It’s time for the final progress report for the new pilots of the 2019-2020 season! Where are the new shows (that are left), and how are they doing nowadays?  Read below to find out!

If you missed the end of February sweeps Progress Report, I apologize. We did not publish one for two reasons. 1) There is a global pandemic. You might have heard of it. 2) The Chief Couch Potato and author of these Progress Reports was actually undergoing some hefty surgery. Doing so fakakta’ed up the whole spring works. We are trying to maintain some normalcy around the CPU! Water Cooler, though, an activity which can be observed through social distancing and via quarantine guidelines. We did issue the Mid-Season Progress Report, though!

Thanks as always to TVLine and to other sources for helping a girl out.

*Note: with the expansion of CPU!, these initial thoughts are based upon the CPU! Chief’s assessments.  As with last season, a growing number of CPU! members may find shows initially passed by the CPU! Chief and choose to review them.  CPU! readers will be informed if the show’s status changes regarding coverage as the season progresses through the handy CPU! Progress Reports, and all written reviews will be published!

**Second Note: If you haven’t already figured it out, we measure the TV year from June 1st to May 31st.

9-1-1: LONE STAR, Fox

WHO: Rob Lowe (Parks and Recreation)

WHAT: In this 9-1-1 spinoff, a sophisticated New York cop relocates to Austin, Texas, with his son. There, he must try to balance saving those who are at their most vulnerable with solving the problems in his own life.

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PICK UP OR PASS?

VERDICT: Pass for Now.  Welcome to the 2019-2020 CPU! network pilot review, always full of snark and real talk about upcoming TV from your friendly neighborhood TV podcast!  We start off with a bit of a by, and really, this comes down to the fact that CPU! initially passed the parent show of this would-be spin-off, 9-1-1, a show that has since been requested (though slowly and in a lukewarm-type fashion) by members of the CPU! corps. Our rule about spin-offs here is that we have to cover the parent show before we watch the spin-off, so there is your answer about whether we pick up or pass. We merely pass for now, without prejudice. But hey, Rob Lowe, what’s shaking?

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STATUS: Officially renewed for Season 2! In April 2020, Fox announced the series renewal. The Season 1 finale aired on March 9, 2020, with a total of 10 episodes.

CPU! STATUS: Let’s just get to launching our 9-1-1 panel first, shall we, and we’ll see how those panelists feel about taking on this spin-off, as is our custom…though we have had some early percolation even for this spin-off? If you want to join our potential 9-1-1 panel, or if you want to hear our #unitedcouchpotatoes talk about it faster, drop us a line (couchpotatoesunitepodcast@gmail) or here via comments/the Guestbook. We’re also at Facebook, Twitter (@cpupodcast), and Instagram (@couchpotatoesunite). Just to get those formalities out of the way.

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ALL RISE, CBS

WHO: Simone Missick (Luke Cage), Wilson Bethel (Hart of Dixie), Jessica Camacho (The Flash), Marg Helgenberger (CSI), J. Alex Brinson, Lindsay Mendez, Ruthie Ann Miles

WHAT: A drama that follows the dedicated, chaotic, hopeful, and sometimes absurd lives of judges, prosecutors, and public defenders as they work with bailiffs, clerks, and cops to get justice for the people of Los Angeles amidst a flawed legal system.

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PICK UP OR PASS?

VERDICT: Hesitantly Pick Up. As TV lovers like you and I know by now, the TV landscape is awash with legal dramas (or comedy-dramas, in this case), and it would take something special for a new legal drama to set it apart from the rather trope-laden pond of courtroom properties just like it. That’s where your friendly neighborhood Chief CP is hoping that a few superheroes and meta-humans save the genre from floundering in this new entry at the Eye. While the trailer presents yet another trope studded landscape of feisty judge upends the flat and boring world turnings of the legal system, it’s the cast populating this landscape that is going to inspire at least this Couch Potato to take a look-see. And let’s see – you have Misty Knight from Luke Cage, Bullseye from Daredevil, and Gypsy from The Flash. That’s three people from three shows that have been covered heavily here at CPU!, and they’re all very good at their jobs based on what we’ve seen so far – and when the writing services them well. Simone Missick alone packs a lot of charisma into her sass in the brief trailer, and I think it’s worth at least a viewing to see if this new show can really rise to the top of its overplayed cousins. What do you think?

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STATUS: Officially renewed for Season 2! On May 6, 2020, CBS announced the series renewal. The Season 1 finale aired on May 4, 2020, with a special, pandemic-themed virtual episode after a season total of 21 episodes.

CPU! STATUS: Not yet viewed.

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ALMOST FAMILY (fka Not Just Me), Fox

WHO: Brittany Snow (American Dreams), Emily Osment (Young & Hungry), Megalyn Echikunwoke (Damien, Arrow), Timothy Hutton (The Haunting of Hill House, How to Get Away With Murder), Mo McRae (Empire, Pitch), Victoria Cartagena (Manifest, Gotham), Mustafa Elzein

WHAT: An only child finds her life turned upside down when her father reveals that, over the course of his prize-winning career as a pioneering fertility doctor, he used his own sperm to conceive upwards of a hundred children, including two new sisters. As these three young women slowly embrace their new reality, they will attempt to form an nontraditional bond as sisters, even as they must welcome a tidal wave of new siblings into their rapidly expanding family. 

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PICK UP OR PASS?

VERDICT: Pass. On the one hand, this new drama from Fox gets points for an original premise. Original premises on TV are so rare these days, though I think the revival/reboot trend is starting to correct somewhat. On the other hand, this premise betrays a few problematic foundations that are really going to have to appeal to new viewers in order for the show to be successful in terms of ratings, and upon my viewing of the trailer, I just don’t know if those foundations entice this Couch Potato to do the thing. I anticipate a personal struggle with a concept that asks the viewer to sympathize with Timothy Hutton’s unethical fertility doctor. In addition, the newfound siblings concept provides some human interest but also starts to smack of The Odd Couple meets Charmed without magic. And where can this story go? Will it be something akin to the viewer and the characters meeting a new sibling each week and going on wacky adventures railing against their secretly unethical fertility doctor father? If the show gains steam or recommendations, Couch Potatoes Unite! always reconsiders, but I, personally (notice I’m using a lot of first person pronouns in this review), felt a bit icky watching the trailer and don’t know if I can make the leap to being almost good with watching this. For now, at least.

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STATUS: Officially canceled! Fox canceled this drama in March 2020. The series finale aired on February 22, 2020, after a total of 13 episodes.

CPU! STATUS: In a move that surprised no one, Fox canceled this drama relatively early in the cancellation process. As I stated before, I suspect that savvy television viewers have experienced some of the same reactions I did while watching this trailer; of course, the show may have had other problems. Since we passed this one initially – sometimes we know things! – we are not going to change our minds in order to explore what other problems might exist for this approximate family, given the network’s non-vote of confidence here.

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THE BAKER AND THE BEAUTY, ABC

WHO: Nathalie Kelley (Dynasty), Victor Rasuk (Stalker)

WHAT: Daniel Garcia is working in the family bakery and doing everything that his loving Cuban parents and siblings expect him to do, but on a wild Miami night, he meets Noa Hamilton, an international superstar and fashion mogul, and his life moves into the spotlight. Will this unlikely couple upend their lives to be together and pull their families into a culture clash?

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PICK UP OR PASS?

VERDICT: Pass. This sounds like another trope-filled soap opera, where a lovable and potentially handsome schlub meets a beautiful famous actress, and they fall in love. It’s Notting Hill with a bakery, not a bookstore. Also, the Chief CP is not a fan of Nathalie Kelley, to whom some of our Couch Potatoes were first exposed on The Vampire Diaries (CPU! passed on the Dynasty remake, and I still feel we made the right choice). Again, recommendations tend to change our minds, and there might be some of our cast of Couch Potatoes interested in this type of television, but without a trailer and given the premise and the cast, this is pretty much an all-around get-out-of-dodge pass.

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STATUS: Officially canceled! ABC canceled this romance vehicle on June 15, 2020. The series finale aired on June 1, 2020, after a total of 9 episodes.

CPU! STATUS: Some of our cast of couch potatoes, in fact, requested to discuss this show, so we will probably cover this in a “Canceled Corner” format. We might also have to recruit a moderator, but one of our panelists called this a good one for quarantine binge consumption. What do you think, gentle listener/viewer? Chief CP Kylie won’t be moderating this one, but if you want it to be covered in all of its one season glory, drop us a line! Volunteer to be a panelist yourself, if you’re so apt, as we’re a podcast by the people, for the people.

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BATWOMAN, The CW

WHO: Ruby Rose (Arrowverse “Elseworlds” crossover), Dougray Scott (Snatch, Hemlock Grove), Rachel Skarsten (Reign), Meagan Tandy (Teen Wolf), Camrus Johnson (Marvel’s Luke Cage), Nicole Kang (YOU), Elizabeth Anweis (9-1-1, NCIS: LA)

WHAT: Armed with a passion for social justice and a flair for speaking her mind, Kate Kane soars onto the streets of Gotham as Batwoman, an out lesbian and highly trained street fighter primed to snuff out the failing city’s criminal resurgence – but don’t call her a hero yet. In a city desperate for a savior, Kate must overcome her own demons before embracing the call to be Gotham’s symbol of hope.

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PICK UP OR PASS?

VERDICT: Pick Up. Though many of our DCTU panel won’t like it, this is an automatic Pick Up for our CPU! DCTU Series panel, as Batwoman will be an Arrowverse entry, designed to fill the hole left by the flagship series, Arrow, when it takes its series bow at mid-season following the Crisis on Infinite Earths mega-crossover event coming in December. None of our panelists loved the “Batwoman” entry in last year’s Elseworlds crossover, but we didn’t all hate it either. If the show’s writers can do justice to Gotham City and can breathe new life into Kate Kane’s version of the character and member of the Bat-Family, cynicism might sway to positivism. We won’t know until the series premieres in October.

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STATUS: Officially renewed for Season 2! In January, 2020, the CW announced the series renewal. The Season 1 finale aired on May 17, 2020, after a total of 20 episodes (the production season was cut short due to the global pandemic).

CPU! STATUS: This show will be reviewed in Summer 2020 by our DCTU Series podcast panel, replacing the departing Arrow among our annual reviews. In addition, most of us began watching at least the season’s first half of this series in preparation for our review of the mid-season crossover, Crisis on Infinite Earths, which we have already published. Furthermore, in late May, it was announced that Ruby Rose was departing the series for reasons not clarified, and that the CW intended to persist with the renewal, recasting the role for a potential January 2021 premiere. It’s topsy-turvy in the Arrowverse. Stay tuned!

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BH90210, Fox

WHO: Gabrielle Carteris, Shannen Doherty, Jennie Garth, Brian Austin Green, Jason Priestley, Tori Spelling, Ian Ziering

WHAT: The series will focus on the original cast members of Beverly Hills, 90210 — Jason Priestley, Jennie Garth, Ian Ziering, Gabrielle Carteris, Brian Austin Green, Tori Spelling, and Shannen Doherty — playing heightened, fictionalized versions of themselves. Having parted ways 19 years after the original series ended, they reunite to get a reboot up and running and must reconcile their new lives with the complications of their histories together.

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PICK UP OR PASS?

VERDICT: Hesitantly Pick Up. On the one hand, this could be a cheeky, fresh experiment in the TV reboot scientific method. On the other hand, this could also be the desperate gambit of 50 year old (plus) former TV stars trying to recapture their glory days and the height of their individual stardom (I’m looking at you, Tori Spelling). The CPU! roster is filled with secret and not-so-secret fans of at least the original Beverly Hills, 90210, and some have already sampled this nothing-more-than-guilty-pleasure fare this summer with somewhat lukewarm results. Is the show as delicious as the food always seemed to be at the Peach Pit? How will it feel without Luke Perry, the popular erstwhile Dylan McKay, who passed away earlier this year (RIP, I’m still heartbroken). Have you watched it? Tell us all about it.

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STATUS: Officially canceled! Fox canceled this meta-revival on November 7, 2019. All produced six episodes aired. The series finale aired on September 11, 2019.

CPU! STATUS: It’s only six episodes, and we know that some of our podcast corps watched it. We’ll still look in and talk about it, maybe coupled with a Look Back at the original Beverly Hills 90210. The nostalgia factor will be sick!

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BLESS THE HARTS, Fox

WHO: The voices of Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Jillian Bell, Ike Barinholtz

WHAT: The animated comedy follows a group of Southerners who are always “broke as a joke” and struggling for the American dream of status and wealth. What they don’t realize is that they’re already rich… in friends, family and laughter.

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PICK UP OR PASS?

VERDICT: Pass. Despite the all-star power voice cast, this new series in Fox’s Sunday Animated line-up feels like King of the Hill without the heart of Texas and Mike Judge to make the show, you know, actually funny. If you think we should change our tune, drop us a line, but we don’t think this new show is blessed enough with originality to entice, particularly following superior entries about dysfunctional families (The Simpsons, Family Guy, and Bob’s Burgers) already filling Fox’s Sunday nights. Biscuits or no biscuits, we move on.

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STATUS: Officially renewed for Season 2! On October 18, 2019, Fox renewed one of its new animated series for a second season. The Season 1 finale aired on January 12, 2020, after a total of 10 episodes.

CPU! STATUS: We have heard nothing about it, and even if the network may be confident about it, none of our podcast panelists or panelists-adjacent have mentioned it. We need more to change our minds from our initial pass, bless them.

