All through ‘upfronts’ week, TMINE will be revealing the new shows that are going to be hitting US TV screens from September 2019
It’s that time of year again – the ‘upfronts’. What’s that, I hear you ask?
What are the upfronts, TMINE?
It’s when all the US networks reveal to advertisers the new shows that are going to be hitting the TV screens some time from September 2019 through to nowish 2020. However, this isn’t the same as the international screenings, where buyers from TV networks around the world turn up to see what they’d like to acquire, so we won’t know what will be heading our way for quite some time.
This weekend, US TV networks killed off a whole bunch of existing shows (prompting howls of protest from their fans) and are about to commission a whole bunch of new shows (prompting howls of ‘you cancelled x for this rubbish?’ from said-same fans).
2. Fox’s upfronts
Yesterday, we got a look at NBC’s upfront presentation and today, we’re getting a look at Fox’s new shows. Fox isn’t in quite as safe a place as NBC is in the ratings and is looking shakier by the year. At last year’s upfronts, it launched:
- The Cool Kids (cancelled)
- Last Man Standing (renewed)
- Rel (cancelled)
- The Passage (cancelled)
- Proven Innocent (cancelled)
Yep, only one of those survived: the indestructible Last Man Standing is indeed the last man standing and that started off on ABC. Odder still, Fox isn’t bringing it back until next year, as it plans to fill its Fall schedule with animated comedies. As a result, there’s not much room for new dramas either until mid-season.
So coming soon (and in one case very soon), we have:
- BH90210
- Prodigal Son
- Not Just Me
And for mid-season:
- Deputy
- neXt
- Outmatched
- Filthy Rich
- 911: Lone Star
Want to know more, including exactly when they will be airing, as well as take a look at trailers for all of them? And do you want to get TMINE’s hottest of hot first takes? Then follow me after the jump…
Coming in the Autumn…
BH90210
A meta-revival of the iconic 1990s teen soap Beverly Hills 90210 sees original stars Jason Priestley, Jennie Garth, Ian Ziering, Gabrielle Carteris, Brian Austin Green, Shannen Doherty and Tori Spelling playing heightened versions of themselves in what is being billed as an “event series”.
Time slot: 9pm Wednesdays, premiering August 7
TMINE’s hottest of hot takes: As trailers go, not especially informative, and the metaness means I can’t even go by how rubbish the original was, so let’s wait and see. I say “let’s” but I’m going to be on holiday then, so I’ll leave it up to you guys.
Prodigal Son
A fresh take on the crime franchise, Prodigal Son follows a notorious serial killer (Michael Sheen) and his criminal psychologist son (Tom Payne). Co-stars Lou Diamond Phillips and Scandal‘s Bellamy Young.
Time slot: 9 pm Mondays
TMINE’s hottest of hot takes: Looks more than slightly dreadful, but it’s Greg Berlanti, clearly not 100% serious and Michael Sheen is at least more restrained than he has been of late in The Good Fight. I’ll give it a try, at least.
Not Just Me
Based on Ten (Australia)’s Sisters, this drama sees an only child’s life turned upside down when her famous father (Timothy Hutton) reveals he used his own sperm to conceive at least 100 children, including two new sisters. Brittany Snow, Megalyn Echikunwoke and Emily Osment star.
Time slot: 9pm Wednesdays
TMINE’s hottest of hot takes: Looks kind of interesting, even if the comedy’s a little forced at times
Mid-season shows
Deputy
Stephen Dorff stars in a modern cop drama with a classic Western spirit. Will Beall (Aquaman) penned the script and exec produces alongside director David Ayer and his Cedar Park partner (and former Audience Network chief) Chris Long. The series hails from Entertainment One and Fox Entertainment.
TMINE’s hottest of hot takes: So basically Fox does Justified… badly
neXt
Fact-based ‘event series’ thriller about the emergence of a rogue AI that combines action with an examination of how tech transforms culture in a way that isn’t always understandable. Manny Coto (24) penned the script and exec produces alongside John Requa and Glenn Ficarra. Mad Men‘s John Slattery stars.
TMINE’s hottest of hot takes: Nice idea at its heart, but absolute nonsense in implementation that seems pitched at over-60s who are frightened of Facebook. But so was 24 so it might at least be exciting
Outmatched
The multicamera comedy from Lon Zimmet (LA to Vegas) revolves around a blue-collar couple (Jason Biggs and Maggie Lawson) in South Jersey trying to get by and raise four kids, three of whom are certified geniuses.
TMINE’s hottest of hot takes: Good stars, bad idea.
Filthy Rich
Southern Gothic dramedy starring (and produced by) Kim Cattrall in which a wealthy Christian network CEO (Gerald McRaney) dies, leaving his family and illegitimate kids to battle over his fortune.
TMINE’s hottest of hot takes: I can’t imagine lasting to the end of the first episode of this
911: Lone Star
A spinoff set in Austin, the series will star Rob Lowe as a “sophisticated New York City firefighter” who moves with his son to Texas and has to balance saving the lives of the most vulnerable and fixing issues in his own life.
Time slot: Mondays beginning January 20 2020; premieres Sunday January 19 after the NFC Championship game
TMINE’s hottest of hot takes: No trailer, no photo, no hot take. One has to play fair with this game.
