NBC looks for new Heroes

UPFRONTS: NBC has handed its Heroes reboot a prime Thursday night slot in its fall schedule, having canned five series, four of which only survived a single season on the US network.

Heroes Reborn

Heroes Reborn, which follows a new group of ordinary citizens with extraordinary abilities, is the creation of original Heroes scribe Tim Kring and will be the lead-in for The Blacklist. The sophomore show will be followed by new Sony Pictures TV drama The Player, starring Wesley Snipes and about a former military operative turned security agent.

Joining the new series on NBC is Blindspot from Greg Berlanti (Arrow, The Flash), about a woman with amnesia whose tattoos hold the secret to an international crime, which will air on Monday nights after talent show stalwart The Voice.

Elsewhere, Heartbreaker, starring Melissa George as a heart doctor inspired by real-life surgeon Dr Kathy Magliato, will air on Tuesdays before Best Night Ever With Neil Patrick Harris, NBC’s previously announced remake of the UK entertainment format Saturday Night Takeaway.

The Player

Meanwhile, the new sitcom People Are Talking, about two diverse couples who talk and share their everyday experiences, has been given a Friday night slot.

Other new series heading for mid-season soon NBC include dramas Chicago Med, another instalment in the network’s Chicago franchise from Dick Wolf; Game of Silence, its remake of a Turkish crime drama; and Jennifer Lopez vehicle Shades of Blue.

Mid-season comedies include Superstore, with America Ferrera (Ugly Betty); You, Me & the End of the World, with Rob Lowe, Megan Mullally and Jenna Fischer; Hot & Bothered, starring Eva Longoria (Desperate Housewives); Coach, starring Craig . Nelson (Parenthood); and Suzanne Martin’s Crowded.

NBC cancelled five series – State of Affairs, Constantine, Marry Me, One Big Happy and About A Boy – on Friday. Of those, only About A Boy reached a second season on the network.

Game of Silence

The decision on the future of AD: The Bible Continues and American Odyssey will come at a later date, after their respective seasons have ended, NBC said. Returning series on NBC include Undateable, Chicago Fire, Chicago PD, Hannibal, Grimm, Law & Order: SVU, The Mysteries of Laura and The Night Shift.

“We’re attacking the new season with the same programming strategy that successfully turned NBC around – a slate of provocative and innovative series and events that cut through the clutter and will continue to build on our momentum,” said Robert Greenblatt, chairman of NBC Entertainment.

“We have several powerful new dramas and attention-getting new comedies, including the return of Undateable, which will be broadcast live every week next season. Live programming is one more way to make a show undeniable.”

In other news, TV personalities Ellen DeGeneres and Steve Harvey have also teamed up to executive produce Little Big Shots (8×60′, working title) for NBC, with Family Feud presenter Harvey also attached as host. The series, from Warner Horizon Television, will showcase the talents of young musicians, singers and dancers from across the country, alongside interviews with the participants.

Regarding the role of unscripted programming on NBC, the net’s president of alternative and late night programming Paul Telegdy said: “Unscripted programming has played a key role in NBC’s two consecutive season-long wins, from The Voice to America’s Got Talent to American Ninja Warrior.”

NBC fall 2015/16 schedule (new shows in caps)

MONDAY
20.00-22.00 The Voice
22.00-23.00 BLINDSPOT

TUESDAY
20.00-21.00 The Voice
21.00-22.00 HEARTBREAKER
22.00-23.00 BEST TIME EVER WITH NEIL PATRICK HARRIS (from September)
22.00-23.00 Chicago Fire (from November)

WEDNESDAY
20.00-21.00 The Mysteries of Laura
21.00-22.00 Law & Order: SVU
22.00-23.00 Chicago PD

THURSDAY
20.00-21.00 HEROES REBORN
21.00-22.00 The Blacklist
22.00-23.00 THE PLAYER

FRIDAY
20.00-20.30 Undateable
20.30-21.00 PEOPLE ARE TALKING
21.00-22.00 Grimm
22.00-23.00 Dateline

SATURDAY
20.00-22.00 Dateline Saturday Night Mystery
22.00-23.00 Saturday Night Live (Classic encores)

SUNDAY
19.00-20.20 Football Night in America
20.20-23.00 Sunday Night Football

Midseason: HOT & BOTHERED, COACH, SUPERSTORE, CROWDED, YOU ME & THE END OF THE WORLD, CHICAGO MED, GAME OF SILENCE, SHADES OF BLUE