NBC’s new 2016-17 TV shows include a couple of spinoff series, adaptations of a movie, a book and an iconic children’s story, and a comedy set in the world of DC Comics.
The network will unveil 15 new series at its upfront Monday—seven dramas, five comedies and three alternative series. Only three of the shows are set to air this fall. Here’s an early peek at the new shows and the fall schedule, as well as a look at what shows will return this fall and what was canceled.
Returning shows: “The Blacklist,” “Blindspot,” “The Carmichael Show,” “Chicago Fire,” “Chicago Med,” “Chicago P.D.,” “Dateline,” “Grimm,” “Hollywood Game Night,” “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” “Little Big Shots,” “Shades of Blue,” “Superstore,” “The Voice”
Canceled shows: “Best Time Ever With Neil Patrick Harris,” “Crowded,” “Game of Silence,” “Hannibal,” “Heartbeat,” “Heroes Reborn,” “Mr. Robinson,” “The Mysteries of Laura,” “The Player,” “Telenovela,” “Truth Be Told,” “Undateable”
Related: Fall 2016 TV schedule news
New 2016-17 TV shows — NBC
All descriptions come from NBC. Scroll down for fall 2016 schedule.
Drama
The Blacklist: Redemption
In this spinoff, undercover operative Tom Keen joins forces with Susan “Scottie” Hargrave, the brilliant and cunning chief of Grey Matters, a covert mercenary organization that solves problems governments don’t dare touch. While on the hunt for Liz’s attacker, Tom secretly discovered that Scottie is actually his biological mother. Now, as they team up to employ their unique skills and resources in a dangerous world of deadly criminals, Tom begins his own covert mission to find out more about his shadowy past.
Cast: Famke Janssen, Ryan Eggold, Edi Gathegi and Tawny Cypress.
Production: Jon Bokenkamp and John Eisendrath serve as writers and executive producers. John Fox and John Davis also executive produce. Michael Dinner directs. Produced by John Eisendrath Productions, Flatwater Scribe, Davis Entertainment in association with Sony Pictures Television.
Chicago Justice
The State’s Attorney’s dedicated team of prosecutors and investigators navigates heated city politics and controversy head-on while fearlessly pursuing justice. As they take on the city’s high stakes and often media-frenzied cases, they must balance public opinion, power struggles within the system and their unwavering passion for the law. It all starts with a gut-wrenching case when one of Chicago’s finest is shot in the line of duty. More “Chicago Justice” here and here.
Cast: Philip Winchester, Carl Weathers, Nazneen Contractor, Joelle Carter and Ryan-James Hatanaka
Production: Dick Wolf, Peter Jankowski, Matt Olmstead, Derek Haas, Michael Brandt and Arthur Forney executive produce “Chicago Justice.” “Chicago Justice” is produced by Universal Television and Wolf Entertainment.
Emerald City
Swept up into the eye of a tornado, 20-year-old Dorothy Gale is transported to another world—a mystical land in great peril, where an all-powerful Wizard has forbidden magic and rules over the many kingdoms. This is the fabled Land of Oz in a way you’ve never seen before—where lethal warriors roam, wicked witches plot in the shadows, and a young girl from Kansas becomes the headstrong hero who holds the fate of their world in her hands.
Cast: Adria Arjona, Vincent D’Onofrio, Florence Kasumba, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Ana Ularu, Joely Richardson, Gerran Howell, Jordan Loughran, Mido Hamada
Production: David Schulner, Shaun Cassidy and Matt Arnold serve as executive producers. Production of Universal Television.
Midnight, Texas
Welcome to a place where being normal is really quite strange. Based on the hit book series from “True Blood” author Charlaine Harris, comes a journey into a remote Texas town where no one is who they seem. From vampires and witches to psychics and hit men, Midnight is a mysterious safe haven for those who are different. As the town members fight off outside pressures from rowdy biker gangs, ever-suspicious cops and their own dangerous pasts, they band together and form a strong and unlikely family.
Cast: François Arnaud, Dylan Bruce, Parisa Fitz-Henley, Arielle Kebbel, Sarah Ramos, Peter Mensah, Yul Vazquez and Sean Bridgers
Production: Monica Owusu-Breen serves as writer and executive producer. David Janollari and “Mr. Robot” director Niels Arden Oplev also executive produce. “Midnight, Texas” is produced by Universal Television and David Janollari Entertainment.
Taken
This prequel to the film franchise is modern-day, edge-of-your-seat thriller that follows the origin story of former Green Beret Bryan Mills as he deals with a personal tragedy that shakes his world. As he fights to overcome the incident and exact revenge, Mills is pulled into a career as a deadly CIA operative, a job that awakens his very particular, and very dangerous, set of skills.
