Bigger. Bolder. Better. City Unveils 2016/17 Prime-Time Schedule

Bigger. Bolder. Better. City Unveils 2016/17 Prime-Time Schedule

- Most talked about new series of the year Lethal Weapon, 24: Legacy, and Prison Break join proven performers in City's strongest schedule to date -

- Three all-new original series join City's slate: Bad Blood: The Vito Rizzuto Story, Nirvanna The Band The Show, and digital-first comedy, Second Jen -

- Eight new and returning event specials join the City roster -

- Four new dramas and three new comedies added to 2016/17 schedule -

TORONTO, June 6, 2016 /CNW/ - City today unveiled a new prime-time schedule that strengthens its position as Canada's most dynamic network, combining next season's most anticipated new series with the country's favourite returning programming. Building upon a youthful foundation of Canada's most-watched returning programming, City's 2016/17 schedule will be presented this afternoon by Rick Brace, President, Rogers Media and the executive team at Rogers Centre in Toronto.

"This is the strongest programming lineup City has ever had. Our investment in producing and securing world-class content for the City schedule reflects our deep and continued commitment to Canadians' love of television and the success of this powerful medium," said Brace. "As the media industry continues to evolve, the one thing that remains constant is that TV is still the most relevant medium for viewers and advertisers and is the best place to reach a mass audience."


Among the highlights of City's 2016/2017 prime-time schedule are:


-- The season's most recognized and highly anticipated new dramas - 24:
Legacy, Prison Break, and Lethal Weapon
-- Eight new and returning television event specials
-- Three all-new original series - Bad Blood: The Vito Rizzuto Story,
Nirvanna The Band The Show, and digital-first comedy, Second Jen
-- Four new dramas and three new comedies join the 2016/17 City schedule


"Our 2016/17 schedule reflects a powerhouse of competitive content every night of the week," said Colette Watson, Vice President, Television and Broadcast Operations, Rogers Media. "Our schedule this year has the perfect blend of proven performers, premium dramas, event programming, and laugh-out-loud comedies. Built for stability and success on every night of the week, our schedule has something for everyone."

Newly acquired content for the 2016/17 season includes the most sought-after dramas of the year, with the acquisition of three of next season's biggest blockbusters: Lethal Weapon, 24: Legacy, and Prison Break. Reinvigorating three of the most iconic and beloved franchises in film and TV history - City will be the only place to catch the action-packed, adrenaline-fuelled, can't-miss-a minute reboots this season.

"24: Legacy, Prison Break, and Lethal Weapon all come from world-renowned franchises that can be summed up in just one word - blockbusters," added Watson. "Instantly recognizable titles that are synonymous with the quality and entertainment viewers know and love, these series have a built-in audience base that will propel them to success this season."

Comedy is still King on Sundays when new live-action/animated hybrid Son of Zorn joins the Sunday night comedy lineup. Featuring the voice of Jason Sudeikis (The Last Man On Earth, Horrible Bosses, We're the Millers), Son of Zorn follows an animated warrior who returns to Orange County, CA to win back the love of his live-action ex-wife (Cheryl Hines, Curb Your Enthusiasm) and teenage son (Johnny Pemberton, 21 Jump Street).Also new to the Sunday comedy block is original series, Nirvanna The Band The Show,joining all-new seasons of Family Guy, Bob's Burgers, and TheLast Man on Earth.

Also heading to the fall schedule are the new-to-City comedy, The Odd Couple,and just announced original series, Second Jen,a relatable coming-of-age comedy about two second-generation millennials who move out to prove to their immigrant families, and themselves, that they can make it on their own.

Adding to the lineup of premium scripted content, City continues to build strength in established marquee event programming. The Rocky Horror Picture Show, a brand-new reimagining of the cult-classic midnight movie is set to take over the City schedule this fall, along with the new must-see family musical event Hairspray Live! and Dolly Parton's Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love.Weekends remain the home of must-see sports programming with Hockey Night in Canada heading back to City every Saturday night, and Thursday Night NFL returns for six weeks this fall.

The 59(th)Annual GRAMMY Awards(®) returns to the City mid-season schedule in 2017, along with the highly anticipated Aaron Sorkin television event special, a live production of A Few Good Men.

Anchoring the lineup of soon-to-be hits, City is staying true to established audiences through the 2016/17 season with a stable of returning hits from all genres, including Scorpion, 2 Broke Girls, Modern Family, Mom, Black-ish, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Life in Pieces, Hell's Kitchen, New Girl, The Middle,and The Mindy Project.

