shows on the major broadcast networks—ABC, CBS, The CW, Fox and NBC—have already been announced, and more will surely come during this busy upfronts season.
Here are the new series pickups that broadcast networks have announced so far. Stay tuned, as TV Insider will be updating this info when the broadcast networks announce new programming during their upfront presentations to advertisers and the media the week of May 15 (NBC and Fox will present May 15; ABC on May 16; CBS on May 17; and The CW on May 18).
It’s also likely that the 2017 TV upfronts announcements will give us a more solid sense of which established series are returning, and which aren’t, next season.
The information should be coming out fast and furious, so be sure to check back regularly!
ABC
Alex, Inc.
Based on the podcast StartUp (and formerly known by that title, which also happens to be the name of a Crackle series), this comedy follows Alex Schuman (Zach Braff), a brilliant radio journalist, husband and father of two as he quits his job to start his own company. Braff also directs and is executive producer with Matt Tarses (Scrubs).
The Bachelor Winter Games-Premiering February, 2018
Former participants from past seasons of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette take the game of love to the next level in this ode to the Winter Olympic Games. The sexy singletons will descend upon a luxurious winter resort where ABC teases “they will go head-to-head in winter-themed athletic challenges, including the toughest sport of all – love.” We have so many hopes that one of the events will be called “Tosnogganing.”
The Crossing
Refugees from a war-torn country seek asylum in a small American fishing town, only the country these people are from is America…and the war they are fleeing hasn’t happened yet. The drama stars Steve Zahn, Natalie Martinez, Sandrine Holt, Rick Gomez, Jay Karnes, Marcuis Harris, Simone Kessel, Kelly Missal, Rob Campbell, Grant Harvey, Bailey Skodje, Jon D’Leo, Luc Roderique and Tommy Bastow.
Dancing with the Stars Junior
This new competition series will pair celebrity kids and kids of celebrities with professional junior ballroom dancers to perform choreographed routines before a panel of renowned ballroom experts. The judges, pros and cast will be announced at a later date.
Deception
Superstar magician Cameron Black, whose career has been derailed by scandal, finds a new place to practice his art of deception and illusion: the FBI. Using his previous tricks (and learning new ones), he will help the government catch the world’s most elusive criminals. The series stars Jack Cutmore-Scott, Ilfenesh Hadera, Lenora Crichlow, Amaury Nolasco, Justin Chon, Laila Robins and Vinnie Jones.
For the People
Set in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York—a.k.a. “The Mother Court”—this new Shondaland drama follows brand-new lawyers working for both the defense and the prosecution handling the most high-profile and high-stakes federal cases in the country. The drama stars Lyndon Smith, Ben Rappaport, Susannah Flood, Wesam Keesh, Regé-Jean Page, Ben Shenkman, Hope Davis, Vondie Curtis-Hall and Anna Deavere Smith.
The Good Doctor
Bates Motel’s Freddie Highmore stars in this drama (based on a Korean TV series) as a young surgeon with Savant syndrome who is recruited into the pediatric surgical unit of a prestigious hospital. While he may not be able to relate to his patients, he’ll stop at nothing to save them.
The Gospel of Kevin
In this light drama, Kevin Finn (Jason Ritter, Parenthood), returns home to stay with his widowed twin sister (JoAnna Garcia Swisher, Once Upon a Time) and niece. On his first night there, an unlikely celestial being named Yvette appears to him and presents him with a mission—to save the world.
ABC’s The Gospel of Kevin stars Jason Ritter.
Marvel’s Inhumans -Airing Fridays this fall
This 8-episode series will see its first 2 episodes get a theatrical release on Sept. 1 on IMAX, before its broadcast premiere later this fall. In the comic book-based series, after the Royal Family of Inhumans is splintered by a military coup, they barely escape to Hawaii where their surprising interactions with the lush world and humanity around them may prove to not only save them, but Earth itself. The series stars Anson Mount (Hell on Wheels) as Black Bolt, Serinda Swan (Ballers, Graceland) as Queen Medusa, Lost alum Ken Leung as Karnak, Iwan Rheon (Game of Thrones) as Maximus, Eme Ikwuakor (Concussion, Extant) as Gorgon, Mike Moh (Empire, Street Fighter: Assasin’s Fist) as Triton, Sonya Balmores (Beyond the Break, Soul Surfer) as Auran, Isabelle Cornish (Australia Day, Puberty Blues) as Crystal, and Ellen Woglom (Californication).
