A Shonda Rhimes 8-11 PM Thursday lineup highlights ABC’s fall schedule, with Rhimes’ red-hot Scandal bracing for a 9 PM showdown with another sizzling drama that is moving to Thursday next season, NBC’s The Blacklist. Here is ABC’s fall schedule, which ABC president Paul Lee says “reflects a judicious mix of boldness and stability,” followed by analysis and new series descriptions:
ABC FALL 2014-2015 SCHEDULE
(New programs in UPPER CASE; all times ET)
MONDAY
8 PM Dancing with the Stars
10 PM Castle
TUESDAY
8 PM SELFIE
8:30 PM MANHATTAN LOVE STORY
9 PM Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
10 PM FOREVER
WEDNESDAY
8 PM The Middle
8:30 PM The Goldbergs
9:00 PM Modern Family
9:30 PM BLACK-ISH
10:00 PM Nashville
THURSDAY
8 PM Grey’s Anatomy
9 PM Scandal
10 PM HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER
FRIDAY
8 PM Last Man Standing
8:30 PM CRISTELA
9 PM Shark Tank
10 PM 20/20
SATURDAY
8 PM Saturday Night Football
SUNDAY
7 PM America’s Funniest Home Videos
8 PM Once Upon a Time
9 PM Resurrection/AMERICAN CRIME
10 PM Revenge
ABC is showing a lot of faith in new comedy Black-ish, which lost showrunner Larry Wilmore a day after the project was picked up to series. The network has given Kenya Barris’ family comedy starring Anthony Anderson, with Laurence Fishburne recurring and executive producing, the plum post-Modern Family slot. In landing a series pickup, Black-ish edged another strong Black family comedy ABC pilot, Kevin Hart’s Keep It Together. Besides Black-ish being owned by ABC, possibly a key factor was the fact that Black-ish is single-camera (Keep It Together is multi), making it a better fit for the network’s Wednesday comedy lineup. No surprise at 8:30 PM. The Goldbergs, which had been promised the slot after suffering in the Tuesday 9 PM slot last season, got it and is expected to provide a smoother flow from The Middle to Modern Family.
Speaking of flow, ABC also is making an improvement in that department on Tuesday where it had dramas at 8 PM (Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) and 10 PM (variety of short-lived ones) bridged by two comedies, The Goldbergs and Trophy Wife. Now Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is forming a 9-11 PM drama block with new supernatural procedural Forever. (ABC tested S.H.I.E.L.D. in the 9 PM hour in March and was happy with the results.) This way, ABC will no longer have comedies facing NBC and Fox’s Tuesday 9-10 PM comedy blocks. However, ABC is asking a lot of new comedies Selfie and Manhattan Love Story, which are tasked with opening the night at 8 PM with no lead-in protection against NBC’s The Voice.
As expected, new Marvel drama, Agent Carter, will bridge the fall and winter runs of Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Related: ABC Picks Up ‘Marvel’s Agent Carter’, Renews ‘Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.’
The network will use the same tactic for Dan Fogelman’s new fairytale musical comedy Galavant, which will link the fall finale and winter premiere of Sunday fairytale drama Once Upon a Time, with its eight half-hour episodes airing back-to-back in the 8 PM hour for four weeks. ABC originally had the same plan for Once spinoff Wonderland last year before slating it concurrently with the mothership series in the difficult for ABC Thursday 8 PM slot.
That slot, which has seen the demise of a slew of drama series over the past few years, has been assigned to ABC’s trusted veteran Grey’s Anatomy, sliding from its long-time 9 PM home. It will be replaced by Scandal, which is taking over the 9 PM tentpole position and will be used as a launch pad for Rhimes’ latest drama series, How To Get Away with Murder, penned by Peter Nowalk. Grey’s, Scandal and How to Get Away with Murder all are eyed for split seasons, meaning that it is quite possible that a bridge show at 9 PM would take the brunt of The Blacklist’s post-Super Bowl bow before Scandal comes back. (ABC is not announcing what shows would be used for that though the 10-episode mystery drama Secrets & Lies seems like a suitable contender.)
Related: Shonda Rhimes Inks New Four-Year Deal With ABC Studios
Young Latina comedienne Cristela Alonzo will join veteran standup Tim Allen on Friday, with their multi-camera comedies Last Man Standing and Cristela running from 8-9 PM. On Sunday, Resurrection, whose order is for 15-16 episode, will wrap early and will be followed by John Ridley’s dark new drama American Crime, tailored for a limited run. Here are descriptions for ABC’s new series, including new dramas Secrets & Lies and Whispers and new comedy Fresh off the Boat, which are being held for midseason. Kept on the bench from ABC’s returning lineup is reality series The Taste.