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BLUFF CITY LAW, NBC

WHO: Jimmy Smits (NYPD Blue), Caitlin McGee (Grey’s Anatomy, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), Barry Sloane (Six, Revenge), Michael Luwoye (The Gifted), Stony Blyden (Edge of Seventeen), Jayne Atkinson (House of Cards), Scott Shepherd (True Detective), MaameYaa Boafo

WHAT: This series follows the lawyers of an elite Memphis law firm that specializes in the most controversial landmark civil rights cases. Led by legendary lawyer Elijah Strait and his brilliant daughter, Sydney Keller, they take on the toughest David-and-Goliath cases while navigating their complicated relationship.

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PICK UP OR PASS?

VERDICT: Pass. The second legal drama of the list proves to be more trope-filled than the first. This time, instead of a feisty judge, we get to watch a feisty civil rights lawyer change the world with her dad, Jimmy Smits, but with less comedy. For those who love this kind of TV, or for fans of NYPD Blue, this show will no doubt appeal, but for this set of Couch Potatoes, I believe it would be a stretch to get them on board, particularly when the family drama aspect could send this one straight into saccharine/manipulative territory. If buzz or steam gets the request lines hopping, though, we could be persuaded to change our initial stances. No bluffs!

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STATUS: Officially canceled! The Peacock finally swung the long prognosticated ax on this show in June 2020. The series finale aired on November 25, 2019 after a total of ten episodes.

CPU! STATUS: We know some loyal listeners and chatters who watched this Jimmy Smits series, but we haven’t heard promising reviews, and the network’s cancellation of the series kind of seals the deal. We, therefore, remain in our passing lane. We’re not bluffing.

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BOB ❤ ABISHOLA, CBS

WHO: Billy Gardell (Mike & Molly), Folake Olowofoyeku (Transparent), Christine Ebersole (Madam Secretary), Matt Jones (Mom), Maribeth Monroe (The Good Place, Workaholics), Shola Adewusi, Barry Shabaka Henley, Travis Wolfe, Jr.

WHAT: After having a heart attack, a middle-aged sock businessman from Detroit unexpectedly falls for his cardiac nurse, a Nigerian immigrant, and sets his sights on getting her to give him a chance.

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PICK UP OR PASS?

VERDICT: Hesitantly Pick Up. Honestly, this trailer won this Couch Potato over by the end of its two minutes. The two leads are surprisingly winning, particularly Folake Olowofoyeku. In addition, the trailer left me wondering what would happen with the earnest sock businessman’s attempts to woo an unassuming Nigerian nurse. Plus, the show is set in Detroit, a mere stone’s throw from our home in Grand Rapids, Michigan. We “heart” some of the original feel of this series, especially since this rom-com throws some of the genre’s more formulaic elements right out the old bus window.

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STATUS: Officially renewed for Season 2! On May 6, 2020, CBS announced the series renewal. The Season 1 finale aired on April 13, 2020, after a total of 20 episodes.

CPU! STATUS: Not yet viewed.

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BROKE, CBS

WHO: Jaime Camil (Jane the Virgin), Pauley Perrette (NCIS), Natasha Leggero (Another Period), Izzy Diaz (Snowfall), Antonio Corbo

WHAT: When an outrageously wealthy trust fund baby is cut off by his father, he and his wife move into her estranged sister’s Reseda home, forcing the two siblings to reconnect.

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PICK UP OR PASS?

VERDICT: Pass. It’s a riches to rags story, which this Couch Potato assumes is the Eye’s attempt to capitalize upon the growing success of outgoing Pop! charmer Schitt’s Creek, and while that notion might be noble, the ingredients here don’t mix together well enough to have the charm of the Canadian export that’s become so widely regarded and popular. Pauley Perrette is grating with her brand of “in your face” (allegedly) comedic line delivery, and Jaime Camil, as handsome as he is, is essentially playing a transplanted version of Rogelio from Jane the Virgin. Plus, the audience laughter, whether canned or not, sounded a little too forced to be sincere. Since Broke will not break any molds in this genre, with this type of story conceit, we’ll pass, unless the request lines tell us to give it a chance. You know how to get a hold of us.

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STATUS: Officially canceled! CBS canceled this late-premiere sitcom on May 6, 2020. The series finale aired on June 25, 2020, after a total of 13 episodes.

CPU! STATUS: What can we tell you? Sometimes, when it’s broke, it’s not worth it to fix it. You just buy new. (We hold to our initial pass).

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CAROL’S SECOND ACT, CBS

WHO: Patricia Heaton (The Middle, Everybody Loves Raymond), Kyle MacLachlan (Twin Peaks), Ashley Tisdale (High School Musical), Ito Aghayere (Elementary), Jean-Luc Bilodeau (Baby Daddy), Sabrina Jalees

WHAT: After raising her two children and retiring from teaching, Carol Chambers embarks on a unique second act: pursuing her dream of becoming a doctor.

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PICK UP OR PASS?

VERDICT: Pass. As lovable as Patricia Heaton always seems to be, and though this premise shows some small modicum of potential, two conceits undercut this comedy upon first review. First, and clearly, it’s going to focus heavily upon the generational divide between the Baby Boomer intern and her cohort of Millennial/Post-Millennial interns, and that type of humor stands to get old fast, particularly as it is so overdone lately. Second, there’s a cop drama on ABC that is kind of doing the same thing, but in cop-land and with Nathan Fillion at its helm. This comedy, thus, seems somewhat derivative, potential aside, and it would depend upon the balance of the hackneyed and the fresh that could determine this show’s future success. If it’s requested, we would be more apt to change our mind on this one, even, than on some of the other entries on which I’ve said that, especially because, well, Patricia Heaton, but for now, this second act doesn’t wow.

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STATUS: Officially canceled! CBS canceled this series on May 6, 2020. The series finale aired on March 12, 2020, after a total of 18 episodes.

CPU! STATUS: Unfortunately, with a complaint of sexual harassment allegations haunting the producer and no buzz to speak of from anyone this set of reviewers trusts, this cancellation is unsurprising at best and probably long overdue at least. This second act has taken its final bow, which is just as well; we never thought that it was worth the watch.

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COUNCIL OF DADS, NBC

WHO: Clive Standen (Taken), Sarah Wayne Callies (Colony, The Walking Dead), Tom Everett Scott (13 Reasons Why, Southland), J. August Richards (Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), Michele Weaver (Love Is___), Michael O’Neill (Scandal, Rectify), Steven Silver (13 Reasons Why), Emjay Anthony (Rake), Thalia Tran, Blue Chapman

WHAT: 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 who 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.

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PICK UP OR PASS?

VERDICT: Pass. Honestly, a trailer would be helpful for this one. Reading the synopsis, one can glean a certain amount of heart in the premise, but this couch potato worries that the show itself might fall into the Hallmark movie/manipulative drama column, even if the content might be remarkably easy to relate to, given the fact that devastating illness can affect so many families. There are also a few enticing names in the cast. Still, premise alone doesn’t sell it. So, we offer our usual cautionary disclaimer around the ability of buzz and steam to persuade our council’s collective decision otherwise, but, for now, we must be merciless and pass. There are tons of options out there to consider.

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STATUS: Officially canceled! The Peacock disbanded this council on June 25, 2020. Nine of ten episodes have aired as of the publication of this post, with the series finale slated to air on July 2, 2020.

CPU! STATUS: Though some adjacent Couch Potatoes reported watching this show, the ratings for this one were quite anemic, with reports indicating that it was next-to-last in its ratings demo. Plus, reports of watching do not necessarily translate to reports of liking, and with a quick cancellation on the books, we are not motivated to change our minds about our initial pass. Of course, you, gentle listener/viewer, could always call for a floor vote by contacting us and entreating us to give it a better chance. We might second that motion (okay, so I’m beating this metaphor to death…moving on).

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DEPUTY, Fox

WHO: Stephen Dorff (True Detective), Yara Martinez (Jane the Virgin), Brian Van Holt (Cougar Town), Bex Taylor-Klaus (Arrow), Mark Moses (Desperate Housewives), Siena Goines (Grey’s Anatomy, Jericho), Shane Paul McGhie (Sacred Lies) 

WHAT: When the Los Angeles County’s Sheriff dies, an arcane rule forged back in the Wild West thrusts the most unlikely man into the job: a fifth-generation lawman, more comfortable taking down bad guys than navigating a sea of politics. He leads a skilled team of ambitious and complicated human beings who won’t rest until justice is served.

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PICK UP OR PASS?

VERDICT: Pass. This CP suspects that this show will find an audience. I do not believe the audience will be Couch Potatoes Unite! participants, listeners, and followers, but it will find an audience. This new program offers a compelling genre-mashing premise where Western meets cop procedural, with a saltier Stephen Dorff playing a lawman who hearkens back to the cowboys of yore and yesteryear. Still, procedural TV has a tough time here at CPU!; not many request or clamor for it, especially as the TV landscape is rife with similar ilk. Still, this series will probably stand out because of its slightly Western motif and because of the acting pedigree of the cast, if this well cut trailer is any indication. CPU! is open to requests, but we pass for now because we don’t expect the interest from people who unite with us. You can tell us we’re wrong – if you’re nice, that is.

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STATUS: Officially canceled! Fox stopped this lawman in his tracks on April 3, 2020. The series finale aired on March 26, 2020, after a total of 13 episodes.

CPU! STATUS: I guess this show did not find enough of an audience after all. Though some internet buzz and subsequent cancellation disappointment indicated that people were watching, no one inside the CPU! circle or outside of it talked about this show. If the ratings are low, which they were for this series, it’s only a matter of time before the cancellation ax swings. Unfortunately, CPU! will not be giving this a mercy watch in light of the initial review of the trailer and of, well, the whole cancellation business.

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DUNCANVILLE, Fox

WHO: The voices of Amy Poehler, Ty Burrell, Rashida Jones, Wiz Khalifa, Riki Lindhome

WHAT: The animated comedy revolves around a 15-year-old boy named Duncan and his friends and family — including his mother, Annie, who is constantly trying to prevent her son from ruining his life.

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PICK UP OR PASS?

VERDICT: Pass. Again, scant information, no trailer, and a (mostly) lack of interest in talking serial animated comedy leaves this reviewer unmotivated to explore this additional entry in Fox’s animated lineup, despite the presence of perennial CPU! talker and listener fave Amy Poehler. If you think we’re missing out with our snap judgments, you know how to get a hold of us.

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STATUS: Officially renewed for Season 2! In April 2020, Fox announced the series renewal. The Season 1 finale aired on May 17, 2020, after a total of 11 episodes (the initial order was cut short because of the global pandemic).

CPU! STATUS: We made a snap judgment, but we’ve heard nothing to convince us that we are missing out and are not motivated to change our initial “pass” review. Care to get a hold of us and change our minds?

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EMERGENCE, ABC

WHO: Allison Tolman (Fargo), Alexa Swinton (Billions), Donald Faison (Scrubs), Owain Yeoman (The Mentalist), Robert Bailey Jr. (The Night Shift), Zabryna Guevara (New Amsterdam)

WHAT: In this genre thriller, a police chief takes in a young child that she finds near the site of a mysterious accident, only to learn that the child has no memory of what happened. The investigation draws her into a conspiracy larger than she ever imagined, and the child’s identity is at the center of it all.

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PICK UP OR PASS?

VERDICT: Pick Up. Though the premise draws obvious science fiction and horror comparisons, such as to Firestarter, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and The X-Files, the intrigue created by the fairly simple premise and a cast of reliably solid performers (some of whom are not listed above), including lead Allison Tolman, the breakout in the first season of the television version of Fargo, make this an early front-runner for CPU!’s growing list of fall pick-ups as well as for possible podcaster and viewer interest. Is it aliens? A government conspiracy? A supernaturally endowed child? The answers might stem from well-worn tropes, but this show could also surprise us all, so it emerges as an entry on the long CPU! list.

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STATUS: Officially canceled! ABC emerged with this cancellation on May 21, 2020. The Season 1 finale aired on January 28, 2020, after a total of 13 episodes. 

CPU! STATUS: Critical reception was, on average, full of praise for this one and done series, while audience engagement declined throughout the season. Critics, even when citing that the mystery was somewhat derivative as was obvious in the trailer, noted that Allison Tolman’s performance set this newest mystery somewhat apart. Hoping that it did not end on a cliffhanger, I think CPU! will still take a look someday, if not anytime soon. If you want us to take a look at it faster and voice some feelings, email us at couchpotatoesunitepodcast@gmailcom or get at us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. After all, sad feelings emerging following a cancellation are perfectly understandable.

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EVIL, CBS

WHO: Katja Herbers (Westworld), Mike Colter (Luke Cage), Aasif Mandvi (The Daily Show), Michael Emerson (Person of Interest), Kurt Fuller (Supernatural), Brooklyn Shuck, Skylar Gray, Maddy Crocco, Dalya Knapp

WHAT: A psychological mystery that examines science vs. religion and the origins of evil, the series from The Good Wife creators Robert and Michelle King focuses on a skeptical female forensic psychologist who joins a priest-in-training and a carpenter to investigate and assess the Church’s backlog of supposed miracles, demonic possessions, and unexplained phenomena.

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PICK UP OR PASS?

VERDICT: Enthusiastically Pick Up. This pure mystery series, a rare genre by itself, offers an intriguing and mostly original premise, even if the undertone definitely reverberates echoes of The Exorcist. Yet, this new program also boasts a compelling cast, including Katja Herbers from Westworld, Mike Colter from Luke Cage, and one of TV’s best character actors, Michael Emerson from Lost and Person of Interest, all of which have been covered by CPU! in the past (except Lost…but it’s on the list), in addition to a producer pedigree that encourages a level of trust in its potential quality. Plus, it does not seem to lack for scares in the psychological thriller department, which would no doubt further appeal to horror buffs, both on and off our team of united couch potatoes. Michael Emerson’s appearance in the trailer alone had this CP shouting “yeah!” to no one in particular, and so the enthusiasm for this Pick Up is legit. Besides, who doesn’t love a good story about demonic possession? Also, mad props to the Eye for taking a risk on a genre show that normally doesn’t appear on that network. This choice feels more good than evil, but we shall see.

