The TV Column

ABC falls back on Idol, Roseanne, Bachelor

ABC’s new Marvel’s Inhumans will star (from left) Eme Ikwuakor, Ken Leung, Anson Mount, Serinda Swan, Isabelle Cornish and Iwan Rheon.
ABC’s new Marvel’s Inhumans will star (from left) Eme Ikwuakor, Ken Leung, Anson Mount, Serinda Swan, Isabelle Cornish and Iwan Rheon.

Today we continue our look at the broadcast networks' recent upfront presentations that highlighted their fall lineups for advertisers.

So far, we've covered NBC and Fox and today we'll concentrate on ABC's fall plans. But let's begin with a number of series that did not make the cut.

Shows that were kicked to the curb at the end of the season were American Crime; The Catch; Conviction; Dr. Ken; Imaginary Mary; Last Man Standing; Notorious; The Real O'Neals; Secrets and Lies; and Time After Time.

There was some stink over the ending of Last Man Standing because star Tim Allen and the character he plays are outspoken Republicans in a Hollywood knee-deep in liberals. Allen said he was "blindsided," and cries of "foul" came from some conservative quarters.

ABC entertainment president Channing Dungey denied any politics was involved, saying the series was canceled after six seasons "for business and scheduling reasons."

To fill these holes, ABC plans to introduce a midseason revival of American Idol, a limited reboot of Roseanne, featuring the original cast, and an untitled spinoff of Shonda Rhimes' Grey's Anatomy.

Here are the others in ABC's freshman class for 2017-2018.

The Good Doctor stars Freddie Highmore (Bates Motel) as a young physician with autism and savant syndrome.

The Gospel of Kevin is a comedy/drama about a troubled man (Jason Ritter, Parenthood) who's instructed by a celestial being to go out and save the world.

Marvel's Inhumans, based on a comic book, will explore the tale of Black Bolt, king of the Inhumans (Anson Mount, Hell on Wheels), and his royal family splintered by a military coup. Note: Iwan Rheon, who played the evil Ramsay Bolton in Game of Thrones, co-stars.

Ten Days in the Valleystars Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer) as an overworked TV producer of a police show whose daughter vanishes.

The Mayoris a comedy starring Brandon Micheal Hall (Search Party) as a young rapper who unexpectedly wins a mayoral election in his California hometown.

Alex Inc. (midseason) is a comedy based on the podcast Startup and stars Zach Braff (Scrubs) as a radio journalist and family man who decides to turn entrepreneur.

The Crossing (midseason) is a drama with Steve Zahn (Treme) that deals with Americans seeking present-day refuge in a small Washington town from a war that doesn't begin until 150 years in the future.

Deception (midseason) stars Jack Cutmore-Scott (Cooper Barrett's Guide to Surviving Life) as a magician who joins the FBI to help catch elusive bad guys.

Boy Band is a music competition show looking for the next boy band. Rita Ora will host and mentors are the Backstreet Boys' Nick Carter and the Spice Girls' Emma Bunton.

Splitting Up Together is a comedy about a couple's relationship that gets better after they divorce. Jenna Fischer (The Office) stars with Oliver Hudson (Rules of Engagement).

The Bachelor Winter Games. The series finds yet another way to milk the franchise as contestants from The Bachelor and The Bachelorette compete in winter-theme challenges, including, ABC says with a wink and nod, "the toughest sport of all -- love."

Dancing With the Stars Juniorwill have celebrity kids and children of celebrities teaming with professional junior ballroom dancers to compete in choreographed routines.

For the People (midseason) is another drama from the prolific Rhimes (when does she sleep?). It will be set in a U.S. District Court.

Here's how ABC plans to kick off the fall.

Monday: Dancing With the Stars; The Good Doctor.

Tuesday: The Middle; Fresh Off the Boat; black-ish; The Mayor; The Gospel of Kevin.

Wednesday: The Goldbergs; Speechless; Modern Family; American Housewife; Designated Survivor.

Thursday: Grey's Anatomy; Scandal (final season); How to Get Away With Murder.

Friday: Once Upon a Time; Marvel's Inhumans; 20/20.

Saturday: Saturday Night Football.

Sunday: America's Funniest Home Videos; To Tell the Truth; Shark Tank; Ten Days in the Valley.

Finally, the new season will offer two live musicals -- The Wonderful World of Disney: The Little Mermaid Live! on Oct. 3 and Rolling Stone 50, a tribute to the music magazine, on Feb. 7.

The TV Column appears Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. Email:

mstorey@arkansasonline.com

Style on 05/30/2017

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