It’s the TV mid-season and that means a lot of changes for the networks. There are holes to fill after fall launches crashed and burned — rest in peace, “Selfie.”
This has also become a time for short-run series to be wedged into lineups as a way of reducing the number of reruns shown.
Just because a series isn’t being launched until now doesn’t mean it isn’t good or will survive. “Castle,” “Bob’s Burgers” and “Grey’s Anatomy’ started as mid-season shows. There was also a little series called “All in the Family” that started life as a mid-season replacement.
Keeping up with all of the changes is like trying to herd cats in a pitch black room. But, here I cast some light on some of the updates and launches to help you set your viewing schedule.
ABC
The network has already started making changes with the launch of the four-part mini-series “Galavant” on Sunday. Joshua Sasse and Timothy Omundson star in this twisted look at knights in a musical daze.
The other new series is “Marvel’s Agent Carter,” scheduled to start at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 6. Agent Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell,”Marvel’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier”) battles bad guys but in a different way because in 1946 women aren’t recognized as being as smart or as tough as their male counterparts. They never met Peggy Carter.
New in the comedy world will be, “Fresh Off the Boat,” based on the memoir of Chef Eddie Huang. It begins 8:30 p.m. Feb. 4.
Also coming to the network are:
- "American Crime," Felicity Huffman stars in the crime drama set in Modesto, 10 p.m. March 5.
- "Secrets and Lies," Ryan Phillippe plays a Good Samaritan who becomes a murder suspect, 9 p.m. March 1.
- "The Astronauts Wives Club," a 10-part mini-series, no date announced.
- "The Whispers," an alien invasion tale starring Milio Ventimiglia, no date annouced.
- CBS
Three new shows join the lineup — “CSI: Cyber,” “The Odd Couple” and “Battle Creek.”
- "CSI: Cyber," launching March 4, stars Patricia Arquette as an FBI agent who specializes in hig-tech investigations.
- "Battle Creek," from "Breaking Bad" creator Vince Gilligan, features Dean Winters and Josh Duhamel as two mismatched detectives. It begins March 1.
- The latest version of "The Odd Couple" - starring Matthew Perry and Thomas Lennon - begins Feb. 19, helping fill the comedy void left by the series finale of "Two and a Half Men" on the same night.
The CW
Along with the return of “Hart of Dixie,” 8 p.m. Jan. 9, the network will add “iZombie,” based on a DC Comics series, and “The Messengers.” No date has been announced for the return of “Beauty and the Beast.”
“iZombie” star Rose McIver plays a medial student who becomes a crime-fighting zombie. In “The Messengers,” five strangers get odd powers. No dates have been announced for the launch of the shows.
Fox
The network has embraced making major mid-season changes for years. It starts this round of additions with “Empire,” the Terrence Howard series where he’s playing the head of a music empire. The series launches at 9 p.m. Jan. 7.
Other new shows include:
- "The Last Man on Earth," a comedy starring Will Forte that begins March 1.
- "Weird Loners" with Zachary Knighton, which joins the schedule March 31.
- Rainn Wilson portrays an annoying detective in "Backstrom" (Jan. 22).
- "World's Funniest Fails," a reality show based on a YouTube offering, starts 9 p.m. Jan. 9.
- Matt Dillon stars in the mini-series "Wayward Pines." No date has been announced for the start.
Scheduled to return to the lineup are “American Idol” ( 8 p.m. Jan. 7), “Glee” (for its final season) at 8 p.m. Jan. 9, “The Following” (March 2) and “So You Think You Can Dance.” No date set for new edition of “Dance.”
NBC
NBC got its mid-season started last week with the latest edition of “Celebrity Apprentice.” It continues with the start of the final season of “Parks and Recreation” at 8 p.m. Jan. 13. “Hannibal,” “Hollywood Game Night” and “America’s Got Talent” will return later this year.
New programs include:
- The espionage drama "Allegiance" (10 p.m. Feb. 5), starring Gavin Stenhouse
- "A.D.," a 12-hour mini-series beginning 9 p.m. April 5. It's a follow-up to "The Bible."
- "Heroes Reborn" is a 13-episode mini-series based on the series "Heroes." No start date has been announced.
- Elisha Cuthbert ("24") comedy, "One Big Happy," 9:30 p.m March 17.
- Action drama "Odyssey," 10 p.m. April 5.
- Crime drama "Aquarius" with David Duchovny
- "Mr. Robinson" starring Craig Robinson, in a comedy about a member of a rock band who works as a teacher.
No dates have been set for “Aquarius” and “Mr. Robinson.”
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