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STATUS: Officially renewed for Season 2! On October 22, 2019, CBS announced the series renewal. The Season 1 finale aired on January 30, 2020, after a total of 13 episodes.

CPU! STATUS: The CPU! and social media water coolers have been buzzing about this show with mostly positive reviews. What we can we tell you? Sometimes, we just have a (not so evil) eye for this sort of thing. (This means our Pick Up is permanent.)

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FBI: MOST WANTED, CBS

WHO: Julian McMahon (Nip/Tuck), Alana De La Garza (Law & Order), Keisha Castle-Hughes (Game of Thrones), Kellan Lutz (Twilight), Roxy Sternberg (Emerald City), Nathaniel Arcand

WHAT: A spin-off of FBI centered on the Fugitive Task Force of the FBI that tracks and captures the notorious criminals on the FBI’s Most Wanted list.

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PICK UP OR PASS?

VERDICT: Pass. CPU! passed on the parent show of this spin-off, FBI, last year. It’s procedural TV by procedural guru Dick Wolf, best known for the Law & Order franchise of procedural television. FBI is relatively well-rated and popular, but the show has not resonated with our resident potatoes. Additionally, if we passed on the show from whence this series spun, we also feel compelled to pass on that which was spun itself, especially since no one has requested our opinion about said spinning series to date. You can, but we have a feeling we know that it’s not your most wanted.

STATUS: Officially renewed for Season 2! On May 6, 2020, CBS announced the series renewal. The Season 1 finale aired on May 5, 2020, after a total of 14 episodes.

CPU! STATUS: Until our resident Couch Potatoes want to discuss the parent series, FBI, the gumption to discuss this spin-off is least wanted for now; however, if you want us to start a FBI series, drop us a line!

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FILTHY RICH, Fox

PREMIERE DATE: Moved to Fall 2020

WHO: Kim Cattrall (Sex and the City), Gerald McRaney (This Is Us), Aubrey Dollar (Battle Creek), Corey Cott (The Good Fight), Mark L. Young (The Comeback), Steven Pasquale (Rescue Me)

WHAT: When the patriarch of a mega-rich Southern family (famed for creating a wildly successful Christian television network) dies in a plane crash, his wife and family are stunned to learn that he fathered three illegitimate children, all of whom are written into his will.

Trailer available at Fox’s YouTube Channel.

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PICK UP OR PASS?

VERDICT: Pass. In the grand tradition of fare like Dallas and Dynasty (the original, to be sure), Fox offers this new sudsy soap with rich people at the forefront mixed with all the scandal and guilty-pleasure inducing backdrop of televangelism and the antebellum lilts of the South, including the requisite homage to Gone with the Wind. Hilariously, the show is created/produced by the makers of Empire and The Help, so there is a small iota of curiosity to entice here. Plus, the presence of an older but no less fabulous Kim Cattrall, the erstwhile Samantha that oozed Sex in her City, leads this pack. Still, the premise sounds very similar to Fox’s Almost Family, also being introduced this season (see above), with the soap angle to propel it forward into Desperate Housewives and the aforementioned Dallas/Dynasty territories, and so it seems like Fox is throwing the idea of illegitimate children around every chance it can get. We passed on the other one and feel it only fair to pass on this one also, but if you think we need to cover more suds and find this candidate suitable to that purpose, drop us a line.

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FOR LIFE, ABC

WHO: Nicholas Pinnock (Counterpart), Indira Varma (Game of Thrones), Joy Bryant (Parenthood), Glenn Fleshler (Billions), Dorian Missick (Southland), Tyla Harris (Six), Mary Stuart Masterson (Blindspot), Boris McGiver (House of Cards)

WHAT: A legal drama inspired by the life of Isaac Wright, Jr. about a prisoner who becomes a lawyer, litigating cases for other inmates while fighting to overturn his own life sentence for a crime he didn’t commit. His quest for freedom is driven by his desperate desire to get back to the family he loves and reclaim the life that was stolen from him.

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PICK UP OR PASS?

VERDICT: Pass. Though this seems like less of the same-old in legal dramas, it’s still a legal drama in a TV sea well over-saturated by them, this season especially. We might reconsider with the release of a trailer, but for now, it’s hard to be intrigued by yet another courtroom motif. Plus, no member of this cast is by themselves a draw, so we’ll wait for someone to give this one life by recommending it to us. For now, we move on in our own lives.

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STATUS: Officially renewed for Season 2! On June 15, 2020, ABC announced the renewal. The Season 1 finale aired on May 12, 2020, after a total of 13 episodes.

CPU! STATUS: The CPU! and social media water coolers have not been breathing life into this show, so despite the late renewal, CPU! remains in the “pass” column for now.

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THE GREAT NORTH, Fox

PREMIERE DATE: Moved to Winter 2021

WHO: The voices of Nick Offerman, Jenny Slate, Megan Mullally, Paul Rust, Aparna Nancherla, Will Forte, Dulcé Sloan

WHAT: The animated comedy follows the Alaskan adventures of the Tobin family, as single dad Beef does his best to keep his weird bunch of kids close, especially as the artistic dreams of his only daughter, Judy, lead her away from the family fishing boat and into the glamorous world of the local mall.

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PICK UP OR PASS?

VERDICT: Hesitantly Pick Up. Fox is also going hog-wild this year with upping its animation game. Still, this animated entry shows more possibility than other new selections, even without a trailer to more fully and thoroughly evaluate it. First, the voice cast contains one of the funniest married couples on the planet in Nick Offerman and Megan Mullaly, who people might know from shows like Parks & Recreation and Will & Grace, respectively. On top of that, the setting is Alaska, and the premise feels a bit more original and fresh, even as it could also be the cartoon version of Northern Exposure. All of the above is enough to warrant a tiny look-see but no promises from the not-so-great north.

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INDEBTED, NBC

WHO: Adam Pally (Happy Endings), Abby Elliott (Saturday Night Live), Steven Weber (13 Reasons Why), Fran Drescher (The Nanny)

WHAT: Young parents Dave and Rebecca are ready to reclaim their life after years of diapers and sleepless nights; however, things take an unexpected turn when Dave’s parents show up unannounced and broke.

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PICK UP OR PASS?

VERDICT: Pass. Though this CP wants Adam Pally to find some TV success in a vehicle where his brand of comedy can shine a bit more, and even if TV standbys Steven Weber and Fran Drescher have come out to play here, without a trailer, this premise feels wafer thin. Plus, the Peacock is pushing it to mid-season, which means the show would really have to entice to be successful, through cast chemistry, unexpected situations, or performer appeal. It’s hard to imagine any of those possibilities right now with what we know, but if you think we need to cultivate a bit more in the imagination department, we would be indebted to you for your recommendation. Prove our snap judgments wrong!

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STATUS: Officially canceled! NBC canceled all debts and this series in June 2020. The series finale aired on April 16, 2020, after a total of 12 episodes. 

CPU! STATUS: What can we say? We have received no recommendation to the contrary – in fact, we have heard no talk about this sitcom at all, which never bodes well. Sometimes, we’re indebted to the networks for making our TV choices feel so easy and validated.

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KATY KEENE, The CW

WHO: Lucy Hale (Pretty Little Liars), Ashleigh Murray (Riverdale), Jonny Beauchamp (Penny Dreadful), Julia Chan (Saving Hope), Camille Hyde (American Vandal), Lucien Laviscount (Scream Queens), Zane Holtz (From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series, Make It or Break It), Katherine LaNasa (Imposters, Satisfaction)

WHAT: In a timeless New York City, as enchanting as Riverdale is moody, aspiring fashion designer Katy Keene meets Josie McCoy, fresh off the bus to chase her musical dreams. Their world is populated with kindred-spirit starving artists, including mysterious socialite Pepper Smith and Broadway-bound performer Jorge Lopez — and his drag queen alter ego, Ginger. While their climb to the top is rife with obstacles, this found family will stop at nothing to see their names in lights.

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PICK UP OR PASS?

VERDICT: Very Hesitantly Pick Up. Later this fall, CPU! will start ongoing Water Cooler coverage of Riverdale. Since this is a spin-off of said dark and twisty reckoning of the Archie Comics, including the Pussycats’ own Josie as one of the cast of characters, we expect our panel to have at least a passing interest in this new chapter. Alternatively, Riverdale has quite the following in general; will fans of that show be interested enough to watch Lucy Hale’s Katy Keene? Time will tell, so we’ll very hesitantly add it to our burgeoning list of TV tantalizers. Next!

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STATUS: UPDATE! Officially canceled. The CW canceled this Riverdale spin-off on July 2, 2020. The series finale aired on May 14, 2020, after a total of 13 episodes.

CPU! STATUS: We have received at least one request to talk about this series on the podcast – and this was before surveying the Riverdale panel – so, we will most likely cover this show in “Canceled Corner” at some future date.

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THE KENAN SHOW, NBC

PREMIERE DATE: Moved to Winter 2021

WHO: Kenan Thompson (Saturday Night Live), Andy Garcia (Ocean’s Eleven), Punam Patel, Dani Lockett, Dannah Lockett 

WHAT: In this family comedy, 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.

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PICK UP OR PASS?

VERDICT: Pass. While it is about time that Kenan Thompson returns to scripted TV from his long tenure as sketch comedian on Saturday Night Live, and while he is more than deserving of an eponymous comedy, we are not sure that this is the eponymous comedy that is going to keep his career going, unless his biggest fans are the generators of decent ratings to keep this sitcom afloat. This thin premise rings bells echoing My Wife & Kids, or, depending upon Kenan’s delivery, The Bernie Mac Show, but with a Xennial approach to the parental side of this equation. No trailer makes the selling difficult, but if you’re a Kenan Thompson fan and want us to reconsider, send us the messages.

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KIDS SAY THE DARNDEST THINGS, ABC

WHO: Tiffany Haddish (Host)

WHAT: A new iteration of the classic variety show, featuring a mix of in-studio segments and taped pieces from across the country, all set in front of a live studio audience.

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PICK UP OR PASS?

VERDICT: Pass. CPU! does not cover variety shows, but as it’s a new network entry this season, we’ll keep a limited eye on it this year. Bill Cosby hosted the original. Let’s hope Tiffany Haddish can make everyone forget that.

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STATUS: Officially canceled! ABC axed this darned variety show in May 2020. The series finale aired on January 19, 2020, after a total of 12 episodes.

CPU! STATUS: It’s still a variety show, right?

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LINCOLN LINCOLN RHYME: HUNT FOR THE BONE COLLECTOR, NBC

WHO: Russell Hornsby (Grimm), Arielle Kebbel (Midnight, Texas), Michael Imperioli (The Sopranos), Brían F. O’Byrne (Nightflyers), Tate Ellington (Quantico), Courtney Grosbeck (The Bold and the Beautiful), Brooke Lyons (Life Sentence), Ramses Jimenez, Roslyn Ruff

WHAT: Based on Jeffery Deaver’s novel The Bone Collector, this crime drama centers on former NYPD detective and forensic genius Lincoln Rhyme, who was seriously injured by a notorious serial killer. He and young officer Amelia Sachs join forces to crack the city’s most confounding cases while racing to take down the enigmatic Bone Collector who brought them together.

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PICK UP OR PASS?

VERDICT: Very Hesitantly Pick Up. Two aspects of the description of this new show present a minimum of intrigue and desire to check it out, despite no teaser or trailer to clinch the sale. First, though this drama stands to be rather procedural in nature, there is an interesting overarching thread in the fact that the main character was injured by a serial killer, meaning there is a larger vendetta/ax-to-grind arc that could present some compelling story twists. Second, Russell Hornsby offered an air of genuineness on erstwhile cult fantasy series Grimm, and has been searching for a series to stick since, so this couch potato, at least, wants to see what he can make of this heady premise. Plus, “Bone Collector” sounds so ominous. The crimes of the week might become rote and boring, but the serial killer angle might give this mystery drama a slight edge in crime/procedural fare, despite airwaves saturation. So, we’ll add it to our collection of new pickups based upon our (mostly) informed TV instincts.

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STATUS: Officially canceled! The Peacock collected the bones of this cancellation in June 2020. The series finale aired on March 13, 2020, after a total of 10 episodes. 

CPU! STATUS: Critical reception was quite poor, even though it had some middling ratings and some expressive disappointment upon learning of its cancellation on the part of viewers who tuned in for its limited ten episodes. In this pandemic-driven entertainment season, the Peacock must have something compelling in its back pocket to replace this mid-season entry with, even if Lincoln Rhyme himself did not compel enough to save the show. Still, we have some Grimm fans around here, and curiosity still mildly piques at the premise. Hoping that the season is self-contained, I think CPU! will still take a look someday, if not anytime soon. If you want us to take a look at it faster and voice some feelings, email us at couchpotatoesunitepodcast@gmailcom or get at us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. We’ll collect your thoughts in a “Canceled Corner” interview episode!

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MIXED-ISH, ABC

WHO: Arica Himmel, Mark-Paul Gosselaar (The Passage, Pitch), Tika Sumpter (The Haves and the Have Nots), Ethan Childress, Mykal-Michelle Harris, Christina Anthony

WHAT: In this black-ish spin-off, a young Rainbow Johnson recounts her experience growing up in a mixed-race family in the ’80s and the constant dilemmas they had to face over whether to assimilate or stay true to themselves. 

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PICK UP OR PASS?

VERDICT: Pass. CPU! is not currently covering black-ish on the podcast, and it has not been requested in all the years of the show’s existence, which mostly overlap the existence of our podcast. Should the parent show ever be requested for podcast discussion, by listener or by willing participant, we will reevaluate adding its spin-off to a potential series of discussions. For now, we’ll leave this one be, even if we expect the quality and the skewering comedic social commentary to transfer from original to spun series.

