Complete Coverage: Upfronts 2016
Channing Dungey, new entertainment president at ABC, copped to some nerves in her first upfront presentation from the stage, then touted ABC core values such as family comedies and soapy dramas with love and intrigue, and diversity on both sides of the camera, be it a comedy or drama.
We will always reflect the authenticity of the faces of those around us, said Dungey, the first African-American woman to hold an entertainment president post at a broadcast network. Because we are Americas Broadcast Company.
In the job just three months, Dungey will have to wait a year before she truly leaves her mark on ABCs development crop.
Related: For Some, Fewer Spots May Mean More
The Lincoln Center gala kicked off with a song and dance number from Priyanka Chopra, star of Quantico. Quantico was one of the ABC shows to get repeated shout-outs, along with black-ish and Grey's Anatomy.
Sales chief Geri Wang and network president Ben Sherwood took their turns before Dungey debuted the schedule, notably starting with Thursday, where drama Notorious, taking place behind the scenes at a hard driving cable network, slides into the TGIT block, with Scandal held until midseason, along with The Catch, Shonda Rhimes' new one Still Star-Crossed, and others.
Strengthening the 10 p.m. slot is a top priority, said Dungey, which is music to ABC affiliates' ears.
Related: ABC Ups Bet on Family Comedies
Dungey announced three more years for late night host Jimmy Kimmel, and joked that she hoped that would dull some of the razor wit he deploys this time of year at the expense of ABC-and the other networks.
Are you guys OK? Kimmel asked the crowd. Was it a long day yesterday? F---ing NBC!
Kimmel lacerated all the broadcast networks. Discussing recent CBS pickups, he said it's a wonder CBS can pick up anything with its osteoporosis. With Fox turning vintage films such as The Exorcist and Lethal Weapon into series, he said, the network is raiding all your favorite VHS tapes.
Related: Disney Earnings Up But Below Estimates
Fox's decision to not release overnight ratings, quipped Kimmel, is like the woeful Knicks saying they would no longer use final scores to measure their success.
Kimmel even took a shot at ABC's diversity mission, saying the ideal network show would be called Gay Black Doctor Cop.
That led into Dungey's comedy spiel, with ABC using The Middle and The Goldbergs to kick off comedy nights, Middle setting up newbie American Housewife and Goldbergs warming up Speechless.
Related: Skipper Says ESPN Still Has A Little Swagger' Despite Sub Losses
Dungey also previewed comedy Downward Dog, noting that shows with talking dogs are not traditionally well received.
The comedy sizzles drew a moderate reaction from the crowd.
Dungey talked up the musical Dirty Dancing and gay rights miniseries When We Rise, then passed it off to Kiefer Sutherland, who told of how he got involved in Mark Gordon's Designated Survivor. While Sutherland's Jack Bauer saved the world in Fox's 24, he's a bumbling, bespectacled pol who ends up as president after a terrorist attack in Designated Survivor. Of the script his friend Gordon gave him, he said, I realized I was holding potentially the next decade in my hand.
ABC would be delighted to see that drama, or any other series in the new batch, live to see its second decade.
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
04/07/2026
April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...
01/06/2026
January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026
Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...
06/05/2026
Gravity Media Chief RF Communications Engineer Glenn Willems uses Wisycom RF over Fiber and wireless solutions across major cycling events and international mar...
06/05/2026
A Sennheiser Spectera module is now available in Bitfocus Companion and Buttons, enabling direct integration of Spectera with the two software platforms. The mo...
06/05/2026
Ted Turner, the visionary media entrepreneur whose appetite for disruption helpe...
06/05/2026
Peacock is going all-in on the beautiful game - streaming all 104 FIFA World Cup...
06/05/2026
New pricing tiers for vocal/dialogue restoration tool
NoiseWorks Audio's AI-powered vocal and dialogue processing plug-in is now available in three diff...
06/05/2026
Popular mixing & routing software overhauled
Following a recent public beta test, RME have launched the final release version of the powerful mixing and rou...
06/05/2026
New SOS Video Feature
Focusrites ISA C8X is a milestone product that brings together the companys analogue heritage and their expertise in digital audio. Yo...
