As the broadcast networks prepare for the 2015-2016 season, they continue to face encroachment from across the entertainment landscape. But they’re prepared, with programming blueprints that include a moderate serving of new approaches with an extensive renovation, and reimagining, of popular, proven, and enduring brands.
It’s easier to bring in audiences if shows are based on “an existing franchise or recognizable name,” says Bill Carroll, SVP, Director of Content Strategy, Katz Television Group. “That doesn’t guarantee success but it does help with sampling.”
“A rebirth or reinvention of a lot of familiar favorites” is indeed a trend this coming season, agrees Andy Kubitz, EVP, ABC Entertainment, Program Planning & Scheduling.
For example, among the shows generating buzz are CBS’s Supergirl, NBC’s Heroes Reborn, and ABC’s The Muppets (“the funniest comedy pilot I saw,” says Eric Deggans, television critic for NPR).
Carroll also points out that “it’s not unusual for the broadcast networks [to] follow what the rest of the entertainment is doing,” i.e. the film industry’s reliance on proven franchises. “When you look at the new shows that are coming, most of them are connected to some kind of brand that the audience is already familiar with,” says Deggans.
But franchises and familiar faces aren’t the only tools broadcast nets are using to grab viewers. Aware that their competitors are not only their counterparts but “all the other ways viewers are able to watch programming,” Carroll says, they’re also recognizing that they need to play more to their strengths, particularly event programming, the definition of which is broadening and evolving.
For example, “I have to believe that the return of Empire will be an event, and NBC is hoping that the new Neil Patrick Harris show [Best Time Ever With Neil Patrick Harris] will be an event,” Carroll said.
For Harris, the fact that it’s shot live adds to its event status, says Jennifer Salke, President, NBC Entertainment. “In a television landscape where there is so much delayed viewing, we feel live viewing creates an immediate-watch opportunity, especially due to spoilers on social media and the ‘anything can happen’ element of the show.”
On the genre front, there’s a strong sitcom presence across all broadcast networks for 2015-2016, with all hoping to find the next long-term, lucrative hit. Most of the successful sitcoms are already in syndication, and “the sitcom pipeline is just dripping,” in need of replenishment, says, Carroll. “Sitcoms are the building blocks, they are the annuities, in the sense that they can live forever.”
Another trend “a bit more prevalent this year with the networks is to build on what worked last year,” says Kubitz. “At ABC we are building on our successful comedies with the addition of Dr. Ken and The Muppets, and building our diversity efforts with both of those shows and our new drama Quantico.”
Other examples include NBC building on The Blacklist with Blind Spot, Fox building on Empire with Rosewood, and The CW building on Jane the Virgin with Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.
In the big picture, streaming and other alternative content options continue to grow exponentially, and now these are the “way people are talking about television, and certainly what’s driving the conversation,” says Jim McKairnes, former television executive and recent Verizon Chair at Temple University’s School of Media and Communication.
At the same time, “distinctions between television companies and streaming companies miss the point,” Nina Tassler, Chairman, CBS Entertainment, said at last month’s TCA tour. “The truth is we’re all part of one big content universe. We’re all content creators, and distributors, buyers, and sellers.”
“With so much competition, you have to allow audiences to find a show,” says Salke. “You have to interpret much more data than ever before in determining how a series is performing – DVR viewing, online, VOD. The live and same-day ratings are just one part of a bigger equation and analysis.”
Broadcast television “is still the big tent that people go through,” says McKairnes, but “we live in a world of I want what I want when I want it.”
So, what do viewers want and what will they get from broadcast television? They’ll have plenty to choose from this season. Submitted for your approval, a quick look at the broadcast network’s 2015-2016 season…
COMEDY
Angel from Hell
CBS Television Studios
CBS
Nov. 5th
Allison, a doctor, is organized and perfect, but her life is derailed when she meets brash outspoken Amy, who claims to be her guardian angel.