Joining the City mid-season schedule are new titles Shots Fired, The Mick, and Making History, alongside returning series and Little Big Shots.

All programming is available on Citytv.com, and on mobile through the City Video app for iOS and Android. Fall premiere dates will be announced in the coming months; shows acquired but not yet listed on the schedule will premiere at a later date in the 2016/17 season.

Fall Schedule
All times ET/PT; s = simulcast

Monday
8 p.m. The Middle

8:30 p.m. The Real O'Neals

9 p.m. 2 Broke Girls (s)

9:30 p.m. The Odd Couple (s) *NEW to City*

10 p.m. Scorpion (s)

Tuesday
8 p.m. Brooklyn Nine-Nine (s)

8:30 p.m. New Girl (s)

9 p.m. Scream Queens (s)

Wednesday
8 p.m. Lethal Weapon (s) *NEW*

9 p.m. Modern Family (s)

9:30 p.m. Black-ish (s)

Thursday
8 p.m. Thursday Night NFL (s) Sept. 15 - Oct. 20
As of Oct. 27:
8 p.m. The Mindy Project

8:30 p.m. Second Jen **New Original Series**

9 p.m. Mom (s)

9:30 p.m. Life in Pieces (s)

Friday
8 p.m. Hell's Kitchen (s)

Saturday
Hockey Night in Canada

Sunday
7:30 p.m. Bob's Burgers (s)

8 p.m. Nirvanna The Band The Show **New Original Series**

8:30 p.m. Son of Zorn (s) *NEW*

9 p.m. Family Guy (s)

9:30 p.m. The Last Man on Earth (s)

**NOTE: Bad Blood: The Vito Rizzuto Story, TheRocky Horror Picture Show (*NEW*), Hairspray Live! (*NEW*), Dolly Parton's Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love (*NEW*), A Few Good Men (*NEW*), 59th Annual GRAMMY Awards(®), 50(th) Annual Country Music Awards(®), CMA Country Christmas, and Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest will join City's schedule - additional broadcast details to be announced.

City New Series Descriptions

NEW SERIES:

24: LEGACY
60-minute scripted action series

Mondays at 8 p.m. (Coming Winter 2017)

National broadcast

Told in the same real-time format that propelled the original series, 24: Legacy chronicles a new adrenaline-fueled race against the clock. Military hero Eric Carter returns to the U.S. in a whole lot of trouble. With nowhere else to turn, Carter is compelled to ask the CTU for help in saving his life, while also attempting to stop what potentially could be one of the largest-scale terror attacks on American soil.

PRODUCTION COMPANIES: 20th Century Fox, Imagine, Teakwood Lane

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Evan Katz, Manny Coto, Howard Gordon, Brian Grazer, Kiefer Sutherland, Stephen Hopkins

CAST: Corey Hawkins (Straight Outta Compton), Miranda Otto (Homeland, TheLord of the Rings Franchise), Teddy Sears (The Flash), Dan Buctinsky (Scandal), Anna Diop (The Messengers), Ashley Thomas (The Veteran), Charlie Hofheimer (Mad Men), Coral Pena (Drooler), Sheila Vand (Argo), Jimmy Smits (Sons of Anarchy)

LETHAL WEAPON
60-minute scripted comedy series

Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT (s)

National broadcast

Based on the hit movie franchise of the same name, Lethal Weapon tells the story of classic cop duo Riggs and Murtaugh, as they work in modern-day Los Angeles. Grief stricken after the loss of his young wife and unborn child, ex-Navy SEAL-turned-detective Martin Riggs moves to California to start over at the LAPD. He's paired up with Roger Murtaugh, who's just coming back to the job after a near-fatal heart attack. Rigg's penchant for diving headfirst into the line of fire immediately clashes with Murtaugh's prudent, by-the-book technique. But during their first case together, the cautious cop feels more alive than he has in years. Riggs also realizes he may have found something worth living for - a partner and friend in Murtaugh. This arrangement might just work out after all. If Riggs doesn't get them killed first...

