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ABC Announces New Fall Series

ABC Studios announces another banner development year with nine new shows ordered to series, including Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

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ABC Studios announced another banner development year with nine new shows ordered to series. New dramas Betrayal, Killer Women, Lucky 7, Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Once Upon a Time in Wonderland, Resurrection, along with new comedies Trophy Wife and Mixology, were picked up at ABC. New drama Intelligence was ordered at CBS. ABC Studios had the most drama orders of any studio.

Returning ABC Studios shows Castle, Grey’s Anatomy, Nashville, The Neighbors, Once Upon a Time, Revenge and Scandal on ABC join Criminal Minds on CBS, Army Wives on Lifetime, Perception on TNT and Cougar Town on TBS.

ABC Studios drama Devious Maids premieres on Lifetime Sunday, June 23 at 10:00 p.m., and Mistresses premieres on ABC on Monday, June 3 at 10:00 p.m. The Occult, a one-hour drama for A&E, is currently going into production.

NEW FALL AND MIDSEASON SERIES:

DRAMA

BETRAYAL (Sundays from 10:00-11:00 p.m. on ABC)

A chance meeting between photographer Sara Hadley (Hannah Ware) and Attorney Jack McAllister (Stuart Townsend) leads to an instant and undeniable attraction. Sarah’s husband, Drew (Chris Johnson), is a successful prosecutor with political aspirations, while Jack is married to Elaine (Wendy Moniz), the daughter of his boss, Thacher Karsten (James Cromwell). When Karsten’s brother-in-law Lou is murdered, all evidence points to Karsten’s son, T.J. (Henry Thomas). Jack, the company’s lead counsel, will have to defend him, but for Sara’s prosecutor husband, Drew, this is the kind of high-profile murder case that can secure his political future. Just as Sara and Jack’s affair is starting, the lovers find themselves in an impossible situation -- on opposite sides of a murder investigation.

Betrayal stars Hannah Ware (Shame, Boss) as Sara, Stuart Townsend (The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen) as Jack, James Cromwell (Babe, American Horror Story) as Thacher Karsten, Henry Thomas (E.T., Gangs of New York) as T.J. Karsten, Chris Johnson (The Vampire Diaries) as Drew, Wendy Moniz (Guiding Light, The Guardian) as Elaine, Elizabeth McLaughlin (The Clique) as Val and Braeden Lamasters (Men of a Certain Age) as Vic.

Betrayal was written by David Zabel (ER) and directed by Patty Jenkins (The Killing, Monster) and is executive-produced by David Zabel, Rob Golenberg (Red Widow) and Alon Aranya. Betrayal is produced by ABC Studios.

DEVIOUS MAIDS (Premieres June 23 from 10:00-11:00 p.m. on Lifetime)

Devious Maids centers on a close-knit group of maids who are bonded together by their jobs, life struggles and the melodramatic Upstairs-Downstairs universe that engulfs their employers. Rosie (Dania Ramirez), a widow who left her son back in Mexico when her husband died, works as the maid and nanny for a pair of self-absorbed and successful actors, Peri and Spence Westmore (Mariana Klaveno, Grant Show). Aspiring singer Carmen (Roselyn Sanchez) hopes that her pop star employer, Alejandro (Matt Cedeno), can help jump-start her career, but Odessa (Melinda Paige Hamilton), his very loyal housekeeper and her boss, will stop at nothing to get in her way. Zoila (Judy Reyes) is the senior maid for Genevieve Delatour (Susan Lucci), a co-dependent, emotionally unstable wealthy woman. Zoila works alongside her teen daughter, Valentina (Edy Ganem), who has a crush on Genevieve’s handsome son, Remi (Drew Van Acker).

