Comebacks for Dynasty, Will & Grace
Canada’s private TV networks will gamble approximately $700 million in Los Angeles later this month as they try to import the next big hit TV series.
What will they be buying? ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and The CW will showcase their new wares at their annual “upfronts” to advertisers beginning the week of May 15.
The networks will be showing off new series starring the likes of Carol Burnett, Felicity Huffman, Jon Cryer, Eva Longoria, David Boreanaz and Lauren Graham. Colm Feore, Emily VanCamp and Bruce Greenwood are among the Canadian-born stars hoping their show is the next big thing.
There are fewer remakes this year, although NBC is bringing back Will & Grace and The CW is re-booting Dynasty. The superhero trend has also cooled, with Marvel’s Inhumans being one exception.
Among the imports guaranteed to return is No. 1 draw The Big Bang Theory, which has already been renewed by CBS for two more seasons.
In addition, the spinoff Young Sheldon — featuring Jim Parsons as narrator — was ordered straight-to-series without a test pilot episode.
NBC’s The Voice also has a twoyear renewal, as does their rookie drama This Is Us.
The CW has been a dependable supplier to Canadian programmers.
One bonus is that so much CW content is shot north of the border. Already renewed for next season are Vancouver productions Arrow, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, The Flash, Supergirl and Supernatural.
Several of TV’s longest-running shows have been renewed, including Survivor, Grey’s Anatomy, and The Simpsons ( back for at least two more seasons).
Other American shows “on the bubble” for renewal are Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, Code Black, Elementary, Prison Break and the Vancouver-produced Timeless.