Diversity, remakes in the works for fall TV
Also expect police dramas with female casts as networks consider lineups
What could you see on TV this fall? Try more diverse casts, fewer period dramas and, as always, a lot of cops.
Those are the highlights among dozens of pilots ordered by the five major broadcast networks, part of an annual test for series that could show up on air next season — if they’re good enough.
But most of them will never make it: Only a fraction will get enough traction for a spot on 2018-19 schedules, to be announced in mid-May at presentations to advertisers in New York.
Some themes percolating for next season:
More diversity
TV networks have taken criticism about a lack of diversity seriously. This spring’s crop of early contenders includes a more diverse group of actors, with more women and minorities in leading roles. CBS, which has been criticized for too-white casting, features diverse leads in at least 13 of its 18 comedy and drama pilots, including a remake of Cagney & Lacey. (That pilot will also be written and directed by women.) CBS comedies include Welcome to the Neighborhood, helmed by Cedric the Entertainer, and Pandas in New York, about a family of Indian doctors who are trying
to arrange their son’s life. At ABC, Vanessa Williams leads a cast of four women who sell cosmetics in False Profits. Meanwhile, NBC has brought on Saturday Night Live alum Sasheer Zamata for So Close, which follows two hopeless romantics who may be each others’ soul mates.
TV remakes
Once again, the networks are high on remakes, which they consider a surefire way to get noticed in a saturated TV market. After all, why go with something new when you can reboot a proven hit?
CBS has already committed to a 13-episode revival of Murphy Brown, two decades after its exit, starring Candice Bergen and several other original cast members, following Will & Grace and the upcoming Roseanne.
And aside from Cagney & Lacey, CBS is looking at a remake of Magnum, P.I. with Jay Hernandez taking over Tom Selleck’s lead role as a private investigator in Hawaii. (Selleck is still busy on Blue Bloods.) Hannah Simone ( New Girl) is the new (female) Greatest American Hero in ABC’s potential update of the 1980s show. And CW has a pair of potential remakes, Charmed and Roswell, along with possible spinoffs of Supernatural and The Originals.