NEW FALL AND MIDSEASON SERIES:
DRAMA
AMERICAN CRIME - All over the news are reports about a young couple in Modesto, California, who were attacked in their home. Matt Skokie, a war vet, was killed, and his wife, Lily, is unconscious, barely hanging on. Both sets of parents are at her bedside hoping for a miracle while four suspects are about to be arrested. The case sends shock waves into the community stirring up tensions across racial lines in this gritty drama—from the point of view of the victims. “American Crime” stars Felicity Huffman as Barb, Timothy Hutton as Russ, W. Earl Brown as Tom, Richard Cabral as Hector Tonz, Caitlin Gerard as Aubry, Benito Martinez as Alonzo Gutierrez, Penelope Ann Miller as Eve, Elvis Nolasco as Carter and Johnny Ortiz as Tony Gutierrez. “American Crime” was written, directed and produced by John Ridley (“12 Years A Slave”). Executive producers are John Ridley and Michael J. McDonald. “American Crime” is produced by ABC Studios.
FOREVER - Doctor Henry Morgan (Ioan Gruffudd), New York City’s star medical examiner, has a secret. He doesn’t just study the dead to solve criminal cases, he does it to solve the mystery that has eluded him for 200 years—the answer to his own inexplicable immortality. This long life has given Henry remarkable observation skills which impresses his new partner, Detective Jo Martinez (Alana De La Garza). Each week, a new case and their budding friendship will reveal layers of Henry’s long and colorful past. Only his best friend and confidant, Abe (Judd Hirsch) knows Henry’s secret. “Forever” stars Ioan Gruffudd as Henry, Alana De La Garza as Det. Jo Martinez, Barbara Eve Harris as Lt. Marcia Roark, Donnie Keshawarz as Detective Hanson, Joel David Moore as Lucas, and Judd Hirsch as Abe. “Forever” was written and executive-produced by Matt Miller (“Chuck,” “Las Vegas”). Dan Lin (“Sherlock Holmes,” “Gangster Squad”) and Jennifer Gwartz (“Veronica Mars,” “Cupid,” “Party Down”) are executive producers. “Forever” was directed by Brad Anderson and is produced by Warner Bros. Television.
HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER - The brilliant, charismatic and seductive Professor Annalise Keating (Viola Davis) gets entangled with four law students from her class, “How to Get Away with Murder.” Little do they know that they will have to apply what they learned to real life, in this masterful, sexy, suspense-driven legal thriller from Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers, executive producers of “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Scandal.” “How to Get Away with Murder” stars Viola Davis as Professor Annalise Keating, Billy Brown as Nate, Alfred Enoch as Wes, Jack Falahee as Conner, Katie Findlay as Rebecca, Aja Naomi King as Michaela, Matt McGorry as Asher, Karla Souza as Laurel, Charlie Weber as Frank and Liza Weil as Bonnie. Written by executive producer Peter Nowalk, “How to Get Away with Murder” is executive-produced by Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers, directed by Michael Offer, and produced by ABC Studios.
MARVEL’S AGENT CARTER - “Marvel’s Agent Carter,” starring “Captain America’s” Hayley Atwell, follows the story of Peggy Carter. It’s 1946, and peace has dealt Peggy Carter a serious blow as she finds herself marginalized when the men return home from fighting abroad. Working for the covert SSR (Strategic Scientific Reserve), Peggy must balance doing administrative work and going on secret missions for Howard Stark all while trying to navigate life as a single woman in America, in the wake of losing the love of her life – Steve Rogers. Inspired by the feature films “Captain America: The First Avenger” and “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” along with the short “Marvel One-Shot: Agent Carter.” Starring Hayley Atwell as Agent Peggy Carter, “Marvel’s Agent Carter” was written by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely. Executive producers are Tara Butters, Michele Fazekas, Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely, Chris Dingess, Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Alan Fine, Joe Quesada, Stan Lee and Jeph Loeb. “Marvel’s Agent Carter” is produced by ABC Studios and Marvel Television.
