Today, ABC officially announced the networks Fall television Fall schedule at the Up Fronts. There are many new promising shows in the comedy and drama genres. Leaving the ABC network are the following shows which have been cancelled: Castle, Nashville, Blood and Oil, Agent Carter, The Muppets, The Family, Wicked City, Astronaut Wives Club, Galavant, Rookie Blue, The Whispers, and Of Kings and Prophets.

Though ABC has axed “Agent Carter” show, star Hayley Atwell (“Peggy Carter”) won’t be without a job. She’s returning to ABC this Fall as Carter Morrison in drama “Conviction.”

Shows that were announced during ABC’s last year’s Up Fronts that survived their Freshman year and will be returning include: Quantico (who’s star, Priyank Chopra, was part of the Upfront presentation by performing a show), Black-ish, Dr. Ken, The Real O’Neal, American Crime, The Catch, Secrets and Lies.

Show synopsis’ courtesy ABC

NEW COMEDIES –

AMERICAN HOUSEWIFE

Katie Otto (Katy Mixon, “Mike and Molly”), a confident, unapologetic, plump wife and mother of three, raises her flawed family in the wealthy town of Westport, Connecticut, filled with “perfect” mommies and their “perfect” offspring.  She lets us in on her deepest, most unfiltered thoughts through voice-over as the she lives her life as the second fattest housewife in Westport.

The series stars Katy Mixon as Katie Otto, Diedrich Bader as Jeff Otto, Johnny Sequoyah as Taylor, Daniel DiMaggio as Harrison, Julia Butters as Anna-Kat, Carly Hughes as Angela and Ali Wong as Doris.

American Housewife is written by Sarah Dunn (“Spin City,” “Bunheads”) and produced by Kapital Entertainment and ABC Studios. Aaron Kaplan, Rick Weiner and Kenny Schwartz are executive producers and directed by Ruben Fleischer, also an EP.

DOWNWARD DOG

Based on the web series, “Downward Dog” is about a struggling millennial, Nan (Emmy nominated Allison Tolman, “Fargo”), from the point of view of her lonely and philosophical dog, Martin.  One session at obedience school already makes them realize that even at their worst, they may be the best thing for each other.

The series stars Allison Tolman as Nan, Lucas Neff as Jason, Kirby Howell-Baptiste as Jenn, Barry Rothbart as Kevin and Mo Collins as Kim. “Downward Dog” creators/writers Samm Hodges and Michael Killen will executive produce with Mosaic Media Group’s Jimmy Miller and Sam Hansen, and Animal’s Kathy Dziubek.  Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky were executive producers of the pilot. The series is from Legendary Television and ABC Studios.

IMAGINARY MARY

Jenna Elfman from “Dharma & Greg” fame, plays “Alice” in her return to sitcom prime time with “Imaginary Mary” new romantic comedy. Alice is happily dating a single father of three children. The main problem – she’s terrified of children, and not really kid person. Her anxiety of her boyfriend pressuring her into combining their lives, causes her imaginary friend from when she was a child to re-appear and give her immature advice. How much will Alice listen to this imaginary friend/voice in her head? The fun begins when we tune-in this Fall.

SPEECHLESS

Maya DiMeo (Minnie Driver, “About A Boy,” “The Riches,” “Good Will Hunting”) is a mom on a mission who will do anything for her husband Jimmy, her kids Ray, Dylan, and JJ, her eldest son with special needs.  As Maya fights injustices both real and imagined, the family works to make a new home for themselves, and searches for just the right person to give JJ his “voice.”

“Speechless” stars Minnie Driver as Maya DiMeo, John Ross Bowie (“The Big Bang Theory”) as Jimmy DiMeo, Mason Cook as Ray DiMeo, Micah Fowler as JJ DiMeo, Kyla Kennedy as Dylan DiMeo and Cedric Yarbrough as Kenneth.

Scott Silveri (“Friends”) writes and is executive producer of the show, along with “Fresh Off the Boat’s” Jake Kasdan and Melvin Mar.  The series is from Twentieth Century Fox Television and ABC Studios.

NEW DRAMAS –

CONVICTION

Lawyer and former First Daughter Hayes Morrison (Hayley Atwell, “Marvel’s Agent Carter”) is about to accept a job offered from her sexy nemesis, NY District Attorney Wayne Wallis, to avoid jail time for cocaine possession and avoid hurting her mother’s Senate campaign. Working with his team at the new Conviction Integrity Unit will let her use her brilliant mind to turn over cases where there is credible suspicion of wrongful conviction, and give her a chance to turn things around with her high-powered political family.

In addition to Atwell, “Conviction” stars Eddie Cahill as Wayne Wallis, Shawn Ashmore as Sam Sullivan, Merrin Dungey as Maxine, Emily Kinney as Tess Thompson, Manny Montana as Franklin “Frankie” Rios and Daniel DiTomasso as Jackson Morrison.
Co-created by writer Liz Friedman (“Elementary,” “Marvel’s Jessica Jones”), and director Liz Friedlander (“The Following”), “Conviction” will be executive produced by Mark Gordon (“Criminal Minds,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Saving Private Ryan”). “Conviction” is from The Mark Gordon Company and ABC Studios.

