ABC shows were presented at the Television Critics Association’s 2023 Winter Press Tour today. The network announced renewals, updates and a new project.
The scripted ABC shows that were presented included Abbott Elementary, Not Dead Yet, The Company You Keep, Grey’s Anatomy, and The Good Doctor spinoff, The Good Lawyer.
SCRIPTED ABC SHOWS
ABBOTT ELEMENTARY
On the heels of its three wins at last night’s Golden Globe Awards ceremony, ABC has renewed hit comedy series Abbott Elementary from Warner Bros. Television and 20th Television for a third season. It was announced today by Craig Erwich, president, ABC Entertainment, Hulu & Disney Branded Television Streaming Originals, at the 2023 Winter Television Critics Association Press Tour.
Abbott Elementary delivers a 3.58 rating in Adults 18-49 after 35 days of viewing across platforms, growing 31% over its prior season and ranking as ABC’s No. 1 series this season. In addition, the sophomore ABC sitcom averages 9.1 million Total Viewers in its second season after 35 days of cross-platform viewing, marking an increase of 13% over last season.
Quinta Brunson created and stars as Janine Teagues, and she serves as executive producer of the series alongside Justin Halpern and Patrick Schumacker of Delicious Non-Sequitur Productions, and Randall Einhorn.
In addition to Brunson, the cast includes Tyler James Williams as Gregory Eddie, Janelle James as Ava Coleman, Lisa Ann Walter as Melissa Schemmenti, Chris Perfetti as Jacob Hill, William Stanford Davis as Mr. Johnson, and Emmy Award winner Sheryl Lee Ralph as Barbara Howard.
NOT DEAD YET
ABC’s newest addition to its comedy roster, Not Dead Yet starring and executive produced by Gina Rodriguez, makes its series debut with a two-episode premiere on Wednesday, February 8, starting at 8:30-9:00 p.m. EST on ABC.
The series follows Nell Serrano, a broke and newly single self-described disaster, working to restart the life and career she left behind five years ago.
When she lands the only job she can find — writing obituaries — Nell starts getting life advice from some unlikely sources, the dead people whose lives she’s writing about.
Joining previously-announced Martin Mull as Nell’s ghostly visitors is a star-studded roster, including Ed Begley Jr., Mo Collins, Deborah S. Craig, Telma Hopkins, Don Lake, Rhea Perlman, Paula Pell, Tony Plana, Brittany Snow and Julia Sweeney.
Not Dead Yet stars Gina Rodriguez as Nell Serrano, Hannah Simone as Sam, Lauren Ash as Lexi, Rick Glassman as Edward, Josh Banday as Dennis and Angela Gibbs as Cricket.
Casey Johnson and David Windsor are creators and executive producers. Also executive producing is Gina Rodriguez, Dean Holland and Wonderland Sound and Vision’s McG, Mary Viola and Corey Marsh. The series is produced by 20th Television, a part of Disney Television Studios.
THE COMPANY YOU KEEP
Milo Ventimiglia and Catherine Haena Kim star in The Company You Keep, debuting Sunday, February 19, at 10/9c on ABC. The series is based on the Korean Broadcasting System series entitled “My Fellow Citizens.”
A night of passion leads to love between con man Charlie and undercover CIA officer Emma, who are unknowingly on a collision course professionally. While Charlie ramps up the “family business” so he can get out for good, Emma’s closing in on the vengeful criminal who holds Charlie’s family debts in hand – forcing them to reckon with the lies they’ve told so they can save themselves and their families from disastrous consequences.
The Company You Keep stars Milo Ventimiglia as Charlie, Catherine Haena Kim as Emma, William Fichtner as Leo, Tim Chiou as David, Freda Foh Shen as Grace, James Saito as Joseph, Sarah Wayne Callies as Birdie, Felisha Terrell as Daphne and Polly Draper as Fran.
