2018 TV Upfronts: ABC announces 2018-2019 schedule; see photos and videos

May 15, 2018

by Carla Hay

Devin Trey Campbell, Kimrie Lewis, Sadie Hazelett, Grace Hazelett, Brad Garrett, Taran Killam, Marlow Barkley, Jake Choi, Leighton Meester and Tyler Wladis in “Single Parents” (Photo by Ed Herrera/ABC)

ABC officially announced its 2018-2019 schedule during the network’s upfront presentation at Lincoln Center’s David Geffen Hall in New York City on May 15, 2018. Most of the existing shows had previously been announced as renewed. However, the upfront presentation made it official that “Alex Inc.,” “Marvel’s Inhumans,” “The Mayor,” “Kevin (Probably) Saves the World,” “The Crossing,” “Designated Survivor,” “Quantico” and “Ten Days in the Valley” have been cancelled. The end of “Scandal” was announced one year before it happened.

New scripted shows include “Single Parents,” “The Rookie,” “A Million Little Things,” “Whiskey Cavalier,” “Child Support,” “The Fix,” “Schooled,” “The Kids Are Alright” and “Grand Hotel.”  Some of actors starring in these shows are known for being in past long-running hit shows. Nathan Fillion of “The Rookie” formerly starred in “Castle.” “A Million Little Things” cast member James Roday is best known for starring in “Psych.” “The Fix” star Robin Tunney is an alum of “Prison Break.” Scott Foley (“Whiskey Cavalier”) previously starred in “Scandal,” while his “Whiskey Cavalier” co-star Lauren Cohan is best known for being on “The Walking Dead.” Another “Walking Dead” alum is Michael Cudlitz, who stars in “The Kids Are Alright,” whose cast includes Mary McCormack, formerly of “The West Wing.” Meanwhile, “Schooled” star Tim Meadows is best known for being on “Saturday Night Live.” And “Gossip Girl” alum Leighton Meester returns to series television with “Single Parents,” which co-stars Brad Garrett, formerly of “Everybody Loves Raymond.”

“The Alec Baldwin Show” will be ABC’s first prime-time talk show in years. Baldwin is best known to TV audiences for his Emmy-winning roles in “30 Rock” and “Saturday Night Live.”

Premiere dates will be announced at a later time. Please note that shows picked up but not listed on the schedule below will debut later in the 2017-2018 season. They include new shows “For The People,” “The Fix,” “Schooled,” “Grand Hotel” and “Whiskey Cavalier” and renewed shows “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” “America’s Funniest Home Videos,” “American Idol,” “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette.”

The following is an excerpt from an ABC press release:

ABC FALL 2018-19 SCHEDULE

All times listed are Eastern/Pacific Time.

MONDAY

8-10 p.m.            “Dancing with the Stars”
10-11 p.m.           “The Good Doctor”

TUESDAY

8-8:30 p.m.         “Roseanne”
8:30-9 p.m.         “The Kids Are Alright”
9-9:30 p.m.         “Black-ish”
9:30-10 p.m.       “Splitting Up Together”
10-11 p.m.            “The Rookie”

WEDNESDAY

8-8:30 p.m.         “The Goldbergs”
8:30-9 p.m.         “American Housewife”
9:30-10 p.m.       “Modern Family”
9:30-10 p.m.       “Single Parents”
10-11 p.m.             “A Million Little Things”

THURSDAY 

8-9 P.M.        “Grey’s Anatomy”
9-10 P.M.       “Station 19”
10-11 P.M.      “How to Get Away with Murder”

FRIDAY 

8-8:30 p.m.    “Fresh Off the Boat”
8:30-9 p.m.     “Speechless”
9-10 p.m.         “Child Support”
10-11 p.m.        “20/20”

SATURDAY 

8 p.m.               “Saturday Night Football”

SUNDAY 

7-8 p.m.          “America’s Funniest Home Videos”
8-9 p.m.         “Dancing With the Stars: Juniors”
9-10 p.m.        “Shark Tank”
10-11 p.m.      “The Alec Baldwin Show”

 

NEW DRAMA SERIES

“A MILLION LITTLE THINGS”

David Giuntoli, James Roday and Romany Malco in “A Million Little Things” (Photo by Jack Rowand/ABC)

They say friendship isn’t one big thing, it’s a million little things; and that’s true for a group of friends from Boston who bonded under unexpected circumstances. Some have achieved success, others are struggling in their careers and relationships, but all of them feel stuck in life. After one of them dies unexpectedly, it’s just the wake-up call the others need to finally start living. Along the way, they discover that friends may be the one thing to save them from themselves.