SECRETS AND LIES - Ben Garner (Ryan Phillippe) is about to go from Good Samaritan to murder suspect, after he discovers the body of his neighbor’s young son in the woods. As Detective Andrea Cornell (Juliette Lewis) digs for the truth, the secrets and lies of this town come to the surface and no one is above suspicion. Ben’s family’s life will be turned upside down as he sets out on a complicated journey to prove his innocence in this thriller mystery from Barbie Kligman (“Private Practice”) based on the original Australian series of the same name. “Secrets and Lies” stars Ryan Phillippe as Ben, KaDee Strickland as Christy, Natalie Martinez as Jess, Clifton Collins, Jr. as Dave, Indiana Evans as Natalie, Belle Shouse as Abby and Juliette Lewis as Detective Cornell. “Secrets and Lies” was written by Barbie Kligman. Executive producers are Barbie Kligman, Aaron Kaplan, Tracey Robertson and Nathan Mayfield. “Secrets and Lies” was directed by Charles McDougall, executive-produced by Kapital Entertainment with Hoodlum Entertainment and produced by ABC Studios.
THE WHISPERS - Aliens have invaded Earth by using our most unlikely resource to achieve world domination—our children. As the kids unwittingly help these unseen enemies, the clock counts down in this suspenseful race to save humanity. “The Whispers” stars Lily Rabe as Claire Bennigan, Barry Sloane as Wes Lawrence, Milo Ventimiglia as John Doe/Drew Bennigan, Derek Webster as Jessup Rollins, Brianna Brown as Lena Lawrence, Catalina Denis as Dr. Maria Benavidez, Kylie Rogers as Minx Lawrence and Kyle Harrison Breitkopf as Henry. “The Whispers” was written and co-executive-produced by Soo Hugh, with Amblin TV co-producing. Executive producers are Steven Spielberg, Justin Falvey, Darryl Frank and Dawn Olmstead. “The Whispers” was directed by Mark Romanek and produced by ABC Studios.
COMEDY
BLACK-ISH - Andre ‘Dre’ Johnson (Anthony Anderson) has a great job, a beautiful wife, Rainbow (Tracee Ellis Ross), four kids, and a colonial home in the ‘burbs. But has success brought too much assimilation for this black family? With a little help from his dad (Laurence Fishburne), Dre sets out to establish a sense of cultural identity for his family that honors their past while embracing the future. “Black-ish” stars Anthony Anderson as Dre, Tracee Ellis Ross as Rainbow, Yara Shahidi as Zoey, Marcus Scribner as Andre Jr., Miles Brown as Jack, Marsai Martin as Diane and Laurence Fishburne as Pops. “Black-ish” was written by Kenya Barris, who also serves as executive producer. Executive producers are Larry Wilmore, Anthony Anderson, Laurence Fishburne, Helen Sugland, Tom Russo, Brian Dobbins, Peter Principato, Paul Young and James Griffiths, who directed the pilot. “Black-ish” is produced by ABC Studios.
CRISTELA - In her sixth year of law school, Cristela (Cristela Alonzo) is finally on the brink of landing her first big (unpaid) internship at a prestigious law firm. The only problem is that her pursuit of success is more ambitious than her traditional Mexican-American family thinks is appropriate. She’s stuck straddling the old culture she’s trying to modernize at home with her working-class family and the modern world she’s trying to embrace in her professional career. Breakout comedian Cristela Alonzo stars in this hilarious comedy about laughing your way down the path to the new American dream. “Cristela” stars Cristela Alonzo as Cristela, Carlos Ponce as Felix, Terri Hoyos as Natalia, Andrew Leeds as Josh and Sam McMurray as Trent. “Cristela” was written by Cristela Alonzo and Kevin Hench. Executive producers are Kevin Hench, Marty Adelstein, Becky Clements and Shawn Levy. “Cristela” is produced by 20th Century Fox Television.
FRESH OFF THE BOAT - It’s the 90s and 11 year old, hip-hop loving Eddie (Hudson Yang) just moved to suburban Orlando from DC’s Chinatown with his parents (Randall Park and Constance Wu). It’s culture shock for his immigrant family in this comedy about pursuing the American Dream. “Fresh Off the Boat” is based on Chef Eddie Huang’s memoir Fresh Off the Boat. “Fresh Off the Boat” stars Randall Park as Louis, Constance Wu as Jessica, Hudson Yang as Eddie, Forrest Wheeler as Emery and Ian Chen as Evan. “Fresh Off the Boat” was written by Nahnatchka Khan, who also serves as executive producer. Jake Kasdan and Melvin Mar are executive producers, and Eddie Huang is producer. The series is produced by 20th Century Fox Television.
