NBC’s 2015-2016 Lineup Delivers on Procedural and High-Stake Dramas

For 2015-2016, NBC will focus on big-name, high-stake dramas with actors like Jennifer Lopez, Ray Liotta, and Wesley Snipes leading the pack. And the Chicago franchise finds a Med team to tie it all together.

NBC revealed their 2015-2016 programming early Sunday morning. And the big winners seem to be dramas, where many involve procedural style investigations and criminal mysteries. Returning dramas include The Mysteries of Laura, Grimm, Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D., and The Night Shift. 

However, the newest series offer a different look and call to continuing rating smash hits in the highly sought after 18-49 demographic. Big screen stars like Wesley Snipes, Ray Liotta, and Jennifer Lopez look to heat up the screen in the upcoming season.

Greg Berlanti’s back on the Peacock network. His latest work is Blindspot, which will air on Mondays at 10 PM. Written by Martin Gero (L.A. Complex, Stargate Atlantis), the plot involves a woman (Jaimie Alexander, Thor) that has no memory of her past or why she has any tattoos. Appearing in Time Square, the only real clue involves FBI agent Kurt Weller’s name on her back. The tats are clues, leading her and law enforcement on a chase.

Blind spot will air after The Voice on Sundays.

And returning from the middle of cancellation is Heroes Reborn—a mini-series by Tim Kring which examines a new set of heroes. The original series, Heroes, was canceled after the fourth season on /4/14, 2010. So the dates of announcement line up in interesting framework. Most of the original cast members will not be returning except Jack Coleman (Noah Bennet) and Masi Oka (Hiro Nakamura).

The heroes already have a network to call on this time, if they’re able to locate the good guys. What happens when the Haitian (Jimmy Jean-Louis) returns? Will he need to cancel out someone’s powers for the sake of good? Or does Noah have another kind of errand in play? The world of Heroes is rarely easy to guess or understand. And how does the audience know the new characters are all good?

Zachary Levi, Ryan Guzman, and Eve Harlow also star in the series. Viewers can catch the latest installment on Thursdays at 8PM, right before The Blacklist.

A mind erased. A body of clues. The mystery begins Mondays this Fall on @NBC. https://t.co/nzq8w0Nmrt #Blindspot— Blindspot (@NBCBlindspot) /4/10, 2015

Shades of Blue stars Jennifer Lopez as a single mother who must make the hard decision to work with the FBI against her on-the-jobs, cop brothers. Harlee Santos must turn on her brothers when the Feds catch on the fact she’s “taking bribes and protection money that she uses to provide the best life for her honest and talented daughter.”

Ray Liotta, Warren Kole, Dayo Okeniyi, Drea De Matteo, Hampton Fluker, Vincent Laresca and Sarah Jeffery star as well. Ryan Seacrest Productions is a producer of the series and Barry Levinson (Homocide: Life on the Streets) will executive produce. The show will run after The Blacklist at 10 PM.

Chicago Med from Emmy-winning Dick Wolf is a continuation of Chicago Fire and Chicago P.D., the latest in NBC’s franchise shows. Oliver Platt, S. Epatha Merkerson, Laurie Holden, Nick Gehlfuss and Yaya Dacosta will play doctors in “the city’s most explosive hospital.”

The show will also guest star familiar P.D. and Fire characters, creating a fabric of characters to fill in the courageous lives of emergency personnel.

Similar to Law and Order, Med will focus on topical events, but this time the idea is to create “fiery relationships” among the halls. Law and Order previously held the network’s flag franchise, also a Wolf production. Med’s premiere date is unannounced.

Get ready to meet the city’s newest heroes on #ChicagoMed, coming soon to @NBC. pic.twitter.com/aH4SCo1Oam— Chicago Med (@NBCChicagoMed) /4/10, 2015

Melissa George (The Slap) stars a fictional Dr. Alex Panttiere, who is inspired by real-life surgeon Dr. Kathy Magliato in Heartbreaker. The series focuses on a doctor fighting for the best patient care.

Strong, fearless and looking to provide more care, “Alex always operates on her own terms” in a sea of mostly male colleagues. A racy personal life and inundation of hospital demands, the surgeon looks to balance everything. Heartbreaker will follow The Voice on Tuesdays at 9PM.

In Game of Silence, a group of three friends will reunite after 25 years and reunite to right old wrongs. Carol Mendelsohn (CSI) and David Hudgins (Parenthood) are producing the series. “When a dark secret they thought they had buried resurfaces, the brotherhood bands together to right the wrongs of their shared past.”

Set in a similar vein as ABC’s recently cancelled Revenge, but looking for atonement as well. Actors include David Lyons, Michael Raymond-James, Larenz Tate, Bre Blair, Conor O’Farrell, Deidrie Henry, Demetrius Grosse and Claire Van Der Boom. Not premiere date is currently available.

Breaking hearts by night, saving them by day. #Heartbreaker comes to Tuesdays this Fall on @NBC. https://t.co/Di84CSwWLe— Heartbreaker (@NBCHeartbreaker) /4/10, 2015

And in surprising news, Wesley Snipes (Blade) will take on the role of former military operative turned Vegas security agent in The Player. Philip Winchester (Strike Back) will also star in the action-thriller series. Mr. Johnson (Snipes) is looking to settle score on the death of his wife, to make the powerful pay for their hand in the matter.

As he investigates and attempts to stop other bombastic crimes from happening, Vegas’s elite gambles on his chances of survival and success. Against him or the house, who will win?

John Rogers is serving as executive producer and writer. Sony Pictures Television is producing the thriller.

Source: NBC Universal