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Upfronts 2015 Playlist: drama

Drama was name of the game again at the US network Upfronts in New York this week, with C21’s latest Hot Properties Playlist gathering together all 25 new shows.

The playlist is available to view through the C21Screenings portal and the C21Screen app or simply click on the clips below (note, some may be unavailable to view in some territories).

NBC led the charge with seven new titles, including Heroes: Reborn, a long anticipated revival of the 2006-10 Tim Kring sci-fi series, and Blindspot – another supernatural drama, about a woman found in Times Square covered in tattoos that each offer clues to a crime and ultimately her own identity.

Blindspot is one of three Greg Berlanti vehicles to make the cut this fall, with the man responsible for The CW’s Arrow and The Flash continuing to mine the DC Comics catalogue for the same network with Legends of Tomorrow.

It’s at CBS, however, that he brings the most anticipated superhero property to life, with the arrival of Supergirl on Mondays at 20.00 up against Gotham on Fox. This is perhaps the boldest bit of scheduling among all the networks, particularly from one whose viewers tends to skew a little older.

But Fox has things up its own sleeve. Still trailing in fourth place overall but riding high on the success of Empire, its series based on Stephen Spielberg’s Minority Report looks promising. Another comic book adaptation, Lucifer, airs later in mid-season, while Mulder and Scully mania will re-erupt with the return of The X-Files.

After NBC, ABC offers the next biggest new drama haul, six in all, but the network remains in third place with viewers and talismanic Shonda Rhimes’ latest creation The Catch doesn’t arrive until mid-season. The Mouse will be hoping to strike it rich with Oil on Sunday nights, followed by Of Kings and Prophets as the channel gets biblical in its battle against football on NBC.

If you would like to submit a show for consideration in one of our upcoming C21 Hot Properties Playlists, email [email protected].

 

ABC

The Catch

The Catch

Show: The Catch
Slot: Mid-season
Producers: ABC Studios, Shondaland
Distributor: Disney Media Distribution
Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers are behind this drama about a female fraud investigator who gets defrauded by her own fiancé. Written by Jennifer Schuur and stars Mireille Enos.

The Family

The Family

Show: The Family
Slot: Mid-season
Producers: ABC Studios, Mandeville Productions
Distributor: Disney Media Distribution
A politician’s missing son returns after a decade in this mystery thriller from Jenna Bans and Insurgent prodco Mandeville Television. The executive producers are Bans and Mandeville principals Todd Lieberman and David Hoberman and president of TV Laurie Zaks.

Of Kings and Prophets

Of Kings and Prophets

Show: Of Kings and Prophets
Slot: Sunday 22.00
Producer: ABC Studios
Distributor: Disney Media Distribution
Epic Biblical drama about a king, a prophet and a shepherd on a collision course with destiny, and starring Ray Winstone. Written by Adam Cooper and Bill Collage. Haaz Sleiman, Oliver Rix and Maisie Richardson-Sellers also star.

Oil

Oil

Show: Oil
Slot: Sunday 21.00
Producer: ABC Signature Studios
Distributor: Disney Media Distribution
The North Dakota oil boom is the backdrop to this new drama about a young working class couple trying to strike it rich. Written by Josh Pate and Rodes Fishburne, who share exec production with Tony Krantz, Drew Comins and co-star Don Johnson.

Quantico

Quantico

Show: Quantico
Slot: Tuesday 22.00
Producers: ABC Studios, The Mark Gordon Company
Distributor: Disney Media Distribution
This new Mark Gordon drama follows a diverse group of rookies starting at the FBI’s Quantico Base for training, one of which is not what they seem. Written by Josh Safran and the executive producers are Safran, Gordon and Nick Pepper.

Wicked City

Wicked City

Show: Wicked City
Slot: Mid-season
Producers: ABC Studios, Mandeville Productions
Distributor: Disney Media Distribution
Set in drug-fuelled Los Angeles of the 1980s, this drama follows LAPD detectives hunting a serial killer operating in the city’s rock ‘n’ roll scene. Written by Steven Baigelman, who shares exec production duties with Mandeville Television principals Todd Lieberman, David Hoberman and Laurie Zaks.