“A Million Little Things” stars David Giuntoli as Eddie, Ron Livingston as Jon, Romany Malco as Rome, Allison Miller as Maggie, Christina Moses as Regina, Christina Ochoa as Ashley, James Roday as Gary, Stephanie Szostak as Delilah and Lizzy Greene as Sophie.

DJ Nash is writer and executive producer; Aaron Kaplan and Dana Honor are executive producers; and James Griffiths is the director on the pilot and an executive producer, from ABC Studios/Kapital Entertainment.

“THE FIX”

Robin Tunney in “The Fix” (Photo by Eric McCandless/ABC)

Attorney and author Marcia Clark co-writes and executive produces a new legal drama about Maya Travis, an L.A. district attorney who suffers a devastating defeat when prosecuting an A-list actor for double murder. With her high-profile career derailed, she flees for a quieter life in Washington. Eight years later when this same celebrity is under suspicion for another murder, Maya Travis is lured back to the DA’s office for another chance at justice. This legal thriller is executive produced/co-written by Clark, Liz Craft and Sarah Fain, and is from Mandeville TV and ABC Studios.

“The Fix” stars Robin Tunney as Maya Travis, Adam Rayner as Matthew Collier, Merrin Dungey as CJ, Breckin Meyer as Alan Wiest, Marc Blucas as Riv, Mouzam Makkar as Loni Kampoor, Alex Saxon as Gabriel Johnson, with Scott Cohen as Ezra Wolf and Adewale Akinnouye-Agbaje as Sevvy Johnson.

Elizabeth Craft & Sarah Fain and Marcia Clark are writers and executive producers. David Hoberman, Todd Lieberman and Laurie Zaks are executive producers (Mandeville). Larysa Kondracki directed the pilot.

“GRAND HOTEL”

Demián Bichir and Roselyn Sánchez in “Grand Hotel” (Photo by Eric McCandless/ABC)

Eva Longoria executive produces this bold, provocative drama set at the last family-owned hotel in multicultural Miami Beach. Charismatic Santiago Mendoza owns the hotel, while his glamorous second wife, Gigi, and their adult children enjoy the spoils of success. The hotel’s loyal staff round out a contemporary, fresh take on an upstairs/downstairs story. Wealthy and beautiful guests bask in luxury, but scandals, escalating debt and explosive secrets hide beneath the picture-perfect exterior. The show is based on the Spanish series.

The series stars Demian Bichir as Santiago Mendoza, Roselyn Sanchez as Gigi Mendoza, Denyse Tontz as Alicia Mendoza, Bryan Craig as Javi Mendoza, Wendy Raquel Robinson as Mrs. P, Lincoln Younes as Danny, Shalim Ortiz as Mateo, Anne Winters as Ingrid, Chris Warren as Jason, Feliz Ramirez as Carolina and Justina Adorno as Yoli.

Brian Tanen is the writer and executive producer; Eva Longoria and Ben Spector (UnbeliEVAble), Ramon Campos and Teresa Fernandez-Valdes (Beta) are executive producers of the series. Ken Olin directed the pilot. The series is produced by ABC Studios.

“THE ROOKIE”

Nathan Fillion in “The Rookie” (Photo by Tony Rivetti/ABC)

Starting over isn’t easy, especially for small-town guy John Nolan who, after a life-altering incident, is pursuing his dream of being an LAPD officer. As the force’s oldest rookie, he’s met with skepticism from some higher-ups who see him as just a walking midlife crisis. If he can’t keep up with the young cops and the criminals, he’ll be risking lives including his own. But if he can use his life experience, determination and sense of humor to give him an edge, he may just become a success in this new chapter of his life.

The series stars Nathan Fillion as John Nolan, Alyssa Diaz as Angela Lopez, Richard T. Jones as Sergeant Wade Grey, Titus Makin as Jackson West, Mercedes Mason as Captain Zoe Andersen, Melissa O’Neil as Lucy Chen, Afton Williamson as Talia Bishop and Eric Winter as Tim Bradford.

Alexi Hawley is writer and executive producer; Mark Gordon, Nathan Fillion, Michelle Chapman and Jon Steinberg are executive producers on the series. Liz Friedlander directed and executive produced the first episode. Entertainment One (eOne) is the lead studio on “The Rookie,” a co-production with ABC Studios.

“WHISKEY CAVALIER”

Scott Foley and Lauren Cohan in “Whiskey Cavalier” (Photo by Larry D. Horricks/ABC)

“Whiskey Cavalier” is a high-octane, hour-long action dramedy that follows the adventures of tough but tender FBI super-agent Will Chase (codename: “Whiskey Cavalier”), played by Scott Foley. Following an emotional breakup, Chase is assigned to work with badass CIA operative Francesca “Frankie” Trowbridge (codename: “Fiery Tribune”), played by Lauren Cohan. Together, they lead an inter-agency team of flawed, funny and heroic spies who periodically save the world (and each other) while navigating the rocky roads of friendship, romance and office politics. The series is from writer/executive producer Dave Hemingson and executive producer Bill Lawrence with Warner Bros. Television.

