It’s razzle-dazzle time for TV.
The largest platforms will converge in New York the week of May 12 to show off new content and put the hard sell on Madison Avenue for advertising commitments.
Upfronts week isn’t the make-or-break moment for the TV biz that it once was. CBS has bowed out of hosting a presentation, opting for smaller events in multiple cities. ABC and NBC are part of larger pitches for parent companies Disney and Comcast. Amazon and Netflix have joined the parade.
No matter who’s in and who’s out, upfronts week is still an annual mile marker and a time for every network to take stock. Below, Variety breaks down the hits, misses and needs of the major players as they tubthump their upcoming lineups.
ABC/Hulu
–HITS
ABC is fueling the “Broadcast’s back!” narrative with the success of procedural whodunit “High
The show “Potential” features Kaitlin Olson and the drama “Will Trent” is gearing up for its fourth season. Tim Allen, a well-known face in comedy, is back with his show “Shifting Gears” for another season. Hulu is focusing on the success of Sterling K. Brown’s “Paradise,” which has been renewed for a second season.
–MISSES
On the bubble is the Ryan Murphy medical ship show “Doctor Odyssey,” which hasn’t yet learned its fate. The Alphabet web airs the fewest scripted shows of the major broadcasters, so it has less waiting for an answer.
–NEEDS
ABC’s only pure comedies for next season will be “Abbott Elementary” and “Shifting Gears,” leaving the network short of laughs. And although Hulu is positioned as more of a prestige player, it needs to find its own elevated procedural before it gets left in the streaming dust.
Amazon
–HITS
Based on critical acclaim and Amazon’s self-reported viewership plus Nielsen streaming numbers, Prime Video’s biggest series include “Reacher,” “The Boys” and spinoff “Gen V,” “Thursday Night Football,” “Fallout,” “Cross” and “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.”
–MISSES
The Russo brothers’ pricey “Citadel” has been a big disappointment. Amazon has also pulled the plug on ad-supported streamer Freevee.
–NEEDS
Following the exit of Amazon MGM Studios chief Jen Salke, industry watchers are waiting to see whether Amazon starts making changes. While the streamer is all over action and fantasy, lately it’s lacking in the comedy department.
CBS
–HITS
CBS has renewed most of its slate, including popular freshman shows “Matlock” and “George
& Mandy’s First Marriage.” It also has locked in a two-season renewal for hit comedy “Ghosts,” which
will bring it to Season 6. CBS has found a sweet spot with weekly procedurals with a dramedy bent, such
as “Elsbeth.” And the network has ordered multiple expansions of existing franchises, including “Boston Blue,” “CIA” and “Sheriff Country.”
–MISSES
CBS canceled multi-cam comedy “Poppa’s House” after one season. It also axed “FBI: International,” “FBI: Most Wanted” and “The Equalizer” (after five seasons).
–NEEDS
CBS is lacking in pure comedies. “The Neighborhood” is ending with its eighth season. Beyond that “Ghosts,” “George & Mandy’s First Marriage” and “DMV” will be the only laffers on the schedule
Fox
–HITS
Fox is upping its dosage on medical drama “Doc,” leading to a 22-episode renewal. On the comedy side, the network remains bullish on in-house half-hours “Animal Control” and “Going Dutch.” In unscripted, everything Gordon Ramsay is golden.
–MISSES
Things are looking tough for “Rescue HISurf,” as well as “Alert: Missing Persons Unit” and “The Cleaning Lady.” Anthology series “Accused” is on the bubble, but will likely score a pickup.
–NEEDS
Fox has no shortage of animation (including the return of “American Dad!”) and unscripted; expect the network to pick up at least two new dramas to firm up its hourlong strategy and capitalize on the success of “Doc.”
NBCUniversal
–HITS
“Saturday Night Live” dove into its 50th season with several specials and a three-hour anniversary event, which scored a whopping 14.8 million viewers. NBC also drew in sizable audiences with new titles like nature doc “The Americas” and Reba McEntire’s “Happy’s Place,” which has been renewed. On Peacock, “Love Island USA” Season 6 was a hit, and a spinoff is set for this summer.
–MISSES
Despite the streaming love for “Suits,” reviews of “Suits LA” were largely negative, and the only NBC drama with a smaller linear audience was “Grosse Pointe Garden Society.”
–NEEDS
Peacock is still struggling for attention. Even its strongest originals are often overlooked, and its
library titles see more viewers on Netflix.
Netflix
–HITS
Netflix has extracted international megahits like South Korea’s “Squid Game” and Spain’s “Money Heist.” And it has turned mid-budget original dramas like “Baby Reindeer” and “Adolescence” into global phenomena. It’s also a leader in social experiment and dating shows like “Love Is Blind.”
–MISSES
–“Pulse,” the streamer’s first medical procedural, failed to capture the zeitgeist. “Zero Day,” starring Robert De Niro, landed with a thud. And “The Electric State,” the Russo brothers’ sci-fi film with a budget exceeding $300 million, was a bomb.
–NEEDS
Netflix needs spinoffs. It has struggled to develop long-lasting franchises at the caliber of licensed content like “The Walking Dead” and “The Big Bang Theory.”
Warner Bros. Discovery
–HITS
Medical drama “The Pitt” has revived hopes for shows that drop episodes weekly, while HBO’s
“Hacks” and “The Last of Us” are getting new attention in their current seasons — and will support
ads on certain tiers of Max.
–MISSES
High-profile comedy “The Franchise” was axed after just one season and “Bookie” after two.
–NEEDS
The Warner upfront story in 2025 will hinge on sports. After a decades-long stint telecasting regular-season NBA games on TNT, Warner will cede its rights, with NBCU and Amazon taking new positions with the league. Ad buyers and analysts expect a significant transfer of ad dollars that even the buzziest scripted hit won’t prevent.
Contributors: Selome Hailu, Jennifer Maas, Joe Otterson, Michael Schneider, Ethan Shanfeld and
Brian Steinberg
