It's Upfront season again! This week, I will be making my schedule suggestions for each network followed by predictions next week and then analyzing the actual schedules the week after that!
NBC had an OK year. They had moderate success stories with Manifest and New Amsterdam though both eroded quite a bit as the season went on. They saw a lot of success with their #OneChicago Wednesdays and while it is below its peak, This is Us remains one of TV's top shows. Their midseason fare didn't work out as well with The Village, The Enemy Within, and Abby's all bombing and the newly acquired Brooklyn Nine-Nine not living up to early expectations (though Brooklyn has been renewed). I am always in favor of picking up more pilots and launching more shows in the fall to set up better chances for success so my predictions will probably reflect that.
Past NBC Suggestions: 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011
For a list of NBC pilots, click here
MONDAYS
8:00 The Voice
10:00 PRISM
It doesn't always work for NBC, but their best bet year after year on Mondays is to air The Voice followed by a promising new drama. I think Prism might be that show this year with the unique look at a murder trial.
TUESDAYS
8:00 This is Us
9:00 COUNCIL OF DADS
10:00 New Amsterdam
I think it's time for The Voice to go down to once a week. That was a good thing for Dancing with the Stars and I think it's time. I also think it's time to try their This is Us type show immediately following This is Us in the fall instead of doing the Rise/The Village strategy. The next successor appears to be Council of Dads so I would give that the 9pm slot and keep New Amsterdam at 10pm.
WEDNESDAYS
8:00 Chicago Med
9:00 Chicago Fire
10:00 Chicago PD
The #OneChicago lineup was arguably the most consistently successful lineup on TV this season. I see absolutely no reason to change it.
THURSDAYS
8:00 THE KENAN SHOW
8:30 PERFECT HARMONY
9:00 Superstore
9:30 The Good Place
10:00 Law & Order: SVU
NBC's comedy lineup on Thursdays has been getting pretty dire lately so I think it's time to shake it up and give some multi-cam comedies the lead-off slot. The Kenan Show and Perfect Harmony starring Bradley Whitford seem promising. I would move Superstore to 9pm and pair it with The Good Place leading into the record-breaking and perhaps final season of Law & Order: SVU.
FRIDAYS
8:00 Manifest
9:00 The Blacklist
10:00 Dateline NBC
Manifest to Fridays seems like an obvious choice. The show did well in delayed viewing and it definitely doesn't deserve the Monday 10pm slot back so this makes sense and I would have it lead into The Blacklist.
SATURDAYS
8:00 Encores
SUNDAYS
7:00 Football Night in America
8:30 Sunday Night Football
MIDSEASON: EMERGENCE, LIKE MAGIC, UNINSURED, ZOEY'S EXTRAORDINARY PLAYLIST, America's Got Talent: The Champions, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Ellen's Game of Games, Good Girls, The Titan Games, Will & Grace, World of Dance
Emergence could be a Monday 10pm contender for the spring run of The Voice. Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist will be tough to schedule but I think it's worth a chance. Brooklyn Nine-Nine can replace The Good Place and Will & Grace can be on deck if a multi-cam comedy fails. I'm not sure if they can do a "Champions" run of America's Got Talent in the winter, but some sort of AGT run seems like a good choice as both that and Ellen's Game of Games (and even The Titan Games) are solid winter fillers. I would save World of Dance for summer and Good Girls and the other new shows can go where needed or be held for late spring/summer if things go well.
CANCELLED/ENDED: A.P. Bio, Abby's, Blindspot, The Enemy Within, I Feel Bad, Midnight Texas, The Titan Games, The Village
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