TV Talk: Broadcast networks roll out new, returning series
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Anthony Anderson hosts the Emmy Awards next month (8 p.m. Jan. 15, Fox) and broadcast networks start to premiere new and returning scripted series, so just imagine January is the new September.
This weekend, NBC gets into the holiday spirit, gifting viewers a new holiday-themed episode of “Night Court” (8:30 p.m. Saturday, with new episodes weekly at 8 p.m. Tuesdays beginning Jan. 2) and the pilot of a new sitcom that’s more like a lump of coal in a stocking.
NBC
“Extended Family” (previews at 8 p.m. Saturday, WPXI-TV, before moving to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday on Jan. 2): Despite game efforts by Jon Cryer (“Two and a Half Men”) and Donald Faison (“Scrubs”) “Extended Family” is the kind of sitcom that gives multi-cam comedies a bad name. Jim (Cryer) and Julia (Abigail Spencer) divorced amicably and now sit on a couch talking directly to the camera with Julia’s new fiancé (Faison) in tow. The worst kind of sitcom hijinks ensue (Jim tries to hide that his daughter’s pet goldfish died on his watch).
“America’s Got Talent: Fantasy League” (8 p.m. Jan. 1): Like a fantasy sports draft, judges choose a roster of favorite past acts.
“Deal or No Deal Island” (9:30 p.m. Feb. 26): Mt. Lebanon native Joe Manganiello hosts this reinvention of the game show.
Returning: “La Brea” (9 p.m. Jan. 9), “Chicago Med” (8 p.m. Jan. 17), 9 p.m. “Chicago Fire” (9 p.m. Jan. 17), “Chicago P.D.” (10 p.m. Jan. 17), “Law & Order” (8 p.m. Jan. 18), “Law & Order: SVU” (9 p.m. Jan. 18), “Law & Order: Organized Crime” (10 p.m. Jan. 18), “The Voice” (8 p.m. Feb. 26).
ABC
ABC gives Hulu hit “Only Murders in the Building” a linear run, airing the first season Jan. 2 (9-11 p.m.), 9 (9-11 p.m.), 16 (9-11 p.m.) and 23 (9-10 p.m.).
Returning: “The Bachelor” (8 p.m. Jan. 22, WTAE-TV), “The Conners” (8 p.m. Feb. 7), “Not Dead Yet” (8:30 p.m. Feb. 7), “Abbott Elementary” (9 p.m. Feb. 7), “Judge Steve Harvey” (10 p.m. Feb. 7), “American Idol” (8 p.m. Feb. 18), “What Would You Do?” (10 p.m. Feb. 18), “Will Trent” (8 p.m. Feb. 20), “The Rookie” (9 p.m. Feb. 20), “The Good Doctor” (10 p.m. Feb. 20), “9-1-1” (8 p.m. March 14 relocating from Fox), “Grey’s Anatomy” (9 p.m. March 14) and “Station 19” (10 p.m. March 14).
CBS
“Tracker” (10 p.m. Feb. 11, KDKA-TV; then 9 p.m. Sunday starting Feb. 18): Justin Hartley (“This is Us”) plays a survivalist who solves mysteries.
“Elsbeth” (10 p.m. Feb. 29): Carrie Preston reprises her role as Elsbeth Tascioni (from “The Good Wife”/“The Good Fight”), a Chicago attorney who moves to New York and uses her observational skills to capture criminals.
Returning: “The Neighborhood” (8 p.m. Feb. 12), “Bob (Hearts) Abishola” (8:30 p.m. Feb. 12), “NCIS” (9 p.m. Feb. 12), “NCIS: Hawai’i” (10 p.m. Feb. 12), “FBI” (8 p.m. Feb. 13), “FBI: International” (9 p.m. Feb. 13), “FBI: Most Wanted” (10 p.m. Feb. 13), “Young Sheldon” (8 p.m. Feb. 15), “Ghosts” (8:30 p.m. Feb. 15), “So Help Me Todd” (9 p.m. Feb. 15), “S.W.A.T.” (8 p.m. Feb. 16), “Fire Country” (9 p.m. Feb. 16), “Blue Bloods” (10 p.m. Feb. 16), “The Equalizer” (8 p.m. Feb. 18), “CSI: Vegas” (10 p.m. Feb. 18), “Survivor” (8 p.m. Feb. 28), “The Amazing Race” (9:30 p.m. March 13).
