Fall TV lineups taking shape on major networks

It’s too early to program the DVR to record the new shows in the upcoming fall TV lineup.

But it’s almost time to start thinking about them.

The broadcast networks — in this order: Fox, NBC, ABC, CBS and then CW — will unveil their plans for the 2016-2017 season next week.

The fates of many new and returning series were announced early, but the rest of the puzzle pieces will be revealed to ad buyers in a series of New York “upfront” presentations beginning Monday.

Here’s what the upcoming television season is beginning to look like.

Fox

What’s new

The network has already committed to five new series, although two aren’t entirely “new.”

Prison Break, which ran for four seasons (2005-2009), brings back Wentworth Miller, Dominic Purcell and the original producing team; 24: Legacy gives us yet another terrorist threat, the counter-terrorism agency CTU, a ticking clock and Corey Hawkins trying to fill Kiefer Sutherland’s shoes.

Star, another music-industry drama from executive producer Lee Daniels (Empire), is about an up-and-coming girl group from Atlanta, with a cast that includes Queen Latifah. Shots Fired is a drama about the aftermath of racially charged shootings in Tennessee; the cast includes Helen Hunt and Stephen Moyer.

Son of Zorn is a comedy that mixes animation and live action. It’s about a Conan the Barbarian-style cartoon character leading a mundane life as an office drone and suburban family man.

What’s returning

Among the network’s returning dramas is Bones, the Emily Deschanel-David Boreanaz forensics procedural, which comes back for a 12-episode victory lap farewell season. Other returning dramas: Empire, Gotham, Rosewood and Scream Queens.

Returning live-action comedies are New Girl, Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Last Man on Earth. Returning animated comedies are The Simpsons, Family Guy and Bob’s Burgers.

What’s possible

Under consideration are a TV version of Lethal Weapon, starring Clayne Crawford and Damon Wayons Sr. as Riggs and Murtaugh; Charity Case, a comedy starring Courteney Cox; The Exorcist, a supernatural drama starring Geena Davis; and Pitch, about the first female pitcher in the major leagues.

Current series still awaiting word about their futures: Sleepy Hollow, The Grinder, Grandfathered and Bordertown.

NBC

What’s new

The network has already announced a straight-to-series order for Taken, a TV prequel to the Liam Neeson movies. Clive Standen (of History channel’s Vikings) will star as an up-and-coming younger version of Neeson’s CIA tough guy Bryan Mills.

Also already locked in is Good Place, a comedy starring Kristen Bell and Ted Danson.

What’s returning

Already officially renewed for next season are the following dramas: The Blacklist, Blindspot, Chicago Fire, Chicago Med, Chicago P.D., Grimm and Law & Order: SVU. Aquarius and Shades of Blue also got renewal notices, probably for summer runs.

What’s possible

Two dramas likely to get the nod are spinoffs of existing hits: The pilot for an action series starring Famke Janssen airs Thursday night as an episode of The Blacklist. The other front-runner is another Chicago-based, Dick Wolf-produced drama: Chicago Justice.

Also under consideration: Cruel Intentions, with Sarah Michelle Gellar reprising her role from the 1999 movie; Marlon, a semi-autobiographical comedy starring Marlon Wayons; Midnight, Texas, based on the Charlaine Harris paranormal novels; Trial and Error, a comedy starring John Lithgow; Grand Junction, a comedy starring Jack McBrayer; and Great News, a comedy executive-produced by Tina Fey.

Current dramas and comedies on the bubble: The Mysteries of Laura, Telenovela and The Carmichael Show (which have decent chances of getting picked up) and Game of Silence, Heartbeat and Undateable (which should be considered long shots).

ABC

What’s new

Kiefer Sutherland will star in Designated Survivor, a conspiracy thriller that got a straight-to-series order from the network.

He plays a low-level Cabinet member suddenly named president after a terror attack during the State of the Union address wipes out more than a dozen people ahead of him in the presidential line of succession. Sounds a little like a 24 plot that Sutherland’s Jack Bauer couldn’t thwart.

What’s returning

The network’s popular TGIT lineup of Shonda Rhimes-produced dramas — Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal and How To Get Away With Murder — will return. Other dramas that have already snagged renewal notices are Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Once Upon a Time and Quantico.

Returning comedies include the Wednesday night comedy block of The Middle, The Goldbergs, Modern Family and Black-ish — as well as Fresh Off the Boat.

What’s possible

Among the network’s drama candidates is Marvel’s Most Wanted, an Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. spinoff starring Adrianne Palicki. There also is a spate of legal-crime dramas: Conviction, starring Hayley Atwell; Broken, starring Anna Paquin (as a Dallas divorce attorney); and The Jury, starring Archie Panjabi.

Potential comedies include The Fluffy Shop, with Gabriel Iglesias; Hail Mary, with Casey Wilson; and Pearl, with Candice Bergen.

Current series waiting to know their futures are the long-running Castle, Nashville and the acclaimed American Crime. Also on the bubble: The Catch, Dr. Ken and Last Man Standing.

CBS

What’s new

The only new show already locked in here is an untitled Kevin James family comedy. The former King of Queens star will play a retired cop who’s suddenly overwhelmed as a stay-at-home family man.

What’s returning

Given that CBS is winning the ratings race, it should come as no surprise that its lineup will stay more or less intact. Returning dramas are Blue Bloods, Criminal Minds, Elementary, Hawaii Five-O, Madam Secretary, NCIS, NCIS: Los Angeles, NCIS: New Orleans and Scorpion. Returning comedies are The Big Bang Theory, 2 Broke Girls and Mom.

What’s possible

Several potential comedies have tried-and-true stars attached: there’s an untitled Matt LeBlanc-Jenna Fischer family sitcom; The Great Indoors, with Joel McHale; My Time/Your Time, with Jane Levy; and What Goes Around Comes Around, with Jason Lee and Alyssa Milano.

As for dramas, the network is looking at Michael Weatherly (who just left NCIS) in Bull, based on the early career of Dr. Phil McGraw, and Drew, starring Sarah Shahi as a grown-up Nancy Drew, who’s now an NYPD detective in her 30s.

Series hoping for renewal notices are Supergirl (almost a sure thing), Code Black, Limitless, Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders, CSI: Cyber, Life in Pieces and The Odd Couple.

CW

What’s new

Nothing new locked in yet — and very little likely to be added, given that the network has renewed practically its entire current lineup.

What’s returning

All of the network’s superhero series will return: Arrow, The Flash and DC’s Legends of Tomorrow. Other returning dramas: Supernatural, The Vampire Diaries, The 100, The Originals, Reign and iZombie. Returning hourlong comedies: Jane the Virgin and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.

What’s possible

CW is the network with the fewest pilots to consider. Among them: Frequency, a re-imagining of the 2000 film, starring Peyton List and Mekhi Phifer; Riverdale, a surreal live-action twist on the Archie Comics; and an untitled paranormal drama from Kevin Williamson, the man behind the “Scream” movies.

This story was originally published May 10, 2016 at 12:46 PM with the headline "Fall TV lineups taking shape on major networks."