Today's column highlights ABC's recently announced 2015-2016 schedule, one that includes 10 new programs that the network says "continue the commitment to great storytelling."
But first, a moment of silence for those that were not invited back to continue to tell their stories.
Cancellations: Cristela; Forever; Manhattan Love Story; Resurrection; Revenge; Selfie; The Taste.
The network's new shows are six dramas and four comedies, but only half will start out in the fall. The rest will show up at midseason, or come off the bench to fill any vacancies that pop up.
FALL SHOWS
• Oil: Don Johnson is back! However, Oil will be compared to Dallas and Dynasty, not Johnson's Miami Vice. In this oily soap opera, Billy and Cody Lefever (Chace Crawford of Gossip Girl and Rebecca Rittenhouse of Red Band Society) dream of a new life and move to "The Bakken" oil fields in North Dakota, booming after the biggest discovery in American history.
"They came looking for the American dream. What they found was rock bottom." The couple are soon pitted against ruthless oil tycoon Hap Briggs (Johnson) "who forces them to bet big and put everything on the line, including their marriage."
Delroy Lindo (The Cider House Rules) is on board as Sheriff Tip Harrison.
• Of Kings and Prophets: ABC is getting in the biblical epic/Game of Thrones business with this "saga of faith, ambition and betrayal as told through the eyes of a battle-weary king, a powerful and resentful prophet and a resourceful young shepherd on a collision course with destiny."
Young shepherd? Yes, that would be a very devout, very hunky David.
The drama stars Ray Winstone (Noah) as King Saul, Haaz Sleiman (Killing Jesus) as Jonathan, Maisie Richardson-Sellers (The Originals) as Saul's daughter, Michal, and Oliver Rix (The Musketeers) as David.
• Quantico: An eclectic group of recruits has arrived at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Va., for training. They are the best, brightest and the most vetted. Yet, one of them is suspected of masterminding the biggest terror attack on New York since Sept. 11, 2001.
The large ensemble includes Bollywood mega-star and Miss World 2000 Priyanka Chopra as Alex, and Dougray Scott (Desperate Housewives) as Liam.
• Dr. Ken: Community's wacky Spanish teacher Ken Jeong (a real-life doctor) plays Dr. Ken, a brilliant but frustrated HMO physician who means well, but has no bedside manner. His good intentions have a way of driving everyone nuts at work and at home.
Fortunately, Ken's therapist wife, Allison (Suzy Nakamura, The Closer), keeps things sane.
I've seen only trailers, but this multi-camera sitcom with a grating laugh track has some critics I respect predicting it won't last long. Sample humor: "Kids don't need freedom, they need duct tape! They need to be taped down!"
• The Muppets: In what could be the break-out smash hit of the fall, this comedy is a contemporary re-imagining of the legendary The Muppet Show (1976-1981). It's a mocumentary in the style of The Office, Parks and Recreation and Modern Family.
For the first time in their long history, this series will explore the Muppets' personal lives and relationships, at home and at work, as well as romances, breakups, achievements, disappointments, wants and desires. ABC notes this is "a more adult Muppet show, for kids of all ages."
The series stars Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie and the rest of the Muppets gang.
MIDSEASON SHOWS
• The Catch: From the amazingly prolific Shonda Rhimes (Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, Scandal, How to Get Away With Murder), this thriller is centered on successful fraud investigator Alice Martin (Mireille Enos, The Killing) who is about to be the victim of fraud herself thanks to her fiance.
• The Family: This thriller follows the return of a politician's (Joan Allen) young son, who was presumed dead after disappearing more than a decade earlier. Suspicions arise. Is he really who he says he is?
• Wicked City: An ensemble of lesser-known actors star in this tale of events surrounding a 1982 serial murder case in Los Angeles.
• The Real O'Neals: A seemingly perfect Catholic family decides to get honest. Things get messy and funny. The parents are played by Martha Plimpton (Raising Hope) and Jay R. Ferguson (Mad Men).
• Uncle Buck: Based on the 1989 John Candy movie of the same name, Uncle Buck (Mike Epps, Sparkle) is a fun-loving but irresponsible guy who needs a job and becomes nanny for his brother's kids.
The TV Column appears Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. Email:
mstorey@arkansasonline.com
Style on 05/26/2015