06/05/2026
Polands Miecznik-class frigates are part of the largest contract in Polish shipbuilding history. (Image Credit: PGZ Stocznia Wojenna)...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
Riedel Communications today announced the expansion of its leadership structure as part of a strategic initiative to strengthen both its operational management ...
06/05/2026
For nearly three decades, Veteran Production Sound Mixer and Five-time Emmy Award Winner Dirk Sciarrotta has helped define the sonic identity of the long-runnin...
06/05/2026
ZEISS CinCraft LensCore: Cinema Lens Looks for Compositing
Brie Clayton May 6, 2026
0 Comments
ZEISS announces the launch of CinCraft LensCore, a nove...
06/05/2026
Wisycom Solves Extreme RF Challenges Across Miles of Live Action for Gravity Med...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
Narrative Entertainment has partnered with Encompass to deliver high-quality subtitling of its Great! network content using the Altitude Intelligence AI assiste...
06/05/2026
SipRadius, widely recognized for making content processing and connectivity secure and seamless, is proud to launch a dramatic new approach to AI content creati...
06/05/2026
When the broadband and media industry gathers at ANGA COM in Cologne from May 19 to 21, Big Blue Marble will be at the forefront. The international broadcast an...
06/05/2026
Cinegy GmbH, a leading developer of software-defined television technology, is proud to exhibit at MPTS for the first time. Visitors to the stand will discover ...
06/05/2026
Val Jeanty Receives 2026 Doris Duke Artist Award Jeanty, a composer, percussionist, and turntablist, is the fourth Berklee recipient of the prestigious award ...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
When live cycling races and international marathons stretch for miles across cities and countryside, there is no margin for RF failure in live broadcast. As Chi...
06/05/2026
Oberkochen/Germany, May 5, 2026
ZEISS announces the launch of CinCraft LensCore, a novel solution for creating physically based cinematic lens looks for visual...
06/05/2026
Wednesday 6 May 2026
Sky commissions feature documentary to mark 10th anniversa...
06/05/2026
Wednesday 6 May 2026
Sky and Formula 1 agree long-term partnership across UK, Ireland and Italy
Sky in the UK & Ireland to remain the home of Formula 1 until ...
06/05/2026
Sky Zero Footprint Fund-backed TV campaign launches nationwide, supported by new...
06/05/2026
Wuppertal May 6, 2026
Riedel Expands Leadership Structure, Appoints Marc Engro...
06/05/2026
SAN JOSE, Calif. - May 6, 2026 - Harmonic (NASDAQ: HLIT) today announced its latest broadband innovations for ANGA COM 2026, highlighting its vision for a new e...
06/05/2026
Statement from Rupert Murdoch, Chairman Emeritus, Fox Corporation on Ted Turner&...
06/05/2026
Friday 8 May on RT One and RT Player
Meet the NSPCA team caring for and protecting animals in need in this six-part series
Fly on the wall, six-part series...
06/05/2026
The race to build the world's most powerful AI factories demands networking ...
06/05/2026
How changes to proteins can alter drug interactions for new precision therapies Scripps Research team maps how chemical modifications to proteins affect drug bi...
05/05/2026
Experts from the world of academia, tech, business, politics and media convened for a Thomson Talks at the Cambridge Disinformation Summit in April. It's th...
05/05/2026
Three phones were hardwired for power and transmission to the truck; camera feat...
05/05/2026
The creative studio behind campaigns for the NBA, Fanatics Sportsbook & Casino, ...
05/05/2026
Nielsen has announced results from a co-viewing pilot program covering February&...
05/05/2026
viztrick AiDi, an on-device AI solution developed by Nippon TV, delivered global...
05/05/2026
ARRI has announced Omnibar, a battery-powered, IP65-rated multi-color LED linear...
05/05/2026
Imagine Communications has announced that France T l visions is the first broadc...
05/05/2026
The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and Bell Media today announced a multiyear agreement to broadcast and stream WNBA games in Canada beginni...
05/05/2026
SVG is proud to announce Warner Bros. Discovery's Techwood Studios in Atlant...
05/05/2026
With no operator required, AutoMic workflow automates talent identification on U...
Complete Coverage: Upfronts 2016