The series stars Scott Foley as Will Chase, Lauren Cohan as Francesca “Frankie” Trowbridge, Ana Ortiz as Susan Sampson, Tyler James Williams as Edgar Standish and Vir Das as Jai Datta.

Dave Hemingson is writer and executive producer; Bill Lawrence and Jeff Ingold (Doozer Productions) are executive producers; Peter Atencio is director and executive producer (pilot), and Scott Foley is producer of the series from Warner Bros. Television.

NEW COMEDY SERIES

“THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT”

Sawyer Barth, Santino Barnard, Caleb Martin Foote, Christophe Paul Richards, Jack Gore, Michael Cudlitz and Mary McCormack in “The Kids Are Alright” (Photo by Tony Rivetti/ABC)

Set in the 1970s, this ensemble comedy follows a traditional Irish-Catholic family, the Clearys, as they navigate big and small changes during one of America’s most turbulent decades. In a working-class neighborhood outside Los Angeles, Mike and Peggy raise eight boisterous boys who live out their days with little supervision. The household is turned upside down when oldest son Lawrence returns home and announces he’s quitting the seminary to go off and “save the world.” Times are changing and this family will never be the same. There are 10 people, three bedrooms, one bathroom and everyone in it for themselves.

The series stars Michael Cudlitz as Mike Cleary, Mary McCormack as Peggy Cleary, Sam Straley as Lawrence, Caleb Martin Foote as Eddie, Sawyer Barth as Frank, Christopher Paul Richards as Joey, Jack Gore as Timmy, Andy Walken as William and Santino Barnard as Pat.

The series is inspired by the childhood of writer/executive producer Tim Doyle.  Randall Einhorn directed and was an executive producer on the pilot. The series is from ABC Studios.

“SCHOOLED”

Bryan Callen, AJ Michalka and Tim Meadows in “Schooled” (Photo courtesy of ABC)

This spinoff of the hit series “The Goldbergs” will be set in 1990-something and follow the hilarious teachers of William Penn Academy – led by Tim Meadows (Principal Glascott), Bryan Callen (Coach Mellor) and AJ Michalka (Lainey Lewis) – who, despite their eccentricities and crazy personal lives, are heroes to their students.

Story by Marc Firek and Adam F. Goldberg. Teleplay by Marc Firek. The series is from Sony Pictures Television and ABC Studios. Adam F. Goldberg, Doug Robinson and Marc Firek are executive producers.

“SINGLE PARENTS”

Kimrie Lewis, Jake Choi, Leighton Meester, Brad Garrett and Taran Killam in “Single Parent” (Photo by Richard Cartwright/ABC)

This ensemble comedy follows a group of single parents as they lean on each other to help raise their 7-year-old kids and maintain some kind of personal lives outside of parenthood. The series begins when the group meets Will, a 30-something guy who’s been so focused on raising his daughter that he’s lost sight of who he is as a man. When the other single parents see just how far down the rabbit hole of PTA, parenting and princesses Will has gone, they band together to get him out in the dating world and make him realize that being a great parent doesn’t mean sacrificing everything about your own identity.

The series stars Taran Killam as Will, Leighton Meester as Angie, Kimrie Lewis as Poppy, Jake Choi as Miggy, Marlow Barkley as Sophie, Tyler Wladis as Graham, Devin Trey Campbell as Rory, Grace Hazelett as Emma, Sadie Hazelett as Amy and Brad Garrett as Douglas.

The series is from 20th  Century Fox Television and ABC Studios. JJ Philbin and Liz Meriwether are creators and executive producers, and Katherine Pope is executive producer. The pilot was directed by Jason Winer, who is also an executive producer.

NEW ALTERNATIVE SERIES

“THE ALEC BALDWIN SHOW”

Jerry Seinfeld and Alec Baldwin in “The Alec Baldwin Show” (Photo by Heidi Gutman/ABC)

“DANCING WITH THE STARS: JUNIORS”

[NOTE: This show was previously announced for ABC’s 2017-2018 season but will instead have its series premiere in the 2018-2019 season.]

A fresh new take on an established favorite, “Dancing with the Stars Junior” will pair celebrity kids and kids of celebrities with professional junior ballroom dancers to perform choreographed routines, which will be judged by a panel of renowned ballroom experts, to be announced at a later date.

Slated to debut in Spring 2018, “Dancing with the Stars Junior” is produced by BBC Worldwide Productions.

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