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
CBS Television Studios, Warner Bros. Television
The CW
Oct. 19th
This comedy with musical elements centers on Rebecca Bunch, a determined (and possibly crazy) young woman who gives up her partnership at a Manhattan law firm to move to West Corvina, Calif. in an attempt to find love and happiness with an ex-boyfriend.
Crowded
Universal Television, Hazy Mills
NBC
TBA
After 20 years of parenting, empty nesters Mike and Martina are finally reclaiming their wild side. Yet when their two grown daughters both unexpectedly move back in, and Mike’s parents scratch their plans to spend their golden years in Florida, their roost is full again.
Dr. Ken
Sony Television, ABC Studios
ABC
Oct. 2nd
Doctor turned actor/comedian Ken Jeong plays Dr. Ken, a brilliant physician with no bedside manner. He’s always trying to be a good doctor, as well as a good husband and dad to his two kids. Luckily, his therapist wife Allison is the right partner to keep things sane.
Grandfathered
ABC Studios
Fox
Sept. 29th
A bachelor (John Stamos) discovers he’s not only a father, but also a grandfather.
The Grinder
20th Century Fox Television Studios
Fox
Sept. 29th
Rob Lowe and Fred Savage star as two brothers, one a spotlight-grabbing actor who plays TV’s most popular lawyer, and the other a real-life, small-town attorney who has yet to find his spotlight.
The Guide to Surviving Life
Jackal Group, 20th Century Fox Television
Fox
TBA
This show celebrates the mistakes and misadventures we all make during the years after college, before settling down.
Hot and Bothered
Universal Television, Unbelievable Entertainment, Tall and Short Productions
NBC
TBA
Eva Longoria (“Desperate Housewives”) stars as Ana Sofia, a sizzling TV superstar and her lively family of cast and crew all competing to steal the spotlight.
Life in Pieces
Kapital Entertainment, 20th Century Fox Television
CBS
Sept. 21st
James Brolin and Dianne Wiest star in a comedy about one family, told through four separate stories each week.
The Muppets
ABC Studios, Muppet Studios
ABC
Sept. 22nd
Kermit, Miss Piggy and the gang are back in a documentary-style show exploring the Muppets’ personal lives and relationships.
The Real O’Neals
Hypomania Content, DiBonaventura Pictures Television, ABC Studios
ABC
TBA
Produced by best-selling author Dan Savage, a contemporary take on a seemingly perfect Catholic family whose lives take an unexpected turn when surprising truths are revealed.
Rush Hour
Warner Bros. Television, Doozer
CBS
TBA
Based on the hit motion picture franchise. A stoic, by-the-book Hong Kong police officer is assigned to a case in Los Angeles, where he’s forced to work with a cocky African-American LAPD officer who has no interest in a partner.
Scream Queens
20th Century Fox Television
Fox
Sept. 22nd
Comedy-horror series about a string of murders at Wallace University and Kappa House, the most sought-after sorority for pledges. The star-studded cast includes Emma Roberts, Jamie Lee Curtis, Lea Michele, and Abigail Breslin.
Superstore
Universal Television, The District
NBC
TBA
America Ferrara and Ben Feldmanstar in this comedy about a unique family of employees at a super-sized megastore.
Truth Be Told
Universal Television, Will Packer Productions
NBC
Oct. 16th
As they go through life side-by-side, two diverse couples can’t help but analyze and obsess about everything. From topics like sex and race, to the fact that the trusted new babysitter might just be a porn star, nothing is out of bounds.
Uncle Buck
Will Packer Productions, Universal Television, ABC Studios
ABC
TBA
Based on the hit movie, about a fun loving but irresponsible guy who becomes a caretaker to his nieces and nephews.
You, Me, and the End of the World
Working Title Television, Sky TV, Bigballs Films
NBC
TBA
The news that a comet is on an unavoidable collision course with Earth sets in motion an unexpected chain of events for stars Rob Lowe, Jenna Fischer, Megan Mullally, and Mathew Baynton.