Devious Maids stars Ana Ortiz (Ugly Betty) as Marisol, Dania Ramirez (Entourage) as Rosie, Roselyn Sanchez (Without a Trace) as Carmen, Edy Ganem (Livin’ Loud) as Valentina, Judy Reyes (Scrubs) as Zoila, Susan Lucci (All My Children) as Genevieve Delatour, Mariana Klaveno (True Blood) as Peri, Grant Show (Swing Town) as Spence, Matt Cedeno (Days of Our Lives) as Alejandro, Melinda Paige Hamilton (Mad Men) as Odessa, Drew Van Acker (Pretty Little Liars) as Remi, Rebecca Wisocky (American Horror Story) as Evelyn, Tom Irwin (Grey’s Anatomy) as Adrian, Brianna Brown (Homeland) as Taylor and Brett Cullen (Damages) as Michael Stappord.

Inspired by the hit telenovela Ellas Son la Alegría del Hogar, Devious Maids is produced by ABC Studios. The series was created by Marc Cherry (Desperate Housewives) and is executive-produced by Cherry, Sabrina Wind (Desperate Housewives), Eva Longoria (Desperate Housewives), Paul McGuigan (Scandal), Larry Shuman (Kissing Miranda), David Lonner, John Mass and Televisa USA’s Paul Presburger and Michael Garcia. Paul McGuigan directed the pilot.

INTELLIGENCE (Mondays from 10:00-11:00 p.m., midseason on CBS)

Intelligence is a dramatic thriller starring Josh Holloway as Gabriel, a high-tech intelligence operative enhanced with a super-computer microchip in his brain. With this implant, Gabriel is the first human ever to be connected directly into the worldwide information grid and have complete access to Internet, WiFi, telephone and satellite data. He can hack into any data center and access key intel in the fight to protect the United States from its enemies. Leading the elite government cyber-security agency created to support him is Director Lillian Strand (Marg Helgenberger), a straightforward and efficient boss who oversees the unit’s missions. Strand assigns Riley Neal (Meghan Ory), a Secret Service agent, to protect Gabriel from outside threats, as well as from his own appetite for reckless, unpredictable behavior and his disregard for protocol. Other skilled members of the Cybercom team include Chris Jameson (Michael Rady) and Gonzalo Gonzo Rodriguez (James Martinez), two resourceful federal investigators. The brains behind the design of the chip is Dr. Shenendoah Cassidy (John Billingsley), whose son, Nelson (PJ Byrne), is jealous of Gabriel’s prominent place in his father’s life. As the first supercomputer with a beating heart, Gabriel is the most valuable piece of technology the country has ever created and is a U.S. secret weapon.

Intelligence stars Josh Holloway (Lost) as Gabriel, Marg Helgenberger (CSI: Crime Scene Investigation) as Lillian Strand, Meghan Ory (Once Upon a Time) as Riley Neal, Michael Rady (The Mentalist) as Chris Jameson, James Martinez (Gravity) as Gonzalo Rodriguez, John Billingsley (True Blood) as Dr. Cassidy and P.J. Byrne (Wolf of Wall Street) as Nelson Cassidy.

Michael Seitzman, René Echevarria, Tripp Vinson and David Semel (for pilot) are executive producers for ABC Television Studios in association with CBS Television Studios.

KILLER WOMEN (ABC midseason)

Of all the notorious lawmen who have ever patrolled the violent Texas frontier, none are more storied than the Texas Rangers. But being the only female ranger in this elite squad isn’t going to stop ballsy, badass Molly Parker (Tricia Helfer). Molly is committed to finding the truth and seeing justice served. While she’s surrounded by law enforcement colleagues who want to see her fail, including Police Lieutenant Guillermo Salazar (Vic Trevino), the Rangers have her back, led by Company Commander Luis Zea (Alex Fernandez). Molly has also got her brother, Billy (Michael Trucco), and his wife Becca (Marta Milans). On the verge of getting divorced from her smarmy husband, Jake (Jeffrey Nordling), Molly begins an affair with sexy DEA Agent Dan Winston (Marc Blucas).

Killer Women stars Tricia Helfer (Battlestar Galactica) as Molly Parker, Marc Blucas (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) as Dan, Marta Milans (Shame) as Becca, Alex Fernandez (Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen) as Luis and Michael Trucco (Battlestar Galactica) as Billy.