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STATUS: Officially renewed for Season 2! In May 2020, ABC announced the series renewal. The Season 1 finale aired on May 5, 2020, after a total of 23 episodes.

CPU! STATUS: We still want someone to request that we discuss (or for us to make time to watch) black-ish first.

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NANCY DREW, The CW

WHO: Newcomer Kennedy McMann, Scott Wolf (The Night Shift, Party of Five), Leah Lewis (Charmed, The Good Doctor), Tunji Kasim (Nearly Famous), Maddison Jaizani (Into the Badlands), Alex Saxon (The Fosters), Alvina August (Siren, The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina), guest star Pamela Sue Martin (Nancy Drew)

WHAT: Set in the summer after her high school graduation,18-year-old Nancy Drew thought she’d be leaving her hometown for college, but when a family tragedy holds her back another year, she finds herself embroiled in a ghostly murder investigation — and along the way, uncovers secrets that run deeper than she ever imagined.

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PICK UP OR PASS?

VERDICT: Very Hesitantly Pick Up. Though it’s somewhat amusingly curious that the CW is digging through the well of decades-old fictional properties, such as Archie Comics and now this series of mystery novellas popular with young adult girls the world over, and though the acting is not particularly compelling in the available trailer, and though the cast is relatively unknown, sheer morbid curiosity coupled with the last few seconds of the trailer lead this CP to believe that there might be some slight interest in this show. Whether that interest sustains will depend largely upon how the show mixes Nancy’s mystery-of-the-week motif, which is expected if the show follows the books, with the possibly supernatural spin the CW version seems to be taking with the classic character. Also, how will the heroine be updated for the Millennial and Post-Millennial set, and will the character still work in a modern backdrop? These are worthy questions that merit a deeper look…at least for a few episodes.

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STATUS: Officially renewed for Season 2! In January, 2020, the CW announced the series renewal. The Season 1 finale aired on April 15, 2020, after a total of 18 episodes (the production season was cut short due to the global pandemic).

CPU! STATUS: We have started to receive requests for potential podcast discussion. The Pick Up, hesitant or not, is here to stay!

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neXt, Fox

PREMIERE DATE: Moved to Fall 2020

WHO: John Slattery (Mad Men), Eve Harlow (Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.), Michael Mosley (Sirens), Jason Butler Harner (Ozark), Elizabeth Cappuccino (Jessica Jones), Fernanda Andrade, Aaron Moten, Gerardo Celasco, Evan Whitten

WHAT: A Silicon Valley pioneer discovers that one of his own creations — a powerful A.I. — might spell global catastrophe and teams up with a cyber-crime agent to fight a villain unlike anything we’ve ever seen, one whose greatest weapon against us is ourselves.  

Trailer available at the Fox’s YouTube Channel.

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PICK UP OR PASS?

VERDICT: Pick Up. Oh sure, science fiction revolving around sentient artificial intelligence has been done before and has been arguably done to death. From The Terminator to Person of Interest, from 2001: A Space Odyssey (and its sequel, 2010) to Westworld, the world will never want for the fear that robots will someday turn against us, as humans attempt to play God by creating them in the first place. What makes this upcoming series potentially compelling TV is that, first, it is being billed as an event (read: limited) series, giving it a theoretically tight number of episodes within which to tell its story. Second, the culprit AI is a clear homage to Amazon’s Alexa product, which should add an element of real-world suspension of disbelief to this science fiction sub-genre. Plus, John Slattery is always a fun guy to watch on the small screen. Amazon’s already taking over the world – why shouldn’t its calming AI Alexa, named Iliza in this series, do the same and then turn on us all? What would happen if it did? Nothing good can come of this, that’s what we know from stories like it, but the premise and devices used here definitely intrigue the mind around this oft-employed story concept, so much so that we want to know what’s neXt.

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OUTMATCHED, Fox

WHO: Maggie Lawson (Psych), Jason Biggs (Orange Is the New Black), Tisha Campbell-Martin (Dr. Ken), Connor Kalopsis, Ashley Boettcher, Jack Stanton, Oakley Bull

WHAT: A family comedy about a blue-collar couple in South Jersey trying to get by and raise four kids, three of whom just happen to be certified geniuses.

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PICK UP OR PASS?

VERDICT: Pass. When a trailer must rely on canned laughter to convince a potential viewer that the show is funny, chances are, the show is not that funny. This premise raises a thousand questions, many of which stem from a basic understanding of biology and genetics. How does a family with under-achieving parents sire three “certified geniuses?” Why does the fourth child not benefit from this genetic selection? Also, one will necessarily need to find Jason Biggs funny to enjoy this show, and this CP is not one of those ones. He has a very specific comedic delivery that I do not expect will serve to carry this show for long, even if some of the situations of the sitcom peddled here stand to seem marginally unique, with three crazy smart children in the house – none of whom prove to be funny on their own, by the way. We think the show’s execution is outmatched by the ambition of its premise, so we’ll go throw darts at a photo of Albert Einstein in our respective basements and move on

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STATUS: Officially canceled! Fox canceled this sitcom in May 2020. The series finale aired on March 26, 2020, after a total of 10 episodes. 

CPU! STATUS: This show was critically panned, and the ratings were not abysmal but were bad by most typical measures for these things. Plus, the network never pursued additional scripts. Given our initial review of the trailer, we cannot say we are surprised. This show’s overestimation of an available audience outmatched its perceived quality, and CPU! continues to pass on it…forever.

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PANDORA, CW

WHAT: Set in the year 2199, a resourceful young woman has lost everything but finds a new life at Earth’s Space Training Academy where she and her friends learn to defend the galaxy from threats, both alien and human. When secrets about the nature of her own identity begin to surface, she must uncover the truth about whether she will be humanity’s savior or the instrument of its destruction.

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PICK UP OR PASS?

VERDICT: Very Hesitantly Pick Up. This is a summer series that has already premiered on the CW, to very little publicity fanfare and to abysmal critical response. Still, it’s science fiction with a CW flare, and so it might be a potential guilty pleasure for nerds, which, of course, several of the resident couch potatoes self-style themselves. It seems cancellation is looming, unless the CW wants to fill a summer slate, but the premise showed some promise, so we’ll add it to the list.

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STATUS: Officially renewed for Season 2! The Season 1 finale aired on October 1, 2019, after a total of 13 episodes.

CPU! STATUS: Not yet viewed (and a little surprised).

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PERFECT HARMONY, NBC

WHO: Bradley Whitford (The West Wing), Anna Camp (Pitch Perfect), Tymberlee Hill (Marry Me), Rizwan Manji (The Magicians), Will Greenberg (Wrecked), Geno Segers (Banshee), newcomer Spencer Allport

WHAT: When former Princeton music professor Arthur Cochran unexpectedly stumbles into choir practice at a small-town church, he finds a group of singers that are out of tune in more ways than one. Despite the ultimate clash of sensibilities, Arthur and his newfound cohorts may just be the perfect mix of individuals to help each other reinvent and rediscover a little happiness, just when they all need it most.

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PICK UP OR PASS?

VERDICT: Hesitantly Pick Up. Take Mr. Holland’s Opus, add a healthy dose of Sister Act, a splash of True Blood (without the vampires and fantasy), and a sprinkle of Glee, and one might be singing perfect harmony upon listening to the sounds of this new series. Though the comedy feels somewhat hackneyed, the jokes occasionally more flat than sharp, and the premise highly derivative, Bradley Whitford brings a potential snarky wit to the proceedings that could offer some smiles, not to mention some brash scripting, bleeps included, that render this an unusual movement in the network TV suite. NBC has been taking more risks in recent years, so we will reward the Peacock by sampling the sounds of this small-town choir. It could be a lighthearted, easy-to-watch, pleasant comedy drama. It could also be dissonant dreck, but we are willing to risk a bit of our signature time to find out which it becomes in the end.

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STATUS: Officially canceled! NBC disrupted the perfect harmony of this sitcom by canceling it in June 2020. The series finale aired on January 23, 2020, after a total of 13 episodes. 

CPU! STATUS: This cancellation took some time, but I imagine the measure of its overall shelf life and, therefore, renewal lack of success came from middling to declining ratings that did not capture key demographics and less than stellar critical consensus that suggested that this sitcom did not always hit the right notes, despite a good cast and some clever jokes. Again, with a full season under the belt, and a trailer that charmed, CPU! may yet sing with this sitcom and come to the same pithy conclusion. If you want us to view it in a more allegro type fashion, sing us your songs (they do not have to be perfectly harmonious) by emailing us at couchpotatoesunitepodcast@gmailcom or finding us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

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PRODIGAL SON, Fox

WHO: Tom Payne (The Walking Dead), Michael Sheen (Masters of Sex), Bellamy Young (Scandal), Lou Diamond Phillips (Longmire), Halston Sage (The Orville), Keiko Agena (Gilmore Girls), Aurora Perrineau (Chasing Life), Frank Harts (The Path, Billions) 

WHAT: Malcolm Bright knows how killers think. Why? His father was one of the best, a notorious serial killer called “The Surgeon.” That’s why Bright is the best criminal psychologist around; murder is the family business. He uses his twisted genius to help the NYPD solve crimes, while dealing with a somewhat manipulative mother, an annoyingly normal sister, a homicidal father still looking to bond with his prodigal son, and his own constantly evolving neuroses.

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PICK UP OR PASS?

VERDICT: Pick Up. Though there seems to be a fair few copycats around solving serial killer arcs on the networks this season, this entry appears to be of the highest caliber of quality, perhaps more than others like it, owing to the casting of Michael Sheen as one of the serial killers in question. Plus, it has TV uber-producer Greg Berlanti’s stamp on it, who might be single-handedly responsible for most of the CW’s line-up and some of the related entries on Netflix. The intrigue in this drama stems from the relationship between serial killer and son, as the latter attempts to separate himself from his father’s psychoses by working as a criminal psychologist and by possibly struggling against psychoses of his own. The psychological layers of this thriller promise a good mystery yarn, and though the story echoes, in small ways, The Silence of the Lambs, and though it could devolve into crime-of-the-week procedural fare, the central relationship is the enticement to watch here. And watch we prodigally shall.

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STATUS: Officially renewed for Season 2! The Season 1 finale aired on April 27, 2020, after a total of 20 episodes.

CPU! STATUS: This show has been requested for podcast coverage, making CPU!’s Prodigal Pick Up an enduring thing.

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STUMPTOWN, ABC

WHO: Cobie Smulders (How I Met Your Mother), Jake Johnson (New Girl), Michael Ealy (Secrets and Lies, Almost Human), Camryn Manheim (The Practice), Adrian Martinez (No Activity), Cole Sibus, Tantoo Cardinal

WHAT: Based on the Stumptown graphic novel series, the show follows Dex Parios as a strong, assertive, and sharp-witted army veteran with a complicated love life, gambling debt, and a brother to take care of in Portland, Oregon. Her military intelligence skills make her a great P.I., but her unapologetic style puts her in the firing line of hardcore criminals and not quite in alliance with the police.

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PICK UP OR PASS?

VERDICT: Hesitantly Pick Up. This Pick Up represents why trailers can be so important. This new series from the Mouse House/Alphabet Network is based on a graphic novel series (apparently), and though it capitalizes upon the gruff/imperfect cop trope pockmarking the TV landscape, the main character is a) a female and b) played by Cobie Smulders, who has cultivated a diverse resume since her stint on How I Met Your Mother. Her wisecracking ways draw the Pick Up, even if the procedural pattern makes said pick-up the hesitant variety. It’s not much to stump us, really.

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STATUS: Officially renewed for Season 2! The Season 1 finale aired on March 25, 2020, after a total of 18 episodes.

CPU! STATUS: CPU! has had at least one request for podcast panel coverage, and so we add this series to our already incredibly robust list of requests, making our hesitant pick up a confident one. Ain’t TV grand?

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SUNNYSIDE, NBC

WHO: Kal Penn (Designated Survivor), Diana Maria Riva (Man With a Plan), Joel Kim Booster (Shrill), Kiran Deol (How to Get Away With Murder, The Mindy Project), Poppy Liu (Law & Order: SVU, New Amsterdam), Moses Storm (Arrested Development), Samba Schutte

WHAT: Former New York City Councilman Garrett Modi finds his calling when he is hired by a diverse group of hopefuls who dream of becoming American citizens, giving him a new sense of purpose and a chance for redemption, as long as he remembers where he came from.

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PICK UP OR PASS?

VERDICT: Hesitantly Pick Up. Michael Schur created this one. Since he also created The Good Place, a CPU! favorite, and Brooklyn Nine-Nine, on the list of CPU! discussion candidates, he earns an attempt at viewing. In addition, the comedy here arises from timely and important social commentary while not taking itself too seriously, and the Chinese members of this motley crew proved to be the most ridiculous and, therefore, the most hilarious in the trailer. Though this CP worries that the show might use stereotypes to fuel the humor, we also trust Schur’s deft and sunny sensibilities to navigate this modern and murky terrain. Serve it up.

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STATUS: Officially canceled! The Peacock yanked the series from its schedule on October 15, 2019, and burned off remaining episodes at NBC.com/the NBC streaming app. The series finale aired on December 5, 2019, after a total of 11 episodes.

CPU! STATUS: So, we occasionally get one wrong. We picked this one up based mostly upon Michael Schur, but perhaps, this comedy does not resonate in this climate of sociopolitical upheaval, particularly around the topic of immigration. Critical consensus was decidedly low, noting the timely subject matter and a good cast, but indicating that these elements could not quite gel in a satisfying way. Critics further suggested that the show settled in the superficial, without taking a more skewering aim at the subject matter, especially in light of the times. In any event, CPU! is now going to change our verdict to Pass. With it being the first canceled series of the season, it seems like there are other, better TV shows to watch out there; plus, cancellation after three or four aired episodes does not inspire confidence on a satisfying one-and-out season (and you know we give a lot of chances in this regard).

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TOMMY, CBS

WHO: Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie, The Sopranos), Michael Chernus (Patriot, Orange Is the New Black), Adelaide Clemens (Rectify), Russell G. Jones (The Americans), Joseph Lyle Taylor (Sneaky Pete), Olivia Lucy Phillip

WHAT: When a former high-ranking NYPD officer becomes the first female Chief of Police for Los Angeles, she uses her unflinching honesty and hardball tactics to navigate the social, political, and national security issues that converge with enforcing the law.

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PICK UP OR PASS?

VERDICT: Pass. Fans of Edie Falco from her prior projects will probably be delighted to see this show and her triumphant return to the small screen. Yet, this is yet another crime show, and we have already commented on the network overflow in this genre. A female police chief of a major metropolitan police force would certainly make for interesting social commentary, but this series could also be manipulative in overplaying that premise, even with Falco’s skilled, no-nonsense delivery and performance. If this show garners buzz, steam, and general water cooler percolation, we will reconsider – especially for Edie’s sake – but for now, we are not ready to take on this series in our expansive force of tubular TV talk.

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STATUS: Officially canceled! CBS canceled this procedural drama on May 6, 2020. The series finale aired on May 7, 2020, after 12 episodes.

CPU! STATUS: Apparently, Tommy did not gain much buzz or steam. Critical consensus proved middling at best, and though ratings were not the worst, they seemingly were not good enough for the Eye, even as they remained consistent. It’s an interesting decision; networks have kept worse, but the outcry has been non-existent. Plus, CPU! already passed on it and has been given no reason to change our minds. Tommy, can you hear me? (What?! We’re musical sometimes!)

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THE UNICORN, CBS

WHO: Walton Goggins (Justified, Vice Principals), Rob Corddry (Ballers), Michaela Watkins (Casual), Omar Benson Miller (CSI: Miami), Maya Lynne Robinson (The Conners), Ruby Jay, Makenzie Moss

WHAT: A tight-knit group of friends and family help a widower move on following the most difficult year of his life, which includes being an ill-equipped but devoted single parent to his two daughters, and taking the major step of dating where, to his shock, he’s a hot commodity.

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PICK UP OR PASS?

VERDICT: Pass. The trailer provided some moments of convincing comedy, and the title is magical (though it has very little to do with actual unicorns), but the jokes and the cast chemistry largely fell flat in the teasing two minutes. Also, this premise, while potentially cute, could also wear thin quickly if the comedy spins into a woman-of-the-week set-up that doesn’t resolve after a time, with a clear front-runner emerging for the widower main character. In addition, the show might rely too much on the sass of the lead character’s two daughters to propel the laughs. Nice guys don’t always finish last, but they also don’t often make for enticing TV. If you think our judgment to be too snap and too dismissive of elusive mystical creatures, drop us a line. We’ll reconsider.

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STATUS: Officially renewed for Season 2! On May 6, 2020, CBS announced the series renewal. The Season 1 finale aired on March 12, 2020, after a total of 18 episodes.

CPU! STATUS: No one in the United Couch Potatoes’ close personal circles seems to be watching this show. Unless we hear more of an enthusiastic response from those close and personal, we’ll be our own sort of unicorns and stay in the passing lane.

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UNITED WE FALL, ABC

PREMIERE DATE: Moved to Fall 2020

WHO: Will Sasso (MADtv), Christina Vidal (Code Black), Jane Curtin (Saturday Night Live), newcomer Emma Grace Helton

WHAT: A family sitcom that follows the trials and tribulations of Jo and Bill, parents of two young kids, as they try to make it day-to-day as a functioning family. Bill’s very judgmental live-in mother and Jo’s large Latinx Catholic family will never hesitate to let our couple know they’re seemingly screwing up, but Bill and Jo will always have each other’s backs, united against everyone – other parents, teachers, doctors, specialists, coaches, co-workers and especially their kids.

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PICK UP OR PASS?

VERDICT: Pass. Fans of Will Sasso might find this new vehicle of his engaging, and this particular couch potato has boundless love for Jane Curtin, but this sitcom set-up also feels somewhat overly tried and true. Without a trailer to assess if the cast has chemistry and the premise potential, we can’t reasonably find the will to unite for this one. Thus, we remain united against it. Unless you can convince us to switch our uniting ways. At least we’ll always be Couch Potatoes Unite!

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ZOEY’S EXTRAORDINARY PLAYLIST, NBC

WHO: Jane Levy (Suburgatory), Skylar Astin (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Ground Floor), Lauren Graham (Parenthood, Gilmore Girls), Alex Newell (Glee), Mary Steenburgen (The Last Man on Earth), Peter Gallagher (The O.C., Covert Affairs), John Clarence Stewart (Luke Cage)

WHAT: 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.

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PICK UP OR PASS?

VERDICT: Pick Up. With a cast of credible stars and a fresh, original premise dosed by a whiff of fantasy, color us intrigued. Not to mention the potential for personal playlist inspiration – the musical tie to a potentially supernatural motif may render this one of the most original new network entries this season. We hope the potential of this extraordinary idea sounds like sweet music to our ears.

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STATUS: Officially renewed for Season 2! In June 2020, NBC announced the series renewal. The Season 1 finale aired on May 3, 2020, after a total of 12 episodes.

CPU! STATUS: I am somewhat relieved that this one has been renewed because CPU! has had several requests to cover this on the podcast. In addition, we have been privy to a significant amount of social media water cooler support for the show. Fair warning: we know a lot of people who like musicals, which this show can best be characterized as at any given moment. Fortunately, NBC saw the writing on the wall – and the plus 7 numbers – and made the right choice. This Pick Up is definite, permanent, and on the playlist.

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DC’S STARGIRL, CW

PREMIERE DATE: May 19, 2020 (May 18, 2020, on DC Universe)

TIME SLOT: Tuesdays at 8/7c

WHO: Brec Bassinger (Bella and the Bulldogs), Joel McHale, Luke Wilson, Amy Smart, and Henry Thomas.

WHAT: Formerly ordered as a DC Universe exclusive (it’ll now stream there one day before each episode airs on broadcast television, starting May 18), this Greg Berlanti-produced live-action series adaptation of Geoff Johns’ comics stars Brec Bassinger (Bella and the Bulldogs) as the titular heroine.

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PICK UP OR PASS?

VERDICT: Pick Up. It’s a superhero show, so we probably have to give it an automatic if perfunctory nod. This show also boasts an interesting arrangement: though there is a broadcast network deal, creative control rests with DC Universe, a streaming platform that may or may not exist in the near future with everything consolidating onto HBO Max. This series might be interesting to follow just because of the network arrangement and less because of whether or not the show actually merits viewing…of course, like I said, superhero shows get at least a bit of a look-see around here.

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STATUS: Because of the late premiere (May 18, 2020) and the network control arrangement over the possibility of renewal, we have no idea what the chances are that this show will be renewed. What we can say is that 7 of 13 ordered episodes have aired as of the publication of this post.

CPU! STATUS: Not yet viewed.

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The following is a link to all premiere dates for shows covered beyond the main networks: 

http://www.metacritic.com/feature/tv-premiere-dates

Non-Broadcast Network Pick-Ups

NOS4A2 (AMC): Zachary Quinto plays a vampire. Though the ratings aren’t promising, how can we resist? (Released June 2, 2019)

Abby Arcane returns home to Marais, Louisiana, to investigate a deadly swamp-borne virus, where she develops a bond with disgraced scientist Alec Holland. After Holland tragically dies, Arcane discovers the mysteries of the swamp, and that Holland may not be dead after all. Yes, that title is pronounced “Nosferatu,” and, yes, it’s based on the 2013 novel by Joe Hill (aka Stephen King’s son). AMC’s latest original series stars Zachary Quinto as an evil vampire who feasts on souls and has a bad habit of abducting children and forcing them to spend their lives in an alternate fantasy universe known as Christmasland. (And that’s not a good thing, regardless of how you feel about Christmas.) The only person who appears to have any chance at stopping him is a young artist (Ashleigh Cummings) with a supernatural ability to find lost things.

STATUS: Officially renewed for Season 2! The Season 1 finale aired on July 28, 2019, after a total of ten episodes. Season 2 premiered on June 21, 2020.

CPU! STATUS: Not yet viewed.

Los Espookys (HBO): Fred Armisen creates and directs a Spanish-language show about something to do with a love of horror. It sounds too wacky not to take a look. (Released June 14, 2019)

Fred Armisen’s latest comedy series is different in one major way…it’s a (mostly) Spanish-language show. Armisen co-created the series and produces, though he is just a recurring guest star on screen; the main cast consists of Ana Fabrega, Julio Torres, Cassandra Ciangherotti and Bernardo Velasco, who play a group of friends who “turn their love for horror into a peculiar business” in a stranger, alternate version of present-day Mexico City.

STATUS: Officially renewed for Season 2! The Season 1 finale aired on July 19, 2019, after a total of 6 episodes.

CPU! STATUS: Not yet viewed.

Euphoria (HBO): Trailers suggest a stylized and in-your-face look at today’s youth culture. (Released June 16, 2019)

Adapted from an Israeli series and produced by Drake (among others), this ensemble high school drama comes from writer Sam Levinson and stars Zendaya, rapper Brian Bradley (aka Stro), Maude Apatow, Storm Reid, and Eric Dane.

STATUS: Officially renewed for Season 2! The Season 1 finale aired on August 4, 2019, after a total of 8 episodes.

CPU! STATUS: Not yet viewed.

Years and Years (HBO): Emma Thompson, creator Russell T. Davies, and glowing reviews make this one a curiosity to behold. (Released June 24, 2019)

This six-episode BBC production centers on an extended British family (which includes a politician played by Emma Thompson) in Manchester, beginning with one particularly important night in 2019—and then following the implications of those events into the future over the next 15 years. (Spoiler alert: Trump gets re-elected.) The miniseries comes from Russell T. Davies (A Very English Scandal, Doctor Who, Queer as Folk) and also stars Anne Reid, Rory Kinnear, Russell Tovey, and Jessica Hynes (Spaced). 

STATUS: The season finale aired on June 18, 2019, after a total of 6 episodes. There is no word as to whether the series will be extended by renewal; creator Russell T. Davies has stated that he intends this series to be a “one-off” or miniseries.

CPU! STATUS: CPU! has had at least one request for podcast coverage.

The Rook (Starz): British supernatural spies! (Released June 30, 2019)

Emma Greenwell, Joely Richardson, Olivia Munn, Adrian Lester, and James D’Arcy star in an adaptation of Daniel O’Malley’s novel about a secret British spy service for people with paranormal abilities.

STATUS: Officially canceled! The season finale aired on August 18, 2019, after a total of 8 episodes. Starz confirmed that no further seasons would be produced in March 2020.

CPU! STATUS: Not yet viewed.

Veronica Mars – Reboot (Hulu): Kristen Bell returns to where it all began, and we have a few secret marshmallows roaming our couches. (Released July 19, 2019)

The beloved series, which ran from 2004-2007 on UPN and The CW, already received a Kickstarter-funded sequel film in 2014. Now, the series moves to Hulu for a brand-new season (set in the present day) that finds Veronica (Kristen Bell) caught in a new (and darker) murder mystery during spring break in Neptune. Much of the original cast returns in some capacity, including Enrico Colantoni, Ryan Hansen, Jason Dohring, Francis Capra, Percy Daggs, Max Greenfield, and Ken Marino, while new faces include Patton Oswalt, J.K. Simmons, Dawnn Lewis, Mary McDonnell, and Kirby Howell-Baptiste. The writing staff includes Lakers great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. All eight episodes are available to stream today.

STATUS: The Season 4 finale aired on July 19, 2019, after a total of 8 episodes. There is no word as to whether the series will be extended by renewal; most reports indicate that Hulu has no current plans to order additional seasons.

CPU! STATUS: Not yet viewed, and we’re surprised not to have heard from more Marshmallows. What’s up, friends?

Another Life (Netflix): Katee Sackhoff returns to TV science fiction, and BSG fans are all around us. Plus, CW’s most recent Superman, Tyler Hoechlin! (Released July 25, 2019)

Battlestar Galactica‘s Katee Sackhoff returns to outer space as an astronaut in search of alien intelligence in a new series from Killjoys writer Aaron Martin. Selma Blair, Justin Chatwin, Jessica Camacho, and Tyler Hoechlin also star.

STATUS: Officially renewed for Season 2! Netflix released all ten available episodes on July 25, 2019.

CPU! STATUS: Not yet viewed.

The Boys (Amazon Prime): This show has already been requested as a podcast candidate multiple times over! Also, it was created by Eric Kripke, who also created “Supernatural!” (Released July 26, 2019)

Producers Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogen bring another one of Preacher creator Garth Ennis’ comic books to the small screen—this time, for Amazon. Supernatural‘s Eric Kripke serves as creator and show-runner for this eight-episode first season, which stars Karl Urban as Billy Butcher, the leader of a group of vigilantes who target corrupt superheroes. Elisabeth Shue, Chace Crawford, Jennifer Esposito, Antony Starr, Erin Moriarty, Dominique McElligott, and Jessie T. Usher fill out the cast, and Simon Pegg will also appear—though not as the character who was originally drawn in the comics to look like him. Amazon has already renewed the series for a second season.

STATUS: Officially renewed for Season 2! Amazon Prime released all eight available episodes on July 26, 2019. Season 2 will premiere on September 4, 2020.

CPU! STATUS: CPU! has received several requests for podcast coverage, and so it’s in our production line already.

