NBC Fall 2015 lineup: Jennifer Lopez, Rob Lowe, Neil Patrick Harris to star in new series
Actress/singer Jennifer Lopez, winner of Best Scared-As-S**t Performance for 'The Boy Next Door,' poses in the press room during The 2015 MTV Movie Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on April 12, 2015 in Los Angeles, Calif. Credit: Getty Images/ Jason Merritt
Jennifer Lopez will return to network TV in her first scripted series in twenty-one -- yup, 21 -- years, NBC said early Sunday in announcing the new fall lineup, which will also include new series starring Wesley Snipes, Rob Lowe, America Ferrera, Jenna Fischer ("The Office"), Neil Patrick Harris and Megan Mullally.
Lopez -- who, of course, is wrapping up the 14th season of "American Idol" -- will headline a series titled "Shades of Blue," in which she will play a "single mother and New York cop who is forced to work with the FBI and must betray her own on-the-job brothers." Lopez hasn't been completely MIA from scripted TV over the years (a cameo on "How I Met Your Mother," for example) but this is the first regular series -- no airdate announced by NBC -- since long-forgotten "Second Chances" in '93. As fans well know, her career was effectively launched on "In Living Color," as a so-called "Fly Girl" dancer, which quickly led to a handful of other roles.
Other quick news hits: Harris' variety series gets a Tuesday, 10 p.m. slot through November, when it cedes the time to "Chicago Fire;" "Undateable," the sophomore sitcom, will air live next season; and the "Heroes" short-run series, "Heroes Reborn," arrives on Thursdays.
And . . . Dick Wolf strikes again: The emperor of "Law & Order," now the "Chicago" franchise, will launch a new "Chicago" series next season, "Chicago Med."
Meanwhile, the Lopez drama, and the Lowe/Fischer/Mullally ("You, Me and the End of the World") and Ferrara ("Superstore") comedies will air later in the season.
Here's the early fall line-up . . .
MONDAY: "The Voice," 8; "Blindspot," 10 (from super-prolific producer Greg Berlanti; about a young woman found in Times Square; covered in tattoos; one tattoo is . . . well, let's not give everything away. This is billed as an "international thriller").
TUESDAY: "The Voice," 8 p.m.; "Heartbreaker," 9 (starring Australian star Melissa George, as a doctor in medical soap); "Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris," 10 (this all-live variety series will include audience participation, stunts, musical numbers, giveaways . . . ).
WEDNESDAY: "The Mysteries of Laura," 8; "Law & Order SVU," 9; "Chicago P.D.," 10.
THURSDAY: "Heroes Reborn," 8 (with Tim Kring, original showrunner back at the helm, this will include some original cast members, most notably Jack Coleman, but also promises "a fresh crop of inspiring heroes"); "The Blacklist," 9; "The Player," 10 (Snipes, and also starring Philip Winchester of "Strike Back," in a Las Vegas thriller, about a former military "operative" turned security expert).
FRIDAY: "Undateable," 8; "People Are Talking," (8:30) (sitcom about "two diverse couples who are both neighbors and best friends"); "Grimm," 9; "Dateline," (10).
SATURDAY: "Dateline Saturday Mystery," 8; "Saturday Night Live," 10 ("classic" repeats).
SUNDAY: Football, 7. "Sunday Night Football," 8:20.
