Spring TV premieres, returning shows: 'Turn,' 'Mad Men,' more
Heather Lind as Anna Strong and Jamie Bell as Abe Woodhull in AMC's "Turn." Credit: AMC / Antony Platt
Network executives keep talking about a year-round season. Year after year, they say they hate the fall-season merry-go-round, everybody fighting at once for the same stars, spending millions on pilots that mostly fail.
So, are they finally shaking up the same-old? In recent weeks, "Resurrection" and "The 100" bowed big for ABC and The CW. January's new "Chicago P.D." already has been renewed at NBC. And more network shows are about to test the waters, jumping into what's long been cable's pool. Their success rate will help determine whether the year-round season sinks or swims.
NEW SHOWS
Thursday
SURVIVING JACK (Fox, 9:30 p.m.). "SVU" fave Chris Meloni turns stay-at-home dad just as son Connor Buckley ("Deception") starts high school. Growing-up together comedy comes from Bill Lawrence ("Scrubs").
Monday
FRIENDS WITH BETTER LIVES (CBS, 9 p.m.; 8:30 p.m. thereafter). At different life stages in this romantic comedy: Kevin Connolly, Majandra Delfino, Brooklyn Decker, Rick Donald, Zoe Lister-Jones and James Van Der Beek. From former "Friends" writer Dana Klein.
April 6
TURN (AMC, 9 p.m.). The book "Washington's Spies" becomes an espionage drama set largely on Long Island during Revolutionary War times. With Jamie Bell ("Billy Elliot"), Burn Gorman, Angus Macfadyen, Heather Lind.
SILICON VALLEY (HBO, 10 p.m.). Young techies are the latest focus of daily life observer Mike Judge ("Office Space," "Beavis and Butt-Head," "King of the Hill"), who once worked in the title locale. Cast includes Thomas Middleditch, Josh Brener, Martin Starr, Kumail Nanjiani.
April 15
FARGO (FX, 10 p.m.). How could the Coen brothers' big-screen black comedy ever spin off into a weekly TV series? Find out from Martin Freeman, Bob Odenkirk, Colin Hanks and baddie Billy Bob Thornton.
April 20
SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED (Hallmark, 8 p.m.). "Touched by an Angel" auteur Martha Williamson gets an Easter premiere for her mail detectives who help bring people together. With Eric Mabius.
April 22
FAKING IT (MTV, 10:30 p.m.). If a (non-) suicide attempt can make you popular (see "Awkward"), why not being "outed" as the lesbians you're not? With Katie Stevens and Rita Volk.
April 24
BAD TEACHER (CBS, 9:30 p.m.). Comedy based on the movie now stars Ari Graynor ("Fringe"). With Sara Gilbert, David Alan Grier, Kristin Davis.
BLACK BOX (ABC, 10 p.m.). Kelly Reilly ("Sherlock Holmes" movies) stars as a cutting-edge brain doctor. Vanessa Redgrave plays her shrink.
April 29
PLAYING HOUSE (USA, 10 p.m.). Jessica St. Clair and Lennon Parham ("Best Friends Forever") reunite in their hometown amid marriage woes, old flames and baby-having. With Keegan-Michael Key, Jane Kaczmarek, Zach Woods.
May 11
PENNY DREADFUL (Showtime, 10 p.m.). Dr. Frankenstein meets Dorian Gray and other literary names in Victorian psychosexual thriller. With Josh Hartnett, Timothy Dalton, Eva Green, Billie Piper.
May 20
GANG RELATED (Fox, 9 p.m.). Elite cops battle Los Angeles gangs. With Ramon Rodriguez, RZA, Terry O'Quinn.
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RETURNING SERIES
Wednesday
HOT IN CLEVELAND and THE SOUL MAN (TV Land, 10 and 10:30 p.m.), back with live episodes.
Sunday
CALL THE MIDWIFE and MR. SELFRIDGE (PBS, 8 and 9 p.m.)
Tuesday
THE MINDY PROJECT (Fox, 9 p.m.); INSIDE AMY SCHUMER (Comedy Central, 10:30 p.m.)
Friday
UNFORGETTABLE (CBS, 8 p.m.); CONTINUUM (Syfy, 10 p.m.)
April 6
GAME OF THRONES (HBO, 9 p.m.); VEEP (HBO, 10:30 p.m.)
April 13
NURSE JACKIE and CALIFORNICATION (Showtime, 9 and 9:30 p.m.); MAD MEN (10 p.m., AMC)
April 14
WAREHOUSE 13 (Syfy, 9 p.m.)
April 15
AWKWARD (MTV, 10 p.m.)
April 19
ORPHAN BLACK (BBC America, 9 p.m.)
April 20
DEVIOUS MAIDS (Lifetime, 10 p.m.)
May 5
24: LIVE ANOTHER DAY (Fox)
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UNSCRIPTED
Friday
REV. RUN'S RENOVATION (HGTV, 8 p.m.)
Sunday
ERIC & JESSIE (E!, 10 p.m., new Jets receiver and singer wife)
Monday
THIS IS HOT 97 (VH1, 10:30 p.m., radio station)
Tuesday
GIULIANA & BILL (E!, 8 p.m., new channel)
April 5
PREPPER HILLBILLIES (Destination America)
April 6
RIVER MONSTERS (Animal Planet)
April 10
THE CHALLENGE: FREE AGENTS (MTV, in Uruguay)
April 13
AMERICA'S BEST COOK (Food)
April 14
THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF ORANGE COUNTY (Bravo); THE WRITERS' ROOM (Sundance, starts with "Scandal")
April 15
PIONEERS OF TELEVISION (PBS, with standups' sitcoms)
April 19
THE REAL HISTORY OF SCIENCE FICTION (BBC America)
April 22
DEADLIEST CATCH (Discovery)
April 27
LAST WEEK TONIGHT WITH JOHN OLIVER (HBO)
April 29
16 & PREGNANT (MTV, new cast)
April 29
JOAN & MELISSA (WE)
April 30
HOLLYWOOD EXES (VH1)
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EVENTS
Saturday
KIDS CHOICE AWARDS (Nickelodeon, 8 p.m.)
April 7
NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP (CBS)
April 13
MTV MOVIE AWARDS (MTV)
April 13-15
ARNIE (Golf, Palmer bio)
April 15
THE ADDRESS (PBS, Ken Burns on Lincoln's Gettysburg speech)
April 19
BILLY CRYSTAL 700 SUNDAYS (HBO)
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