Pennyworth (Epix): It’s billed as a prequel to Fox’s “Gotham,” which we’ve talked at length about around here. Can Alfred make for compelling TV by himself, without Bruce Wayne/Batman? That remains to be seen. (Released July 28, 2019)

Interested in Batman’s butler’s origin story? Then you’ll have to figure out if Epix is included in your cable package. (Also: Do you have cable?) This 10-episode, series (a prequel to Fox’s Gotham) is set in an alternate version of 1960s London and follows former British SAS soldier Alfred Pennyworth (Jack Bannon) as he forms a security company with young billionaire Thomas Wayne (Ben Aldridge). The series comes from Gotham‘s Bruno Heller and Danny Cannon and also stars Paloma Faith, Jason Flemyng, and Polly Walker.

STATUS: Officially renewed for Season 2! The Season 1 finale aired on September 29, 2019, after a total of ten episodes.

CPU! STATUS: Not yet viewed.

Four Weddings and a Funeral (Hulu): The TV remake of a beloved romantic comedy film has already been requested for podcast chatter. (Released July 31, 2019)

This 10-episode adaptation of the classic 1994 rom-com comes from Mindy Kaling and Matt Warburton (who worked with Kaling on The Mindy Project). Nathalie Emmanuel (replacing the originally cast Jessica Williams) heads a cast that also includes Brandon Mychal Smith, Rebecca Rittenhouse, and John Reynolds, while the original film’s star Andie MacDowell will also appear (in a different role).

STATUS: Billed as a miniseries, this remake of the the 90s classic rom-com is unlikely to be renewed. The finale aired on September 11, 2019, after a total of ten episodes.

CPU! STATUS: CPU! has had at least one request for podcast coverage.

Wu Assassins (Netflix): Supernatural assassins using martial arts! It’s the kind of international genre mash-up we like to sample. (Released August 8, 2019)

Iko Uwais (The Raid) heads the cast as a chef turned super-powered assassin in this martial arts fantasy series set in present-day San Francisco.

STATUS: Netflix released the ten available episodes on August 8, 2019. There is no word as to whether the series will be extended by renewal.

CPU! STATUS: Not yet viewed.

Why Women Kill (CBS All Access): A three-period piece with a high-powered female cast inspires killer curiosity. Also, Marc Cherry created it, so it’s bound to have a few good twists. (Released August 15, 2019)

Streaming series from Desperate Housewives creator Marc Cherry is another darkly comedic drama that follows three different betrayed wives in three time periods: the 1960s, the ’80s, and the present day. Lucy Liu, Ginnifer Goodwin and Kirby Howell-Baptiste head a cast that also features Jack Davenport, Reid Scott, Sam Jaeger, and Alexandra Daddario.

STATUS: Officially renewed for Season 2! The Season 1 finale aired on October 17, 2019, after a total of 10 episodes.

CPU! STATUS: Not yet viewed.

Carnival Row (Amazon Prime): A world of steampunk/Victorian splendor, populated by faeries, and featuring a cast of film genre favorites like Orlando Bloom and Cara Delevigne, the show has already been compared to “Game of Thrones,” “His Dark Materials,” and a splash of “Dungeons and Dragons.” Plus, we love our fantasy. (Released August 30, 2019)

Eight-episode fantasy series comes from Rene Echevarria (Teen Wolf, The 4400) and Travis Beacham (Pacific Rim) and is set in a “neo-Victorian” city inhabited by both humans and mythological creatures, with the latter group having limited rights as immigrants. Orlando Bloom and Cara Delevingne head the cast. Jon Amiel replaces the original director, Paul McGuigan, who departed the project near the start of production.

STATUS: Officially renewed for Season 2! Amazon Prime released the 8 available episodes on August 30, 2019.

CPU! STATUS: The premiere was viewed. There is some interest in it going forward, but the interest is cautious/tepid, as the cinematography and casting were praised, but the story felt dense. Further viewing will determine further interest.

The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance (Netflix): We have had our eyes on this for awhile, with several of the original “Dark Crystal” film fans on the roster and news of an all-star voice cast. Plus, puppets only – no CGI! (Released August 30, 2019)

The 1982 Jim Henson/Frank Oz film The Dark Crystal serves as the inspiration for this new Netflix series from director Louis Leterrier and The Jim Henson Company. Resistance is a prequel set many years before the original story but once again uses only puppets (and no CGI) to tell a (darker than you might think) fantasy story set on the planet Thra, where races include the elfin Gelflings, the mean Skeksis, and the magical Mystics. The terrific voice cast is led by Taron Egerton, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Nathalie Emmanuel, and also includes Mark Hamill, Andy Samberg, Simon Pegg, Keegan-Michael Key, Helena Bonham Carter, Caitriona Balfe, Eddie Izzard, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Alicia Vikander, and more.

STATUS: The Season 1 finale aired on June 18, 2019, after a total of 6 episodes. There is no word as to whether the series will be extended by renewal.

CPU! STATUS: CPU! has had at least one request for podcast coverage.

The I-Land (Netflix): It’s basically Netflix’s answer to “Lost” but as a miniseries. We’d like to check for polar bears and smoke monsters. (Releases September 12, 2019)

The latest take on the Lost formula finds 10 people stranded on a tropical island with no memory of who they are or how they got there and facing a challenging path to get back home. The seven-episode series from Neil LaBute stars Kate Bosworth, Alex Pettyfer, and Natalie Martinez.

STATUS: Netflix released the seven available episodes on November 12, 2019. There is no word as to whether the series will be extended by renewal, but Netflix did market this one as a “limited series.”

CPU! STATUS: Not yet viewed, but critical consensus is decidedly poor. What do you think, Couch Potatoes?

Undone (Amazon Prime): It’s animated, science fiction, and by the creator of “BoJack Horseman.” And it just sounds neat! (Releases September 13, 2019)

The second adult animated series from BoJack Horseman creator Raphael Bob-Waksberg (co-created with Kate Purdy, a writer on BoJack) is darker and more experimental in nature. Featuring a much more realistic animation style, the series follows Alma (Rosa Salazar), a 28-year-old Texan who nearly dies in a car accident. When she recovers, she realizes that she can experience time in a new way, and she uses that ability to investigate the death of her father (Bob Odenkirk).

STATUS: Officially renewed for Season 2! Amazon Prime released the eight available episodes on September 13, 2019.

CPU! STATUS: Not yet viewed.

Criminal (Netflix): David Tennant! Hearts Hearts Hearts! Also, Netflix experimenting in cop dramas sounds rather interesting! (Releases September 20, 2019)

A bit of an experiment for Netflix, Criminal changes up the typical cop drama in several ways. For one thing: each episode takes place entirely during an interrogation between police investigators and a suspected criminal, and not all of those interrogations will take place in English. The 12-part series will be divided in four parts, with each taking place in a different country (UK, France, Spain, and Germany) and language, utilizing not only different casts but also different writers, directors, and producers. Nicholas Pinnock, David Tennant, and Hayley Atwell head the cast of the UK episodes, while American audiences may be more familiar with the behind-the-scenes talent of the other portions, including The Returned director Frederic Mermoud participating in the France segments, and Downfall director Oliver Hirschbiegel contributing to the German episodes.

STATUS: Netflix released the twelve episodes of this four-part anthology series on September 20, 2019. There is no word as to whether the series will be extended by renewal.

CPU! STATUS: Not yet viewed.

Creepshow (Shudder): We don’t know how we’ll watch it, but this horror anthology is getting a fair amount of buzz. (Releases September 26, 2019)

The streaming service’s high-profile newcomer is a horror anthology inspired by the 1982 George Romero film written by Stephen King (and its sequel). Giancarlo Esposito, Tobin Bell, Adrienne Barbeau, Tricia Helfer, Jeffrey Combs, Big Boi, Kid Cudi, Bruce Davison, Dana Gould, David Arquette, and DJ Qualls are among the familiar faces you’ll see. Each of the six episodes will feature two different stories; tonight’s premiere includes an adaptation of the Stephen King story “Gray Matter.”

STATUS: Officially renewed for Season 2! The Season 1 finale aired on October 31, 2019, after six two-part episodes.

CPU! STATUS: Not yet viewed.

The Politician (Netflix): Ryan Murphy’s newest outing, also anthology, also featuring an all-star cast, but now on Netflix. The synopsis intrigues, as his shows always seem to do.(Releases September 27, 2019)

Ryan Murphy’s first Netflix original series (which has already been renewed for a 2nd season) is an hour-long dark comedy anthology focusing on a different (fictitious) political race each season, though each one will involve a wealthy and ambitious Santa Barbara resident played by Ben Platt, beginning with his quest to become student body president of his high school. As with any Murphy show, there’s a huge, impressive cast: Gwyneth Paltrow, Jessica Lange, Dylan McDermott, Lucy Boynton, Zoey Deutch, Bette Midler, Judith Light, Bob Balaban, January Jones, and Laura Dreyfuss are just some of the faces you’ll see this year. The series was originally reported to include musical numbers, though that no longer appears to be the case.

STATUS: Officially renewed for Season 2! Netflix released the eight available episodes on September 27, 2019. Season 2 was released on June 19, 2020, with a total of seven episodes.

CPU! STATUS: CPU! has multiple requests for podcast coverage, with a growing sense of steam. It’s already in the production line.

Raising Dion (Netflix): The synopsis mentioned supernatural abilities. <shrug> (Releases October 4, 2019)

A single mother raises a young son who begins to demonstrate supernatural abilities in this 10-episode adaptation of Dennis Liu’s comic book. Alisha Wainwright, Ja’Siah Young, Michael B. Jordan, and Jason Ritter star.

STATUS: Officially renewed for Season 2! Netflix released the nine available episodes on October 4, 2019.

CPU! STATUS: Not yet viewed.

Living with Yourself (Netflix): It stars Paul Rudd. Everyone loves Paul Rudd! (Releases October 18, 2019)

Paul Rudd plays dual roles in this eight-episode comedy about a man who undergoes a cutting-edge treatment to become a better person—and winds up literally being replaced by a better version of himself. Former Daily Show writer Timothy Greenberg created the series and wrote all eight episodes, which are directed by the team of Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris (Little Miss Sunshine).

STATUS: Netflix released the eight available episodes on October 18, 2019. There is no word as to whether the series will be extended by renewal.

CPU! STATUS: Not yet viewed.

Modern Love (Amazon Prime): The cast impresses, and the details of this anthology series are vague. Color us intrigued. (Releases October 18, 2019)

Based on the New York Times column of the same name, Amazon’s new episodic anthology series comes from writer-director John Carney (Once). Each half-hour episode tells a self-contained story based on a past column, and will feature stars like Anne Hathaway, Tina Fey, John Slattery, Sofia Boutella, Catherine Keener, Gary Carr, Brandon Victor Dixon, Andrew Scott, Cristin Milioti, Shea Whigham, Andy Garcia, and Dev Patel, while directors (aside from Carney) include Sharon Horgan and Emmy Rossum.

STATUS: Officially renewed for Season 2! Amazon Prime released the eight available episodes of this series on October 18, 2019.

CPU! STATUS: Not yet viewed.

Watchmen (HBO): A new “Watchmen” story that we’ve had our eyes on for a long time, it is being created by a “Lost” creator and features a dynamite cast. (Releases October 20, 2019)

Previously adapted into a 2009 feature film, Alan Moore’s comic book series now comes to the small screen in a very loose adaptation (described as a “remix”) from Lost‘s Damon Lindelof that moves the story forward by decades. The series is set in an alternate-history, present-day United States in which superheroes have been outlawed, the internet doesn’t exist, Robert Redford is president (yes, Redford actually appears in the series), and the country is facing major racial unrest. Regina King, Don Johnson, Jeremy Irons, Frances Fisher, Tim Blake Nelson, Jean Smart, Tom Mison, and Louis Gosset Jr. star, while Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross provide the music.

STATUS: The Season 1 finale aired on December 15, 2019, after a total of 6 episodes. There is no word as to whether the series will be extended by renewal; however, creator Damon Lindelof left his role as show-runner after the first season, stating that he had completed his intended story. HBO subsequently confirmed that there are no further plans for the show to continue without Lindelof returning in some capacity and ultimately reclassified the work as a limited series with possible future installments.

CPU! STATUS: CPU! has received at least one request for podcast coverage.

Catherine the Great (HBO): Helen Mirren plays the titular Russian empress in this miniseries. It’s bound to be at least well-acted. (Releases October 21, 2019)

A four-part co-production with the UK’s Sky, this historical drama stars Helen Mirren as the titular Russian empress, who ruled for much of the 18th century. The series focuses on the later years of her reign, marked by her affair with Grigory Potemkin (Jason Clarke). The series comes from Nigel Williams, who previously wrote the Emmy-winning HBO miniseries Elizabeth I (also starring Mirren). Rory Kinnear, Joseph Quinn, Richard Roxburgh, and Gina McKee also star.

STATUS: The series finale aired on HBO on November 11, 2019, after a total of 4 episodes. This show has only ever been labeled a miniseries and is, therefore, not subject to renewal or cancellation.

CPU! STATUS: Not yet viewed.

His Dark Materials (HBO): We’ve had our eyes on this one awhile; this book series is a favorite of the Chief CP. (Premieres November 4, 2019)

Will HBO’s latest fantasy series fill the Iron Throne-shaped hole in your TV heart? A co-production with the BBC that has already been renewed for a second season, His Dark Materials marks the second major attempt to adapt Philip Pullman’s fantasy book trilogy known for its exploration of weighty themes (including, controversially, religion) and talking animal daemons, following a poorly received 2007 feature film, The Golden Compass. That same book (along with a bit of material from Pullman’s recently launched prequel trilogy The Book of Dust) serves as the underlying story for this ambitious eight-episode first season, which comes from Jack Thorne (The Fades, This Is England) and director Tom Hooper (The King’s Speech, Cats). Dafne Keen (Logan), Ruth Wilson, James McAvoy, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Clarke Peters head the cast.

