The Alphabet adds 'The Muppets', 'The Catch', 'Wicked City', 'Dr. Ken' and more new series to it line-up, in addition to bringing back 'Marvel's Agent Carter' and 'Nashville' for new seasons.
- May 8, 2015
AceShowbiz - ABC has added a bunch of new series to its slate ahead of its May 12 upfront presentation. The network ordered six dramas and three comedies to series, including another drama from Shondaland.
"The Catch" from Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers is described as a thriller centered on the strong, successful Alice Martin (Mireille Enos). She's a fraud investigator who's about to be the victim of fraud by her fiance. Between her cases, she is determined to find him before it ruins her career.
Another thriller, "The Family", follows the return of a politician's (Joan Allen) young son (Liam James) who was presumed dead after disappearing over a decade earlier. Jenna Bans will write and executive produce it with David Hoberman, Todd Lieberman and Laurie Zaks.
There's also Biblical saga "Of Kings and Prophets", which captures ambition and betrayal as told through the eyes of a battle-weary king, a powerful and resentful prophet and a resourceful young shepherd on a collision course with destiny. Starring Ray Winstone, Haaz Sleiman, and Maisie Richardson-Sellers among others, it was written by Adam Cooper and Bill Collage.
"Quantico", from "Gossip Girl" EP Josh Safran, follows a diverse group of recruits who have arrived at the FBI Quantico Base for training. They are the best, the brightest and the most vetted, so it seems impossible that one of them is suspected of masterminding the biggest attack in New York City since 9/11. The cast includes Tate Ellington, Graham Rogers, Aunjanue Ellis, Dougray Scott, Priyanka Chopra, Johanna Braddy, Yasmine Al Massri and Jake McLaughlin.
An untitled Pate & Fishburne project, previously called "Boom", is a story of Billy and Cody Lefever dream of a new life beyond their working class roots and move to "The Bakken" in North Dakota, booming after the biggest oil discovery in American history. They're soon pitted against a ruthless tycoon who forces them to bet big and put everything on the line, including their marriage. Don Johnson, Chace Crawford, Scott Michael Foster, Delroy Lindo, Rebecca Rittenhouse, India De Beaufort, Caitlin Carver, Yani Gellman and Amber Valletta are starring.
"Wicked City" is a crime anthology series that will follow a different case set in a different noteworthy era of LA history, starting with a murder case from 1982 centered on the rock and roll, cocaine-infused revelry of the Sunset Strip. Taissa Farmiga, Erika Christensen, Ed Westwick, Darrell Britt-Gibson, Karolina Wydra, Adam Rothenberg, Holley Fain, Anne Winters and Gabriel Luna will star.
The comedies, meanwhile, include "The Muppets" reboot, "Dr. Ken" and "The Real O'Neals". From "The Big Bang Theory" co-creator Bill Prady and Bob Kushell, the new "Muppets" is described as a contemporary, documentary-style show that will explore the Muppets' personal lives and relationships, both at home and at work, as well as romances, break-ups, achievements, disappointments, wants and desires; a more adult Muppet show, for kids of all ages.
"Dr. Ken" stars Ken Jeong as the titular character, a brilliant physician with no bedside manner. He is always trying to be a good doctor, as well as a good husband and dad to his two kids. However, these good intentions have a way of driving everyone crazy at both work and at home. Luckily, his therapist wife Allison is just the right partner to keep things sane. Jeong co-wrote it and serves as executive producer along with Jared Stern, John Davis, John Fox and Mike Sikowitz.
"The Real O'Neals" is a contemporary take on a seemingly perfect Catholic family, whose lives take an unexpected turn when surprising truths are revealed. Instead of ruining their family, the honesty triggers a new, messier chapter where everyone stops pretending to be perfect and actually starts being real. The single-camera comedy stars Martha Plimpton, Jay R. Ferguson, Noah Galvin, Matthew Shively, Bebe Wood and Mary Hollis Inboden.
In other news, ABC has renewed "Marvel's Agent Carter" for a second season, "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." for season 3, "Castle" for season 8 "Nashville" for season 4 and "Once Upon a Time" for season 5. "Forever", "Cristela", "Resurrection" and "The Taste", meanwhile, didn't make the cut for next TV season.
