LOS ANGELES – ABC is brushing off a long-dormant notion – big-deal mini-series.
The network once soared with “Roots” and more, but in recent years all of the broadcast networks have mostly avoided movies and minis. Now ABC president Karey Burke has announced:
— “Little Mermaid,” becoming the network’s first live musical. Auli’i Cravalho (shown here) of “Moana” has the title role, with Queen Latifah as Ursula and Shaggy as Sebastian.
— An ongoing anthology, “Women of the Movement.” That starts next season with Mamie Till, who became active after the murder of her son, a civil-rights activist. By the end of that mini, she’ll meet Rosa Parks (which she did in real life, Burke said), who will be the subject of a mini the following season.
— A mini-series based on the book”Fall and Rise: The Story of 9/ll.” It may debut on the 20th anniversary, around Sept. 11, 2021.
ABC has prospered lately, topping the summer ratings with its mixture of games and dating shows. Burke surprised no one by saying “Bachelorette” and “Bachelor In Paradise” have been renewed.
She said “conversations are ongoing” about details of the next “Bachelor” – and the possibility it will have the first black bachelor. Mike Johnson, who just missed the final four in “The Bachelorette” this summer, is considered a strong contender.
Mike Fleiss remains as producer of the shows, Burke said, now that the restraining order by his wife “has been amicably resolved.” But an outside investigator has been brought in to look at charges of sexual abuse on “The Rookie.”