STATUS: Officially renewed for Season 2! The Season 1 finale aired on December 22, 2019, with a total of 8 episodes.

CPU! STATUS: The Chief CP watched the first two episodes and really hopes people want to talk about it. It’s very cool and a faithful adaptation. I will be watching it regardless!

Forky Asks a Question (Disney+): Did you even watch “Toy Story 4?” It’s a spork that sounds like Buster from “Arrested Development.” He has very existential questions to ask! (Releases November 12, 2019)

Pixar’s first series for the Disney+ streaming service features Forky, the Tony Hale-voiced character (who is technically a spork) introduced in Toy Story 4.

STATUS: The Season 1 finale aired on January 10, 2020, after a total of ten episodes. There is no word as to whether the series will be extended by renewal.

CPU! STATUS: At three to five minutes per episode, it was easy to sample three or four of the episode of this series of Pixar shorts, which is a fun foray into getting to know the newest Toy Story favorite, the Tony Hale-voiced Forky, who is really a spork, but who’s counting? It doesn’t appear that Disney+ or Pixar plans to release more episodes, but they also have not labeled these ten as the only ten to be produced, so we will keep an eye out for a while longer.

The Mandalorian (Disney+): The “Star Wars” universe comes to TV. We’re not sure, but curiosity will probably kill this cat. (Releases November 12, 2019)

The first-ever live-action series set in the Star Wars universe comes from Jon Favreau, though he won’t direct any of the first season’s eight episodes. (Instead, directors include Taika Waititi, Dave Filoni, Rick Famuyiwa, Deborah Chow, and Bryce Dallas Howard.) Narcos star Pedro Pascal plays the titular character, a lone gunfighter in the outer reaches of the galaxy sometime during the gap between the sixth and seventh Star Wars films. Joining him in the cast are Nick Nolte, Gina Carano, Giancarlo Esposito, Carl Weathers, and filmmaker Werner Herzog (who plays a villain, naturally). Expect a more character-driven, smaller-scope approach rather than constant action and expensive special effects—and prior knowledge of Star Wars is not a prerequisite to following the story. New episodes stream weekly.

STATUS: Officially renewed for Season 2! Eight total episodes were produced for Season 1, all of which have officially been released as of December 27, 2019.

CPU! STATUS: Many in the CPU! inner circle have officially started requesting the series for podcast coverage, even though the reviews coming from all around are rather mixed, Baby Yoda aside.

The Witcher (Netflix): We’ve had our eye on this one awhile – and on Henry Cavill! (Releases December 20, 2019)

Henry Cavill stars as monster hunter Geralt of Rivia in this series adaptation of Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski’s epic fantasy novels, previously adapted into a widely praised videogame series. Expect some new characters who have never appeared in print or in the games as well as a bathtub scene which most certainly does appear in the most recent game. All eight episodes stream today, and the show has already been renewed for a 2nd season.

STATUS: Officially renewed for Season 2! Eight total episodes were produced for Season 1, all of which were released on December 20, 2019.

CPU! STATUS: This Chief CP watched the premiere; it was a bit confusing, but the show allegedly improves beyond the first episode. We also have an already full panel waiting in the production line, so keep a weathered eye to CPU! for all forthcoming Witcher details.

Messiah (Netflix): Who doesn’t like a good procedural mixed with religious overtones? It’s like Agnes of God after she had the baby. (Releases January 1, 2020)

In this Mark Burnett-produced thriller, Michelle Monaghan stars as a CIA agent who investigates a charismatic cult leader (Mehdi Dehbi) claiming to be the son of God. James McTeigue directs.

STATUS: Officially canceled! Netflix released the ten available episodes on January 1, 2020.

CPU! STATUS: Not yet viewed, but we’ll probably still check it out at some point. Streaming availability makes mercy watching more of a thing.

Dracula (Netflix): 1) Vampires. 2) The most famous vampire. 3) The creative team behind “Sherlock.” Aren’t you convinced? (Releases January 4, 2020)

The creative team behind Sherlock (Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat) offers a new take on another literary figure: Bram Stoker’s Dracula. A co-production with the BBC (which gets the series a few days earlier), the new series is set in Victorian London (and Transylvania) and will span just three episodes for its first season, though each is feature-length. Claes Bang (The Square, Borgen) stars as Count Dracula, and he’s joined in the cast by Dolly Wells, Joanna Scanlan, Morfydd Clark, and Gatiss (who co-wrote each of the three episodes with Moffat).

STATUS: The Season 1 finale aired on January 3, 2020, after a total of three episodes. There is no word as to whether the series will be extended by renewal.

CPU! STATUS: CPU! has, predictably, received one request for podcast coverage – with vampires, the most famous vampires, and the Sherlock creative team, who can blame them?

Party of Five (Freeform): Reboot morbid curiosity. (Premieres January 8, 2020)

Reboot of the 1990s series of the same name (which ran for six seasons on Fox) offers a timely take on the story of five children who must support each other after they lose their parents—in this case, because their parents are deported to Mexico. The first half of tonight’s two-episode debut will also be available to stream one week early (on Jan. 1) via Freeform’s app and website and Hulu.

STATUS: Officially canceled! The series finale aired on March 4, 2020, after a total of ten episodes.

CPU! STATUS: Not yet viewed, but we’ll probably still check it out at some point – if and only if someone requests coverage of the original Party of Five.

Sanditon (PBS): It’s a miniseries adaptation of Jane Austen’s unfinished novel. Who doesn’t like Jane Austen? (Releases January 12, 2020)

Jane Austen’s unfinished final novel set in an early 19th century seaside village comes to the small screen in an adaptation from Andrew Davies (Les Misérables, Mr. Selfridge). Rose Williams, Theo James, Anne Reid, Kris Marshall, and Crystal Clarke star. The series already aired last fall in the UK, where it seemed to divide critics. Two episodes air back-to-back tonight.

STATUS: Officially canceled! Original network, the United Kingdom’s iTV, canceled this adaptation after one season. The series finale aired on February 12, 2020, on PBS in the United States after a total of eight episodes.

CPU! STATUS: Not yet viewed, but we’ll probably still check it out at some point. We did see some social media water cooler opinions praising the show while expressing disappointment about the cancellation. The show was based upon an unfinished novel, so longevity really should never have been expected. We have a feeling that this might be a good, one season, encapsulated story, but you can tell us if we are wrong, gentle listener.

The Outsider (HBO): Stephen King adaptations are hot right now. (Releases January 12, 2020)

HBO’s 10-episode adaptation of Stephen King’s 2018 horror novel stars Ben Mendelsohn as a detective investigating the brutal murder of an 11-year-old boy found in the Georgia woods. Jason Bateman, Cynthia Erivo, Bill Camp, Mare Winningham, Paddy Considine, and Julianne Nicholson also star. Two episodes air back-to-back tonight.

STATUS: Billed as a miniseries, this new take on a Stephen King classic is unlikely to be renewed. The finale aired on March 8, 2020, after a total of ten episodes.

CPU! STATUS: CPU! has received one or two requests for podcast coverage. We have a few Stephen King fans around here.

The New Pope (HBO): Lots of early buzz about this miniseries starring Jude Law and John Malkovich. (Releases January 14, 2020)

Director Paolo Sorrentino’s nine-episode sequel to his 2017 miniseries The Young Pope returns star Jude Law and finds John Malkovich’s Sir John Brannox taking over the papal throne. Sharon Stone and Marilyn Manson guest, because why not.

STATUS: Billed as a miniseries, it’s hard to quantify whether any subsequent series would be considered a renewal or a cancellation, since this miniseries itself is a sequel to The Young Pope. In any event, the finale aired on February 7, 2020, after a total of seven episodes.

CPU! STATUS: We will probably have to watch everything related to popes starring Jude Law and John Malkovich now.

Avenue 5 (HBO): Captain Dr. House just sounds neat. (Releases January 19, 2020)

Veep creator Armando Iannucci returns to HBO for his next foul-mouthed comedy series, a sci-fi satire set four decades in the future aboard a luxury tourist vessel in space. Captaining that ship is Hugh Laurie, and he’s joined in the cast by Josh Gad, Zach Woods, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Kyle Bornheimer, and Star Trek: Voyager‘s Ethan Phillips.

STATUS: Officially renewed for Season 2! The Season 1 finale aired on March 15, 2020, with a total of 9 episodes.

CPU! STATUS: Not yet viewed.

Star Trek: Picard (CBS All Access): This series is already earmarked for the “Star Trek 50+ Series” podcast panel. (Premieres January 23, 2020)

Patrick Stewart returns as Starfleet’s all-time greatest captain (hey, we’re just stating facts) in a new series that picks up over two decades after the events of Star Trek: The Next Generation and its various film spinoffs. Filling out the main cast are Michelle Hurd, Santiago Cabrera, Alison Pill, Isa Briones, and Harry Treadaway, but you’ll also see some familiar faces from TNG (and Voyager), including Brent Spiner, Jonathan Frakes (who also directs several episodes), Marina Sirtis, and Jeri Ryan. Novelist Michael Chabon is among the writers and serves as showrunner for the 10-episode season, which is not a miniseries as originally believed, and has in fact already been renewed for a second season.

STATUS: Officially renewed for Season 2! The Season 1 finale aired on March 26, 2020, with a total of 10 episodes.

CPU! STATUS: This series will be covered as part of our “Star Trek 50+ Series…” Eventually. There are tons of Star Trek seasons to cover, but our panel is eager for the challenge, and most of them have already watched this series because, well, Captain Picard. And it’s very worth it!

Locke & Key (Netflix): “Keys with supernatural powers” was the draw. We’ve never read the book but are willing to give the story a chance, given Mr. Cuse’s involvement. (Premieres February 7, 2020)

After numerous failed attempts (by Hulu and Fox, among others) to bring Joe Hill’s graphic novel series to the small screen over the past decade, Locke & Key finally found a home at Netflix. This 10-episode first season retains the writer/producer of the previous failed pilot (Lost vet Carlton Cuse, joined by Meredith Averill) but features a new cast led by Jackson Robert Scott, Connor Jessup, Emilia Jones, Darby Stanchfield, and Bill Heck. The story features a mother of three children, a murdered husband, and a set of keys that provide supernatural powers—and bring with them great danger.

STATUS: Officially renewed for Season 2! Netflix released the ten available episodes on February 7, 2020.

CPU! STATUS: CPU! has received at least one request for podcast coverage, so this pick up is permanent.

High Fidelity (Hulu): Can it be as good as the original film? Morbid curiosity drives us to find out. (Premieres February 14, 2020)

Originally ordered for Disney+ but moved to the older-skewing Hulu, this series adaptation of the Nick Hornby novel (previously adapted into a 2000 feature film by Stephen Frears) stars Zoe Kravitz as a gender-reversed version of the book’s main character, an obsessive record store owner who revisits five of her exes on a quest for self-improvement. Jake Lacy, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, and David H. Holmes also star. All 10 episodes stream today.

STATUS: Hulu released the ten available episodes on February 14, 2020. There is no word as to whether the series will be extended by renewal.

CPU! STATUS: Not yet viewed.

War of the Worlds (Epix): It’s a classic. (Premieres February 16, 2020)

This eight-part adaptation of H.G. Wells’s classic tale of alien invasion transports the story to present-day Europe (and features aliens from another galaxy rather than Mars). Gabriel Byrne, Elizabeth McGovern, Léa Drucker, and Natasha Little head the cast. [Note that although this version aired in Europe in 2019, it is different from (and unrelated to) the BBC version that also aired in 2019.]

STATUS: The Season 1 finale aired on April 5, 2020, in the United States after a total of 8 episodes. There is no word as to whether the series will be extended by renewal, though there has reportedly been work begun on a second season.

CPU! STATUS: Not yet viewed.

Dispatches from Elsewhere (AMC): The premise intrigues, and they got Sally Field. Seems like a win-win. (Premieres March 1, 2020)

Jason Segel returns to television for the first time since How I Met Your Mother with this mysterious anthology series which he also created and produces. The 10 hourlong episodes find four ordinary people challenged to uncover a mystery hiding within their city (Philadelphia)—a concept based loosely on the real-life, San Francisco-based alternate reality game called Games of Nonchalance. Sally Field, Andre 3000, Richard E. Grant, and Eve Lindley also star. Another new episode airs Monday night at 10p, the show’s regular timeslot going forward.

STATUS: The Season 1 finale aired on April 27, 2020, after a total of 10 episodes. There is no word as to whether the series will be extended by renewal.

CPU! STATUS: Not yet viewed.

The Plot Against America (HBO): It’s a timely alternate history series. (Premieres March 16, 2020)

David Simon’s latest HBO project is a six-part adaptation of Philip Roth’s 2004 novel that imagines an alternate American history in which Charles Lindbergh is elected president in 1940, leading America on a path toward facism. Winona Ryder, John Turturro, Morgan Spector, and Zoe Kazan head the cast.

STATUS: Billed as a miniseries, this tale of alternate history is unlikely to be renewed. The finale aired on April 20, 2020, after a total of six episodes.

CPU! STATUS: Not yet viewed, but it will be viewed.

Motherland: Fort Salem (Freeform): Another timely alternate history series. (Premieres March 18, 2020)

Freeform’s supernatural drama series presents an alternate-history version of present day America in which witches really did exist in colonial times—and went on to become the new nation’s most fearsome soldiers. Now, they harness their powers to fight terrorist threats.

STATUS: Officially renewed for Season 2! The Season 1 finale aired on May 20, 2020, with a total of 10 episodes.

