NBC kicked off the springtime ritual of advertising upfront, with a Sunday event that the first of the network unveiling of their 2015-16 prime time plans.
According to its announcement, NBC is adding six new dramas to its roster next season as well as six new comedies. It’s also trying to keep a current comedy, “Undateable,” get some extra life as it shoots each episode live, an experiment it tried once earlier this month.
A variety show hosted by Neil Patrick Harris heavy on pranks will join a new show about talented kids, “Little Big Shots,” hosted by Steve Harvey.
And if some of their new shows sound familiar, it’s because they’re coming back, such as Tim Kring’s “Heroes Reborn” or, going back even further, Craig T. Nelson in “Coach.” And “Chicago Med” will be the third iteration of Dick Wolf’s public servant dramas “Chicago Fire” and “Chicago P.D.”
The new comedies are:
- “People Are Talking” about two couples who are neighbors, from Will Packer and Pam Fryman, with Mark-Paul Vosselaar, Tone Bell and Bresha Webb. Starting in fall.
- “Superstore” America Ferrera of “Ugly Betty” and Ben Feldman of “A to Z” star in the workplace comedy at a big box store. With Mark McKinney, Lauren Ash and Colton Dunn. Midseason.
- “You, Me and the End of the World” a one hour “comedy-drama” about the last hours on Earth as a comet is about to crash into it. With Rob Lowe, Jenna Fischer, Megan Mullally and Mathew Baynton. Midseason.
- “Hot & Bothered” stars Eva Longoria about a TV star with a messy life. With Jencarlos Canela and Diana Maria Riva. Midseason.
- “Coach” has Craig T. Nelson reprising his role as Hayden Fox, 18 years later, coaching an Ivy League university in Pennsylvania. Midseason.
- “Crowded” stars Patrick Warburton and Carrie Preston as empty-nesters whose grown daughters move back in. From Sean Hayes.
The new dramas:
- “Blindspot” from Greg Berlanti, gets he choice post “Voice” spot, with a FBI caper about a woman found naked in Times Square whose clues to her fate can be found in her many tattoos. With Sullivan Stapleton and Jaime Alexander. Fall.
- “Heartbreaker” stars Melissa George as a heart transplant surgeon. Amy Brenneman is an executive producer but is not in the cast. Dave Annable, Don Hany, D.L. Hugely and Jamie Kennedy are. Fall.
- “Heroes Reborn” the long promised reboot of the “Heroes” franchise with a cast that includes Jack Coleman, Zachary Levi and Masi Oka. Fall.
- “The Player” has Wesley Snipes and Philip Winchester in a Vegas thriller about security expert. From the producers of “The Blacklist.” Fall.
- “Chicago Med” a spin-off of the “Chicago P.D.” and “Chicago Fire” dramas, this one stars Oliver Platt, S. Epatha Merkerson and Laurie Holden.
- “Game of Silence” has David Lyons star as an Atlanta attorney confronted by friends from 25 years earlier who hide a secret. With Michael Raymond-James, lorenz Tate and Bre Blair. Midseason
- “Shades of Blue” Jennifer Lopez stars as a New York detective and mother forced to rat on dirty cops. With Ray Liotta and Drea De Matteo. Barry Levinson wrote the pilot. Midseason
NBC is retaining “The Blacklist,” “The Voice,” “America’s Got Talent,” “Chicago Fire,” “Chicago P.D.”, “Grimm,” “Law & Order: SVU,” “The Mysteries of Laura,” “The Biggest Loser,” “The Celebrity Apprentice,” “Food Fighters,” “Hollywood Game Night,” “Last Comic Standing,” “Running Wild with Bear Grylls,” “America Ninja Warrior” and “The Night Shift.”
Gone from the schedule are “State of Affairs,” “Constantine,” “Marry Me,” “About a Boy,” “Allegiance,” “The Slap,” “One Big Happy,” the previously canned “A to Z” and “Bad Judge,” and “Parenthood,” which had its series finale.
Decisions are yet to be made on “A.D. The Bible Continues” and “American Odyssey,” which are still running their spring seasons, and “Hannibal,” whose third season doesn’t even start until June 4.