GALAVANT - Screenwriter/executive producer Dan Fogelman (“Crazy, Stupid, Love,” “Tangled,” “Cars”) teams up with Broadway and Hollywood award-winning musical team—composer Alan Menken (“The Little Mermaid,” “Aladdin,” “Beauty and the Beast”) and lyricist Glenn Slater (“The Little Mermaid,” “Tangled”)—for a musical comedy fairytale of epic proportions. Once upon a time, the dashing hero, Galavant (Joshua Sasse), lost the love of his life, Madalena (Mallory Jansen), to the evil King Richard (Timothy Omundson). Now, our fallen hero is ready to take revenge and restore his “happily ever after.” But it won’t be without a few twists and turns along the way. “Galavant” stars Joshua Sasse as Galavant, Timothy Omundson as King Richard, Vinnie Jones as Gareth, Mallory Jansen as Madalena, Karen David as Isabella and Luke Youngblood as Sid. “Galavant” was written by Dan Fogelman, who also serves as executive producer. Executive producers are Alan Menken, Glenn Slater and Chris Koch. “Galavant” was directed by Chris Koch. Abbey C Studios Ltd. produces “Galavant” for ABC Studios.
MANHATTAN LOVE STORY – Have you ever wondered what your date was thinking? This romantic comedy exposes the differences between men and women through the unfiltered thoughts, and often contradictory actions, of a new couple who have just begun dating. “Manhattan Love Story” stars Analeigh Tipton as Dana, Jake McDorman as Peter, Nicolas Wright as David, Jade Catta-Preta as Amy, Chloe Wepper as Chloe and Kurt Fuller as William. “Manhattan Love Story” was written by Jeff Lowell (“Drew Carey Show,” “Spin City”). Peter Traugott, Jeff Lowell, Robin Schwartz, Rachel Kaplan and Jon Liebman are executive producers. Michael Fresco directed the pilot. “Manhattan Love Story” is produced by ABC Studios.
SELFIE – “Instafamous” Eliza Dooley (Karen Gillan) has 263,000 followers who hang on to her every post, tweet and selfie. But one lonely day, she has a revelation: being friended is not the same as having actual friends. She asks marketing guru Henry (John Cho) to ‘rebrand’ her self-obsessed reputation and teach her how to connect with people in the real world. Loosely based on “My Fair Lady,” “Selfie” explores the modern struggles of Eliza and Henry, as he tries to teach her how to live life offline—whether she ‘likes’ it or not. “Selfie” stars Karen Gillan as Eliza, John Cho as Henry, Tim Peper as Ethan, Da’Vine Joy Randolph as Charmonique, Allyn Rachel as Bryn and David Harewood as Sam. “Selfie” was written by Emily Kapnek and directed by Julie Anne Robinson, who also serve as executive producers. “Selfie” is produced by Piece of Pie Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television.
RETURNING SERIES:
DRAMA
CASTLE (Season 7) – When viewers first met Richard Castle, a famous mystery novelist, he was creatively blocked. But when the NYPD questioned him in connection with a series of murders staged to imitate crime scenes from his books, Castle found inspiration in NYPD Detective Kate Beckett. Once that initial case was solved, Castle and Beckett continued to investigate strange homicides in New York, combining Castle’s writer intuition and Beckett’s creative detective work to solve crimes. Becoming a couple during Season 5 and planning their wedding during Season 6, the dynamic duo have been navigating these new developments that make each episode play like a chapter in their lives as they looked ahead to their “I Do’s”…but in the season finale, Beckett was at the accident scene to see Castle’s car on fire after a crash down an embankment. Tune-in for the Season 7 premiere in September to see how it plays out. “Castle” stars Nathan Fillion as Richard Castle, Stana Katic as NYPD Detective Kate Beckett, Tamala Jones as Medical Examiner Lanie Parish, Jon Huertas as NYPD Detective Javier Esposito, Seamus Dever as NYPD Detective Kevin Ryan, Penny Johnson Jerald as NYPD Captain Victoria Gates, Molly Quinn as Alexis Castle with Susan Sullivan as Martha Rodgers.
“Castle” is executive-produced by Andrew Marlowe, Rob Bowman, David Amann and Armyan Bernstein. The series is produced by ABC Studios.
GREY’S ANATOMY (Season 11) – “Grey’s Anatomy” follows the personal and professional lives of a group of doctors at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital in Seattle as they deal with the wellbeing of their patients and their relationships with each other. “Grey’s Anatomy” stars Ellen Pompeo as Meredith Grey, Patrick Dempsey as Derek Shepherd, Justin Chambers as Alex Karev, Chandra Wilson as Miranda Bailey, James Pickens, Jr. as Richard Webber, Sara Ramirez as Callie Torres, Kevin McKidd as Owen Hunt, Jessica Capshaw as Arizona Robbins, Jesse Williams as Jackson Avery, Sarah Drew as April Kepner, Camilla Luddington as Jo Wilson, and Jerrika Hinton as Stephanie Edwards. “Grey’s Anatomy” was created and is executive produced by Shonda Rhimes. Betsy Beers, Mark Gordon, Rob Corn, Stacy McKee, Bill Harper and Zoanne Clack are executive producers. “Grey’s Anatomy” is produced by ABC Studios.