DRAMA
The Bastard Executioner
Fox 21 TV Studios, FX Productions
FX
Sept. 15th
Medieval epic set in Northern Wales tells the story of Wilkin Brattle, a 14th century warrior whose life is changed when a divine messenger beseeches him to lay down his sword and lead the life of a journeyman executioner.
Blindspot
Warner Bros. TV, Berlanti Productions
NBC
Sept. 21st
A vast international plot explodes when a Jane Doe, completely covered in tattoos, is discovered naked in Times Square with no memory of how she got there.
Blood and Oil
ABC Studios
ABC
Sept. 27th
Billy and Cody Lefever dream of a new life and move to “The Baken,” booming after the biggest oil discovery in American history. They’re soon pitted again a ruthless tycoon (Don Johnson) who forces them to put everything on the line, including their marriage.
The Catch
ABC Studios, Shondaland
ABC
TBA
This thriller, based on the Kate Atkinson novel, centers on fraud investigator Alice Martin, who’s about to be the victim of fraud by her fiance. Between her cases, she’s determined to find him before her career is ruined.
Chicago Med
Universal Television, Wolf Films
NBC
Nov. 17th
The newest installment of Dick Wolf’s “Chicago” franchise takes place at the city’s most explosive hospital.
Code Black
ABC Studios, CBS Television Studios
CBS
Sept. 20th
A medical drama set in the busiest ER in the nation, where Code Black situations when there are more patients than personnel or resources to treat them all occur an unimaginable 300 days a year.
Containment
My So-Called Company, Warner Bros. Television
The CW
TBA
When a mysterious and deadly epidemic breaks out in Atlanta, a vast urban quarantine is quickly enforced, forcing those stuck on the inside to fight for their lives while local and federal officials desperately search for a cure.
Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders
ABC Studios,CBS Television Studios,The Mark Gordon Company
CBS
TBA
This spinoff of Criminal Minds revolves around the specialized International Division of the FBI tasked with solving crimes and rescuing Americans who find themselves in danger while abroad.
DC’s Legends of Tomorrow
Bonanza Productions Inc, Berlanti Productions, Warner Bros. Television, DC Entertainment
The CW
TBA
Having seen the future, one he will desperately try to prevent from happening, time-traveling rogue Rip Hunter is tasked with assembling a disparate group of both heroes and villains to confront an unstoppable threat one in which not only is the planet at stake, but all of time itself.
The Family
ABC Studios, Mandeville Television
ABC
TBA
This thriller follows the return of a politician’s young son who was presumed dead after disappearing over a decade earlier.
Lookinglass
20th Century Fox Television
Fox
TBA
A modern reimagining of the Mary Shelley classic Frankenstein, about a man brought back to life by two scientists playing god.
Game of Silence
Sony Pictures Television, Carol Mendelsohn Productions
NBC
TBA
Atlanta attorney’s long-lost childhood friends unexpectedly appear after 25 years. When a dark secret they thought they’d buried resurfaces, the brotherhood bands together to right the wrongs of their shared past.
Heartbreaker
Universal Television
NBC
TBA
Based on the real life and achievements of Dr. Kathy Magliato, this medical drama follows Dr. Alex Panttiere, an outspoken world-renowned heart-transplant surgeon and one of the few women in her field.
Heroes Reborn
(Universal Television, Imperative Entertainment, Tailwind Productions)
NBC
Sept. 24th
From original creator Tim King, an epic 13-episode event series chronicling the lives of ordinary people who discover they possess extraordinary abilities.
Limitless
CBS Television Studios, K/O Paper Products, Relativity Media
CBS
Sept. 22nd
Bradley Cooper executive produces, and appears periodically, in the show based on his 2011 feature film, about a man who discovers a mysterious drug that allows him to access 100% of his brain and uses his new abilities for the greater good.
Lucifer
Warner Bros. Television, Jerry Bruckheimer Television, Aggressive Mediocrity
Fox
TBA
Based on the DC Entertainment character, the story of the original fallen angel, who has abandoned his throne as the Lord of Hell and retired to L.A. where he owns Lux, an upscale nightclub.