DESIGNATED SURVIVOR

Emmy and Golden Globe winning actor Kiefer Sutherland (“24”) returns to primetime in a conspiracy thriller as Tom Kirkman, a lower cabinet member who unexpectedly becomes president after a devastating attack on Washington. He will struggle to prevent the country and his own family from falling into chaos, as he is thrust into one of the most difficult presidencies in history.

“Designated Survivor” stars Kiefer Sutherland as Tom Kirkman, Natascha McElhone as Alex Kirkman, Maggie Q as Hannah Watts, Kal Penn as Seth Wheeler, Adan Canto as Aaron Shore, Italia Ricci as Emily Rhodes, LaMonica Garrett as James Ritter, and Tanner Buchanan as Leo Kirkman.

“Designated Survivor” is from The Mark Gordon Company and ABC Studios.  David Guggenheim is creator and executive producer.  In addition to Guggenheim, the series is executive produced by Simon Kinberg, Kiefer Sutherland, Mark Gordon, Nick Pepper, Suzan Bymel, and Aditya Sood. Paul McGuigan directed the first episode.

NOTORIOUS

It’s “Scandal” meets “Newsroom” in this back-stabbing, cut-throat scripted behind-the-scenes drama of a prime time news program starring Piper Perabo (Coyote Ugly fame… and BTW, the woman does NOT age) as news producer Julia George. “Notorious” teases audiences in its trailer with some major unethical new practicies and things are not as they always appear in news reporting where everyone has a secret agenda. Julia is at the core of all the madness and mayhem and seems to be orchestrating most of it. Similar to “Scandal”, the show promises plenty of manipulation amongst the key players as well as sex. “Notorious” co-stars Jake Gregorian who plays Julia’s partner-in-crime, and Aimee Richelle Teegarden as “Ella” who is the constant thorn in Julia’s side.

STILL STAR-CROSSED

“Still Star-Crossed,” a period drama from Shondaland, picks up where the famous story of Romeo and Juliet ends, charting the treachery, palace intrigue and ill-fated romances of the Montagues and Capulets in the wake of the young lovers’ tragic fate.  The series is based on the book by Melinda Taub.

“Still Star Crossed” stars Wade Briggs (“Home and Away”) as Benvolio Montague, Anthony Head as Lord Silvestro Capulet, Zuleikha Robinson as Lady Guiliana Capulet, Lashana Lynch (“The 7.39”) as Rosaline,  Ebonee Noel as Livia, Sterling Sulieman as Prince Escalus, Medalion Rahimi as Princess Isabella, Grant Bowler as Damiano Montague, Susan Wooldrigde as Nurse, Torrance Coombs as Paris and Dan Hildebrand as Friar Lawrence.

Heather Mitchell (“Scandal,” “Grey’s Anatomy”) is writer and executive producer, Shonda Rhimes, Betsy Beers, and Michael Goldstein are executive producers. Michael Offer is executive producer and director of the pilot, from ABC Studios.

TIME AFTER TIME

Based on the novel and movie “Time After Time,” executive producer/writer Kevin Williamson (“The Vampire Diaries,” “Scream” franchise, “Dawson’s Creek”) delivers a fantastical cat and mouse adventure through time when famed science fiction writer H.G. Wells is transported to modern day Manhattan in pursuit of Jack the Ripper.  Once H.G. arrives in New York City, he finds a world he never thought possible and a young woman who captivates him.

The series stars Freddie Stroma (“Harry Potter” films) as H.G. Wells,  Josh Bowman (“Revenge”) as John Stevenson/Jack the Ripper,  Genesis Rodriguez (“Big Hero 6”) as Jane and Regina Taylor (“Dig”) as Vanessa Anders.  “Time After Time” is from Outerbanks Entertainment in association with Warner Bros. Television Williamson and Marcos Siega (“Blindspot,” “The Following”) are executive producers. Siega directed the pilot.  Williamson wrote the teleplay. “Time After Time” is based on the novel written by Karl Alexander.

RETURNING SHOWS – 

ABC’S returning alternative shows include: “America’s Funniest Home Videos (AFV), “The Bachelor”, “Shark Tank” and it’s spin-off show “Beyond the Tank”, and “Dancing with the Stars”.

Returning comedies are: “Blackish,” “Dr. Ken”, “Fresh off the Boat,” “The Goldbergs”, “Last Man Standing”, “The Middle”, “Modern Family”, “The Real O’Neals”.

ABC dramas that will be coming back are: “The Catch”, “American Crime”, “Grey’s Anatomy”, “How to Get Away with Murder”, “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D”, “Once Upon a Time”, “Quantico”, “Scandal”, “Secrets and Lies”. Returning news program is “20/20”.

ABC FALL SCHEDULE: