The Alphabet net takes its turn in front of TV critics Tuesday, when ABC puts on panels for the half dozen new primetime shows that populate its diverse fall line-up.
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Most of these rookie offerings fall into the comedy camp: “Black-ish,” a family comedy about an African-American man and his biracial wife whose four kids might be too assimilated in their cushy suburban McMansion; “Selfie,” a 21st-century spin on “My Fair Lady” that has a social media superstar enlist the help of a marketing whiz to rebrand her self-obsessed reputation; “Cristela,” starring Mexican-American standup comic Cristela Alonzo in a family comedy loosely based on her life; and the rom-com “Manhattan Love Story.”
ABC is betting big on its rainmaker Shonda Rhimes (“Scandal,” “Grey’s Anatomy”) next season. The network has turned over its Thursday night real estate to the south suburban native, who will be here to discuss her new drama, “How to Get Away With Murder,” starring Tony Award-winner Viola Davis.
ABC Entertainment Group President Paul Lee will face the crowd, too. Lee doesn’t have a whole lot to brag about after last season, when merely two new scripted series survived the cancelation bloodbath (“Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” and the 80s-set comedy “The Goldbergs”). I expect we’ll hear plenty about ABC being the No. 1 brand in social engagement or some such nonsense.
I also expect news will break about existing shows and the net’s plans to rebuild, so be sure to follow along on the Sun-Times live blog (fed by yours truly and other TV critics) and check my blog for stories.