Minority Report
20th Century Fox Television, Amblin Television, Paramount Television
NBC
Sept. 21st
Based on executive producer Steven Spielberg’s hit film, the first of his to be adapted for television, the story follows the unlikely partnership between a man haunted by the future and a cop haunted by her past as they race to stop the worst crimes of the year 2065 before they happen.
Of Kings and Prophets
ABC Studios
ABC
TBA
A biblical saga of faith, ambition, and betrayal told through the eyes of a king, a prophet, and a young shepherd.
The Player
Sony Pictures Television, Davis Entertainment, Kung Fu Monkey
NBC
Sept. 24th
A Las Vegas thriller about a former military operative turned security expert who is drawn into a high-stakes game where an organization of wealthy individuals gamble on his ability to stop some of the biggest crimes imaginable from playing out.
Quantico
ABC Studios
ABC
Sept. 27th
A diverse group of recruits has arrived at the FBI Quantico Base for training. They are the best, the brightest, and most vetted, so it seems impossible that one of them is suspected of masterminding the biggest attack on NYC since 9/11.
Rosewood
20th Century Television Fox, Temple Hill Entertainment
Fox
Sept. 23rd
Set in Miami, the story of Dr. Beaumont Rosewood, the city’s top private pathologist. He teams up with Detective Annalise Villa to help the Miami PD solve challenging cases.
Shades of Blue
Universal Television, Nuyorican Productions, EGTV, Ryan Seacrest Productions
NBC
TBA
Jennifer Lopez stars as sexy New York detective (and single mother) Harlee Santos, who fell in with a tight-knit group of dirty cops. She’s trapped by the FBI, forced to inform on them, and must walk the fine line between love, loyalty, honor and betrayal.
Supergirl
Berlanti Productions, Warner Bros. Television
CBS
Oct. 26th
A contemporary adaptation of the DC comic.
Wicked City
ABC Studios
ABC
Oct. 27th
The show follows a unique case set in a noteworthy era of L.A. history, starting with a murder case from 1982, centered on the rock and roll, cocaine-infused revelry of the Sunset Strip.
TALK/VARIETY
Best Time Ever With Neil Patrick Harris
ITV Studios America
NBC
Sept. 15th
Inspired by the U.K.’s Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway, NBC promises stunts, skits, pranks, audience interaction, musical numbers, giveaways, and unlimited surprises.
LATE NIGHT
Late Show with Stephen Colbert
CBS Television Studios, Spartina Productions
CBS
Sept. 8th
Stephen Colbert takes over the franchise after David Letterman’s 22-year run.
Little Big Shots
Warner Horizon Television, East 112th Street Productions, A Very Good Production
NBC
Midseason
Hosted by Steve Harvey, a variety series showcasing the nation’s most talented, quirky, and fun kids.
REALITY
First Dates
Shed Media, A Very Good Production
NBC
TBA
Based on the hit U.K. format, the series offers a voyeuristic look at a variety of real first dates happening throughout one night at the same restaurant.
EVENTS
Coat of Many Colors
Warner Bros. Television, Magnolia Hill Entertainment, DP Productions
NBC
December 2015
Based on the inspiring true story of living legend Dolly Parton’s remarkable upbringing.
Grease Live!
Paramount Television
Fox
January 31st
Julianne Hough and Vanessa Hudgens star in the musical, reimagined for a new generation.
The Reaper
The Weinstein Company
NBC
TBA
Based on the best-selling memoir “The Reaper”by Nicholas Irving, this event miniseries recounts the 100-day Afghanistan deployment of the first African-American sniper, Sgt. Nicholas Irving, nicknamed ‘The Reaper.’
The Wiz Live!
Universal Television, Cirque Du Soleil Theatrical
NBC
Dec. 3rd
Rising star Shanice Williams joins Mary J. Blige, Queen Latifah, David Alan Grier, Uzo Aduba, Amber Riley, Stephanie Mills, Common, Ne-Yo, and Elijah Kelley in the holiday musical featuring Cirque du Soleil.