PRODUCTION COMPANY: Warner Brothers

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Matt Miller (Chuck), Dan Lin (The Lego Movie), McG (The O.C),

CAST: Clayne Crawford (Rectify), Damon Wayans (My Wife and Kids, In Living Color), Keesha Sharp (Are We There Yet?), Jordana Brewster (Fast and the Furious Franchise), Kevin Rahm (Desperate Housewives), Chandler Kinney (Battlefield America), Johnathan Fernandez (Mansome), Dante Brown (Won't Back Down)

MAKING HISTORY
30-minute scripted comedy series

Sundays at 8:30 p.m. (Coming Spring 2017)

National broadcast

The single camera comedy series Making History revolves around three unlikely friends who travel through time, complicating their personal lives in 2016. The story centers on Dan, a nerdy computer science professor at a small college, who's extreme intelligence comes off as odd. Dan is viewed as the "failure" in his accomplished family, and is equally unpopular with both students and colleagues on campus. Hoping to get a fresh start and meet less shallow people, Dan invented time travel. This invention allows Dan to live a double life in the colonial age where he has a girlfriend, Deborah. The show depicts Dan as the "nerd rage" guy having a hard time in the present, and the cooler more carefree guy in the past.

PRODUCTION COMPANIES: 20(th) Century Fox, Lord Miller

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Phil Lord, Chris Miller (The Last Man On Earth), Julius Sharpe (Family Guy)

CAST: Adam Pally (The Mindy Project), Leighton Meester (Gossip Girl), Yassir Lester (The Bet)

PRISON BREAK
60-minute scripted drama series

Tuesdays at 9 p.m. (Coming Spring 2017)

National broadcast

As a sequel to the action-packed series, Prison Break picks up with T-Bag bringing shocking intel to Lincoln, suggesting that Michael may be alive. Indeed, Michel is held up in a grim Yemeni prison. Michael has been sending cryptic messages to Lincoln and C-Note to hopefully secure an exit. With these new clues surfacing, Sara teams up with Lincoln to engineer the series biggest escape ever.

PRODUCTION COMPANIES: 20(th) Century Fox

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Paul Scheuring (The Experiment)

CAST: Wentworth Miller (The Flash), Dominic Purcell (Legends of Tomorrow), Amaury Nolasco (2 Fast 2 Furious), Sarah Wayne Callies (The Walking Dead), Robert Knepper (The Hunger Games: Mockingjay), Rockmond Dunbar (The Path), Marina Benedict (Torchwood)

SHOTS FIRED
60-minute scripted drama series

Wednesdays at 8 p.m. (Coming Winter 2017)

National broadcast

Shots Fired is a compelling event series examining the dangerous aftermath of a racially charged shooting, involving a black officer and a white teen, in a small Southern town. Considering the unusual circumstances of this case, two out-of-town black prosecutors are brought in to sort through the evidence and find out what really happened. As the community grows anxious and the country is buzzing, Preston Terry and Ashe Bell must keep personal bias and suspicions to themselves to seek the truth.

PRODUCTION COMPANIES: Imagine TV, 20(th) Century Fox

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Reggie Rock Bythewood (New York Undercover), Francie Calfo (Empire), Brian Grazer (The Bastard Executioner, 24: Legacy), Gina Prince-Bythewood (Daddy's Girl)

CAST: Sanaa Lathan (The Perfect Guy), Stephan James (Race, Selma), Helen Hunt (As Good As It Gets, The Sessions), Richard Dreyfuss (Jaws, Madoff), Stephen Moyer (The Bastard Executioner, True Blood).

SON OF ZORN
30-minute scripted comedy series

Sundays at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT (s)

National broadcast

Zorn, a fully animated, legendary warrior, leaves his war-torn village from a faraway island in the Pacific Ocean to return to Orange County. Upon arriving home for the first time in 10 years, Zorn attempts to reconnect with his live-action, ex-wife, Edie, and moody teenage son, Alan. The warrior quickly realizes that suffering through a mundane office job and the banality of suburban life is harder than waging actual war in his distant, mystical homeland of Zephyria.

PRODUCTION COMPANY: 20(th) Century Fox

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Phil Lord, Chris Miller and Seth Cohen (The Last Man on Earth)

CAST: Jason Sudeikis (The Last Man on Earth, Horrible Bosses), Cheryl Hines (Curb Your Enthusiasm), Johnny Pemberton (21 Jump Street)

THE MICK
30-minute scripted comedy series

Tuesdays at 8:30 p.m. (Coming Spring 2017)

National broadcast

The Mick is a single-camera comedy that follows Mackenzie, aka "Mickey", a hapless mess, hard-drinking, living-large kind of gal, always 'between' jobs, and always broke. Hoping for a handout from her wealthy sister, Mickey pays her a visit, but instead ends up with a full-time baby-sitting gig. After her sister fled the country to avoid a federal indictment, Mickey must assume guardianship of her sister's three high-maintenance children. Mickey will quickly learn what the rest of us already know - other people's children are awful.