Executive producers and co-showrunners are Julia Cohen and Phil Klemmer, Milo Ventimiglia and Russ Cundiff (DiVide Pictures), Jon M. Chu and Caitlin Foito (Electric Somewhere), Todd Harthan and Lindsay Goffman (Gratitude Productions).
Deanna Harris (DiVide Pictures) is a producer. The series is produced by 20th Television, a part of Disney Television Studios.
GREY’S ANATOMY
As one chapter closes, a new one opens. Grey Sloan Memorial celebrates Meredith Grey as she says farewell to Seattle, when Grey’s Anatomy returns Thursday, Feb. 23, at 9/8c on ABC.
In the episode, entitled “I’ll Follow the Sun,” it’s Meredith’s last day at Grey Sloan Memorial and the doctors plan a goodbye surprise, while Nick confronts her about the future of their relationship. Elsewhere, the interns compete to scrub in on Maggie and Winston’s groundbreaking partial heart transplant procedure, and Richard asks Teddy an important question.
“I’ll Follow the Sun” is written by Krista Vernoff and directed by Debbie Allen.
Grey’s Anatomy stars Ellen Pompeo as Meredith Grey, Chandra Wilson as Miranda Bailey, James Pickens Jr. as Richard Webber, Kevin McKidd as Owen Hunt, Caterina Scorsone as Amelia Shepherd, Camilla Luddington as Jo Wilson, Kelly McCreary as Maggie Pierce, Kim Raver as Teddy Altman, and Jake Borelli as Levi Schmitt.
Also starring are Chris Carmack as Atticus “Link” Lincoln, Anthony Hill as Winston Ndugu, Alexis Floyd as Simone Griffith, Harry Shum Jr. as Benson “Blue” Kwan, Adelaide Kane as Jules Millin, Midori Francis as Mika Yasuda, Niko Terho as Lucas Adams and Scott Speedman as Nick Marsh.
Grey’s Anatomy was created and is executive produced by Shonda Rhimes. Krista Vernoff serves as showrunner and executive producer. Betsy Beers, Mark Gordon, Debbie Allen, Meg Marinis, Zoanne Clack and Ellen Pompeo are executive producers. The series is produced by ABC Signature, a part of Disney Television Studios.
THE GOOD LAWYER
ABC has ordered an embedded pilot episode of The Good Doctor called The Good Lawyer, from Sony Pictures Television and ABC Signature. In the episode airing March 6, Dr. Shaun Murphy (Freddie Highmore) seeks legal representation to help him win a case and puts his faith in a promising, young lawyer who has obsessive compulsive disorder. The episode is written by co-showrunners David Shore and Liz Friedman, and directed by Ruben Fleischer.
Kennedy McMann (Nancy Drew) is set to guest star as Joni DeGroot, the brilliant, funny and self-aware lawyer who is relatively new to her prestigious law firm when she takes Shaun’s case. Living with OCD, Joni has never wanted to be treated differently. While her symptoms take a toll on her personal and professional life, her attention to detail allows her to see cases through a different lens.
Emmy Award-winning Felicity Huffman (American Crime) is set to guest star as Janet Stewart, a highly regarded attorney and partner at the law firm with a fierce intellect and dry wit. A seasoned veteran, Janet has represented Dr. Aaron Glassman (Richard Schiff) in several legal matters over the years, so he turns to her to represent his beloved protégé. But when Shaun declares that he wants Joni to represent him, Janet is forced to let Joni take lead on the case.
The Good Doctor ranks as ABC’s No. 1 entertainment series this season in Total Viewers, tying The Rookie. The series ranks as the No. 1 entertainment series in Monday’s 10 p.m. hour this season in both Total Viewers and Adults 18-49. After 35 days of viewing on linear and digital platforms, the series attracted nearly 10 million Total Viewers this season (9.4 million).
The Good Doctor jumps more than six times over its initial Live+Same Day rating among Adults 18-49 this season, soaring by +509% after 35 days of multiplatform viewing.
