For five TV networks – the big, broadcast ones – fix-it time is near.
That’s the mid-season, when new shows are tried, old ones return and schedules are adjusted.
Returning will be a couple of much-honored shows (“Black-ish,” shown here, and “This Is Us”), a revival of an old show (“Law & Order”) and others. For the new shows, three focus on female criminals.
All of this starts after the holidays. Fox likes to introduce each show on a Sunday, after football; NBC will wait until after the Winter Olympics.
And some of it will be temporary. ABC and NBC each have a six-hour mini-series; CBS hands much of February to “Celebrity Big Brother.” The changes are:
COMEDIES
This was a low-laugh fall – six comedies on CBS, four on ABC , zero (except cartoons) elsewhere.
But now things perk up, with shows returning for belated season-openers. ABC returns “Black-ish” on Jan. 4, alongside a new comedy, “Abbott Elementary” …. Fox returns “Call Me Kat” on Jan. 13 (after post-football on Jan. 9) alongside the new “Pivoting” …. NBC returns “Kenan” on Jan. 3 and debuts two new shows, “American Auto” and “Grand Crew,” the next night. When those two conclude, “Young Rock” and Mister Mayor” finally start their seasons on March 15.
DRAMAS
These are tough to launch, but everyone is trying at least one.
For CBS, it’s “Good Sam” (Jan. 5), a daughter-dad doctor show. For ABC, it’s “Promised Land” (Jan 3), about a prosperous, multi-generational Latino family. For NBC, it’s “Endgame” (Feb. 21), with Morena Bacarin engineering bank heists from prison.
Fox has two: In “The Cleaning Lady” (Jan. 3), a Cambodian doctor can’t get a medical license; she finds a knack for crime. The country-music “Monarch” arrives Feb. 1, after a post-football start Jan. 30.
And CW also has two. In “Naomi” (Jan. 11), a teen learns she has special powers … as so many CW characters do. In “All American: Homecoming” (Feb. 21), oddly, no one does.
Then there are shows moving to new nights (“SWAT” finally goes to Sundays on Jan. 2) or returning after long delays. The longest is “Law & Order” (Feb. 24); was canceled 11 years ago.
MINI-SERIES
Two of them have been planned, each taking six hours.
ABC has the first of its “Women in the Movement” stories. This one (Jan. 6) focuses on Mamie Till-Mobley, who became a civil rights activist after her son Emmett Till was killed in Mississippi.
NBC has “The Thing About Pam” (March 8), spread over six Tuesdays. Renee Zellweger plays Pam Faria, in a real-life crime story.
REALITY
The usual reality nights will remain, even if the shows change. It’s Mondays on ABC and NBC, Wednesdays on Fox and CBS.
But there are also some incursions into scripted turf. “The Chase” (Jan.5) game show gets the 10 p.m. Wednesday slot on ABC. “Undercover Cop” will be 8 p.m. Fridays on CBS.
And for much of February, while NBC has the Olympics, “Celebrity Big Brother” will sprawl across several nights on CBS. Viewers can choose which games to watch.
Now here’s a handy night-by-night list. It includes only shows that are new … or starting their seasons … or switching nights … or returning after a long break.
SUNDAYS:
– CBS: “SWAT,” 10 p.m. (new night and time, Jan. 2).
– CW: “Two Sentence Horror Stories,” 9 and 9:30 p.m. (season opener, Jan. 16); also, “Riverdale” debuts 8 p.m. March 6, on this new night.
MONDAYS
– ABC: “The Bachelor,” 8 p.m. (season-opener, Jan. 3); “Promised Land,” 10:01 (debut, Jan. 24).
– NBC: “Kenan,” 8 and 8:30 p.m. (season-opener, Jan. 3); “That’s My Jam,” 9 p.m. (debut Jan. 3, after a Nov. 29 special. Then “American Song Contest” and The Endgame, 8 and 10 p.m. (debuts, Feb.21).
– Fox: “9-1-1: Lone Star,” 8 p.m. (season-opener, Jan. 3); “The Cleaning Lady,” 9 p.m. (debut, Jan. 3).
– CW: “Dynasty,” 8 p.m. (two-hour season premiere, Dec. 20); then “4400” returns, 9 p.m. , Jan. 17. On Feb.21, “All American” returns at 8 p.m., leading into the new “All American Homecoming” at 9.
TUESDAYS
– ABC: “Abbott Elementary,” 9 p.m. (Jan. 4, second episode, after a Dec. 7 debut); “Black-ish,” 9:30 (season-opener, Jan. 4).
– NBC: “American Auto” and “Grand Crew,” 8 and 8:30 (debuts, Jan. 4); “This Is Us,” 9 p.m. (season-opener, Jan. 4); “The Thing About Pam,” 10 p.m. (six-week mini-series, debuts March 8. Also, “Young Rock” and “Mr. Mayor” have season-openers at 8 and 8:30 p.m. March 15.
– Fox: “The Resident,” 8 p.m. (returns Feb. 1); “Monarch,” 9 p.m. (second episode, after post-football debut at about 10 p.m., Jan. 30).
– CW: “Superman & Lois,” 8 p.m. (return, Jan. 11); “Naomi,” 9 p.m. (debut, Jan. 11).
WEDNESDAYS
– ABC: ““The Chase,” 10 p.m. (season-opener, Jan. 5).
– CBS: Various, 8 p.m. (two-hour “Amazing Race” opener, Jan. 5; “Price is Right” specials, Jan. 12 and 19, “Let’s Make a Deal,” Jan. 26; then “Celebrity Big Brother,”through Feb. 23. “The Amazing Race,” 9 p.m. (starting Jan. 12, after two-hour opener; “Good Sam,” 10 p.m. (debuts Jan. 5).
– Fox: “I Can See Your Voice,” 8 p.m. (season-opener, Jan. 5); “Next Level Chef,” 9 p.m. (Jan. 5, after debut at 8 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 2).
– CW: “Legends of Tomorrow” and “Batwoman,” 8 and 9 p.m. (both return Jan. 12).
THURSDAYS
– ABC: “Women of the Movement,” 8-10 p.m. (six-hour mini-series, Jan. 6, 13 and 20).
– NBC: “Law & Order,” 8 p.m. (debut of series revival, Feb. 24).
– Fox: “Joe Millionaire: For Richer of Poorer,” 8 p.m. (two-hour debut Jan. 6, then one hour); “Call Me Kat” and “Pivoting,” 9 and 9:30 p.m. (Jan. 13, after airing at 8 and 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 9 – season-premiere for “Kat,” debut for “Pivoting”).
– CW: “Walker” and “Legacies,” 8 and 9 p.m., (both return, Jan. 27).
FRIDAYS:
– CBS: “Undercover Boss,” 8 p.m. (season-opener, Jan. 7). ALSO: Beginning Feb. 4, “Celebrity Big Brother” will take chunks of three Thursdays, three Mondays and three Sundays.
– NBC: “The Blacklist,” 8 p.m. (move to new night).
– CW: “Penn & Teller: Fool Us” and “Nancy Drew,” 8 and 9 p.m. (both return Jan. 7).