The CW
“Wild Cards” (8 p.m. Jan. 17, WPNT-TV): Light-hearted, crime-solving procedural follows a demoted cop (Giacomo Gianniotti) who solves crimes with a con woman (Vanessa Morgan).
“Crime Nation” (8 p.m. Feb. 20): True crime docu-series.
Returning: “Children Ruin Everything” (9:30 p.m., Jan. 11), “Family Law” (9 p.m. Jan. 17).
Fox
“The Floor” (9 p.m. Jan. 2, WPGH-TV): Rob Lowe hosts this battle of the brains where 81 contestants stand on 81 squares competing for a $250,000 prize.
“We Are Family” (9 p.m. Jan. 3): Anthony Anderson (“Black-ish”) and his mother host a competition that pits 100 audience members against one another for a top prize of $150,000 as they try to identify non-famous relatives of singing celebrities.
“Grimsburg” (8 p.m. Jan. 7; moves to 9:30p.m. Sunday on Feb. 18): Animated comedy starring Jon Hamm as the voice of a detective who once caught a cannibal clown.
Returning: “Celebrity Name that Tune” (8 p.m. Jan. 2), “I Can See Your Voice” (8 p.m. Jan. 3), “The Great North” (9:30 p.m. Jan. 7), “TMZ Investigates” (8 p.m. Jan. 22), “America’s Most Wanted” (9 p.m. Jan. 22), “Next Level Chef” (10 p.m. Jan. 28), “Farmer Wants a Wife” (9 p.m. Feb. 1), “MasterChef Junior” (8 p.m. March 4), “So You Think You Can Dance” (9 p.m. March 4), “The Cleaning Lady” (8 p.m. March 5), “Alert: Missing Persons Unit” (9 p.m. March 5), “The Masked Singer” (8 p.m. March 6), “Animal Control” (9 p.m. March 6), “Family Guy” (9:30 p.m.. March 6)
PBS
Six-episode British drama “Funny Woman” (10 p.m. Jan. 7, WQED-TV), based on Nick Hornsby’s novel “Funny Girl,” follows a small-town beauty queen (Gemma Arterton) who gets into TV comedy in 1960s London.
WQED co-produced an hour-long special for PBS on the complex issue of reparations, “The Cost of Inheritance: An America Reframed Special” (10 p.m. Jan. 8).
“Independent Lens” follows a family escaping North Korea in “Beyond Utopia” (9 p.m. Jan. 9). “NOVA” explores “When Whales Could Walk” (9 p.m. Jan. 31), “Building the Eiffel Tower” (9 p.m. Feb. 14) and “AI Revolution” (9 p.m. March 27).
Henry Louis Gates Jr. and Erica Campbell host “Gospel Live!” (9 p.m. Feb. 9), a performance special precursor to “Gospel” (9 p.m. Feb. 12), Gates’ history of the origin of Black spirituality through song.
Helena Bonham Carter (“The Crown”) stars as 1960s British soap opera legend who was fired from her hit show at the height of her career in “Masterpiece: Nolly” (9 p.m. March 17).
Andrea Riseborough (“To Leslie”) and Domhall Gleeson (“Peter Rabbit”) star in a love story, “Masterpiece: Alice Jack” (10 p.m. March 17).
Returning: “Finding Your Roots” (8 p.m. Jan. 2), “Masterpiece: Miss Scarlet and the Duke” (8 p.m. Jan. 7), “Masterpiece: All Creatures Great and Small” (9 p.m. Jan. 7), “Antiques Roadshow” (8 p.m. Jan. 8), “Call the Midwife” (8 p.m. March 17).