 

CBS

Code Black

Code Black

Show: Code Black
Slot: Wednesday 22.00
Producer: ABC Studios
Distributor: Disney Media Distribution
Based on the award-winning documentary by Ryan McGarry, this drama is about the daily lives of staff working in Los Angeles’ busiest hospital. McGarry, Michael Seitzman, Marti Noxon, Linda Goldstein-Knowlton and David Semel are exec producers.

Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders

Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders

Show: Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders
Slot: Wednesday 21.00
Producers: ABC Studios, CBS Television Studios, The Mark Gordon Company
Distributor: Disney Media Distribution
Spin-off from the long-running police procedural, about the specialised International Division of the FBI tasked with solving crimes and coming to the rescue of Americans who find themselves in danger while abroad. Clip not yet available.

Limitless

Limitless

Show: Limitless
Slot: Tuesday 22.00
Producers: CBS Television Studios, K/O Paper Products, Relativity Television
Distributor: CBS Studios International
One of several shows spun off from movies in next season’s pick-ups, this drama is based on the Bradley Cooper-fronted drug thriller, following a guy who gains special powers and is coerced into working with the FBI. The pilot was directed by Marc Webb.

Rush Hour

Rush Hour

Show: Rush Hour
Slot: Mid-season
Producer: Warner Bros Television
Distributor: Warner Bros International Television Distribution
TV adaptation of the Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker hit feature film franchise, a buddy-cop drama about a maverick LAPD detective and a by-the-book detective from Hong Kong who knock heads when they are forced to partner together. Clip not yet available.

Supergirl

Supergirl

Show: Supergirl
Slot: Monday 20.00
Producer: Warner Bros Television
Distributor: Warner Bros International Television Distribution
The comics-to-TV trend continues with Supergirl, based on the DC Comics character who is Superman’s cousin. She is played by Glee alumni Melissa Benoist. Greg Berlanti is among the executive producers.

 

Fox

The Frankenstein Code

The Frankenstein Code

Show: The Frankenstein Code
Slot: Mid-season
Producers: 20th Century Fox Television, Teakwood Lane Productions, Kara Productions
Distributor: Twentieth Century Fox Television Distribution
Contemporary re-imagining of the classic Mary Shelley novel follows a man who is resurrected and given a chance to relive his life. Rand Ravich and Howard Gordon are exec producing.

Lucifer

Lucifer

Show: Lucifer
Slot: Mid-season
Producers: Warner Bros Television, Jerry Bruckheimer Television
Distributor: Warner Bros International Television Distribution
Drama based on Neil Gaiman’s DC Comics title about the original fallen angel who retires to Los Angeles and opens a nightclub. Starring Tom Ellis in the lead role.

Minority Report

Minority Report

Show: Minority Report
Slot: Monday 21.00
Producers: 20th Century Fox Television, Paramount Television, Amblin Television
Distributor: Twentieth Century Fox Television Distribution
Series based on Steven Spielberg’s 2002 movie starring Tom Cruise, Minority Report follows two futuristic cops who try to stop crimes before they’re committed. Max Borenstein created and wrote the show.

Rosewood

Rosewood

Show: Rosewood
Slot: Wednesday 20.00
Producers: 20th Century Fox Television, Temple Hill
Distributor: Twentieth Century Fox Television Distribution
From writer/exec producer Todd Harthan, comes this drama about a Miami-based private pathologist who helps a hard-nosed detective solve crimes. Starring Morris Chestnut and Jaina Lee.

The X-Files

The X-Files

Show: The X-Files
Slot: Mid-season, beginning January 24
Producers: 20th Century Fox Television, Ten Thirteen Productions
Distributor: Twentieth Century Fox Television Distribution
David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson reprise their roles as FBI Agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully, investigating unexplained phenomena in what’s being billed as six-episode event series, once again exec produced by creator Chris Carter. Clip not yet available.

