You may have read my colleague's blog about the ABC and NBC Upfronts. As he mentioned, these presentations to buyers are the carrot to entice them to purchase ad inventory on their stations. We like to take a look at what the networks are offering and give you our perspective of their upcoming programs.
FOX
FOX has a habit of putting shows on the air and then pulling them before they get a chance to grow their audience. So picking shows that will last on this network is dicey at best, but I'm willing to give it a shot. The one that has me most intrigued is "Scream Queens" from Ryan Murphy who brought you "Glee" and "American Horror Story" and includes stars from both programs. The preview has equal parts comedy and horror and casting Scream Queen Jamie Lee Curtis is just brilliant.
Another one we like is "The Grinder" starring Rob Lowe. He's a former star of a TV law drama who joins a real law firm where his brother, played by Fred Savage, works. The kicker--he doesn't have a law degree, just the knowledge he gained while starring on his show. Lowe was great in "Parks & Recreation" so I see huge potential in this show.
NBC
NBC is #1 as I write this, so it's no surprise that their new programs are not really breaking any new ground. "The Player" is from the same team that created "The Blacklist" and is essentially the same show, but with 100% more Wesley Snipes! I guess a huge tax bill can drive a movie star to "slum it" on TV, but the trailer for this show about a shadowy figure who enlists an agent to help him fight crime looks action-packed.
And then there's "Heroes Reborn." It seems a lot of programs on several networks are getting a second chance next season. Perhaps the folks who ran "Heroes" into the ground learned from their mistakes. And with superheroes being hot lately, who can blame them? ABC has "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." and CBS is launching "Supergirl" - so going back to the well isn't a bad idea. Let's just hope it's more "Season 1" and less "every other season."
CW
Speaking of superheroes, the CW is riding high on the successes of both "Arrow" and "The Flash" so it's no wonder they're going back to this well next season. But this time, it's a whole team of metahumans that will share the spotlight in "Legends of Tomorrow." With cameos from and crossovers with both "Arrow" and "The Flash" almost guaranteed, it's a safe bet "Legends" will be another hit for the network.
Time will tell if any these shows are bona fide hits (if FOX gives them the time, that is), but we think you'll enjoy them. Let us know what you think in the comments.