#Names+Faces: Fox, #CBS give #preview of #fall #TV 12:06 a.m. EDT May 17, 2016
More than ever, the big broadcast networks are playing it safe with established franchises, and Fox is not immune to TV’s remake fever: The network will add two fall dramas — “Lethal Weapon,” a sequel to the 1980s film franchise — and “The Exorcist,” based on the 1973 horror film. And for midseason, it’s even remaking its own shows, with a limited return of “Prison Break” and a revamped 12-episode season of thriller “24,” with a new cast.
“Exorcist” portrays two priests (Ben Daniels, Alfonso Herrera) trying to solve a case of demonic possession and also stars Geena Davis. “Lethal Weapon” featuresDamon Wayans Sr. and Clayne Crawford in the L.A. buddy-cop roles made famous by Danny Glover and Mel Gibson, and will be paired with hit “Empire” on Wednesdays. The network’s lone new fall comedy is “Son of Zorn,” a live-action/animation hybrid featuring a warrior (voiced by Jason Sudeikis) who returns to California to reclaim his live-action family, led by Cheryl Hines (“Curb Your Enthusiasm”).
Also due is “Star,” about a girl singing group and featuring Queen Latifah, from “Empire” producer Lee Daniels. Along with two more comedies, “The Mick” and “Making History,” Fox has midseason plans for “Pitch,” following the first female Major League Baseball player. “APB” stars Justin Kirk as a tech billionaire who takes over a troubled Chicago police precinct. And “Shots Fired” is a limited series about racially motivated killings in a Southern town.
Fox Entertainment cochairman Dana Walden also says “everyone is on board to do another installment” of “The X-Files,” but it won’t happen until the 2017-18 season.
Meanwhile, the prognosis is good for CBS emergency-room drama “Code Black,” which will be back for a second season.
On Monday, the top-rated network also renewed three other series for the 2016-17 season: drama spinoff “Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders”; comedy remake “The Odd Couple,” and reality series “Undercover Boss.”
The fates of two other first-season CBS series, drama “Limitless” and comedy “Rush Hour,” remain to be determined.
CBS will present its 2016-17 programming schedule to advertisers Wednesday in New York.
Missing singer found safe
Irish singer-songwriter Sinead O’Connor was found safe, suburban Chicago police said Monday.
Wilmette police spokesman Eric Peterson said O’Connor was located Monday afternoon, though he wouldn’t say where she was found or release details about her condition. But he said the singer “is safe and no longer considered a missing or endangered person.”
Chicago-area police had issued a well-being check Monday for O’Connor, who reportedly went for a bicycle ride Sunday morning but never returned.
Police said no other information was immediately available about O’Connor, who scored an international hit in 1990 with her rendition of Prince’s ballad “Nothing Compares 2 U.” The gifted performer, who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, is known as much for her fierce and expressive voice as her shaved head and blunt criticism of the Catholic Church.
O’Connor was sued this month by comedian Arsenio Hall over a Facebook post that stated investigators looking into the supplier of drugs used by Prince should question Hall. She also accused him of drugging her. The lawsuit seeks $5 million.
Briefly
■A Russian official has said his country could boycott next year’s Eurovision song contest after a Ukrainian singer claimed the top prize with a song that has been interpreted as criticizing Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014.
The winning song, by an artist called Jamala, was called “1944” and is about the deportation of Crimean Tatars by the Soviet authorities during World War II.
■Sia’s supersize songs — and supersize wigs — are headed to the Palace of Auburn Hills on Oct. 16. The explosive pop singer announced her Nostalgic for the Present Tour. Tickets for the general public go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday via Live Nation.
Free Press news services
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