The Upfronts were last week, and by the end of Friday, we, the viewing public, pretty much knew which shows were picked up, which shows weren't, which shows would be getting another season, and which had seen their last. And then there is Hannibal, but more on that later.
First, and most importantly, ABC surprised no one by giving the green light to Marvel's Agents of SHIELD, henceforth known as SHIELD because the other one has too many words (and in the promos would conceivably be ABC's Marvel's Agents of SHIELD), and the only people who will refer to it by the whole title will be lawyers. The first look, a whole seven seconds (which includes a brief glimpse at J. August Richards in his secret role) is above.
Elsewhere, NBC renewed Parks and Rec, for which we can all be thankful. They also renewed Community for another 13 episode season, which having watched the recent fourth season i believe is entirely the wrong decision. the network has spent three seasons wanting to cancel the show, now they have the opportunity, and they bring it back/ Probably because now it is a lifeless husk of it's former self, without intelligence design or direction, filled with lifeless characters made of parodies of their once full and glorious selves. And they can't even bank on Chevy anymore, which NBC seemed to think was a selling point. Of this past season, I enjoyed exactly one episode, and doubt I'll watch it next season at all. Thanks, NBC, for sucking the joy out of something I loved. Now stay away from Parks.
Hit the jump for the rest of the "big deals."
That is the trailer for The Blacklist, the only good looking drama on NBC's schedule for next year, an obvious attempt to follow in the footsteps of the Following, except it looks good. Of course, the Following was good, for one episode. But James Spader is always excellent, especially when he's being immoral, but him balding is freaking me the hell out. NBC also picked up Alfonso Cuarón and J.J Abram's ten year old superhero series Believe. Gillian Anderson's new series Crisis also got a pick up for mid season.
The remainder of the Thursday night comedy slots will be taken by new series: Welcome to the Family, NBC's attempt to get in on that whole Modern Family thing, in perfect NBC fashion, five season too late; the highly anticipated return to regular TV comedy for Michael J. Fox in The Michael J. Fox Show; and
Sean Saves the World, starring Sean Hayes and created by Victor Fresco, as in the mind behind Andy Richter Controls The Universe and Better Off Ted. Chances are this series will be fast, smart, brilliant, and cancelled quickly (Andy and Ted each got two season on FOX and ABC, I'm giving Sean six episodes on NBC).
Peacock is refusing to give a thumbs up or down on their best dramatic series, Hannibal, until the first season concludes. Considering half the audience left after the second episode, which isn't good, but the numbers have remained steady since, which is the best NBC can hope for anymore. I love the show, but also recognise that it is Bryan Fuller, and that enjoying any of his shows comes with the expectation for a short run. They did cancel Matthew Perry's Go On, which had it's moments.
On FOX, the biggest news is the picking up of J.J. Abram's robot buddy cop showBeing Human, and a bizarre sounding modernised version of Sleepy Hollow from Fringe and Star Trek writers Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, at least solidifying FOX as the one network that still takes a chance on sci-fi. ABC, aside from wisely getting into the Marvel universe, renewed Castle for a sixth season, which was expected as it is stable, popular, and inoffensive. And another year of Nathan Fillion is never a bad thing. They renewed comedies the Middle and Suburgatory. Once Upon A Time is getting it's long rumoured spin off, called In Wonderland, which will continue to plumb the public domain and Disney princess depths.
CBS cancelled Vegas and CSI New York, but their schedule went largely unchanged. Chuck Lorre will ahve enough shows on the network to create his own programming block, and Robin Williams will be returning to TV for the first time since Mork and Mindy, in a show co-starring Buffy's Sarah Michelle Geller called Crazy Ones. Really the only thing of note about CBS is that no where to be seen is the Rupert Grint/Stephen Fry superhero comedy Super Clyde.
And that is sad.
Via Den of Geek, Uproxx a couple times, and The Mary Sue.