The Good Doctor stars Freddie Highmore as Dr. Shaun Murphy, Hill Harper as Dr. Marcus Andrews, Richard Schiff as Dr. Aaron Glassman, Fiona Gubelmann as Dr. Morgan Reznick, Will Yun Lee as Dr. Alex Park, Christina Chang as Dr. Audrey Lim, Paige Spara as Lea Dilallo, Bria Samoné Henderson as Dr. Jordan Allen and Noah Galvin as Dr. Asher Wolke.
Guest starring is Kennedy McMann as Jodi DeGroot and Felicity Huffman as Janet Stewart.
David Shore and Liz Friedman are executive producers and co-showrunners. Daniel Dae Kim, Erin Gunn, Thomas L. Moran, David Hoselton, Peter Blake, Jessica Grasl, Garrett Lerner, Mike Listo, Freddie Highmore, Shawn Williamson, David Kim and Sebastian Lee are also executive producers. The series is from Sony Pictures Television and ABC Signature.
UNSCRIPTED SHOWS
Unscripted ABC shows that were renewed include Celebrity Family Feud, Press Your Luck and Claim to Fame. The network has also picked an elite level iteration of America’s Favorite Quiz Show, Jeopardy! Masters, produced by Sony Pictures Television.
Hosted by “GOAT” Ken Jennings, the primetime series will feature the six highest-ranked, current Jeopardy! contestants, who will face off in a Champions League style event to win the coveted title of Jeopardy! Masters Champion.
These contestants will be the first-ever Jeopardy! Masters: Matt Amodio; Sam Buttrey; Andrew He; James Holzhauer; Mattea Roach; and Amy Schneider.
ABC today also announced Schoolhouse Rock! 50th Anniversary Singalong, the fifth installment of its successful “Singalong” franchise, with Emmy-winning television host Ryan Seacrest, airing Wednesday, February 1 (8:00-9:00 p.m. EST).
Schoolhouse Rock! 50th Anniversary Singalong will air on ABC and stream next day on Hulu and at a later date on Disney+. ABC is taking viewers to school, inviting friends and family around the county to gather and enjoy classic “Schoolhouse Rock!” hits that are as educational as they are catchy, all in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the beloved series.
Schoolhouse Rock! 50th Anniversary Singalong performances include the following:
Black Eyed Peas – “Three Is A Magic Number”
Derek Hough and Hayley Erbert – “Figure 8”
Jason Biggs and Jenny Mollen – “I’m Just a Bill”
Julianne Hough – “Interplanet Janet”
The Muppets & Fortune Feimster – “Unpack Your Adjectives”
Ne-Yo – “Verb: That’s What’s Happening”
Raven Symoné and Kal Penn – “Interjections”
Retta – “Ready or Not, Here I Come”
Shaquille O’Neal and Boys & Girls Club of Atlanta – “Conjunction Junction”
Stars from Disney’s Broadway and touring productions – “A Noun is a Person, Place or Thing”
“A Noun is a Person, Place or Thing” will be performed by the stars from Disney’s Broadway productions of Aladdin and The Lion King, Michael Maliakel, Bonita Hamilton and Mduduzi Madela, The North American Tour of Aladdin, Marcus M. Martin, the original Broadway cast of Newsies, Kara Lindsay and The Paper Mill Playhouse production of Hercules, Charity Dawson.
The Disney Family Singalong premiered in April 2020 as TV’s highest-rated show among Adults 18-49 on any network on any night since ABC’s 2020 broadcast of The Oscars. The four editions of the Family Singalongs drew in a combined 34.3 million Total Viewers after 35 days of delayed viewing on linear and digital platforms.
Schoolhouse Rock! 50th Anniversary Singalong is produced by Done+Dusted in association with Walt Disney Television Alternative. Executive producers include RJ Durell, Ashley Edens, Nick Florez and Katy Mullan.
Mirko Parlevliet has been reporting on the entertainment industry since 1998 and founded Vital Thrills to provide the latest news on streaming, movies, and TV shows. He previously created the websites ComingSoon, SuperHeroHype, and ShockTillYouDrop.