PRODUCTION COMPANIES: 20(th) Century Fox

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Dave Chernin, John Chernin, Nick Frenkel (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia), Oliver Obst (Black Box), Ira Ungerleider (Friends)

CAST: Kaitlin Olson (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia) Sofia Black-D'Elia (Gossip Girl), Thomas Barbusca (The Last Time You Had Fun), Jack Stanton, Carla Jimenez (Nacho Libre), Susan Park (Fresh Off the Boat)

NEW TO CITY:

THE ODD COUPLE
30-minute scripted comedy series

Mondays at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT (s)

National broadcast

Endearing slob Oscar Madison and uptight neat freak Felix Unger are two former college buddies who become unlikely roommates after the demise of their marriages. Oscar's jack-of-all-trades assistant, Dani, and his long-time agent, Teddy, try to maintain Oscar's career as a sports radio host as he deals with his new house guest. Fortunately, their quirky next door neighbour Emily helps Felix adapt to his new life as a bachelor and rein in his copious oddities. Despite how exasperated Oscar and Felix make each other, in the end, these mismatched friends agree they can help each other move on from their divorces and somehow make this crazy living arrangement work.

PRODUCTION COMPANY: CBS Television Studios

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Matthew Perry (Mr. Sunshine), Eric Tannenbaum (Two and a Half Men), Kim Tannenbaum (Two and a Half Men), Sarah Timberman (Elementary), Carl Beverly (Elementary)

CAST: Matthew Perry (Friends), Thomas Lennon (Bob's Burgers), Lindsay Sloane (Horrible Bosses Franchise), Yvette Nicole Brown (Community), Wendell Pierce (The Wire)

NEW EVENT SPECIALS:

A FEW GOOD MEN
Live television event

Date and time TBC

National broadcast

Set in 1986 in Washington, D.C., A Few Good Men centers on Lt. Daniel Kaffee, a military lawyer asked to defend two U.S. Marines. The accused are charged with killing a fellow Marine at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba. Although Kaffee is known for seeking plea bargains, a fellow lawyer, Lt. Cdr. JoAnne Galloway, convinces him that the marines were most likely carrying out an order from a commanding officer. With this new information, Kaffee makes the risky move of attempting to unveil the conspiracy by calling Col. Nathan R. Jessep to the stand. A Few Good Men is a live recreation of the 1992 film of the same title.

PRODUCTION COMPANIES: Universal Television, Sony Pictures, Warner Brothers

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Craig Zadan (A Few Good Men (1992)), Neil Meron (The Wiz Live!, Chicago), Aaron Sorkin (A Few Good Men (1992))
CAST: TBA

DOLLY PARTON'S CHRISTMAS OF MANY COLORS: CIRCLE OF LOVE
Two-hour television event

Date and time TBC

National broadcast

In an all-new holiday sequel to Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors, the Partons, a family of humble means living in the mountains of Tennessee, face a devastating event that challenges their will. An unexpected blizzard threatens the Parton family, while at the same time, Dolly's father (and his kids) makes sacrifices to raise enough money to finally buy his loving wife the wedding ring he could never afford to give her. Meanwhile, an important person in little Dolly's life begins to see that her amazing voice and musical gift might just be made for something bigger than rural Tennessee.

PRODUCTION COMPANIES: Magnolia Hill Entertainment, Dixie Pixie Productions, Warner Brothers

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Pamela K. Long (Twice in a Lifetime), Sam Haskell, Dolly Parton (Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors)

CAST: Jennifer Nettles, Ricky Schroder, Alyvia Alyn Lind (Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors), Gerald McRaney (Dolly Parton'sCoat of Many Colors, House of Cards)

HAIRSPRAY LIVE!
Three-hour live television event

Date and time TBC

National broadcast


Set in 1962, the live event tells the story of Tracy Turnblad, a plus-sized teen with big dreams. To the surprise of many, Tracy becomes an overnight sensation after appearing on a segregated Baltimore TV dance show. With her newfound popularity, she twists and shakes while teaching the people in her town a thing or two about racial equality, body image - and of course, the power of big hair! Surrounded by the vibrant characters she meets along the way, Tracy is determined to make a change on the big stage.

PRODUCTION COMPANY: Universal Television

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Craig Zadan, Neil Meron (Hairspray, The Wiz Live!)