 

NBC

Blindspot

Blindspot

Show: Blindspot
Slot: Monday 22.00
Producers: Warner Bros Television, Berlanti Productions
Distributor: Warner Bros International Television Distribution
Supernatural drama from Greg Berlanti about a woman discovered naked in Times Square covered in intricate tattoos, each of which offer clues to various crimes. Martin Gero is the writer and shares exec production with Berlanti, Sarah Schechter and director Mark Pellington. The cast includes Sullivan Stapleton, Jaimie Alexander and Audrey Esparza.

Chicago Med

Chicago Med

Show: Chicago Med
Slot: Mid-season
Producers: Universal Television, Wolf Films
Distributor: NBC Universal International Television Distribution
The latest instalment in the Dick Wolf-produced Chicago-set procedural franchise. Clip not yet available.

Game of Silence

Game of Silence

Show: Game of Silence
Slot: Mid-season
Producers: Sony Pictures Television, Carol Mendelsohn Productions
Distributor: Sony Pictures Television
Drama about a successful Atlanta attorney whose long-lost childhood friends unexpectedly reappear after 25 years when a dark secret they thought they had buried resurfaces. CSI veteran Carol Mendelsohn and David Hudgins exec produce. Based on Turkish drama Suskunlar.

Heartbreaker

Heartbreaker

Show: Heartbreaker
Slot: Monday 21.00
Producer: Universal Television
Distributor: NBC Universal International Television Distribution
Drama from Jill Gordon and Amy Brenneman about an outspoken heart-transplant surgeon juggling the demands of her career with her personal life. Melissa George stars.

Heroes: Reborn

Heroes: Reborn

Show: Heroes: Reborn
Slot: Thursday 20.00
Producers: Universal Television, Tailwind Productions
Distributor: NBC Universal International Television Distribution
The return of Tim Kring’s supernatural drama about ordinary people who discover they have extraordinary abilities, bringing them into conflict with others who want to harness their powers to their own ends. Kring serves as writer and exec producer, alongside Peter Elkoff and James Middleton.

The Player

The Player

Show: The Player
Slot: Thursday 22.00
Producers: Sony Pictures Television, Davis Entertainment, Kung Fu Monkey
Distributor: Sony Pictures Television
Las Vegas thriller about a former military operative turned security expert who is drawn into a high-stakes game where an organisation of wealthy individuals gamble on his ability to stop crimes from happening. Starring Wesley Snipes and Philip Winchester. Written by John Rogers, who exec produces along with John Davis, John Fox and director Bharat Nalluri.

Shades of Blue

Shades of Blue

Show: Shades of Blue
Slot: Mid-season
Producers: Universal Television, Ryan Seacrest Productions, Nuyorican Productions
Distributor: NBC Universal International Television Distribution
Jennifer Lopez stars as a sexy New York detective and single mother who fell in with a tight-knit group of dirty cops, taking bribes and protection money that she uses to provide the best life for her honest and talented daughter.

 

The CW

Containment (fka Cordon)

Containment (fka Cordon)

Show: Containment (fka Cordon)
Slot: Mid-season
Producers: Warner Bros Television, Eyeworks
Distributor: Warner Bros International Television Distribution
Drama exploring the aftermath of a deadly virus outbreak in Atlanta. Written and exec produced by The Vampire Diaries showrunner Julie Plec and based on a Belgian drama created by Carl Joos.

Legends of Tomorrow

Legends of Tomorrow

Show: Legends of Tomorrow
Slot: Mid-season
Producers: Warner Bros Television, Berlanti Productions, Bonanza Productions
Distributor: Warner Bros International Television Distribution
Superhero drama based on the DC Comics spin-off from Arrow and The Flash. Greg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim, Andrew Kreisbergand Sarah Schechter exec produce.

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