In an annual spring rite meant to clear the wrongs of past seasons, broadcast networks are holding their upfront announcements in New York this week, unveiling fall primetime plans.
Networks struggling the most offer the most change. So NBC, with the first announcements Sunday announced six new comedies, eight dramas and three reality shows for 2013-14 to fit around its only proven hits, football and “The Voice.” Winter Olympics next year will also help launch late season shows.
Among the familiar faces in the new shows are Michael J. Fox, James Spader, Sean P. Hayes and . Producers involved include J.J. Abrams, Bill Lawrence, and Jason Katims of “Parenthood” and “Friday Night Lights.”
Some old premises get returns to such as a new “Ironside,” another stab at “Dracula” and the “Chicago Fire” spin-off “Chicago PD.”
And yet the announcements were eclipsed by another NBC release: That Seth Meyers, “Weekend Update” anchor and head writer for “Saturday Night Live” will replace Jimmy Fallon on “Late Night” when Fallon moves up to host the “Tonight” show early in the year.
Here’s the rundown of the new fall shows, accompanied with new trailers:
THE BLACKLIST (Mondays, 10 p.m.) stars James Spader as an FBI most wanted fugitive who turns himself in with information on getting another terrorist and then a list of others he has interest in being caught.
IRONSIDE (Wednesdays at 10 p.m.) Blair Underwood takes to the wheelchair in porraying the cop once played by Raymond Burr, leading a cast that includes Pablo Schreiber, Spencer Grammer, Neal Bledsoe and Brent Saxton.
WELCOME TO THE FAMILY (Thursday, 8:30 p.m.) pairs Mike O’Mally (“Glee”) with Mary McCormack (“In Plain Sight”) as parents who learn their high school grad, played by Ella Rae Peck, is also pregnant – an event that also rocks a Latino family across town led by Justina Machado, Richardo Chavira and Junior Hernandez. According to the press release “what follows is a crash course in culture blending.” Uh oh. Co-produced by Jamie Tarses.
SEAN SAVES THE WORLD (Thursday, 9 p.m.) Sean hayes of “Will & Grace” plays a divorced gay dad; Linda Lavin (“Alice”) is his mom; Sami Isler is her teenage daughter who moves in with him fulltime. Hayes co-produces with James Burrows and Victor Fresco.
THE MICHAEL J. FOX SHOW (Thursday, 9:30 p.m.). The beloved former star of “Family Ties” and “Sin Cities” portrays a former news anchor diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, just like the star. Wendell Pierce (“The Wire,” “Treme”) helps him transition back into the job.
DRACULA (Fridays, 10 p.m.). Jonathan Rhys Meyers (“The Tudors”) becomes he vampire, posing as an American entrepeneur living in London in the late 19th century. In part from the writer of “Carnival,’ with a couple of guys from “Downton Abbey” also as co-executive producers.
New Shows for Midseason
ABOUT A BOY (Tuesdays, 9 p.m.). David Walton stars in a series based on the Nick Hornby book later turned into a movie, with Minnie Driver and Benjamin Stockham (the kid from “1600 Penn”) as her son. From Jason Katims of “Friday Night Lights” and “Parenthood” and director Jon Favreau.
THE FAMILY GUIDE (Tuesdays, 9:30 p.m.) J.K. Simmons (of the insurance commercials) Parker Posey in a comedy about a quirky family, post-divorce, narrated by Jason Bateman, who is one of the producers.
CROSSBONES (Fridays, 10 p.m.) John Malkovich stars as Blackbeard in an early Americas pirate saga.
AMERICAN DREAM BUILDERS (Sundays 8 p.m.) Teams of builders, architects and designers compete in “extreme home renovations.” Each weeks there are eliminations, viewers vote a winner and someone wins the houses. Nate Berkus hosts.
BELIEVE (Sundays 9 p.m.) From “Lost Producer” J.J. Abrams comes a story of an orphaned girl (Johnny Sequoyah) with powers of livitation and telekenesis. She’ aided by a former death row inmate (Jaek McLaughlin) in a series that also stars Delroy Lindo and Kyle MacLachlan.
CRISIS (Sundays, 10 p.m.) A field day bus from an elite Washington school that includes the president’s son is ambushed, causing a national crisis. With Dermot Mulroney and Gillian Anderson.
Still to be Scheduled Midseason
CHICAGO PD An offshoot of “Chicago Fire” stars Jason Beghe, Jon Seda. It’s from Dick Wolf, whose Windy City based procedurals now outnumber his current “Law & Order” titles.
THE NIGHT SHIFT Drama follows the overnight crew at San Antonio Memorial with Eoin Macken, Ken Leung, Brendan Fehr, Freddy Rodriguez and Jill Flint.
UNDATABLE Chris D’Ela of “Whitney” tries to teach a bunch of guys how to be players with the ladies. With Brent Morin, Bianca Kajlich. In part from Bill Lawrence of “Scrubs” and “Cougar Town.”
FOOD FIGHTERS Adam Richman of “Man vs. Food” hosts a competition pitting amateur cooks against professionals.
THE MILLION SECOND QUIZ Participants enture a 12-day array of questions “live from an hourglass shaped structure in the heart of Manhattan.” Viewers can play along at home in real time.
“Parks and Recreation” and “Community” are the only returning comedies on the network; returning NBC dramas include “Grimm,” “Parenthood,” “Law & Order: SVU,” “Revolution” and “Chicago Fire.” Reality shows “The Biggest Loser” and “The Sing-Off” will join “The Voice” in returning.
Cancelled shows from this season include “1600 Penn,” “Deception,” “Go On,” “The New Normal,” “”Smash,” “Up All Night,” “Guys with Kids” and “Whitney.”
“The Office” ends its run this week; it was preceded by “30 Rock” series finale. Already yanked from this season was “Do No Harm.”
Decisions still need to be made regarding the recently premiering “Hannibal” and “Celebrity Apprentice.”