FALL PREVIEW 2017: Thursday

Here is my Fall Preview for Thursday:

ABC
8:00 Grey's Anatomy (14th season)
9:00 Scandal (7th season)
10:00 How to Get Away with Murder (4th season)

For one last time, the original TGIT crew is together on ABC. With Scandal ending and Shonda Rhimes signing a development deal with Netflix, it's coming up on the end of an era for ABC. Grey's Anatomy continues to be one of TV's strongest dramas heading into its 14th season. Scandal will follow for its final season, which is already being promoted a lot. This show was huge for awhile but as bright as it burned, it also burned quickly and I think this is a good move because they still might be able to get some mileage by advertising the end game for this show. How to Get Away with Murder continues at 10pm in the only slot it has ever known.

CBS
(Sep)
8:00 Thursday Night Football

(Nov)
8:00 The Big Bang Theory (11th season)
8:30 YOUNG SHELDON
9:00 Mom (5th season)
9:30 Life in Pieces (3rd season)
10:00 S.W.A.T.

As usual, CBS will have football for the first several weeks of the season. In November, the comedy lineup comes back with The Big Bang Theory returning from Monday and being paired with its single camera prequel, Young Sheldon (which will have a one-off Monday premiere). It will be interesting to see if Sheldon has better retention out of Big Bang. On the plus side, it's obviously about a same character. However, it looks like it has the feel of an ABC family sitcom so that seems like an odd fit with Big Bang. The 9pm hour stays the same with the solid but not spectacular Mom and Life in Pieces. This year, they have comedy competition from NBC in the same hour. At 10pm is S.W.A.T., the reboot of the TV show and film starring Criminal Minds alum Shemar Moore. This is on brand for CBS, but it's in a slot for CBS that has been very problematic in recent years so I'm not too confident, especially with the November start.

NBC
8:00 Superstore (3rd season)
8:30 The Good Place (2nd season)
9:00 WILL & GRACE
9:30 Great News (2nd season)
10:00 Chicago Fire (6th season)

aNBC is going back to the four comedy formula on Thursdays that worked for them for decades but hasn't happened since the 2013-14 season. First up is the same 8pm hour that started last year with Superstore and The Good Place. These two shows kept the lights on and it could be worse as far as NBC comedies go. At 9pm is the return of Must See TV staple Will & Grace. It is one of the most hyped shows for the fall and has already been renewed for 2018-19. I'm not convinced it's going to be a huge hit because I just don't think the desire from fans is as strong as NBC and the media think it is. But it should certainly start strong. It leads into Great News, which is getting a huge show of faith from NBC despite abysmal season one ratings. I'm not all that high on this comedy block as a whole and I think it could be a big disappointment for NBC. At 10pm is Chicago Fire, which moves to the night after four years on Tuesdays. Even if the comedy block disappoints, I think this has a good chance of outperforming How to Get Away with Murder.

FOX
8:00 Gotham (4th season)
9:00 THE ORVILLE

FOX is revamping Thursday night and turning it into another genre night with former Monday staple Gotham moving over to lead off the night. Gotham has a steady but declining audience and I don't think that will change with its move to Thursdays. It leads into Seth MacFarlane's new sci-fi parody The Orville. While The Orville had a very strong debut after the first NFL Sunday at a 2.8 demo, I think it will drop like a rock once it hits Thursdays.

CW
8:00 Supernatural (13th season)
9:00 Arrow (6th season)

Another year, another timeslot change for Supernatural. Entering its 13th season, the CW's longest running drama of all time has aired all over the schedule and will now move up an hour to lead off Thursday nights. It will lead into Arrow, which aired Wednesdays at 8pm for its first five seasons but really struggled last year and is no longer seen as a show that should be used to launch other shows. Once the CW's highest rated show, it has definitely fallen back to the pack and dropped on the CW priority list.

New Thursday Show Survival Chances
Young Sheldon (CBS) - Good. The Great Indoors was one of those few shows that couldn't get renewed despite the Big Bang Theory lead-in, but I can't imagine Young Sheldon will do worse than that and it's a high priority for CBS so I think it gets renewed.

S.W.A.T. (CBS) - Poor. Until a show can break the Thursday 10pm curse for CBS, I'm not going to feel good about any new show's chances there. And with the November start, I just don't see this being the show to break the curse.

Will & Grace (NBC) - Excellent. Considering it already has been renewed for 2017-18, I would certainly like this show's chances to return.

The Orville (FOX) - Poor. I know it had a good start, but I just don't see it being able to sustain it once the Thursday move happens.