Fall TV in 2020
Long time readers of this space will know that I love the Network Upfronts, a presentation that typically takes place over a week in May when each of the five networks unveils its Fall Schedule and promotes new shows. But, like so many other things in 2020, that didn't happen this year. Due in part to the Covid-19 outbreak, and a lot of uncertainty about the future, networks scrapped the annual presentation. But, slowly, over the past couple months all five have unveiled their hoped for Fall schedule. This comes with a giant caveat that many aren't declaring when shows will premier. In addition, there have been two camps. FOX and The CW announced schedules that anticipate returning shows not going into production in time to air in 2020. CBS, NBC, and ABC announced more traditional "Fall" schedules, hoping that at least by November shows will have enough filmed to debut. What will the reality be? Who knows at this point.
In this post, I'm going to break down the schedules, including both trains of thought, as we look toward what we might see this Fall.
Those betting on continued delays:
FOX
FOX was the first to unveil a schedule, doing it during their normal slot in Upfront Week. And it is a schedule that, aside from a few reality shows, is devoid of familiar names. The plan is that returning favorites will be back at some point in 2021. For now, the network is leaning on shows originally developed for the 2019-20 season that were held and shows they acquired from elsewhere.
FOX was the first to unveil a schedule, doing it during their normal slot in Upfront Week. And it is a schedule that, aside from a few reality shows, is devoid of familiar names. The plan is that returning favorites will be back at some point in 2021. For now, the network is leaning on shows originally developed for the 2019-20 season that were held and shows they acquired from elsewhere.
Returning Shows:
FOX is planning to get a new round of "The Masked Singer" in time for Fall, and pairing it with Master Chef Junior on Wednesdays. The Network should have Thursday Night Football (provided the NFL goes forward) and WWE on Friday nights. In addition, it's animated shows "The Simpsons," "Bless The Harts," "Bob's Burger" and "Family Guy" will return as normal on Sunday nights.
FOX is planning to get a new round of "The Masked Singer" in time for Fall, and pairing it with Master Chef Junior on Wednesdays. The Network should have Thursday Night Football (provided the NFL goes forward) and WWE on Friday nights. In addition, it's animated shows "The Simpsons," "Bless The Harts," "Bob's Burger" and "Family Guy" will return as normal on Sunday nights.
New Shows:
It's Mondays and Tuesdays that will look a little different. FOX acquired "LA's Finest," a spin-off series from the "Bad Boys" films that was made for Spectrum Cable. It will now air on the Network, which will be a first viewing for many. Following that, Monday nights includes the new drama "Next," starring John Slattery, which was held from this year. Tuesdays will kick off with the reality exploration "Cosmos: Possible Worlds" followed by "Filthy Rich," a prime time soap from Tate Taylor that stars Kim Catrall, among others. It, too, was held from the order for the 2019-20 season. So while FOX isn't assuming production will begin any time soon, it will still have a trio of "new" offerings this Fall.
It's Mondays and Tuesdays that will look a little different. FOX acquired "LA's Finest," a spin-off series from the "Bad Boys" films that was made for Spectrum Cable. It will now air on the Network, which will be a first viewing for many. Following that, Monday nights includes the new drama "Next," starring John Slattery, which was held from this year. Tuesdays will kick off with the reality exploration "Cosmos: Possible Worlds" followed by "Filthy Rich," a prime time soap from Tate Taylor that stars Kim Catrall, among others. It, too, was held from the order for the 2019-20 season. So while FOX isn't assuming production will begin any time soon, it will still have a trio of "new" offerings this Fall.
The CW
The CW also unveiled a schedule that is comprised of series it has acquired and reality shows, along with one returning series. Since production in Canada, where most CW shows are filmed, isn't expected to resume for a while The CW planned for its regular series, including "The Flash," "Riverdale," "All-American" and a few new offerings will premier in early 2021. In the Fall, well it's a mixed bag.
The CW also unveiled a schedule that is comprised of series it has acquired and reality shows, along with one returning series. Since production in Canada, where most CW shows are filmed, isn't expected to resume for a while The CW planned for its regular series, including "The Flash," "Riverdale," "All-American" and a few new offerings will premier in early 2021. In the Fall, well it's a mixed bag.
