It is network upfronts week, the time when the major broadcast networks release their upcoming fall schedules to the world. So far, NBC, FOX, and ABC have revealed their line-ups for the 2016-2017 TV season, with CBS and The CW soon to follow. As is tradition, trailers are also being steadily released for the new shows set to try their luck in the season to come, and today brings previews for five freshman ABC dramas. The festivities begin with the trailer for Designated Survivor, featured above.

Designated Survivor will air Wednesdays at 10pm EST as part of the Fall 2016 line up on ABC.

“Emmy and Golden Globe-winning actor Kiefer Sutherland (24) returns to primetime in a conspiracy thriller as Tom Kirkman, a lower-level 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.”

Notorious

Notorious, starring Piper Perabo and Daniel Sunjata will air Thursdays at 9pm EST as part of the Fall 2016 line up on ABC.

“Notorious is inspired by the true-life stories of famed criminal defense attorney Mark Geragos and cable news producer Wendy Walker, who serve as executive producers. The series is a provocative look at the unique, sexy and dangerous interplay of criminal law and the media.”

Conviction

Conviction will air Mondays at 10pm EST as part of the Fall 2016 line up on ABC.

“Lawyer and former First Daughter Hayes Morrison (Hayley Atwell, 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.”

Still Star-Crossed

Still Star-Crossed will air as part of the midseason 2017 line up on ABC.

“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.”

Time After Time

Time After Time will air as part of the midseason 2017 line up on ABC.

“Based on the novel and movie Time After Time, executive producer/writer Kevin Williamson (The Vampire Diaries) 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.”

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In contrast to FOX and NBC’s seemingly constant changes with each season, ABC has spent the last few years maintaining a relatively comfortable, consistent line-up. However, while there are still quite a few returning veteran programs remaining on ABC’s 2016-2017 schedule, there is set to be a lot of time slot shuffling, meaning that viewers will likely need to make some adjustments to their viewing/DVR routines.

One of the biggest changes to ABC’s line-up for 2016-2017 is the absence of recently canceled long-running drama Castle, which will be replaced in the Mondays at 10pm timeslot by the aforementioned Conviction, starring the also recently canceled Agent Carter’s Hayley Atwell. Another big – albeit expected – move involves popular Shondaland drama Scandal, which is being pushed to midseason in order to accommodate the pregnancy of star Kerry Washington. Veteran Wednesday sitcom The Middle is also on the move, headed to Tuesdays at 8pm in order to lead off a new comedy block. This pushes Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. back to 10pm on Tuesdays. Staying put in the Wednesdays at 9pm slot is Modern Family, the highest-rated broadcast comedy not named The Big Bang Theory.

That all said, ABC still finds itself on somewhat more firm ground going into the new season than NBC or FOX, with more already established hits than the former and less new properties to introduce to audiences than the latter. In a land dominated by franchise-based content and revivals of old shows, stability is never a bad thing.

Stay tuned to Screen Rant for further developments concerning the 2016-2017 TV season.

Source: ABC