ABC adds ‘Muppets’ to lineup

By Lynn Elber

AP Television Writer

NEW YORK

ABC is adding a fourth drama next season from its favorite producer, Shonda Rhimes, and bringing the Muppets to prime time in a series with both adult and kid appeal, the network said Tuesday.

Shondaland production company’s fraud investigation drama “The Catch,” starring Mireille Enos, is one of 10 new series for ABC’s 2015-16 schedule.

Rhimes’ other series for ABC are “Scandal,” “How to Get Away with Murder” and “Grey’s Anatomy,” which is returning for its 12th season without the dearly departed Dr. McDreamy (Patrick Dempsey).

“The Muppets” is a mockumentary style comedy — in the manner of “The Office” and “Modern Family” — that looks at the famed puppets’ personal lives.

“It’s a grownup Muppets,” said ABC Entertainment Group president Paul Lee.

ABC is extending the emphasis on diversity that brought “black-ish” and “Fresh Off the Boat” to its schedule last season.

Both comedies were renewed for next season and will be joined by the new “Dr. Ken,” starring Ken Jeong of “Community” and “The Hangover” as a brilliant doctor with a poor bedside manner.

WHAT’S NEW

ABC’s freshman slate will include six dramas and four comedies. Sharing network space with the Muppets is the drama “Wicked City,” which aims to capitalize on L.A. history with such cases as a 1982 murder set in the “rock ‘n’ roll, cocaine-infused revelry of the Sunset Strip,” as ABC put it.

On the comedy front, there’s a remake of the 1989 John Candy movie “Uncle Buck,” with Mike Epps in the role of an irresponsible cutup.

WHAT’S GONE

The network is bidding farewell to canceled dramas “Forever” and “Resurrection” and the Latino family comedy “Cristela,” which was part of the network’s move toward diversity last season.

HOT TOPIC

“The Real O’Neals,” a comedy that drew criticism from religious and conservative groups even before ABC announced it would be airing, is described as a “fresh take” on a seemingly ideal Catholic family whose lives are upended when a son comes out as gay.

LATHER UP

ABC, which doesn’t shy away from over-the-top dramas is adding what Lee called two “big, muscular” soap operas to its schedule. One is “Of Kings and Prophets,” which continues the recent TV trend of using the good book as a source.

The other is “Oil,” set in the booming North Dakota oil fields and with an ensemble cast including Don Johnson and Delroy Lindo.