MARVEL’S AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. (Season 2) – “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” a dynamic, action-packed one-hour drama, showcases Agent Phil Coulson and his team of highly skilled agents as they investigate extra-normal and super human people and events worldwide. Soon after the battle of New York, the existence of super heroes and aliens became public knowledge, and the world was trying to come to grips with this new reality. With new threats on the horizon, Coulson’s small, highly select group of Agents from the worldwide law-enforcement organization known as S.H.I.E.L.D. (Strategic Homeland Intervention Enforcement and Logistics Division) investigate the new, the strange and the unknown around the globe, protecting the ordinary from the extraordinary. The cast includes Clark Gregg as Agent Phil Coulson, Ming-Na Wen as Agent Melinda May, Brett Dalton as Agent Grant Ward, Chloe Bennet as Skye, Iain De Caestecker as Agent Leo Fitz and Elizabeth Henstridge as Agent Jemma Simmons. Executive producers are Joss Whedon, Jed Whedon, Maurissa Tancharoen, Jeffrey Bell and Jeph Loeb. “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” is produced by ABC Studios and Marvel Television.
NASHVILLE (Season 3) – Set against the backdrop of the Nashville music scene, the critically-acclaimed series follows Rayna Jaymes and Juliette Barnes. Both women face personal and professional challenges as they navigate their paths as artists and individuals. Surrounding them and often complicating their lives are their family, friends and, in some cases, lovers, as well as the up-and-coming performers and songwriters trying to get ahead in the business. Music City can mean so many things to different people. In “Nashville,” musicians and songwriters are at the heart of the storms driven by their own ambitions. Some are fueled by their creativity and passion for fame, others struggle to cope with the pressures of success and doing everything in their power to stay on top. “Nashville” stars Connie Britton as Rayna Jaymes, Hayden Panettiere as Juliette Barnes, Charles Esten as Deacon Claybourne, Eric Close as Teddy Conrad, Clare Bowen as Scarlett O’Connor, Jonathan Jackson as Avery Barkley, Sam Palladio as Gunnar Scott, Chris Carmack as Will Lexington, Lennon Stella as Maddie Conrad and Maisy Stella as Daphne Conrad. Dee Johnson, Callie Khouri and Steve Buchanan are executive producers of “Nashville.” The series is produced by Lionsgate, ABC Studios and Opry Entertainment.
ONCE UPON A TIME (Season 4) – Master storytellers Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz (“Lost,” “Tron: Legacy”) invite everyone to join Emma Swan, Snow White, Prince Charming, The Evil Queen, Hook and all the other resident fairy tale characters as they prepare to defend themselves against a magical force from the past that’s too dark and unpredictable even for Rumplestiltskin – The Ice Queen. Welcome to Storybrooke, Maine, a small town that probably won’t show up on your GPS, but it’s a magical place to visit. Reality and myth merged after Emma broke Regina’s curse, which had deprived the fairytale characters of their memories and trapped them in our modern world. When they finally regained their identities, our heroes were dismayed to discover that they weren’t transported back to Fairy Tale Land. To make matters worse, Rumplestiltskin – aka Mr. Gold – decided to escalate his power struggle with Regina by introducing magic into the town. But this is our world, and magic always has a tendency to yield unfathomable consequences. “Once Upon a Time” stars Ginnifer Goodwin as Snow White/Mary Margaret, Jennifer Morrison as Emma Swan, Lana Parrilla as the Evil Queen/Regina, Josh Dallas as Prince Charming/David, Emilie de Ravin as Belle, Colin O’Donoghue as Hook, Jared S. Gilmore as Henry Mills and Robert Carlyle as Rumplestiltskin/Mr. Gold. Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz are creators and executive producers. Steve Pearlman and David H. Goodman are also executive producers. The show is from ABC Studios.
