Prep for midseason television
Fall is over, scripted shows are on holiday break, but the broadcast networks already have plans for 2018.
ABC
“Child Support” (8 p.m. Jan. 5, WTAE): Kids say the darnedest things to Ricky Gervais in this game show hosted by Fred Savage.
Returning: “The Bachelor” (8 p.m. Jan. 1), “Match Game” (10 p.m. Jan. 3), “Grey’s Anatomy” (8 p.m. Jan. 18), “Scandal” (9 p.m. Jan. 18), “How to Get Away With Murder” (10 p.m. Jan. 18), “Designated Survivor” (10 p.m. Feb. 28), “Once Upon a Time” (8 p.m. March 2), “American Idol” (8 p.m. March 11), “Roseanne” (8 p.m. March 27).
CBS
“Living Biblically” (9:30 p.m. Feb. 26, KDKA): Comedy about a man (Jay R. Ferguson) who decides to live in strict accordance with biblical precepts.
“Instinct” (8 p.m. March 11): Alan Cumming (”The Good Wife”) stars as a former CIA operative lured back to his old work in an effort to stop a serial killer.
Returning: “The Amazing Race” (8 p.m. Jan. 3), “Big Brother” celebrity edition (8 p.m. Feb. 7), “Survivor (8 p.m. Feb. 28). Premiere dates for “Code Black,” “Elementary” and “Undercover Boss” have not been announced.
The CW
“Supergirl” moves to 8 p.m. Monday for four weeks starting Jan. 15 with “Legends of Tomorrow” taking over the time period Feb. 12 before “Supergirl” returns in April.
“Black Lightning” (9 p.m. Jan. 16, WPCW): Jefferson Pierce (Cress Williams) is a retired masked vigilante working as a
charter school principal who returns to superheroing.
Returning: The CW has not announced season premiere dates for “The 100,” “The Originals” and “iZombie.”
Fox
“L.A. to Vegas” (9 p.m. Jan. 2, WPGH): Dylan McDermott (”The Practice”) stars in this comedy as a pilot on a no-frills airline that does a weekend round trip on the route of the show’s title. Quirky and unlike any current TV comedies, it’s got smart, dumb-funny humor and a great comedic turn by Mr. McDermott.
“9-1-1” (9 p.m. Jan. 3): A surprisingly engaging procedural drama from executive producer Ryan Murphy (”American Horror Story”), “9-1-1” brings to mind early “ER” with its focus on unusual emergency cases — baby trapped in pipe, strangling snake — mixed with character/relationship stories about a 911 dispatcher (Connie Britton), cop (Angela Bassett) and firefighter (Peter Krause).
“The Four” (8 p.m. Jan. 4): Music competition with Sean “Diddy” Combs and Meghan Trainor on the show’s panel of experts.
“The Resident” (10 p.m. Jan. 21): ABC has its “Good Doctor” and Fox wants viewers to tune in for its young doctor in the final years of training. Matt Czuchry (”The Good Wife”) and Emily Van Camp (”Revenge”) star.
Returning: After a disappointing event series return two years ago, “The X-Files” (8 p.m. Jan. 3) is back with a mix of convoluted mythology and more satisfying stand-alone stories. Early episodes seem stronger this time around with some added timeliness — Russians infiltrating the U.S. government! — and a major mythology reveal in the first episode back.
NBC
“Ellen’s Game of Games” (8 p.m. Jan. 2, WPXI): Following a sneak preview this week, Ellen DeGeneres hosts a primetime show that draws from games played on her daytime show.
“A.P. Bio” (9:30 p.m. Feb. 1): Disgraced Harvard philosophy scholar (Glenn Howerton, “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”) returns home to Toledo, Ohio, to teach biologyin high school.
“Good Girls” (10 p.m. Feb. 26, WPXI): Three suburban moms — played by Christina Hendricks, Retta and Mae Whitman — rob a local grocery store in this comedic drama from writer Jenna Bans (”Grey’s Anatomy”).
“Rise” (10 p.m. March 13): Jason Katims (”Friday Night Lights”) introduces a drama about a teacher (Josh Radnor, “Mercy Street”) who takes over a high school’s down-and-out theater department.
Returning: “The Wall” (8 p.m. Jan. 1), “Better Late than Never” (9 p.m. Jan. 1), “Taken” (9 p.m. Jan. 12).
PBS
Documentary series “Independent Lens” kicks off the new year with “The Untold Tales of Armistead Maupin” (10:30 p.m. Jan. 1, WQED-TV), a biography of the gay rights pioneer, and the Oscar-nominated “I am Not Your Negro” (9 p.m. Jan. 15), which envisions the book author James Baldwin never completed.
“American Experience” begins its 30th season with “Into the Amazon” (9 p.m. Jan. 9), about the 1914 journey of Theodore Roosevelt into the rainforest.
“Beyond 100 Days” (11:30 p.m. Jan. 2): Nightly public affairs show that will follow “Amanpour on PBS.”
“We’ll Meet Again” (8 p. m. Jan. 23): Ann Curry hosts reunions of people whose lives intersected at pivotal, historic moments.
“Masterpiece: The Child in Time” (9 p.m. April 1): Benedict Cumberbatch (”Sherlock”) and Kelly McDonald (”Boardwalk Empire”) star in this one-off movie about a couple whose child disappears.
“Masterpiece: Unforgotten” (9 p.m. April 8): Police investigate the cold-case murder of a boy whose diary implicates four seemingly unconnected couples.
“Masterpiece: Little Women” (8 p.m. May 13): A retelling of the 1868 Louisa May Alcott classic.
Returning: “Masterpiece: Victoria” (9 p.m. Jan. 14), “Call the Midwife” (8 p.m. March 25).
Kept/canceled/rebooted
Netflix’s “Love,” starring Mt. Lebanon native Gillian Jacobs, will end after its upcoming third season, launching March 9.
BBC America canceled “Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency” after two seasons.
Comedy Central canceled “The Gorburger Show” after one season.
NBC may try to revive “The Office” (without star Steve Carell) after its success with “Will & Grace.”
Tuned In online
Today’s TV Q&A column responds to questions about “The Good Doctor,” “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee” and WPXI. This week’s Tuned In Journal includes posts on HBO’s “Gunpowder” and Nielsen data. Read onlineonly TV content at http:// communityvoices.post-gazette.