Cast: Clive Standen, Jennifer Beals, Brooklyn Sudano, Monique Gabriela Curnen, Gaius Charles, Michael Irby, James Landry Hébert and Jose Pablo Cantillo
Production: Alexander Cary serves as writer and executive producer. Luc Besson, Matthew Gross, Edouard de Vésinne, Thomas Anargyros and director Alex Graves also executive produce. “Taken” is produced by EuropaCorp TV and Universal Television.
This Is Us
Tuesdays this fall
Sometimes life will surprise you. This refreshingly honest and provocative series follows a unique ensemble whose paths cross and their life stories intertwine in curious ways. We find several of them share the same birthday, and so much more than anyone would expect. From the writer and directors of “Crazy, Stupid, Love.” comes a smart, modern dramedy that will challenge your everyday presumptions about the people you think you know.
Cast: Milo Ventimiglia, Mandy Moore, Justin Hartley, Chrissy Metz, Sterling K. Brown, Susan Kelechi Watson, Chris Sullivan and Ron Cephas Jones.
Production: Dan Fogelman serves as writer and executive producer. Jess Rosenthal, Charlie Gogolak and directors John Requa and Glenn Ficarra also executive produce. “This Is Us” is produced by 20th Century Fox Television.
Timeless
Mondays this fall
In this thrilling action-adventure series, a mysterious criminal steals a secret, state-of-the-art time machine, intent on destroying America as we know it by changing the past. Our only hope is an unexpected team: a scientist, soldier and history professor who must use the machine’s prototype to travel back in time to critical events. While they must make every effort not to affect the past themselves, they must also stay one step ahead of this dangerous fugitive. Can this handpicked team uncover the mystery behind it all and end his destruction before it’s too late?
Cast: Abigail Spencer, Matt Lanter, Malcolm Barrett, Goran Visnjic, Paterson Joseph, Sakina Jaffrey and Claudia Doumit
Production: Eric Kripke and Shawn Ryan serves as writers and executive producers. John Davis, John Fox, Marney Hochman and director Neil Marshall also executive produce. “Timeless” is produced by Davis Entertainment, Kripke Enterprises and MiddKid Productions in association with Sony Pictures Television.
Comedy
The Good Place
Thursdays this fall
This smart, unique comedy follows Eleanor Shellstrop (Kristen Bell), an ordinary woman who, through an extraordinary string of events, enters the afterlife where she comes to realize that she hasn’t been a very good person. With the help of her wise newfound afterlife mentor (Ted Danson), she’s determined to shed her old way of living and discover the awesome (or at least the pretty good) person within.
Cast: Kristen Bell, Ted Danson, William Jackson Harper, Jameela Jamil, Manny Jacinto and D’Arcy Carden.
Production: Michael Schur serves as writer and executive producer. David Miner also executive produces. Drew Goddard directs. “The Good Place” is produced by Universal Television and 3 Arts Entertainment.
Great News
Getting along with some colleagues can be rough, but working with your mom? That’s a whole other story. When up-and-coming news producer Katie finds out her overbearing mom has become an intern at the station where Katie works, it might just be the worst news ever. But with her biggest cheerleader at her side, Katie might finally get the recognition she deserves.
Cast: Briga Heelan, Andrea Martin, Adam Campbell, Kimrie Lewis-Davis, John Michael Higgins and Horatio Sanz
Production: Tracey Wigfield serves as writer and executive producer. Tina Fey, Robert Carlock and David Miner also executive produce. Beth McCarthy-Miller directs. “Great News” is produced by Universal Television, Little Stranger and 3 Arts Entertainment.
Marlon
Loosely inspired by the real life of star Marlon Wayans, this family comedy centers on a loving (but immature) father committed to co-parenting his two kids with his very-together ex-wife. While his misguided fatherly advice, unstoppable larger-than-life personality and unpredictable Internet superstardom might get in the way sometimes, for Marlon family really always does come first—even if he’s the biggest kid of all.
Cast: Marlon Wayans, Essence Atkins, Notlim Taylor, Amir O’Neil, Bresha Webb and Diallo Riddle
Production: Christopher Moynihan serves as writer and executive producer. Marlon Wayans, Rick Alvarez, Michael Rotenberg and director Andy Ackerman (pilot) also executive produce. “Marlon” is produced by Universal Television, Wayans Brothers Entertainment, Bicycle Path Productions and 3 Arts Entertainment.
Powerless
In the first comedy series set in the universe of DC Comics, Vanessa Hudgens plays Emily, an insurance adjuster specializing in regular-people coverage against damage caused by crime-fighting superheroes. It’s when she stands up to one of these larger-than-life figures (after an epic battle messes with her commute) that she becomes a cult hero … to her group of lovably quirky co-workers. While she navigates her everyday life against an explosive backdrop, Emily might just discover that being a hero doesn’t always require superpowers.