RESURRECTION (Season 2) – The people of Arcadia, Missouri are forever changed when their deceased loved ones suddenly start to reappear. An 8-year-old American boy wakes up alone in a rice paddy in a rural Chinese province with no idea how he got there. Details start to emerge when the boy, who calls himself Jacob, recalls that his hometown is Arcadia, and an Immigration agent, J. Martin Bellamy, takes him there. The home he claims as his own is occupied by a 60-year-old couple, Henry and Lucille Langston, who lost their son, Jacob, more than 30 years ago. While they look different, young Jacob recognizes them as his parents. Lucille is overjoyed at the seeming miracle of her son’s reappearance. Henry is reluctant to accept that Jacob is back. Those closest to the family want answers, including Sheriff Fred Langston, whose wife Barbara drowned 30 years ago while trying to save Jacob, and Fred’s daughter, Maggie, a local doctor. Pastor Tom Hale seeks a spiritual reason for what’s happening in his community. When things take an even more shocking turn, Maggie’s life-long friend, Elaine Richards, finds herself drawn into Arcadia’s growing mystery. Bellamy, an outsider in the town, joins forces with Maggie to figure out why the unexplainable is happening in Arcadia. As their investigation plays out, Maggie learns some unsettling truths about her own past. Will they be able to solve the mystery of Arcadia before the rest of the world catches on to events there? And will they be able to protect Jacob from forces beyond their control? “Resurrection” stars Omar Epps (“House”) as J. Martin Bellamy, Frances Fisher (“Titanic”) as Lucille Langston, Matt Craven (“Crimson Tide,” “A Few Good Men”) as Fred Langston, Devin Kelley (“Chernobyl Diaries,” “The Chicago Code”) as Maggie Langston, Mark Hildreth (“The Tudors”) as Pastor Tom Hale, Samaire Armstrong (“Entourage,” “The O.C.”) as Elaine Richards, Sam Hazeldine (“The Raven”) as Caleb Richards, Landon Gimenez as Jacob and Kurtwood Smith (“That ’70s Show”) as Henry Langston. “Resurrection” was developed by Aaron Zelman (“Damages,” “The Killing”), who is executive producer. Michele Fazekas & Tara Butters and JoAnn Alfano are executive producers. Dan Attias is director and executive producer. Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner are executive producers for Plan B and Jon Liebman is executive producer for Brillstein Entertainment. “Resurrection” is produced by ABC Studios.
REVENGE (Season 4) – Emily Thorne (Emily VanCamp), by all appearances, is a friendly and sophisticated “girl next door,” but the exclusive world she has immersed herself in is tied to a dark family history, and Emily has quickly proven that she is anything but what she seems. After her father was framed for a horrific crime by neighbors he trusted and was sentenced to a life in prison, Emily never saw her father again and spent her childhood consumed by rage, loss and betrayal. Years later, she returned to the Hamptons under an assumed identity with one endgame—REVENGE, every social overture a carefully planned chip at the foundation of her sworn enemies until their lives come crashing down around them. Now, she must face the consequences of her actions and the havoc she has wreaked on those around her as she continues on her mission. “Revenge” stars Emily VanCamp as Emily Thorne, Madeleine Stowe as Victoria Grayson, Josh Bowman as Daniel Grayson, Nick Wechsler as Jack Porter, Gabriel Mann as Nolan Ross, and Christa B. Allen as Charlotte Grayson. “Revenge” is executive produced by Sunil Nayar, Marty Bowen and Wyck Godfrey. Gretchen J. Berg and Aaron Harberts also executive produce. The series, created by Mike Kelley, is produced by ABC Studios.
SCANDAL (Season 4)
Everyone has secrets…and Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington) has dedicated her life to protecting and defending the public images of the nation’s elite by keeping those secrets under wraps. Pope’s team are at the top of their game when it comes to getting the job done for their clients, but it becomes apparent that these “gladiators in suits” who specialize in fixing the lives of other people, have trouble fixing those closest at hand, their own. “Scandal” stars Kerry Washington as Olivia Pope, Guillermo Diaz as Huck, Darby Stanchfield as Abby Whelan, Katie Lowes as Quinn Perkins, Tony Goldwyn as President Fitzgerald Grant, Jeff Perry as Cyrus, Bellamy Young as First Lady Mellie Grant, Joshua Malina as David Rosen and Scott Foley as Captain Jake Ballard. The series was created by Shonda Rhimes. Shonda Rhimes, Betsy Beers and Mark Wilding are executive producers. “Scandal” is produced by ABC Studios.