Killer Women was written by Hannah Shakespeare and is executive-produced by Sofía Vergara (Modern Family), Martin Campbell, Ben Silverman, Luis Balaguer, Electus, Latin World Entertainment. The pilot was directed by Larry Trilling. Killer Women is produced by ABC Studios.

LUCKY 7 (Tuesdays from 10:00-11:00 p.m. on ABC)

In Astoria, Queens, a group of seven gas station employees have been chipping into a lottery pool for months, never thinking they’d actually win. Money could solve problems for each of them: Matt (Matt Long) could get his girlfriend and two kids out of his mother’s house; Matt’s brother, Nicky (Stephen Louis Grush), an ex-con, could pay off a dangerous debt; Samira (Summer Bishil), a second-generation Pakistani immigrant, could afford to go to Juilliard; Denise (Lorraine Bruce), a plucky cashier, could focus on rebuilding her crumbling marriage; Leanne (Anastasia Phillips), a young mother, could help her daughter realize her dreams; Bob (Isiah Whitlock, Jr.), the store’s manager, could finally retire; and Antonio (Luis Antonio Ramos) could give his wife and kids a whole new life.

Lucky 7 stars Isiah Whitlock, Jr. (The Wire) as Bob Harris, Matt Long (Private Practice) as Matt Korzak, Stephen Louis Grush (Detroit 1-8-7) as Nicky Korzak, Lorraine Bruce (Eden Lake) as Denise, Anastasia Phillips (Stoked) as Leanne, Summer Bishil (Towelhead) as Samira Rajpur, Luis Antonio Ramos (The Ruins) as Antonio Clemente and Christine Evangelista (The Joneses) as Mary.

Written by David Zabel (ER) and Jason Richman (Detroit 1-8-7), Lucky 7 is executive-produced by Steven Spielberg, Darryl Frank, Justin Falvey, David Zabel and Jason Richman. The pilot was directed by Paul McGuigan. Lucky 7 is produced by ABC Studios and Amblin Television.

MARVEL’S AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. (Tuesdays from 8:00-9:00 p.m. on ABC)

Clark Gregg reprises his role of Agent Phil Coulson from Marvel’s feature films, as he assembles a small, highly select group of Agents from the worldwide law-enforcement organization known as S.H.I.E.L.D. Together they investigate the new, the strange and the unknown around the globe, protecting the ordinary from the extraordinary. Coulson’s team consists of Agent Grant Ward (Brett Dalton), highly trained in combat and espionage; Agent Melinda May (Ming-Na Wen), expert pilot and martial artist; Agent Leo Fitz (Iain De Caestecker), brilliant engineer; and Agent Jemma Simmons (Elizabeth Henstridge), genius bio-chemist. Joining them on their journey into mystery is new recruit and computer hacker Skye (Chloe Bennet).

Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Marvel’s first television series, is from executive producers Joss Whedon (Marvel’s The Avengers, Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Jed Whedon & Maurissa Tancharoen, who co-wrote the pilot (Dollhouse, Dr.Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog). Jeffrey Bell (Angel, Alias) and Jeph Loeb (Smallville, Lost, Heroes) also serve as executive producers. Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is produced by ABC Studios and Marvel Television.

MISTRESSES (Premieres Monday, June 3 from 10:00-11:00 p.m. on ABC)

Mistresses is a provocative new drama about the scandalous lives of a sexy and sassy group of four girlfriends, each on her own path to self-discovery. Savannah ‘Savi’ (Alyssa Milano) is a successful career woman working toward the next phase in her life -- both professionally and personally -- bucking for partner at her law firm while trying to start a family with husband, Harry (Brett Tucker). When their fertility issues take center stage, Savi finds herself attracted to her flirtatious colleague, Dominic (Jason George). Savi’s free-spirited baby sister, Josslyn (Jes Macallan), couldn’t be more different, living single, serial dating and partying. A real estate agent, Josslyn has no interest in a committed, long-term relationship.

Their common best friend, April (Rochelle Aytes), is a recent widow and mother of a ten-year-old daughter. After she receives her late husband’s lucrative life insurance check, she begins getting prank phone calls and is convinced her husband is still alive. Another long-time friend, Karen (Yunjin Kim), is a therapist whose complicated relationship with a wealthy, married patient goes too far.