Returning Shows:
The most recognizeable show here is "Supernatural," which was to have ended in the Spring but needed to finish a few episodes. That will hopefully be done so it can finish strong in the Fall. Otherwise, viewers will recognize some reality shows (like "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" "Penn & Teller Fool Us," Masters of Illusion," and "World Funniest Animals") and scripted fare (like "Outpost," "Two Sentence Horror Stories," and "Pandora") that typically have aired during the summer. Those will all be regular fixtures on the Fall schedule.
The most recognizeable show here is "Supernatural," which was to have ended in the Spring but needed to finish a few episodes. That will hopefully be done so it can finish strong in the Fall. Otherwise, viewers will recognize some reality shows (like "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" "Penn & Teller Fool Us," Masters of Illusion," and "World Funniest Animals") and scripted fare (like "Outpost," "Two Sentence Horror Stories," and "Pandora") that typically have aired during the summer. Those will all be regular fixtures on the Fall schedule.
New Shows:
To bolster the schedule, the CW has purchased some shows from overseas, like "Dead Pixels" and "Coroner" to fill the slots and shows that were originally created and debuted on other Streaming platforms. "Tell Me a Story" was part of CBS All-Access, where it aired two seasons. It will debut Season 1 on Tuesday nights on The CW. Meanwhile "Swamp Thing" was created for the DC Streaming service, and will air Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on The CW.
To bolster the schedule, the CW has purchased some shows from overseas, like "Dead Pixels" and "Coroner" to fill the slots and shows that were originally created and debuted on other Streaming platforms. "Tell Me a Story" was part of CBS All-Access, where it aired two seasons. It will debut Season 1 on Tuesday nights on The CW. Meanwhile "Swamp Thing" was created for the DC Streaming service, and will air Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on The CW.
Those Hoping for a Return to Normal:
CBS
CBS was the third network to debut a Fall Schedule, and the first to unveil one that looked like normal. While they don't have many new offerings, and they didn't offer a range of when this schedule might start in the Fall, it looks fairly typical. The hope is to provide a Fall schedule that looks familiar to most viewers.
CBS
CBS was the third network to debut a Fall Schedule, and the first to unveil one that looked like normal. While they don't have many new offerings, and they didn't offer a range of when this schedule might start in the Fall, it looks fairly typical. The hope is to provide a Fall schedule that looks familiar to most viewers.
Returning Shows:
CBS has a mostly in tact lineup. Comedies "The Neighborhood" and "Bob Hearts Abishola" kick off Mondays, followed by dramas "All Rise" and "Bull." Tuesdays feature "NCIS" followed by "FBI" and "FBI: Most Wanted." Wednesdays feature "Survivor" followed by "The Amazing Race," which had its season held from Summer until Fall, ending the evening with "Seal Team." Thursdays feature comedies "Young Sheldon," "Mom" and "The Unicorn," along with drama "Evil." Fridays feature "MacGyver," "Magnum P.I." and "Blue Bloods," while "NCIS: LA" and "NCIS: New Orleans" anchor Sunday nights.
CBS has a mostly in tact lineup. Comedies "The Neighborhood" and "Bob Hearts Abishola" kick off Mondays, followed by dramas "All Rise" and "Bull." Tuesdays feature "NCIS" followed by "FBI" and "FBI: Most Wanted." Wednesdays feature "Survivor" followed by "The Amazing Race," which had its season held from Summer until Fall, ending the evening with "Seal Team." Thursdays feature comedies "Young Sheldon," "Mom" and "The Unicorn," along with drama "Evil." Fridays feature "MacGyver," "Magnum P.I." and "Blue Bloods," while "NCIS: LA" and "NCIS: New Orleans" anchor Sunday nights.
New Shows:
CBS is launching just two new shows in the Fall. The first is the comedy "B Positive," which will slot in behind "Young Sheldon" and just before "Mom" on Thursdays. That a fairly safe spot, and the comedy comes from Chuck Lorre, so it fits with the brand and the night. The only other new Fall show is "The Equalizer," which will go Sundays at 8 p.m. and features Queen Latifah in the lead role. It's presumably a similar story to the previous show and movies, just with a female lead. A more interesting new show, "Clarice," from Alex Kurtzman and meant as a sequel to "The Silence of the Lambs" was held for mid-season.
CBS is launching just two new shows in the Fall. The first is the comedy "B Positive," which will slot in behind "Young Sheldon" and just before "Mom" on Thursdays. That a fairly safe spot, and the comedy comes from Chuck Lorre, so it fits with the brand and the night. The only other new Fall show is "The Equalizer," which will go Sundays at 8 p.m. and features Queen Latifah in the lead role. It's presumably a similar story to the previous show and movies, just with a female lead. A more interesting new show, "Clarice," from Alex Kurtzman and meant as a sequel to "The Silence of the Lambs" was held for mid-season.
