NBC 2019 Fall Schedule: Manifest, Will & Grace Pushed to Midseason!
Paul Dailly at .Stability is the name of the game at NBC as the network heads into the 2019-20 TV season.
With only one new drama and two new comedies on the fall schedule, the network is keeping things simple.
New Jimmy Smitts legal drama, Bluff City Law is taking the 10/9c post-The Voice slot.
NBC typically uses that slot to launch new dramas, but given that The Voice has been fading this season, there's a good chance it won't be the solid launch pad it once was.
This move leaves Manifest off the fall schedule to allow for uninterupted 2020 run, which is probably a good thing given the serialized nature of the series.
The Good Place is moving to 9/8c on a permanent basis for its fourth season. It will be sandwiched between new comedies, Perfect Harmony and Sunnyside.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Will & Grace are both being held for midseason.
The Tuesday and Wednesday line-ups will remain intact.
Alas, have a look at the full schedule below.
MONDAY
8 pm The Voice
10 pm BLUFF CITY LAW
TUESDAY
8 pm The Voice
9 pm This Is Us
10 pm New Amsterdam
WEDNESDAY
8 pm Chicago Med
9 pm Chicago Fire
10 pm Chicago P.D.
THURSDAY
8 pm Superstore
8:30 pm PERFECT HARMONY
9 pm The Good Place (new time slot)
9:30 pm SUNNYSIDE
10 pm Law & Order: SVU
FRIDAY
8 pm THE BLACKLIST
9 pm Dateline NBC
SATURDAY
8 pm Dateline Saturday Night Mystery
10 pm Saturday Night Live (encore)
11:30 pm Saturday Night Live
SUNDAY
7 pm Football Night in American
8:20 pm Sunday Night Football
America’s Got Talent: Champions, Ellen’s Game of Games, Little Big Shots, World of Dance, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Will & Grace, INDEBTED, THE KENAN SHOW, Manifest, Good Girls, Blindspot, COUNCIL OF DADS, ZOEY’S EXTRAORDINARY PLAYLIST, and LINCOLN are all on tap for midseason.
New Show Descriptions
Bluff City Law
Logline: Follows the lawyers of an elite Memphis law firm that specializes in the most controversial landmark civil rights cases. Led by legendary attorney Elijah Strait and his brilliant daughter, Sydney Keller, they take on the toughest David-and-Goliath cases while navigating their complicated relationship.
Cast: Jimmy Smits, Caitlin McGee, Jayne Atkinson, Benny Sloane, Michael Luwoye, Stony Blyden, MaameYaa Boafa.
Council of Dads
Logline: When Scott, a loving father of four, has his entire life’s plan thrown into upheaval by a cancer diagnosis, he calls on a few of his closest allies to step in as back-up dads for every stage of his growing family’s life.
Scott assembles a trusted group of role models that includes Anthony, his oldest friend; Larry, his AA sponsor; and Oliver, his surgeon and best friend to his wife, Robin.
These men agree to devote themselves to supporting and guiding Scott’s amazing family through all the triumphs and challenges life has to offer – just in case he ever can’t be there to do so himself.
Cast: Sarah Wayne Callies, Clive Standen, Tom Everett Scott, J. August Richards, Blue Chapman, Emjay Anthony, Michele Weaver, Thalia Tran, Steven Silver, Michael O’Neill.
Lincoln
Logline: Follows legendary forensic criminologist Lincoln Rhyme, who was seriously injured during his hunt for the diabolic serial killer known as the Bone Collector.
Called back into action when the killer re-emerges, Lincoln forms a unique partnership with Amelia Sachs, a young beat cop who helps him hunt the deadly mastermind while also taking on the most high-profile cases in the NYPD. Based on Lincoln book series.
Cast: Russell Hornsby, Arielle Kebbel, Michael Imperioli, Ramses Jimenez, Brooke Lyons, Roslyn Ruff, Tate Ellington.
The Kenan Show
Logline: (Single camera) Kenan Thompson strives to be a super dad to his two adorable girls while simultaneously balancing his job and a father-in-law who “helps” in the most inappropriate ways.
Cast: Kenan Thompson, Punam Patel, Dani Lockett, Dannah Lockett, Andy Garcia.
Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist
Logline: In this joyous and celebratory drama, Zoey Clarke is a whip-smart computer coder forging her way in San Francisco.
After an unusual event she starts to hear the innermost wants and desires of the people around her through songs. At first, she questions her own sanity but soon realizes this unwanted curse may just be an incredibly wonderful gift.
Cast: Jane Levy, Skylar Astin, Peter Gallagher, Alex Newell, John Clarence Stewart, Carmen Cusack, Mary Steenburgen.
What do you think of the schedule?
Hit the comments below.
Paul Dailly was an Associate Editor for TV Fanatic.Follow him on X.