CAST: Harvey Fierstein (Mrs. Doubtfire), Jennifer Hudson (Dream Girls), Martin Short (The Cat in the Hat, Saturday Night Live), Derek Hough (Dancing with the Stars)

THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW
Two-hour television event

Date and time TBC

National broadcast

In the re-imagination of the 1975 cult classic, this two-hour television event brings together the weird and wonderful. Newly engaged couple Brad and Janet encounter a problem when their car halts in a storm. They both look for cover, only to find themselves at the castle of Dr. Frank-N-Furter, a scientist. They are welcomed in, and are offered a place to stay. But Brad and Janet are reluctant to remain there, especially when they meet the houseful of wild characters and Transylvanians. Then, through elaborate dances and rock songs, Frank-N-Furter unveils his latest creation: a muscular man named "Rocky."

PRODUCTION COMPANY: Fox 21 Television Studios

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Gail Berman (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

CAST: Laverne Cox (Orange is the New Black), Victoria Justice (Victorious), Ryan McCartan (Liv and Maddie), Reeve Carney (Penny Dreadful), Christina Milian (Grandfathered), Annaleigh Ashford (Frozen), Staz Nair (Game of Thrones), Adam Lambert (American Idol, Glee), Ben Vereen (All that Jazz), Tim Curry (The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975))

NEW ORIGINAL PROGRAMMING


BAD BLOOD: THE VITO RIZZUTO STORY

60-minute scripted drama series

Date and time TBC

National broadcast

Inspired by reputed mobster Vito Rizzuto, and based on the best-selling book, Business or Blood: Mafia Boss Vito Rizzuto's Last War by Antonio Nicaso and Peter Edwards, Bad Blood: The Vito Rizzuto Story is a six-part, 60-minute scripted limited event series debuting on City and FX in 2017. While imprisoned in Colorado's Supermax Prison for the murders of three Bonanno family members, Rizzuto watches helplessly as the thriving empire he built is dismantled, and his closest friends and family members are mysteriously murdered one by one. When Rizzuto is finally released from prison, a Shakespearean-level revenge tale plays out - leading to the brutal murders of his closest companions, and ultimately the death of Rizzuto himself.

PRODUCTION COMPANY: New Metric Media, Sphere Media, and DHX Media

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Michael Konyves (Barney's Version) and Simon Barry (Van Helsing).

CAST: TBA


NIRVANNA THE BAND THE SHOW
30-minute scripted comedy series

VICELAND Canadian Original

Date and time TBC

National broadcast

Matt and Jay can't catch a break. Jay is a savant, a talented musician who can play any song on piano by listening to just a few bars. Matt is less musically inclined, but is somehow the brains of the operation. Together, they are Nirvanna The Band and are trying to make it big in the Toronto music scene. Nirvanna The Band The Show is based on the popular web series, Nirvana The Band The Show, created by and starring childhood friends Matt Johnson and Jay McCarrol.

PRODUCTION COMPANIES: VICE Studio Canada, Zapruder Films

CAST: Matt Johnson (The Dirties, Project Avalanche) & Jay McCarrol (The Dirties)

SECOND JEN
30-minute scripted comedy series; digital-first

Date and time TBC

National broadcast


Created by and starring Samantha Wan (Sudden Master) and Amanda Joy (Trapped in Terra),Second Jen is a coming-of-age comedy about two second-generation Chinese and Filipino-Canadian millennials and best friends experiencing all of life's "firsts".

PRODUCTION COMPANY: Don Ferguson Productions

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Don Ferguson, Lucy Stewart and Kevin Wallis of Don Ferguson Productions

CAST: Samantha Wan (Sudden Master), Amanda Joy (Little Moments)

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About City

City(TM) television stations in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Montreal and Saskatchewan offer viewers intensely-local, urban-oriented, culturally-diverse television programming. A distinct alternative to other conventional television stations, City engages its viewers with dynamic on-air personalities and delivers an entertaining mix of news, local-interactive formats such as: Breakfast Television and Cityline; as well as local Canadian and US acquired prime time entertainment programming. City is a part of Rogers Broadcasting Limited, a division of Rogers Communications Inc. (TSX: RCI and NYSE: RCI) which is a diversified Canadian communications and media company. For more information on City stations and programming, visit Citytv.com.

SOURCE Rogers Media

Rogers Media

CONTACT: Media Contacts: Michelle Lomack, Broadcast, Rogers Media, michelle.lomack@rci.rogers.com, 416.819.2783; Andrea Goldstein, Rogers, andrea.goldstein@rci.rogers.com, 647.801.4394

Web Site: http://www.rogers.com


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