Welcome to another Upfronts season!
If you’ve been around Foolish Watcher for a while now, you know that the Upfronts is the week or so when the networks introduce their upcoming schedules to advertisers in hopes that they will be wooed into buying commercial airtime. It’s the networks’ big dog-and-pony show, one that has been diminishing in recent years thanks to the pandemic, the strikes, and the decline of network broadcast television’s stranglehold on the audience in general. But this year, there is nothing holding the networks back from introducing a full fall schedule.
NBC is taking a restrained approach to their fall schedule. They are sticking with what works: The Chicago series, the Law & Orders, The Voice, and only adding three new shows: one medical procedural drama and two comedies that seem designed to pair with existing shows on their schedule, all filled with familiar faces. It’s safe and in this difficult time for the networks, it’s probably their best bet.
Schedule
MONDAY
7/8 p.m.: The Voice (September 23)
9/10 p.m.: BRILLIANT MINDS (September 23)
TUESDAY
7/8 p.m.: ST. DENIS MEDICAL (November 12)
7:30/8:30 p.m.: Night Court (November 19)
8/9 p.m.: The Voice (October 1)
9/10 p.m.: The Irrational (October 1)
WEDNESDAY
7/8 p.m.: Chicago Med (September 25)
8/9 p.m.: Chicago Fire (September 25)
9/10 p.m.: Chicago P.D. (September 25)
THURSDAY
7/8 p.m.: Law & Order (October 3)
8/9 p.m.: Law & Order: SVU (October 3)
9/10 p.m.: Found (October 3)
FRIDAY
7/8 p.m.: HAPPY’S PLACE (October 18)
7:30/8:30 p.m.: Lopez vs. Lopez (October 18)
8/9 p.m.: Dateline NBC (September 27)
SATURDAY
7/8 p.m.: College football (Augsut 31)
SUNDAY
6/7 p.m.: Football Night in America (September 8)
7:20/8:20 p.m.: NBC Sunday Night Football (September 5)
New Fall Shows
Brilliant Minds
Official synopsis:
Inspired by the extraordinary life and work of world-famous author and physician Oliver Sacks, “Brilliant Minds” follows a revolutionary, larger-than-life neurologist and his team of interns as they explore the last great frontier – the human mind – while grappling with their own relationships and mental health.
Zachary Quinto stars, along with Tamberla Perry, Ashleigh LaThrop, Alex MacNicoll, Aury Krebs, Spence Moore II, Teddy Sears, and Donna Murphy.
T’s Take:
NBC has opted to roll out their Upfronts without a single video tease, so … who even knows. This sure reads as a typical medical procedural with some Oliver Sacks cache sprinkled on top. But here’s the thing: this new series comes from Greg Berlanti‘s production company, and the executive producer, Michael Grassi, has previously mostly worked on soapy CW-esque teen dramas: Riverdale, Pretty Little Liars, Katy Keene. So with Zachary Quinto in the lead, this might be a much sassier and soapier series than it appears at first blush.
St. Denis Medical
Official synopsis:
A mockumentary about an underfunded, understaffed Oregon hospital where the dedicated doctors and nurses try their best to treat patients while maintaining their own sanity.
Wendi McClendon-Covey and David Alan Grier star, along with Allison Tolman, Josh Lawson, Mekki Leeper, Kahyun Kim, and Kaliko Kauahi.
T’s Take:
Again, no video to go on, so we have to explore the cast and producers, and I’m pleased to say I’m excited by both. The lead cast is stellar, and the show is being produced and written by the guys who brought us American Auto and Superstore, two of the most underappreciated NBC workplace comedies in recent years. One of our producers also has writing experience on The Office, while the other guy spent some time writing for It’s Always Sunny, so there’s a good chance this will be yet another comedy in the vein of 30 Rock or Parks and Rec that is not given the chance to grow, but canceled after one, maybe two seasons. But in the meantime, it should make a good companion to the Night Court reboot.
Happy’s Place
Official synopsis:
Bobbi inherits her father’s bar and is less than thrilled to discover that she has a new business partner in the half-sister she never knew she had.
Reba McEntire stars, along with Belissa Escobedo, Melissa Peterman, Pablo Castelblanco, Tokala Black Elk, and Rex Linn.
T’s Take:
Happy’s Place is being paired with Lopez vs. Lopez on Friday nights, so NBC is going for the grandma/young-families-stuck-at-home demographic. It reunites Reba McEntire with her former Reba producer who also worked on Roseanne, My Name is Earl, and Last Man Standing. What I think what we are looking at here is a blue-collar multi-camera comedy with fewer sharp elbows than The Conners.
Midseason
The Hunting Party
Official synopsis:
A high-concept crime procedural about a small team of investigators who are assembled to track down and capture the most dangerous killers our country has ever seen, all of whom have just escaped from a top-secret prison that’s not supposed to exist.
Melissa Roxburgh stars.
T’s Take:
So … Con Air but on the ground and starring the sister from Manifest. Got it.
The Americas
Official synopsis:
From BBC Studios Natural History Unit, the creators of the critically acclaimed and multi-Emmy Award-winning “Planet Earth” and “Blue Planet,” in association with Universal Television Alternative Studio, comes the epic 10-part tentpole event series “The Americas.” Marking the first time acclaimed actor, producer and writer Tom Hanks will narrate an unscripted entertainment series, “The Americas” will also feature music by two-time Oscar winner Hans Zimmer. This incomparable project will employ revolutionary filmmaking technology that will showcase the wonders, secrets and fragilities of the Americas – Earth’s largest landmass and the only one to stretch between both poles – and reveal extraordinary, untold wildlife stories that deeply connect with millions around the world.
T’s Take:
NBC getting into the nature documentary business is a choice. I mean, sure, Tom Hanks! But it’s definitely a departure from your typical Jimmy Fallon-hosted game show nonsense that typically fills up the spring season.
Destination X
Official synopsis:
Merging fantasy with reality in this larger-than-life adventure competition series, viewers will follow contestants as they embark on the road trip of a lifetime but have no idea of their location. In order to win, they must figure out their mystery locations. Once they’re on the blacked-out Destination X bus, the journey transforms into a real-life game board, with challenges designed to offer clever clues as to their location, along with a few misdirects to keep them guessing. At the end of each episode, the contestant who places an X on a map furthest from the actual location packs their bags. The first participant to reach Destination X will be crowned the winner. With high stakes and mind-blowing, spectacular gameplay, the series will keep viewers engaged and playing along on all screens.
T’s Take:
NBC apparently wants to get into the Amazing Race business.
Cancellations
- Extended Family
- Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge
- La Brea
- Magnum P.I.
- Quantum Leap
Renewals
- America’s Got Talent
- American Ninja Warrior
- Chicago Fire
- Chicago Med
- Chicago P.D.
- Dateline
- Deal or No Deal Island
- Found
- The Irrational
- Law & Order
- Law & Order: Organized Crime — Renewed but moving to Peacock
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
- Lopez vs. Lopez
- Night Court
- Saturday Night Live
- The Voice
Shows Still Up in the Air
- America’s Got Talent: All-Stars
- America’s Got Talent: Fantasy League
- Capital One College Bowl
- Password
- That’s My Jam
- The Wall
- Weakest Link