These four friends find support and guidance as they brave their turbulent journeys and life’s storms together, bound by the complex relationships they’ve created.

Mistresses stars Alyssa Milano (New Years Eve, My Name Is Earl, Melrose Place) as Savannah, Yunjin Kim (Lost) as Karen, Rochelle Aytes (White Collar, Desperate Housewives) as April, Jes Macallan ( NCIS: Los Angeles, Grey’s Anatomy, Shameless) as Josslyn, Jason George (Grey’s Anatomy, The Closer,) as Dominic, Brett Tucker (Castle, NCIS,) as Harry, Erik Stocklin (Grey Sheep, Sick Day,) as Sam.

Mistresses is executive produced by Bob Sertner, K.J. Steinberg, Rina Mimoun and Douglas Rae and produced by ABC Studios.

ONCE UPON A TIME IN WONDERLAND (Thursdays from 8:00-9:00 p.m. on ABC)

In Victorian England, the young and beautiful Alice (Sophie Lowe) tells a tale of a strange new land that exists on the other side of a rabbit hole. An invisible cat, a hookah smoking caterpillar and playing-cards that talk are just some of the fantastic things she’s seen during this impossible adventure. Surely this troubled girl must be insane, and her doctors aim to cure her with a treatment that will make her forget everything. Alice seems ready to put it all behind her, especially the painful memory of the genie she fell in love with and lost forever -- the handsome and mysterious Cyrus (Peter Gadiot). But deep down Alice knows this world is real, and just in the nick of time the sardonic Knave of Hearts (Michael Socha) and the irrepressible White Rabbit (John Lithgow) arrive to save her from a doomed fate. Together the trio will take a tumble down the rabbit hole to this Wonderland where nothing is impossible.

Once Upon a Time in Wonderland stars Sophie Lowe (Beautiful Kate) as Alice, Michael Socha (This Is England) as Knave of Hearts, Peter Gadiot (The Forbidden Girl) as Cyrus, Emma Rigby (Hollyoaks) as Queen of Hearts and John Lithgow (3rd Rock from the Sun) as the voice of the White Rabbit.

Once Upon a Time in Wonderland was written by Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz (Once Upon a Time), who serve as executive producers. Steve Pearlman and Zack Estrin also serve as executive producers, and the pilot was directed by Ralph Hemecker. Once Upon a Time in Wonderland is produced by ABC Studios.

RESURRECTION (ABC Midseason)

The people of Arcadia, Missouri are forever changed when their deceased loved ones suddenlystart to return. An 8-year-old American boy (Landon Gimenez) wakes up alone in a rice paddy in a rural Chinese province with no idea how he got there. Details start to emerge when the boy, who calls himself Jacob, recalls that his hometown is Arcadia, and an Immigration agent, Martin Bellamy (Omar Epps), takes him there. The home he claims as his own is occupied by an elderly couple, Harold (Kurtwood Smith) and Lucille Garland (Frances Fisher), who lost their son Jacob more than 30 years ago. While they look different, young Jacob recognizes them as his parents. Those closest to the family try to unravel this impossible mystery, including Sheriff Fred Garland (Matt Craven),whose wife Barbara drowned 30 years ago while trying to save Jacob. But this boy who claims to be the deceased Jacob knows secrets about his own death that no one else knows -- secrets that Fred’s daughter, Gail (Devin Kelly), will begin to investigate and discover to be true.

Resurrection starsOmar Epps (House) as Martin Bellamy, Matt Craven (Crimson Tide, A Few Good Men) as Fred, Devin Kelley (Chernobyl Diaries, The Chicago Code) as Gail, Frances Fisher (Titanic) as Lucille, Kurtwood Smith (That ‘70s Show) as Harold, Sam Hazeldine (The Raven) as Abel, Samaire Armstrong (Entourage, The O.C.) as Elaine, Nicholas Gonzalez (Off the Map) as Connor, Mark Hildreth (Dragon Ball Z) as Tom and Landon Gimenez as Jacob.

