Returning for additional seasons are America's Funniest Home Videos, The Bachelor, Black-ish, Dancing With the Stars, Fresh Off the Boat, The Goldbergs, Grey's Anatomy, How to Get Away With Murder, Agents of SHIELD, The Middle, Modern Family, Once Upon a Time, Scandal, Shark Tank and Quantico.
The renewals mark Dungey's first official duties as head of the network and come after Lee historically waited until the Friday before upfronts in May to announce both returning shows as well as his new series pickups. Perhaps what's more interesting is that amid a landscape of more vertically aligned networks and studios, Dungey's early renewals include multiple series from outside studios including Sony Pictures Television (The Goldbergs), 20th Century Fox Television (Modern Family, Fresh Off the Boat) and Warner Bros. Television (The Middle).
“We’re very proud of our strong roster of performers, and we’re excited about what they will bring us creatively next season,” said Channing Dungey, President, ABC Entertainment.
Left on the Bubble
As for the bubble shows, that list is topped by Castle, which again hinges on whether or not stars Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic will sign new deals to return for a ninth season of the veteran procedural. Produced in-house, Lee told reporters in January that converations were underway to keep the series going in the even that neither of its two leads returned. Insiders say ABC TV Group president Ben Sherwood wanted Lee to focus on more procedural fare — which would make returning Castle a priority given that most of the network's drama pilots (picked up under Lee) are soaps.
Also on the bubble is country music soap Nashville, which has also seen its viewership erode in its fourth season. The Connie Britton and Hayden Panettiere drama is a co-production between ABC Studios and Lionsgate TV and does offer a second revenue stream from its music and album downloads featuring original music produced and performed on the country soap as well as from its annual tours.
Considered unlikely to return is Dan Fogelman's Galavant, a pricey musical comedy that had support largely from Lee and a handful of critics — but was rumored to be the opposite of the kind of show Sherwood was looking for from the network.
John Ridley's critical and awards season darling American Crime, an anthology that reboots its story and some cast every season, is also left on the bubble. Despite rave reviews and Emmy wins, the series has failed to catch on with viewers. Ridley, for his part, also has a drama pilot in the works at the network that leans more into the procedural format that top brass are said to be leaning toward.
Still to be determined is Tim Allen comedy Last Man Standing — which this season hit the key 100 episode milestone. Already sold in syndication, the series — which hails from 20th Century Fox Television — has continued to defy the odds on Fridays and attract a small but loyal following as part of the network's multicamera block with freshman Dr. Ken.
Meanwhile, the fate of rest of the network's freshman class has yet to be determined. That includes The Muppets — which quietly wrapped its troubled freshman run; The Family — which debuts Thursday; comedy Real O'Neals — which opened well Wednesday; as well as yet to debut The Catch, Of Kings and Prophets and Uncle Buck. The verdict is still out on Dr. Ken, with Blood and Oil and Wicked City already canceled.
Left on the bubble are 'Agent Carter,' 'American Crime,' 'Castle,' 'Nashville,' 'Galavant' and 'Last Man Standing' as Channing Dungey starts to make her mark on the network.
The renewals mark Dungey's first official duties as head of the network and come after Lee historically waited until the Friday before upfronts in May to announce both returning shows as well as his new series pickups. Perhaps what's more interesting is that amid a landscape of more vertically aligned networks and studios, Dungey's early renewals include multiple series from outside studios including Sony Pictures Television (The Goldbergs), 20th Century Fox Television (Modern Family, Fresh Off the Boat) and Warner Bros. Television (The Middle).
“We’re very proud of our strong roster of performers, and we’re excited about what they will bring us creatively next season,” said Channing Dungey, President, ABC Entertainment.
Left on the Bubble
As for the bubble shows, that list is topped by Castle, which again hinges on whether or not stars Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic will sign new deals to return for a ninth season of the veteran procedural. Produced in-house, Lee told reporters in January that converations were underway to keep the series going in the even that neither of its two leads returned. Insiders say ABC TV Group president Ben Sherwood wanted Lee to focus on more procedural fare — which would make returning Castle a priority given that most of the network's drama pilots (picked up under Lee) are soaps.
Also on the bubble is country music soap Nashville, which has also seen its viewership erode in its fourth season. The Connie Britton and Hayden Panettiere drama is a co-production between ABC Studios and Lionsgate TV and does offer a second revenue stream from its music and album downloads featuring original music produced and performed on the country soap as well as from its annual tours.
Considered unlikely to return is Dan Fogelman's Galavant, a pricey musical comedy that had support largely from Lee and a handful of critics — but was rumored to be the opposite of the kind of show Sherwood was looking for from the network.
John Ridley's critical and awards season darling American Crime, an anthology that reboots its story and some cast every season, is also left on the bubble. Despite rave reviews and Emmy wins, the series has failed to catch on with viewers. Ridley, for his part, also has a drama pilot in the works at the network that leans more into the procedural format that top brass are said to be leaning toward.
Still to be determined is Tim Allen comedy Last Man Standing — which this season hit the key 100 episode milestone. Already sold in syndication, the series — which hails from 20th Century Fox Television — has continued to defy the odds on Fridays and attract a small but loyal following as part of the network's multicamera block with freshman Dr. Ken.
Meanwhile, the fate of rest of the network's freshman class has yet to be determined. That includes The Muppets — which quietly wrapped its troubled freshman run; The Family — which debuts Thursday; comedy Real O'Neals — which opened well Wednesday; as well as yet to debut The Catch, Of Kings and Prophets and Uncle Buck. The verdict is still out on Dr. Ken, with Blood and Oil and Wicked City already canceled.
Left on the bubble are 'Agent Carter,' 'American Crime,' 'Castle,' 'Nashville,' 'Galavant' and 'Last Man Standing' as Channing Dungey starts to make her mark on the network.
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