NBC
NBC would've been the first to debut a new schedule if Upfronts Week remained in-tact, but they became the fourth to debut in this time of Covid-19, following the CBS model of offering a Fall Schedule that is mostly stable. It helps that NBC, like FOX, will be bolstered by one night of Prime Time NFL action as well.
NBC would've been the first to debut a new schedule if Upfronts Week remained in-tact, but they became the fourth to debut in this time of Covid-19, following the CBS model of offering a Fall Schedule that is mostly stable. It helps that NBC, like FOX, will be bolstered by one night of Prime Time NFL action as well.
Returning Shows:
NBC's schedule looks pretty familiar to long-time viewers. Monday's feature "The Voice" followed by drama "Manifest," while Tuesdays offer "The Voice," "This Is Us" and "New Amsterdam." Wednesdays will feature the Chicago Trio (Med, Fire and PD), while Thursdays feature comedies "Superstore" and "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" followed by "Law & Order: SVU." On Fridays, it's "The Blacklist" followed by "Dateline," and Sundays is "Sunday Night Football."
NBC's schedule looks pretty familiar to long-time viewers. Monday's feature "The Voice" followed by drama "Manifest," while Tuesdays offer "The Voice," "This Is Us" and "New Amsterdam." Wednesdays will feature the Chicago Trio (Med, Fire and PD), while Thursdays feature comedies "Superstore" and "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" followed by "Law & Order: SVU." On Fridays, it's "The Blacklist" followed by "Dateline," and Sundays is "Sunday Night Football."
New Shows:
NBC has some new shows for mid-season, but in the Fall they'll offer just one new series, the "Law & Order" spin-off "Organized Crime" led by Christopher Meloni's Det. Elliot Stabler. That series will follow "SVU" on Thursday nights, and feels like a pretty safe bet for the network.
NBC has some new shows for mid-season, but in the Fall they'll offer just one new series, the "Law & Order" spin-off "Organized Crime" led by Christopher Meloni's Det. Elliot Stabler. That series will follow "SVU" on Thursday nights, and feels like a pretty safe bet for the network.
ABC
The network finally unveiled a Fall Schedule that looked a lot like CBS and NBC, hoping for a return to normal. The network trimmed a number of comedies with its cancellations, so it eliminated the Tuesday night comedy block, pushing all its comedies to one block on Wednesdays in the Fall. That means some returning favorites will be held to mid-season, too.
The network finally unveiled a Fall Schedule that looked a lot like CBS and NBC, hoping for a return to normal. The network trimmed a number of comedies with its cancellations, so it eliminated the Tuesday night comedy block, pushing all its comedies to one block on Wednesdays in the Fall. That means some returning favorites will be held to mid-season, too.
Returning Shows:
Mondays will feature "Dancing With the Stars" followed by "The Good Doctore," while Tuesdays will feature "The Bachelorette" in a two-hour block to start the night. Wednesdays include the comedies "The Goldbergs," "Black-ish," "The Conners" and "American Housewife," along with the drama "Stumptown." Thursdays feature "Station 19" and "Grey's Anatomy," followed by "A Million Little Things." Fridays will be "Shark Tank" followed by "20/20," while Sundays include the new version of "Supermarket Sweep," "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" and the drama "The Rookie."
Mondays will feature "Dancing With the Stars" followed by "The Good Doctore," while Tuesdays will feature "The Bachelorette" in a two-hour block to start the night. Wednesdays include the comedies "The Goldbergs," "Black-ish," "The Conners" and "American Housewife," along with the drama "Stumptown." Thursdays feature "Station 19" and "Grey's Anatomy," followed by "A Million Little Things." Fridays will be "Shark Tank" followed by "20/20," while Sundays include the new version of "Supermarket Sweep," "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" and the drama "The Rookie."
New Shows:
ABC, like NBC, is debuting just one new show in the Fall. The lone new show is the drama "Big Sky" from creator David E. Kelley, which will air Tuesdays at 10 p.m. behind "The Bachelorette."
ABC, like NBC, is debuting just one new show in the Fall. The lone new show is the drama "Big Sky" from creator David E. Kelley, which will air Tuesdays at 10 p.m. behind "The Bachelorette."
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