Written by Aaron Zelman (Damages, The Killing), Resurrection is executive-produced by Aaron Zelman, JoAnn Alfano, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Jon Liebman, Brillstein Entertainment and Plan B. The pilot was directed by Charles McDougall. Resurrection is produced by ABC Studios.

COMEDY

MIXOLOGY (ABC Midseason)

One bar. One night. Ten single people. Welcome to Union, a high-end bar in Manhattan’s trendy meat-packing district. Recently dumped by his fiancée, Tom (Blake Lee) hasn’t been out on the town in a decade. His best friends, handsome, confident Cal (Craig Frank) and fast-talking Bruce (Andrew Santino), are throwing Tom back into the dating pool whether he likes it or not. Tom’s first encounter is with Maya (Ginger Gonzaga), an attorney who’s as beautiful as she is brutal; before long, Tom is in tears. After that, it only gets worse. Rounding out Union’s chic crowd is Maya’s engaged-for-now friend, Liv (Kate Simses); aggressive single mom Jessica (Alexis Carra); her younger, naive sister, Janey (Sarah Bolger); bubbly cocktail waitress Kacey (Vanessa Lengies); dark, mysterious bartender Dominic (Adan Canto); and failed internet entrepreneur Ron (Adam Campbell), who’s having the worst night of his life.

“Mixology stars Blake Lee (Parks and Recreation) as Tom, Andrew Santino (Punk’d) as Bruce, Kate Simses (What’s Your Number) as Liv, Adam Campbell (Epic Movie) as Ron, Craig Frank (8.13) as Cal, Vanessa Lengies (Glee) as Kacey, Alexis Carra (Incredible Girl) as Jessica, Sarah Bolger (Once Upon a Time) as Janey, Ginger Gonzaga (Legit) as Maya and Adan Canto (The Following) as Dominic.

Mixology was written by Jon Lucas and Scott Moore (The Hangover, 21 and Over), and is executive-produced by Lucas, Moore, Ryan Seacrest, Nina Wass and Adam Sher. It’s directed by Larry Charles (Seinfeld, Entourage, Borat), and is produced by ABC Studios.

TROPHY WIFE (Tuesdays from 9:30-10:00 p.m. on ABC)

They say the third time’s the charm, and reformed party girl Kate (Malin Akerman) is hoping that’s true when she becomes Pete’s (Bradley Whitford) third wife. She fell into his arms (literally) at a karaoke bar, and a year later Kate’s got an insta-family, complete with three stepchildren and two ex-wives. Diane (Marcia Gay Harden) is ex-wife number one, an intense, over-achieving doctor and the mother of twin teenagers Hillary (Gianna LePera) and Warren (Ryan Scott Lee). Diane is quick to convey her withering disapproval of Kate’s barely tapped maternal instinct. Ex-wife number two, Jackie (Michaela Watkins), is mother to adopted son Bert (Albert Tsai), and can pull Pete’s strings with her special blend of neurotic, new-ageyness. Juggling all this baggage is uncharted territory for Kate, who finds support with her best friend Meg (Natalie Morales), a party-hearty singleton and the only woman Kate knows who has less experience with kids than she has.

Trophy Wife stars Malin Akerman (Suburgatory) as Kate, Bradley Whitford (The West Wing) as Pete, Marcia Gay Harden (Into the Wild, Damages) as Diane, Michaela Watkins (Saturday Night Live) as Jackie, Natalie Morales (90210) as Meg, Ryan Scott Lee (Super 8) as Warren, Albert Tsai (How I Met Your Mother) as Bert and Gianna LePera (Modern Family) as Hillary.

Trophy Wife is written and executive-produced by Emily Halpern & Sarah Haskins, executive produced by Lee Eisenberg & Gene Stupnitsky (The Office), produced by Malin Ackerman. The pilot was directed by Jason Moore (Pitch Perfect, Avenue Q). Trophy Wife is from ABC Studios.

Source: ABC Studios

Jennifer Wolfe's picture

Formerly Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network, Jennifer Wolfe has worked in the Media & Entertainment industry as a writer and PR professional since 2003.

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