A new comedy from the creators of Will & Grace, the addition of late night host Jimmy Kimmel and the arrival of Katie Couric’s daytime talk show are among the highlights of Citytv‘s fall slate of shows.
Upcoming offerings include the buddy comedy Partners from Will & Grace creators David Kohan and Max Mutchnick, the odd-couple sibling sitcom Ben and Kate, Mindy Kaling’s single-camera The Mindy Project and Reba McEntire’s Malibu Country.
Another five comedies are set for mid-season: 1600 Penn, about life in a dysfunctional White House; The Goodwin Games about three grown siblings who stand to inherit millions; How to Live with Your Parents (For the Rest of Your Life) with Sarah Chalke as a single mom forced to move back in with her parents; plus Citytv productions Package Deal, about three overly close brothers and Seed, about a sperm donor who becomes entangled in the lives of his newfound children.
Meanwhile, J.J. Abrams’s dystopian drama Revolution and the creepy 666 Park Avenue also hit airwaves this fall. The Hannibal Lecter thriller Hannibal and Sex and the City prequel The Carrie Diaries will air mid-season.
In all, Citytv says it is adding nine new comedies and four new dramas to its fall and mid-season prime time lineup. The Rogers Media-owned network unveiled its lineup this morning ahead of its upfront presentation to media executives and industry insiders in Toronto this afternoon. Rogers has made a concerted effort to establish Citytv as a true national player in the last few years by adding top-flight U.S. programming and by extending its reach into more households across the country.
“Citytv’s prime-time schedule is the strongest—and most competitive—in network history with critically acclaimed fan-favourites, proven winners from last season, and the most buzzed about new series with both big-name stars and fresh faces,” said Scott Moore, president of broadcast, Rogers Media, in a release. Most recently, Rogers announced a deal to move into Montreal and expand in the West. “With Citytv’s expanded footprint, we will be in nine million homes this fall, reaching more viewers in more homes than ever before. And we’re not done yet. Our goal of delivering our world-class content to a national audience is firmly within our grasp.”
Citytv says returning sitcoms include New Girl, 2 Broke Girls, Suburgatory, Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23 and Last Man Standing. Also back are the dramas Revenge, Person of Interest and Scandal.
Kimmel will bolster its late-night lineup with Jimmy Kimmel Live! while Couric anchors daytime with her new chat show Katie.
Meanwhile, Citytv said Calgary native Tyler Harcott will host the first-ever edition of The Bachelor Canada, in which CFL free agent Brad Smith will look for love among 25 Canadian bachelorettes. The 43-year-old Harcott’s past hosting credits include Wired, Junkyard Wars and Miss America: Countdown to the Crown.
Over on sister-network OMNI Television, Rock Center with Brian Williams joins the Thursday lineup this fall, along with the comedy Rules of Engagement and The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.
Shaw Media will hold its upfront presentation Wednesday, while Bell Media will announce its lineup Thursday.