COMEDY
THE GOLDBERGS (Season 2) – Before there were parenting blogs, trophies for showing up and peanut allergies, there was a simpler time called the ‘80s. For geeky young Adam (Sean Giambrone), these were his wonder years, and he faced them armed with a video camera to capture all the crazy. The Goldbergs are a loving family like any other—just with more yelling. Mom Beverly (Wendi McClendon-Covey) is a classic “smother,” an overbearing, overprotective matriarch who rules this brood with 100% authority and zero sense of boundaries. Dad Murray (Jeff Garlin) is gruff, sometimes oblivious but with good intentions. Sister Erica (Hayley Orrantia) is 17, popular, terrifying and not one to mess with. Barry (Troy Gentile) is 16, an overly emotional teen with mad rap skills. Adam is the youngest, a camera-wielding future director with a love of all things “nerdy.” “The Goldbergs” stars Wendi McLendon-Covey as Beverly Goldberg, Patton Oswalt as the voice of adult Adam Goldberg, Sean Giambrone as Adam Goldberg, Troy Gentile as Barry Goldberg, Hayley Orrantia as Erica Goldberg, with George Segal as Pops Solomon and Jeff Garlin as Murray Goldberg. “The Goldbergs” was created by Adam F. Goldberg, who also serves as executive producer. Doug Robinson and Seth Gordon are executive producers. “The Goldbergs” is produced by Happy Madison, Adam F. Goldberg Productions and Exhibit A Productions in conjunction with Sony Pictures Television.
LAST MAN STANDING” (Season 4)
Tim Allen stars as “Mike Baxter” in “Last Man Standing,” a show about everything that families in America are dealing with today – all filtered through the blunt “man’s man” comedy of an iconic American character. In the series, Mike continues to be surrounded by forces seeking to challenge his ideals on just about everything in which he believes. As he and his wife Vanessa’s three daughters grow up and move on, they’re forced to confront that quintessential parenting dilemma about how much they can still influence their three daughters. As usual, Mike tries to escape any female drama at home in the warm, manly embrace of his job at the Outdoor Man store. “Last Man Standing” stars Tim Allen as Mike Baxter, Nancy Travis as Vanessa Baxter, Molly Ephraim as Mandy Baxter, Kaitlyn Dever as Eve Baxter, Amanda Fuller as Kristin Baxter, Christoph Sanders as Kyle Anderson, Flynn Morrison as Boyd Baxter and Hector Elizondo as Ed Alzate. “Last Man Standing” was created by Jack Burditt and is executive-produced by Tim Doyle, Tim Allen, Marty Adelstein, Becky Clements, Shawn Levy, Richard Baker, Rick Messina, Kevin Abbott and Kevin Hench. The series is produced by Twentieth Century Fox Television.
“THE MIDDLE” (Season 6) – Middle-aged, middle class and living in the middle of the country in Orson, Indiana, Frankie Heck is a harried wife and mother of three who uses her wry wit and sense of humor in an attempt to get her family through each day intact. “The Middle” stars Patricia Heaton as Frankie, Neil Flynn as Mike, Charlie McDermott as Axl, Eden Sher as Sue and Atticus Shaffer as Brick. “The Middle” is executive-produced by Eileen Heisler and DeAnn Heline. “The Middle” is from Warner Bros. Television.
“MODERN FAMILY” (Season 6) – ABC’s groundbreaking and multiple Emmy® Award-winning hit comedy series, “Modern Family,” takes a modern and often hilarious look at the complications that come with being a family today. Jay Pritchett, with his younger wife Gloria, her son Manny and new baby, sits as the patriarch of a large blended family that includes his grown daughter Claire, who has three kids of her own with her husband Phil, and a grown son Mitchell, who adopted a daughter from Vietnam with his husband Cameron. These three families are unique unto themselves, and together they give us a window into the sometimes warm, sometimes twisted embrace of the modern family. “Modern Family” stars Ed O’Neill as Jay, Sofia Vergara as Gloria, Julie Bowen as Claire, Ty Burrell as Phil, Eric Stonestreet as Cameron, Jesse Tyler Ferguson as Mitchell, Sarah Hyland as Haley, Ariel Winter as Alex, Nolan Gould as Luke, Rico Rodriguez as Manny and Aubrey Anderson-Emmons as Lily.The series is produced by 20th Century Fox Television in association with Picador Productions and Steven Levitan Prods. Steven Levitan and Christopher Lloyd are the creators/executive producers. Danny Zuker, Paul Corrigan, Brad Walsh, Abraham Higginbotham and Jeffrey Richman also serve as executive producers.
ALTERNATIVE
“AMERICA’S FUNNIEST HOME VIDEOS” (Season 25) – “America’s Funniest Home Videos,” the longest running primetime entertainment show in ABC history, enters its 25th season with the same mission—giving families something genuinely funny to enjoy. Host Tom Bergeron is back, and funnier than ever for his final season, with an abundant supply of fresh clips to keep families laughing from coast to coast. “America’s Funniest Home Videos” has given away over $13 million in prize money and evaluated more than a million videotapes from home viewers. Vin Di Bona is executive producer. Todd Thicke and Michele Nasraway are co-executive producers.
