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NBC is giving viewers a glimpse of its new Fall series ahead of the kickoff of the broadcast upfronts in New York on Monday.
The Peacock network will be the first of the Big Four out of the gate, with NBC’s presentation scheduled for Monday at 11am ET at the Javits Center.
Check out the videos below for the new series trailers. And if you’re feeling overwhelmed by the slew of scheduling announcements that have bombarded your inbox in the past couple of days, you can always use Brief’s handy Upfronts cheat sheet to see who’s in, who’s out, and what’s on offer for 2014-15 at each of the major broadcast networks.
STATE OF AFFAIRS
Here’s how NBC describes the show:
Each day the President is faced with dozens of life and death decisions, and to prioritize the biggest international crises facing the country, one top CIA analyst - Charleston Tucker (Katherine Heigl, “Grey’s Anatomy”) - assembles the President’s Daily Briefing.
This list of the most vital security issues facing the nation brings with it moral and political judgment calls for Charleston and her trusted group of brilliant analysts at the agency. Aside from the political minefields she has to walk, Charlie has a close personal relationship with the President (Alfre Woodard, “Desperate Housewives”) because she was once engaged to her son before a tragic terrorist attack took his life. Charlie survived that attack and is now determined to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Navigating a complex personal life and a pressure-cooker profession is, of course, a challenge, and Charlie sometimes engages in boundary-pushing behavior to avoid facing her grief. But when the clock strikes 2 a.m., she is all about her job - protecting her nation, serving her president and still trying to get to the bottom of her fiancé‘s murder that will reveal itself as a shocking mystery.
From Writer/Director Joe Carnahan (“The Blacklist”) comes a high-octane, edge-of-your-seat thriller that could change the way you see politics, the White House and the world at large.
One-hour drama
THE MYSTERIES OF LAURA
From NBC’s description:
Debra Messing (“Will & Grace”) stars as Laura Diamond, a brilliant NYPD homicide detective who balances her “Columbo” day job with a crazy family life that includes two unruly twin boys and a soon-to-be ex-husband (Josh Lucas) - also a cop - who just can’t seem to sign the divorce papers. Between cleaning up after her boys and cleaning up the streets, she’d be the first to admit she has her “hot mess” moments in this hilariously authentic look at what it really means to be a “working mom” today.
Somehow she makes it all work with the help of her sexy and understanding partner, and things get even more complicated when her husband ironically becomes her boss at the precinct. For Laura, every day is a high-wire balancing act.
From Executive Producer/Writer Jeff Rake (“Boston Legal,” “The Practice”), Executive Producer Greg Berlanti (“Green Lantern,” “Brothers & Sisters”) and Executive Producer/Director McG (“Terminator Salvation,” “Charlie’s Angels”) comes an action-packed, but lighthearted cop show with a twist, based on the popular Spanish series about one woman’s quest to have it all.
One-hour drama
A TO Z
From NBC:
This is the A-to-Z story of Andrew (Ben Feldman, “Mad Men”) and Zelda (Cristin Milioti, “How I Met Your Mother”) - a pair that almost wasn’t - and all that happened from the day they met. Andrew has always been a secret romantic… not above crooning to Celine Dion while driving to work, with dreams of finding “the one.” He imagines her to be just like that shimmering beauty he spotted that night in that silver dress at that concert two years ago. Zelda, having grown up with a hippie mom who believed the universe would provide for everything, rebelled into a no-nonsense practical lawyer who prefers the control of online dating. But when a computer glitch sends her a total mismatch, she’s asked to come in for an interview at the Internet dating service where Andrew works, and this is where it all begins.
Andrew and Zelda meet for the first time and despite their differences, sparks fly. She thinks it’s chance. He thinks it’s fate. After all, he’s convinced she’s the shimmering girl in the silver dress. Is it true love forever or just a detour in destiny? Follow along the ins and outs of Andrew and Zelda.
From Executive Producer Rashida Jones comes a fresh new comedy about dating in the modern world.
Half-hour comedy (single-camera)
CONSTANTINE
From NBC’s description:
Based on the wildly popular comic book series “Hellblazer” from DC Comics, seasoned demon hunter and master of the occult John Constantine specializes in giving hell… hell. Armed with a ferocious knowledge of the dark arts and his wickedly naughty wit, he fights the good fight - or at least he did. With his soul already damned to hell, he’s decided to leave his do-gooder life behind. But when demons target Liv, the daughter of one of Constantine’s oldest friends, he’s reluctantly thrust back into the fray - and he’ll do whatever it takes to save her.
Before long, it’s revealed that Liv’s “second sight,” an ability to see the worlds behind our world and predict supernatural occurrences, is a threat to a mysterious new evil that’s rising in the shadows. And now it’s not just Liv who needs protection; the angels are starting to get worried too. So, together, Constantine and Liv must use her power and his skills to travel the country, find the demons that threaten our world - and send them back where they belong. After that, who knows… maybe there’s hope for him and his soul after all.
From Executive Producer David S. Goyer (“Batman Begins,” “The Dark Knight Rises”) and director Neil Marshall (“Game of Thrones,” “The Descent”) comes a dark new thriller that proves fighting evil is a hell of a job.
One-hour drama
BAD JUDGE
Here’s how NBC is describing the show:
No excuses, no apologies, no compromises. Wild child Rebecca Wright (Kate Walsh, “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Private Practice”) knows how to have a good time, but she also happens to be one of LA’s toughest and most respected criminal court judges. She has a reputation for unorthodox behavior in the courtroom, including creative sentencing and saying exactly what’s on her mind.
Her private life, on the other hand, is anything but innocent. She parties too much and rocks out on the drums in a band with her best friend, Jenny. While there’s no shortage of male admirers who would love to spend time with her, she’s not ready to settle down… except when an eight-year-old boy - whose parents were put in jail by Rebecca - needs her help. He may in fact be the one thing that starts to tame this “bad” judge.
From Executive Producers Will Ferrell and Adam McKay (“Anchorman,” “Step Brothers,” “Talladega Nights”) comes a sexy new comedy about a judge who always plays by her own rulings.
Half-hour comedy (single-camera)
MARRY ME
How NBC describes the show:
Six years ago, Annie and Jake bonded over their mutual love of nachos, and they’ve been inseparable ever since. Now, after returning from a romantic two-week island vacation, Jake’s all set to pop the question. But before he can ask, Annie lets loose on Jake for his inability to commit. She was expecting him to “put a ring on it” in paradise, dammit! Needless to say, Jake’s perfect proposal is ruined. Not wanting to spend the next 60 years talking about that mess of a proposal, Jake and Annie decide to hold off on the engagement until they can do it right. But if history tells us anything, it’s when we really want things to go right that they all tend to go wrong. The only thing we know for sure is these two are destined to be together whether they can get it together or not.
From David Caspe, the creator of “Happy Endings,” and Seth Gordon, the director of “The Goldbergs,” “Identity Thief” and “Horrible Bosses,” comes a fresh new romantic comedy about the funny and often bumpy road between “I will” and “I do.”
Half-hour comedy (single-camera)
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