Mentor Nyesha Arrington, Mentor/Executive Producer Gordon Ramsay and Mentor Richard Blais in "Next Level Chef," which has been renewed, and is an example of the reality shows viewers will be seeing more of as the Writers Guild of America strikes continues.
On the TV calendar, May is when news generally emerges about what networks and streaming services have planned for their fall schedules. As media companies try to whip up excitement among advertisers at events known as the upfronts, viewers learn what shows are canceled, renewed, and get a sense of what’s coming to their screens once summer is over.
This year is different, however, because of the Writers Guild of America strike. The WGA members are asking for increased compensation and protections related to how streaming and other technology has impacted writers financial and working conditions. But negotiations between the WGA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers have stalled.
As a result, much of the news coming out of this year’s pared-down upfronts has centered on how the rather vague 2023 fall schedules reflect the uncertain state of the industry.
So, what does all this mean for viewers? Here’s a look at some of the trends, surprises and unanswered questions that have surfaced in recent weeks, and which may determine what viewers can expect to see – or not see — on their screens.
“Strike-proof” schedules: With the WGA on strike, production has been impacted. Some shows suspended production immediately, which explains why “Last Week Tonight With John Oliver” and “Real Time With Bill Maher” aren’t on HBO, while networks shows like “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” are airing repeats. Other projects – for example, the fifth and final season of Netflix’s “Stranger Things” — have halted filming in solidarity with the writers.
So, guess what? The fall schedules announced by the broadcast networks are full of shows that industry sources refer to as “strike-proof.” In other words, since reality shows, sports, news and daytime talk shows generally aren’t subject to the WGA agreement, expect primetime hours to be packed with reality fare.
In some cases, studios anticipated a possible WGA strike and remained in production for a longer period of time than usual, in order to stockpile episodes. As The Hollywood Reporter notes, NBC’s fall schedule includes three new series, “Found,” “The Irrational” and “Extended Family,” that began production early enough that the network has completed episodes that can be programmed even if the WGA strike halts new production. Similarly, “Night Court” and “Quantum Leap,” which were both renewed shortly after they premiere, stayed in production after completing their first seasons, and so will have second season episodes available for the fall 2023 schedule.
But some shows that have been announced for fall – “Law & Order: SVU,” for example — may not be able to produce new episodes, if the WGA strike continues. Though CBS announced a fall schedule with plenty of scripted shows, including Kathy Bates in a new take on the old Andy Griffith series, “Matlock” – it’s not clear whether those series will actually be ready to go, or whether the WGA strike will put them on hold.
That foggy future is likely why ABC is leaning into reality and game shows with its fall 2023 schedule. “Dancing With the Stars” is moving back to ABC after only being available to stream on Disney + last season. Meanwhile, the scripted comedy, “Abbott Elementary,” will be airing repeats, and viewers will have to wait for later announcements to find out when they might expect to see other scripted shows, including “Grey’s Anatomy,” “The Good Doctor,” “Will Trent,” “The Rookie,” and more.
Other unscripted ABC fall schedule shows include “Judge Steve Harvey,” “Celebrity Wheel of Fortune,” “Celebrity Jeopardy,” “What Would You Do?,” “Press Your Luck,” “The $100,000 Pyramid,” “Shark Tank,” “Bachelor in Paradise,” and “The Golden Bachelor.”
Related: As the writers strike disrupts TV production, here are 10 shows to catch up on
“The Golden Bachelor?”: The press release announcing the ABC fall schedule described it as a “long-awaited” spinoff of the “Bachelor” franchise. Is it? Whatever. The latest addition to the “Bachelor”-verse is, according to press materials, designed to showcase “a new kind of love story – one for the golden years,” in which “one hopeless romantic is given a second chance at love in the search for a partner with whom to share the sunset years of life. The women arriving at the mansion have a lifetime of experience, living through love, loss and laughter, hoping for a spark that ignites a future full of endless possibilities. In the end, will our Golden man turn the page to start a new chapter with the woman of his dreams?”
When will we see any of this stuff?: That’s another looming question. The Fox network, for example, announced its 2023-2024 programming slate, but the company hasn’t yet announced the 2023 fall schedule or premiere dates. If the WGA strike continues, production can’t start on scripted comedies and dramas, so it’s still up in the air when viewers may see the new season of “9-1-1: Lone Star,” “The Cleaning Lady,” or other scripted shows.
Oregon’s Kaitlin Olson gets a new show: The Portland-born Kaitlin Olson, whose credits include the long-running comedy “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” and “Hacks,” will star in a new ABC series, “High Potential.” The ABC announcement says the show, which is based on a French series, “follows a single mom with an exceptional mind, whose unconventional knack for solving crimes leads to an unusual and unstoppable partnership with a by-the-book seasoned detective (Daniel Sunjata).” Though “High Potential” is part of the 2023-2024 primetime schedule announcement, when viewers will actually see it depends on what happens with the WGA strike.
Cancellations, renewals and surprises: While some decisions made about the fate of shows were to be expected, the canceled, then-uncanceled status of “S.W.A.T.” raised eyebrows. First, CBS said the show was gone. Then, after star Shemar Moore and others publicly objected, CBS brought “S.W.A.T.” back, for one more, final season.
And considering that “9-1-1″ has been one of the most popular series on Fox, it was a bit weird to hear that the series will be moving to ABC, even as the spinoff, “9-1-1: Lone Star,” remains on Fox. Industry reports indicate that the move has to do with economics and ownership. As The Hollywood Reporter notes, Fox had to pay a licensing fee to Disney’s 20th Television, which owns “9-1-1,” to air the series, which was expensive to produce. ABC is owned by the Walt Disney company, so bringing “9-1-1″ to ABC is essentially keeping the show within the Disney family.
Among the recently announced canceled shows are “Yellowstone” (Paramount Network); “True Lies” (CBS); “East New York” (CBS); “Call Me Kat” (Fox); “Fantasy Island” (Fox); “Alaska Daily” (ABC); “Big Sky” (ABC); “The Company You Keep” (ABC); “The Winchesters” (The CW); “Kung Fu” (The CW); and “Walker: Independence” (The CW).
Marcia Gay Harden and Skylar Astin in "So Help Me Todd," which is set, though not filmed, in Portland. CBS
Among the renewed series are the Portland-set “So Help Me Todd” (CBS); “Animal Control” (Fox); “Accused” (Fox); “Lego Masters” (Fox); “Next Level Chef” (Fox); “Alert: Missing Persons Unit” (Fox); “The Simpsons” (Fox); “Survivor” (CBS); “NCIS” (CBS); “NCIS: Hawai’i” (CBS); “Fire Country” (CBS); “Bob Hearts Abishola” (CBS); the “FBI” franchise (CBS); the “Chicago” franchise (NBC); “Ghosts” (CBS); “Will Trent” (ABC); “Abbott Elementary” (ABC); “Grey’s Anatomy” (ABC); “The Conners” (ABC); “American Idol” (ABC); and “The Good Doctor.”
— Kristi Turnquist
503-221-8227; kturnquist@oregonian.com; @Kristiturnquist
Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe
If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.
Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 4/4/2023), Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/26/2023).
© 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. All rights reserved (About Us).
The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local.
Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site.
YouTube’s privacy policy is available here and YouTube’s terms of service is available here.