“THE BACHELOR” (Season 19) – ABC’s “The Bachelor” is the original primetime romance reality series that offers one lucky man and 25 lucky women the unique opportunity to find true love. This season, the hit series will feature its 19th edition with the new Bachelor getting to know 25 women via a series of social gatherings and exotic, romantic dates – some in groups, some individually. He will introduce some of the women to his family and will visit their hometowns for a slice of their lives in an effort to determine the woman with whom he is most compatible. At the end of the journey, filled with drama and surprises against the backdrop of spectacular international settings, the Bachelor may quite possibly have found true love. But the big question is: After all of this, will he pop the question, and will she say yes? “The Bachelor” is hosted by Chris Harrison and produced by Next Entertainment in association with Warner Horizon Television. Mike Fleiss, Martin Hilton and Alycia Rossiter are executive producers.
“DANCING WITH THE STARS” (Season 19)
Hosted by Emmy® Award-winning host Tom Bergeron (“America’s Funniest Home Videos”) and Erin Andrews (sports host & “Dancing with the Stars” Season 10 finalist), “Dancing with the Stars” is the hit series in which celebrities perform choreographed dance routines. “Dancing with the Stars” is produced by BBC Worldwide Productions. Rob Wade, Ashley Edens-Shaffer and Joe Sungkur are executive producers. Alex Rudzinski directs.
“GREAT CHRISTMAS LIGHT FIGHT” (Season 2)
The battle for lights is on! “The Great Christmas Light Fight” will be returning for a second installment this holiday season. “The Great Christmas Light Fight” first debuted on ABC in December 2013 and featured 20 families competing to have the greatest Christmas display. The families were chosen through an extensive nationwide search, based on their previous elaborate Christmas light displays, incredible choreography and over-the-top designs. “The Great Christmas Light Fight” comes from FremantleMedia North America (“American Idol,” “America’s Got Talent”). Executive producers for the series are Brady Connell, Max Swedlow, Thom Beers and Jennifer Mullin.
“SHARK TANK” (Season 6) – “Shark Tank” is back for a sixth season, with the Sharks continuing the search to invest in the best businesses and products that America has to offer. In 2012 and 2013, “Shark Tank” received an Emmy-nomination for Outstanding Reality Program; as well as a Critics’ Choice Television Award for Best Reality Series – Competition. The series was nominated for a Producers Guild Award in 2013; and in 2014, the NAACP Image Awards nominated the show for Outstanding Reality Series. The ratings and popularity for “Shark Tank” continue to build, regularly winning Friday as the No. 1 TV series on the night in Adults 18-49 in almost all of its original telecasts this season. The Sharks—tough, self-made, multi-millionaire and billionaire tycoons — are: billionaire Mark Cuban, owner and chairman of AXS TV and outspoken owner of the 2011 NBA championship Dallas Mavericks; real estate mogul Barbara Corcoran; “Queen of QVC” Lori Greiner; technology innovator Robert Herjavec; fashion and branding expert Daymond John; and venture capitalist Kevin O’Leary. Mark Burnett, Clay Newbill and Phil Gurin are the executive producers of “Shark Tank,” which is based on the Japanese “Dragons’ Den” format created by Nippon Television Network Corporation. The series is produced by Sony Pictures Television.
“THE TASTE” (Season 3) – “The Taste” features no-holds barred Chef Anthony Bourdain, British food star Nigella Lawson, expert Chef/author Ludo Lefebvre and Chef, author and restaurateur Marcus Samuelsson. These four stars of the culinary world each mentor teams of four contestants as they vie to create the best tasting dishes in a state of the art kitchen. “The Taste” is open to everyone – from home cooks to professional chefs – in an effort to find some of America’s most naturally gifted cooks. 16 culinary hopefuls will ultimately win the chance to show off their skills in “The Taste” kitchen where one blind spoonful of food can determine whether a competitor stays or goes home. “The Taste” is from Kinetic Content and is executive-produced by Chris Coelen, Matilda Zoltkowski, Emma Conway, Anthony Bourdain, Nigella Lawson and Brian Smith who is also the director.
ABC NEWS
“20/20” – The ABC News primetime news magazine “20/20” has distinguished itself as one of the most esteemed programs in broadcast journalism. Celebrating its 36th anniversary this season, “20/20” continues to combine hard-hitting investigative reports, newsmaker interviews and compelling human interest and feature stories. The program is anchored by award-winning journalists Elizabeth Vargas and David Muir. For over three decades “20/20” has offered viewers reports and stories that have changes lives.