April 2015 32 U.S. Pi lot Season (Continued on Page 34) about an HMO doctor, CBS’s Code Black, a drama set in the busiest E.R. in the U.S.), legal shows (like ABC procedural L.A. Crime and CBS’s Doubt) and in the comedy realm, quite a few series are based on the lives of their comedian creators, including ABC’s Delores & Jermaine, NBC’s Untitled Jerrod Carmichael Project and CBS’s Untitled Tommy Johnagin Project. What’s somewhat new this year is a real diversity of characters. Thanks to the popularity of this year’s new shows, includingEmpire, BlackishandFresh Off the Boat, which feature minority talents in the lead roles — and maybe a desire to accurately portray the American population — Suzanne Martin Project, about two grown women who move back in with their parents. In ABC’s aforementioned Delores & Jermaine, the lead character moves back in with his grandmother. In CBS’s The Mistake a couple has an accidental pregnancy after thinking they’re “finished.” There are also a few pilots originally commissioned last year that will hopefully get a second chance at life this year, such as NBC’s Strange Calls, ABC’s Irreversible, CBS’s Taxi-22 and CBS’s The Mistake. ABC has commissioned the most new shows (at 25) this year, with NBC coming in second at 22. By Lucy Cohen Blatter the networks have cast many of the new series with diverse actors. The family in Uncle Buck is black, as are the central couple in NBC’s Love is a Four Letter Word. Much of the cast of Eva Longoria’s Telenovela, for NBC, is Hispanic. Other themes include characters surprisingly coming out as gay — ABC’s Untitled Dan Savage Project and Family Fortune in particular; several comedies about people who think they’re done caring for their kids full-time, but aren’t, including ABC’s Chev and Bev — with National Lampoon’s Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo — about a pair of grandparents that have to raise their grandkids — and NBC’s Untitled (Continued from Cover) ABC Comedy The 46 Percenters An anti-romantic comedy about the 46 percent of the population who stay married, told through the eyes of three couples. The Brainy Bunch A new stay-at-home dad discovers his wife has been raising his kids too smart. Chev and Bev Two baby boomers find their retirements turned upside down when they have to raise their grandchildren. Chevy Chase stars. Delores & Jermaine Comedian Jermaine Fowler stars as a millennial with big ideas and little drive who moves in with his estranged grandmother. Dr. Ken Ken is a frustrated HMO doctor juggling work, marriage and parenting. Family Fortune A popular gym teacher in Georgia comes out of the closet as her divorced parents reveal that they’re sleeping together again. Irreversible A somewhat eccentric, self-absorbed couple face trials and tribulations —most of which they’ve brought on themselves. The King of 7B After seeing the woman he believes to be his soulmate, a man leaves his apartment for the first time in 20 years. Uncle Buck Based on the 1990s movie, a childish man learns how to be an adult by taking care of his brother’s kids. Untitled Dan Savage Project A picture perfect family is turned upside down when the son comes out of the closet. Untitled Johnny Knoxville Project Johnny Knoxville recalls life growing up in the “outlaw culture” of Knoxville, Tennessee. Untitled Judah Miller Project A Broadway starlet and brainiac husband find themselves with an athletically gifted son. Untitled NBA Project A buddy comedy set in the NBA about a rookie who doesn’t speak English, and his translator. Drama The Adversaries When the patriarch of a legal dynasty becomes embroiled in his own trial, his federal prosecutor daughter is put in a difficult position. The Advocate A type-A businesswoman has a medical scare and leaves her career behind to fix the healthcare system. Boom A modern-day story about the biggest oil discovery in American history in North Dakota. The Broad Squad Inspired by true stories, about the first four women to graduate from Boston’s Police Academy, set in the 1970s. The Catch A bride-to-be and her slippery fiancé find their perfectly constructed lies colliding in a dangerous game of cat and mouse. Kingmakers When his sister is found dead at an elite university, a young man adopts a new identity to infiltrate the school and its secret society and investigate her death. L.A. Crime A true crime procedural that explores sex, politics and popular culture across different eras in L.A. MIX A dramedy about the realities of modern-day families set against the backdrop of a family restaurant at a crossroads. Of Kings and Prophets A biblical saga of faith, ambition and betrayal told from the side of a battle-weary king, a powerful prophet and a resourceful young shepherd. Quantico A group of young FBI recruits battle their way through training at the Quantico base. Runner Lauren Marks must follow a trail of lies that take her into the world of cartels and the illegal gun trade between the U.S. and Mexico. Untitled Jenna Bans Project A politician’s son shows up nearly 10 years after his presumed death. CBS Comedy Angel From Hell Amy enters Allison’s life claiming to be her guardian angel. The Half of It A newly divorced dad revels in the fact that he now gets to keep half of his stuff. Joe Time A family man struggles with the fact that everyone around him is pursuing their dreams and loving their lives more than him. Life in Pieces Told through the separate stories of different family members, this sitcom tells the story of one family. The Mistake A couple who just “finished” raising their kids discover they’re pregnant. Super Clyde A meek fast-food worker finds his calling. Taxi-22 Revolves around a misanthropic and politically incorrect taxi driver. Series Contenders for the 2015-2016 U.S. TV Broadcast Networks TV Season “Have you noticed that the new TV series formats are inspired by the movies?”
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