CPU! STATUS: CPU! has already received requests for podcast coverage. We do like our supernatural alternate history dramas around here.

Little Fires Everywhere (Hulu): The star power intrigues and bolsters a socially relevant drama. (Premieres March 18, 2020)

Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington produce and star in an eight-episode adaptation of Celeste Ng’s 2017 best-seller that also features Joshua Jackson and Rosemarie DeWitt. Lynn Shelton is among the directors.

STATUS: Billed as a miniseries, this drama is unlikely to be renewed. The finale aired on April 22, 2020, after a total of eight episodes.

CPU! STATUS: Not yet viewed, but it will be viewed.

The English Game (Netflix): The creator of Downton Abbey! That’s sure to please! (Premieres March 20, 2020)

This six-episode drama from Downton Abbey‘s Julian Fellowes traces the rise of the sport of “football” (aka soccer) in England and beyond.

STATUS: Billed as a miniseries, this drama is unlikely to be renewed. All six episodes were released on March 6, 2020.

CPU! STATUS: CPU!’ers want to talk about it. Who are we to say no?

Tales from the Loop (Amazon Prime): High concept science fiction is a staple of the core Couch Potatoes. (Premieres April 3, 2020)

Amazon’s new sci-fi series is inspired by the futuristic artwork of Swedish painter Simon Stålenhag. Writer Nathaniel Halpern (Legion) created the series, which counts Matt Reeves (War for the Planet of the Apes) among its producers and Mark Romanek (Never Let Me Go) among the directors for this eight-episode first season, which focuses on the inhabitants of the rural Swedish town housing “The Loop,” a machine designed to unlock the mysteries of the universe and make the impossible possible. Rebecca Hall, Paul Schneider, and Jonathan Pryce star.

STATUS: Prime released the eight available episodes on April 3, 2020. There is no word as to whether the series will be extended by renewal.

CPU! STATUS: Not yet viewed.

World on Fire (PBS): Million dollar star power behind a World War II epic; BBC produced. (Premieres April 5, 2020)

Seven-part Masterpiece drama is set across five countries (England, France, Germany, Poland, and the United States) during WWII. Helen Hunt, Sean Bean, Lesley Manville, Blake Harrison, and Jonah Hauer-King head the cast.

STATUS: Officially renewed for Season 2! The Season 1 finale aired on May 17, 2020, with a total of 7 episodes.

CPU! STATUS: Not yet viewed.

Deadwater Fell (Acorn TV): David Tennant! David Tennant! David Tennant! (Premieres April 6, 2020)

David Tennant and Cush Jumbo head the cast of this four-part Scottish crime drama from Grantchester‘s Daisy Coulam.

STATUS: Billed as a miniseries, this drama is unlikely to be renewed. The series finale aired on January 31, 2020, after four episodes.

CPU! STATUS: Not yet viewed.

Run (HBO): Fleabag pedigree and a nicely cut trailer. (Premieres April 12, 2020)

Produced by Fleabag‘s Phoebe Waller-Bridge and created by Vicky Jones (who worked with Waller-Bridge on both that show and Killing Eve), this rom-com-thriller stars Merritt Wever (Unbelievable, Nurse Jackie) as a woman living a boring suburban life who receives an out-of-the-blue text from her one-time college sweetheart (Domhnall Gleeson) that promises to shake up her life for the better.

STATUS: The Season 1 finale aired on May 24, 2020, after a total of 7 episodes. There is no word as to whether the series will be extended by renewal.

CPU! STATUS: Not yet viewed.

Belgravia (Netflix): The creator of Downton Abbey! That’s sure to please! (Premieres April 12, 2020)

Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes returns to TV with a six-part adaptation of his own novel set in 19th century London that is co-produced by ITV. Tamsin Greig, Philip Glenister, Harriet Walter, Tom Wilkinson, and Alice Eve star.

STATUS: Billed as a limited series, this drama is unlikely to be renewed. The series finale aired on April 19, 2020, after a total of 6 episodes.

CPU! STATUS: Not yet viewed.

Mrs. America (Hulu): Cate Blanchett does TV! Not to mention the sheer pedigree of this all-star cast. (Premieres April 15, 2020)

Like last month’s Devs, it’s another FX series that isn’t on FX; instead, it’s a Hulu exclusive. Cate Blanchett makes her American TV debut in this nine-part limited series about the 1970s campaign to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment in which she plays Phyllis Schlafly, the conservative activist (or gadfly, as she was oft-described in the press) who opposed the movement. Sarah Paulson, Elizabeth Banks, Uzo Aduba, Rose Byrne, Margo Martindale, James Marsden, Ari Graynor, John Slattery, Melanie Lynskey, Tracey Ullman, Niecy Nash, and Jeanne Tripplehorn are just some of the other stars in what could be 2020’s best TV cast. The first three episodes stream today, but the remaining six will arrive one per week.

STATUS: Billed as a miniseries, this drama is unlikely to be renewed. The series finale aired on May 6, 2020, after a total of 6 episodes.

CPU! STATUS: Not yet viewed.

The Midnight Gospel (Netflix): A dark animated series with a fantasy bend and “Adventure Time” panache. (Premieres April 20, 2020)

New eight-episode adult animated series comes from comedian Duncan Trussell and Adventure Time‘s Pendleton Ward. Very loosely adapted from Trussell’s podcast, the series follows a podcaster who sets out to interview beings living in dying worlds.

STATUS: Netflix released the eight available episodes on April 20, 2020. There is no word as to whether the series will be extended by renewal.

CPU! STATUS: Not yet viewed.

Defending Jacob (Apple TV+): The trailers motivated this pick up. Props to Apple’s marketing department. Plus: Captain America! (Premieres April 24, 2020)

Morten Tyldum (The Imitation Game) directs a limited series adaptation of the William Landay novel about a father (and prosecutor) whose teenage son is accused of murder. Chris Evans, Michelle Dockery (Downton Abbey), and Jaeden Martell (It) star. The first three episodes stream today, while the remaining five will arrive weekly.

STATUS: Billed as a miniseries, this drama is unlikely to be renewed. The series finale aired on May 29, 2020, after a total of 8 episodes.

CPU! STATUS: Not yet viewed.

Penny Dreadful: City of Angels (Showtime): We have a potential Penny Dreadful panel waiting in the wings, and I am sure their whistles will be whet for this sequel/spin-off. (Premieres April 26, 2020)

Natalie Dormer (Game of Thrones) and Daniel Zovatto (Fear the Walking Dead) head the cast of this Penny Dreadful follow-up series set in late-1930s Los Angeles. Kerry Bishé, Nathan Lane, Jessica Garza, Piper Perabo, Adam Rodriguez, Brent Spiner, and Adriana Barraza also star, while the original show’s Rory Kinnear will appear in a different role.

STATUS: The series finale aired on June 28, 2020, after ten episodes. There is no word as to whether the series will be extended by renewal.

CPU! STATUS: Not yet viewed.

Never Have I Ever (Netflix): Mindy Kaling’s earned her spurs. (Premieres April 27, 2020)

Mindy Kaling’s latest series is a coming-of-age tale loosely based on her own life as an Indian-American teenager, though set in the present day (well, the present day of a few months ago). Kaling writes and produces (along with her Mindy Project collaborator Lang Fisher), while newcomer Maitreyi Ramakrishnan stars after winning the role during an open casting call.

STATUS: Netflix released the ten available episodes on April 27, 2020. There is no word as to whether the series will be extended by renewal.

CPU! STATUS: CPU! has received at least one request for podcast coverage.

Upload (Amazon Prime): CPU! already has a nearly full panel waiting in the wings to talk this “Good Place” like comedy-drama. (Premieres May 1, 2020)

The latest comedy from Greg Daniels (The Office, King of the Hill, People of Earth) is a satire set in a near future in which people nearing death can have their minds “uploaded” into a virtual afterlife of their choosing. Robbie Amell and Andy Allo star. Daniels wrote and directed the pilot and serves and showrunner for the 10-episode series.

STATUS: Officially renewed for Season 2! Netflix released the ten available episodes on May 1, 2020.

CPU! STATUS: Our resident potatoes buzzed pretty quickly about this science fiction comedy featuring superhero carryover Robbie Amell. It seems they were not the only ones, since Prime renewed it so quickly. Look to CPU! for upcoming programming about “Upload.”

Hollywood (Netflix): Ryan Murphy puts his stamp on it, and people talk about it – for better or for worse. (Premieres May 1, 2020)

Ryan Murphy’s second Netflix series to air (following The Politician) but the first ordered by the streaming service after signing Murphy to a long-term deal, Hollywood is a seven-episode limited series set in late-1940s Hollywood, where various filmmakers attempt to strike it big in a movie industry that is biased against certain genders, races, and sexualities. Darren Criss, David Corenswet, Jeremy Pope, Patti LuPone, Dylan McDermott, Holland Taylor, and Maude Apatow star. They’ll play a mix of fictional and real-life figures.

STATUS: Billed as a miniseries, this drama is unlikely to be renewed. Netflix released the seven available episodes on May 1, 2020.

CPU! STATUS: Not yet viewed.

Solar Opposities (Hulu): By the creator of “Rick and Morty.” And it’s about aliens. (Premieres May 8, 2020)

The latest animated sci-fi comedy from Rick & Morty creator Justin Roiland (along with Mike McMahan, also a writer on Rick & Morty) centers on a family of aliens who find themselves forced to live in America. The voice cast is led by Roiland, Thomas Middleditch, Sean Giambrone, and Mary Mack. All eight episodes will be available to stream today, and the series has already been renewed for a second season.

STATUS: Officially renewed for Seasons 2 AND 3. Hulu released the eight available episodes of Season 1 on May 8, 2020.

CPU! STATUS: Not yet viewed.

The Eddy (Netflix): It’s a musical, and one of our panelists is named “Eddy.” I just assume. (Premieres May 8, 2020)

The first TV series from director Damien Chazelle (La La Land, Whiplash) is yet another music-focused project. Written by Jack Thorne (National Treasure), with original songs from Glen Ballard and Randy Kerber, the gritty, multi-lingual, Paris-set series stars Andre Holland as a pianist and part-owner of a failing jazz club whose estranged teenage daughter (Amandla Stenberg) suddenly re-enters his life.

STATUS: Netflix released the eight available episodes on May 8, 2020. There is no word as to whether the series will be extended by renewal.

CPU! STATUS: Not yet viewed.

I Know This Much Is True (HBO): Trailers for this Mark Ruffalo vehicle were pretty compelling. (Premieres May 10, 2020)

Rescheduled from April. Written and directed by Derek Cianfrance (The Place Beyond the Pines), this six-episode adaptation of Wally Lamb’s 1998 best-seller stars Mark Ruffalo in dual roles as very different identical twins. (Ruffalo gained 30 pounds to play one of the twins, whose weight is affected by medications he takes to treat his schizophrenia.) Rosie O’Donnell, Melissa Leo, Juliette Lewis, Kathryn Hahn, Imogen Poots, Rob Huebel, and Archie Panjabi also star.

STATUS: Billed as a miniseries, this drama is unlikely to be renewed. The series finale aired on June 14, 2020, after six episodes.

CPU! STATUS: Not yet viewed.

Snowpiercer (TNT): Trailers again – plus, it’s science fiction. It’s what we like! (Premieres May 17, 2020)

Recently moved forward from May 31. First, it was graphic novel. Then, a well-reviewed 2013 film from future Parasite director Bong Joon-ho. Then it was set to become a TNT series. Then it was a TBS series. Then it was a TNT series again. Along the way, the original showrunner (Josh Friedman) and director (Scott Derrickson) left the show due to creative differences after filming a pilot (itself the result of a two-year development process). From the wreckage several years later comes a very different adaptation from Orphan Black creator Graeme Manson. Like the film, the series is set in a frigid, post-apocalyptic future aboard a perpetually moving train (containing 1,001 cars that house Earth’s remaining human population) where class differences play out in various ways. Daveed Diggs and Jennifer Connelly head the cast, and the show has already been renewed for a second season, which will add Sean Bean in a major role.

STATUS: Season 1 premiered on May 17, 2020, and seven of ten ordered episodes have aired as of the publication of this post. There is no word yet as to whether the series has been extended by renewal; it was originally supposed to air on TBS, which renewed it for a second season, but it is unclear whether that renewal deal extended to TNT when the latter network decided to retain the right to air it (it’s a long story, best reserved for a Wikipedia read).

CPU! STATUS: Not yet viewed.

Space Force (Netflix): Look, we try not to be political…hey, it’s Steve Carell! (Premieres May 29, 2020)

The Office vets Steve Carell, Greg Daniels, and Howard Klein reunite for another workplace comedy—and, yes, that workplace is indeed the newest branch of the American armed services, just as they are getting off the ground (so to speak). Carell stars opposite John Malkovich, Lisa Kudrow, Ben Schwartz, Noah Emmerich, Jessica St. Clair, Tawny Newsome, Fred Willard, Diana Silvers, and Jimmy O. Yang.

STATUS: Netflix released the ten available episodes on May 29, 2020. There is no word as to whether the series will be extended by renewal.

CPU! STATUS: Not yet viewed.

—

Others on radar: The Lord of the Rings series in development at Amazon; The Chronicles of Narnia at Netflix; The Wheel of Time at Amazon; The Watch (BBC); Conan at Amazon; The Dark Tower at Amazon; Cursed at Amazon; the Loki and Scarlet Witch properties in development at Disney+.

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Remember, new episodes and blog posts are published weekly!  Tomorrow, we launch our The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Catching-Up Miniseries, which will fill our Wednesday slots for the next three weeks. Later this summer, we will publish the final of the CPU! Annual Summer Progress Reports, reviewing new shows coming out this TV year (and they have already started, since our TV measurement year starts in June). Stay tuned!