Cast: Vanessa Hudgens, Alan Tudyk, Danny Pudi and Christina Kirk
Production: Ben Queen serves as writer and executive producer. Director Michael Patrick Jann (pilot) also executive produces. “Powerless” is produced by Warner Bros. Television and based on the characters from DC Comics.
Trial and Error
In this outrageous fish-out-of-water comedy, bright-eyed New York lawyer Josh Segal heads to a tiny Southern town for his first big case. His mission? To defend an eccentric, “rollercizing” poetry professor (John Lithgow) accused of the bizarre murder of his beloved wife. Settling into his makeshift office behind a taxidermy shop and meeting his quirky team of local misfits, Josh suspects that winning his first big case will not be easy, especially when his client is always making himself look guilty. “Making a Murderer” can be funny!
Cast: John Lithgow, Nicholas D’Agosto, Jayma Mays, Sherri Shepherd, Steven Boyer and Krysta Rodriguez
Production: Jeff Astrof and Matt Miller serve as writers and executive producers. Jeffrey Blitz directs. “Trial & Error” is produced by Barge Productions and Good Session Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television.
Alternative
Better Late Than Never
Based on a popular Korean format, this hilarious fish-out-of-water comedy/reality show follows cultural icons Henry Winkler, William Shatner, Terry Bradshaw and George Foreman on their greatest adventure yet. Deciding it’s better late than never, these four national treasures embark on the journey of a lifetime, traveling across Asia on their own with no schedule and no itinerary. The only help will come from Jeff Dye, a young tech-savvy comedian with an agenda of his own and who isn’t above leading the men off track. Each stop is packed with hilarious cultural experiences, heartwarming spectacles and unexpected twists as our legends take on this unforgettable adventure.
Production: Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, Henry Winkler, Jason Ehrlich, Stephanie Chambers, Alex Katz and Tim Crescenti executive produce. Troy Miller directs. “Better Late Than Never” is produced by Universal Television and Small World IFT.
First Dates
Everyone can relate to the experience of a first date: the promise of potential love when it goes well and the hilariously awkward moments if it crashes and burns. From executive producer Ellen DeGeneres, narrated by Drew Barrymore and based on the hit U.K. format, this new series offers a voyeuristic look at a variety of real first dates happening throughout one night at the same restaurant in Chicago. The daters are of all ages, backgrounds and from across the U.S. The audience will be along for the ride in a refreshingly authentic viewing experience that plays like a real-life romantic comedy. At the end of each episode, we will find out if the participants want to see each other again for a second date or if they head back to love’s drawing board.
Production: Ellen DeGeneres, Pam Healey, John Hesling, Anthony Dominici, Jeff Kleeman and Tim Carter executive produce. “First Dates” is produced by Shed Media and A Very Good Production.
The Wall
Packed with drama and action, this is a game that the entire family can root for together. Executive producer LeBron James presents a challenge infused with the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat, where regular people can achieve their dreams with one bounce of the ball. Hosted by comedian Chris Hardwick and set in a large glossy arena centering on the colossal 40-foot wall, the gameplay involves quick thinking, shrewd strategy and a little luck. Played by contestant pairs, this is an unpredictable journey with giant swings of fortune and millions of dollars passing through the contestants’ hands throughout the hour.
Production: LeBron James, Andrew Glassman, Maverick Carter and Chris Hardwick executive produce. “The Wall” is produced by Glassman Media in association with SpringHill Productions. Glassman Media developed the series with CORE Media.
NBC fall 2016 schedule
New 2016-17 TV shows in UPPER CASE; all times CT
MONDAY
7 p.m. “The Voice”
9 p.m. “TIMELESS”
TUESDAY
7 p.m. “The Voice”
8 p.m. “THIS IS US”
9 p.m. “Chicago Fire”
WEDNESDAY
7 p.m. “Blindspot”
8 p.m. “Law & Order: SVU”
9 p.m. “Chicago P.D.”
THURSDAY
7 p.m. “Superstore”
7:30 p.m. “THE GOOD PLACE”
8 p.m. “Chicago Med”
9 p.m. “The Blacklist”
FRIDAY
7 p.m. “Caught on Camera with Nick Cannon”
8 p.m. “Grimm”
9 p.m. “Dateline NBC”
SATURDAY
7 p.m. “Saturday Dateline Mysteries”
9 p.m. “Saturday Night Live (encores)”
SUNDAY
6 p.m. “Football Night in America”
7:20 p.m. “NBC’s Sunday Night Football”