CBS kicked off its 2019-20 series orders with a bang Thursday with a whopping seven pilots ordered to series.
Two of the biggest grabs see former Luke Cage stars Simone Missick and Mike Colter reunited on the broadcast network. The orders include All Rise, a legal drama series toplined by Missick, and a psychological mystery drama that stars Colter.
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Here’s more about the six new series and the Black talent (denoted in bold) in them. (the seventh series, comedy series Broke does not have any Black series regulars):
All Rise (fka Courthouse)
Description: All Rise, led by Simone Missick, is a drama that “pulls back the curtain on the court system and follows the dedicated, chaotic, hopeful, and sometimes absurd lives of the judges, assistant district attorneys, and public defenders as they work with bailiffs, clerks, cops and jurors to bring justice to the people of Los Angeles.” J. Alex Brinson, Jessica Camacho, Lindsay Mendez, Marg Helgenberger, Ruthie Ann Miles and Wilson Bethel also star.
Evil
Description: From the makers of The Good Wife and The Good Fight, Evil is a psychological mystery that examines science vs. religion and the origins of evil. The series focuses on a skeptical female forensic psychologist who joins a priest-in-training and a carpenter to investigate and assess the Church’s backlog of supposed miracles, demonic possessions and unexplained phenomena. Katja Herbers, Mike Colter, Aasif Mandvi, Brooklyn Shuck, Dalya Knapp, Maddy Crocco, Michael Emerson and Skylar Gray star.
FBI: Most Wanted
Description: Originally introduced as a backdoor pilot in its parent series, FBI, members of the FBI’s Fugitives Department to track down a person wanted for murder who is also on America’s top 10 most wanted list. Alana de la Garza, Julian McMahon, Keisha Castle-Hughes, Hana Gibson, Kellan Lutz, Nathaniel Arcand and Roxy Sternberg star.
Bob Hearts Abishola
Description: After having a heart attack, a middle-aged sock businessman from Detroit unexpectedly falls for his cardiac nurse, a Nigerian immigrant, and sets his sights on getting her to give him a chance. Barry Shabaka Henley, Billy Gardell, Christine Ebersole, Folake Olowofoyeku, Maribeth Monroe, Matt Jones, Shola Adewusi and Travis Wolfe Jr. star.
Carol’s Second Act
Description: After raising her two children and retiring from teaching, Carol Chambers embarks on a unique second act: pursuing her dream of becoming a doctor. Bonnie Dennison, Ito Aghayere, Jean Luc Bilodeau, Kyle MacLachlan, Patricia Heaton and Sabrina Jalees star.
The Unicorn
Description: A tight-knit group of friends and family help a widower move on following the most difficult year of his life, which includes being an ill-equipped but devoted single parent to his two daughters, and taking the major step of dating where, to his shock, he’s a hot commodity. Makenzie Moss, Maya Lynne Robinson, Michaela Watkins, Omar Benson Miller, Rob Corddry, Ruby Jay and Walton Goggins stars.
Look for first trailers for most of these shows to drop next week either before or shortly after CBS’ Upfronts presentation.
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Photo: CBS