The Mayor
In this comedy, young rapper Courtney Rose (Brandon Micheal Hall) needs his big break, so he cooks up the publicity stunt of the century: running for mayor of his California hometown to generate buzz for his music career. But when he wins the election, he’ll need the help of his mother (Yvette Nicole Brown, Community) and friends, including Valentina (Glee’s Lea Michele), to overcome his hubris and transform the city he loves.
Rolling Stone 50 -Airing Feb. 7, 2018
This special will celebrate the long-running publication’s influence and impact over the last half-century. The three-hour special, telecast live from New York City, will offer a combination of live performances, short films, iconic onstage moments, never-before-seen musical pairings and celebrities.
Splitting UpTogether
The comedy is the story of a couple whose marriage is revived by their divorce. The series stars Jenna Fischer, Oliver Hudson, Bobby Lee, Diane Farr, Lindsay Price, Olivia Keville, Van Crosby and Sander Thomas. Based on the Danish series, Splitting Up Together.
Ten Days in the Valley -Sundays 10/9c, Premiere date TBD
Kyra Sedgwick stars as Jane Sadler, an overworked television producer and single mother in the middle of a separation whose life is turned upside down when her young daughter goes missing in the middle of the night. Everyone in Jane’s life becomes a suspect and this thrilling mystery is her attempts to unravel her daughters’ disappearance and discover who…and why. Kick Gurry, Erika Christensen, Josh Radall, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Felix Solas, Francois Battiste, Emily Kinney and Abigail Pniosky also star.
Untitled ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Firefighter Spinoff
Set in a Seattle firehouse, the latest series from the executive producers of Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal and How to Get Away with Murder follows a group of heroic firefighters. From the captain to the newest recruit, we follow these brave men and women as they risk their lives and their hearts both in the line of duty and off the clock.
The Wonderful World of Disney: The Little Mermaid Live! -Airing Oct 3
ABC and Disney are taking viewers on an adventure under the sea, from the comfort of our own couch. The 2-hour special will intertwine the beloved 1989 animated film with live musical performances via cutting-edge technology. The live-action/animated hybrid will feature a roster of celebrity artists singing Alan Menken and Howard Ashman’s Oscar-winning songs which will be woven seamlessly throughout the original animated film.
CBS
9JKL -Airing Mondays at 8:30/7:30c, Premieres Oct. 2
This semi-autobiographical family comedy starring Mark Feuerstein (fka 9J, 9K, 9L) is inspired by a time in Feuerstein’s adult life when he lived in apartment 9K in the building he grew up in, sandwiched between his doting parents’ apartment, 9J, and his brother, sister-in-law and their baby’s apartment, 9L, and his attempts to set boundaries with his intrusive but well-meaning family. Linda Lavin, Elliott Gould, David Walton, Liza Lapira and Matt Murray are also set to star.
By the Book -Premieres Midseason
Based on the bestselling book by A.J. Jacobs, “The Year of Living Biblically,” the series follows a modern-day man who decides to live his book by the Bible. By the Book is produced by The Big Bang Theory‘s Johnny Galecki and stars Jay R. Ferguson, Lindsey Kraft, Ian Gomez, David Krumholtz, Tony Rock, and Camryn Manheim.
Instinct -Premieres Midseason
A former CIA operative who has since built a “normal” life as a gifted professor and writer is lured back into his old life when the NYPD needs his help to stop a serial killer. This drama is based on the soon-to-be published book by James Patterson and will star Alan Cumming, Bojana Novakovic, Daniel Ings, Naveen Andrews and Khandi Alexander.
Me, Myself & I -Airing Mondays at 9:30/8:30c, Premieres Oct. 30
This single-camera comedy will examine one man’s life over a 50-year span and focus on three distinct periods in his life – as a 14-year-old in 1991, a 40-year-old in the present day, and a 65-year-old in 2042. The cast includes Bobby Moynihan, Jack Dylan Grazer, Brian Unger, Jaleel White, Kelen Coleman, Skylar Gray, Christopher Paul Richards, Mandell Maughan, Reylynn Caster, with Sharon Lawrence and John Larroquette.
S.W.A.T. -Airing Sundays at 10/9c, Premieres Nov. 2
Shemar Moore stars as a locally born and bred S.W.A.T. sergeant who is torn between his loyalty to the streets and his duty to his fellow Los Angeles officers. The drama is inspired by the 2003 film of the same name. Also stars Stephanie Sigman, Alex Russell, Jay Harrington, Lina Esco, Kenny Johnson and Peter Onorati.
SEAL Team -Airing Wednesdays at 9/8c, Premiere Date TBD
David Boreanaz, Max Thieriot, Neil Brown Jr., A.J. Buckley, Toni Trucks, Jessica Paré star in this action-packed drama that delves into the personal and personal lives of the most elite unit of Navy SEALs as they train, plan and execute our country’s the most dangerous, high-stakes missions.
Wisdom Of the Crowd -Airing Sundays at 8/7c, Premiere date TBD
Inspired by the notion that a million minds are better than one, a visionary tech innovator (Jeremy Piven) creates a cutting-edge crowdsourcing app to solve his daughter’s murder, and revolutionize crime solving in the process. Based on the Israeli format of the same name. The drama also stars Richard T. Jones, Jake Matthews, Blake Lee, Natalia Tena and Monica Potter.
Young Sheldon -Preview Sept. 25, Premieres Nov. 2
This previously announced spinoff from Chuck Lorre Productions’ The Big Bang Theory will introduce Sheldon Cooper as a 9-year-old genius who can figure out almost anything but his football-loving, church-going, small-town Texan family. Starring Iain Armitage, Zoe Perry, Lance Barber, Raegan A. Revord, Montana Jordan, with Jim Parsons narrating as “Adult Sheldon.”
FOX
A Christmas Story: Live
Ralphie’s quest for a Red Ryder BB Gun, inspired by he holiday classic feature A Christmas Story and the Tony Award-nominated Broadway production, A Christmas Story: The Musical will come to FOX this holiday season.
911
Angela Bassett will reunite with her American Horror Story co-creators Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuck for this drama, which will revolve around 911 phone operators. The series has a 13-episode direct-to-series order and is slated for midseason.
Ghosted
Craig Robinson stars in this comedy as a cynical skeptic who, along with a “true believer” (Adam Scott) are recruited by a secret government agency to look into unexplained activity in Los Angeles.
The Gifted
Marvel’s X-Men drama focuses on a suburban couple whose ordinary lives are rocked by the sudden discovery that their children possess mutant powers. Stephen Moyer (Shots Fired, True Blood), Amy Acker (Person of Interest), Natalie Alyn Lind (Gotham) and Percy Hynes White (Night at the Museum 3) are set to star as the Strucker family.
LA to Vegas
Will Ferrell and Adam McKay are executive producers on this ensemble workplace comedy about an airline crew and the eccentric passengers who, every weekend, fly from Burbank to Las Vegas.
The Orville
This live-action drama, set 400 years in the future, follows the adventures of The Orville — a mid-level exploratory spaceship, and its human and alien crew, as they face the wonders and dangers of outer space, and the familiar and funny problems of everyday life. The series stars Seth MacFarlane (Family Guy) as the ship’s Commanding Officer and Adrianne Palicki (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Friday Night Lights) as his ex-wife, who’s assigned as his First Officer.
Rent Live!
Executive producer Marc Platt will bring the Tony Award-, Grammy Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical “Rent” to TV in this live-action musical event. The groundbreaking musical is a re-imagining of Puccini’s “La Bohème,” set in New York City’s gritty East Village, which tells the unforgettable story of seven artists struggling to follow their dreams during a time of great social and political turmoil.
The Resident
The medical drama follows a senior resident, who mentors a young doctor. Starring Emily VanCamp, Matt Czuchry, Manish Dayal, Bruce Greenwood, and Shaunette Wilson.
X-Files
The next chapter of The X-Files, will return in early 2018 as a thrilling, 10-episode event series, once again will be executive-produced by creator Chris Carter. Stars David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson return in their roles as iconic FBI Agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully
NBC
A.P. Bio
A scholar loses his dream job and decides to go work at a high school. But rather than teach A.P. Bio, he uses the kids for his own purposes. Starring Glenn Howerton, Patton Oswalt, Lyric Lewis, Mary Sohn, Aparna Brielle, Jacob McCarthy, Nick Peine and guest star Vanessa Bayer.
Champions
Brothers Vince and Michael have their lives upended when Vince’s ex shows up with his teenage son. The series stars Anders Holm, Andy Favreau, J.J. Totah, Mouzam Makkar, Nina Wadia and guest star Mindy Kaling. (Kaling also co-created the series.)
For God & Country
The production team behind Homeland takes on a similar theme with this drama that goes into the complex world of America’s elite undercover military heroes. While D.I.A. Deputy Director Patricia Campbell (Anne Heche) and her team of analysts wield the world’s most advanced surveillance technology from Washington, D.C., Adam Dalton (Mike Vogel) and his Special Ops squad of highly trained undercover specialists fight to save lives in some of the most dangerous places in the world.
Good Girls
Described as a “comedy-infused drama,” this series finds three suburban moms getting tired of trying to make ends meet, and who decide it’s time to stick up for themselves by robbing the local supermarket at (toy) gunpoint. But the three best friends to realize the perfect getaway will be harder than they think. The cast includes Retta, Mae Whitman, Reno Wilson, Manny Montana, Lidya Jewett, Izzy Stannard and Matthew Lillard.
Reverie
This sci-fi thriller comes from Mickey Fisher, creator of Extant, and follows Mara Kint (Sarah Shahi), a former hostage negotiator and expert on human behavior who is brought in to save ordinary people who have lost themselves in a highly advanced virtual-reality program in which you can literally live your dreams. Dennis Haysbert and Jessica Lu also star.
Rise
When dedicated teacher Lou Mazzuchelli (Josh Radnor) takes over the school’s lackluster theater department, he galvanizes not only the faculty and students but the entire working-class town. The series is inspired by the true story told in the book, Drama High, and comes from Jason Katims, writer and executive producer of Friday Night Lights and Parenthood, and Hamilton producer Jeffrey Seller. The cast also includes Rosie Perez, Marley Shelton and Auli’i Cravalho (Moana).
Rise: (l-r) Rosie Perez and Josh Radnor
The CW
Black Lightning -Premiering midseason
The latest DC Comics superhero series to grace The CW’s schedule stars Cress Williams as Jefferson Pierce (Black Lightning), who was DC’s first African-American superhero to get his own standalone comic. Greg Berlanti (Arrow, The Flash) is an executive producer.
Dynasty Pictured (L-R): Nathalie Kelley as Cristal and Grant Show as Blake.
Dynasty -Airing Wednesdays at 9/8c
This reboot of the famed 1980s primetime soap again follows two of America’s wealthiest families—the Carringtons and the Colbys—as they feud for control over their fortune and their children. Grant Show, Nathalie Kelley, Sam Adegoke and Elizabeth Gillies are among the stars.
Life Sentence -Premiering midseason
This dramedy follows a young woman who is diagnosed with terminal cancer; however, when she finds out that she’s not dying after all, she has to learn to live with the choices she made when she decided to live like she was dying. Brooke Lyons, Carlos PenaVega, Dylan Walsh and Lucy Hale star.
Valor -Airing Mondays at 9/8c
This drama is about a U.S. Army base that houses an elite unit of helicopter pilots trained to perform clandestine international and domestic missions. The story unfolds in the present as well as in flashbacks to a failed mission, which leads to a season-long plan to rescue a group of MIA soldiers. Charlie Barnett, Matt Barr and Christina Ochoa headline the cast.
