Twice a year, the TV Critics Association has a press tour where networks come out and talk to the press directly about their various shows. This can be a great opportunity to announce renewals but also to give people some insights as to what you should be looking forward to.
NBC
While there was a lot of talk about Superstore and how no one wanted to do crossovers, the most interesting tidbit for LezWatch.TV readers will be that Natalie Morales is headlining a show called Abby’s, about a woman who runs a bar in her backyard. And Abby? She’s not only the first Cuban American Woman to headline a sitcom, she’s the first queer one played by a queer actress.
Oh did I mention? Abby’s bisexual. I’ve seen the first three episodes and I’ll have more information for you about that later. For now, I’ll tell you this: you should check the show out.
CBS
The Good Fight is a show Tracy and I adore. We even like the straight people on the show and will watch for them. It’s back and it’s looking amazing.
We’re wondering who is Maia’s making out with and cheering for Diane and her axe throwing. Oh also there will be a Schoolhouse Rock video for each episode and a musical episode. No wonder, there will be fewer episodes this year, but they’ll all be jam packed.
Showtime
Shameless is coming back and the L Word is getting that rumoured sequel. It’s been officially ordered to series and will produce eight episodes this year.
Playwright and screenwriter Marja-Lewis Ryan serves as showrunner and exec produces alongside original series creator Ilene Chaiken. Stars Jennifer Beals (Bette), Katherine Moennig (Shane) and Leisha Hailey (Alice) are also on board to exec produce and will reprise their roles from the original series while also introducing a new ensemble of self-possessed LGBTQIA characters experiencing love, heartbreak, sex, setbacks and success on the east side of L.A.
Hollywood Reporter
Some other characters will also reprise their roles. Like Sarah Shahi.
The CW
First up, the CW renewed:
- Arrow,
- Black Lightning
- Charmed
- DC’s Legends of Tomorrow
- The Flash
- Legacies
- Riverdale
- Supergirl
… and Supernatural.
Next, they ripped our hearts out with Jane the Virgin, reminding it this is the final season. But they also celebrated it, and explained they’ll revisit aspects of the series to help the characters come full-circle. The spinoff, Jane the Novella, will be narrated by Gina Rodriguez and have some of the characters we know and love.
While it’ll be sad to see the people go, I’m looking forward to what’s next with the JtVerse.
FX
Besides the surprising little smackdown FX gave to Netflix (calling into question the ratings obfuscation), the reminder that the Nielsens is measuring streaming media soon, and the mention of 496 scripted TV shows on air in 2018 (including streaming!), there was some actual queer TV news.
Legion is ending after this season and they’ve picked up Y: The Last Man, a comic book adaptation with a regular lesbian character. In the comics, her sexuality is kind of a not-issue (hello again the celibate lesbian), so we’ll see what happens there. AHS will be back and FX has ordered a lot of documentaries/docuseries which we generally don’t cover. This will include Fosse which is the true story of some really queer people from Broadway. I’m interested to see how queer they go with this.
ABC & Freeform
There were a lot of announcements about returns and renewals. Good Trouble was picked up for a second season, and if you’d asked us about that a year ago, we would not have been excited as we are now. The final (half) season of Shadowhunters starts on February 25th, and Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionist starts March 20th and The Bold Type will be back April 9th.
Whew. It’s a rollercoaster I tell you.
