NYC: Upfront Week
From May 16-19, The Xtra Mile hit up the big apple once again for New York‘s Upfront week. Normally we go to New York for the annual MET Gala, but we decided to try something different this year.
Upfront week is an annual event hosted during the third week of May in New York City where executives, press, and major advertisers get a first look of major networks announcing their fall prime time schedules. It also allows marketers to buy television commercial airtime “up front” before the television season beings.
Each day, major networks make their programming announcements at grand venues with clips from new television series and announce which shows are cancelled next season. Following the presentations, after parties are hosted where guests can network with the stars of the shows.
The first day we arrived, NBC was the first network to present their fall schedule at the Radio City Music Hall. Some of the new series coming this fall are This is Us, The Good Place, Christmas of Many Colors, Emerald City, Maya & Marty, Spartan Ultimate Team Challenge, The New Celebrity Apprentice, and Timeless (Which Matt Lanter told us to watch out for).
Check out the trailer for Timeless below!
In the afternoon, FOX had their presentation at The Beacon Theatre announcing their new series PITCH, The Exorcist, Doubt, Star, the return of Prison Break, and Bones returns for it’s final 12th season. Returning shows include Scream Queens, New Girl, Empire, Gotham, American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson,Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and the Last Man on Earth.
Check out the New Prison Break trailer below!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9T-9fZn_oA
The following day, ABC hosted their presentation at David Geffen Hall. Some of the network’s fall lineup includes new shows such as “Notorious,” “Conviction,” “Time After Time,” “Still Star-Crossed,” “Designated Survivor,” “Speechless,” “Downward Dog” and “Imaginary Mary.” Returning this fall include The Bachelorette which Chris Harrison tells us it’s going to be the best one yet, The Catch, How to get Away from Murder and Jimmy Kimmel, who was also at the presentation.
Check out the trailer for “Designated Survivor” which generated lots of cheers and excitement in the audience.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_f1v0Nx5Sw
Wednesday, CBS hosted their upfront presentation at Carnegie Hall following their after party at The Plaza hotel. Some of the new comedic series include Kevin Can Wait, Man With a Plan, and The Great Indoors. Other shows include Training Day, Pure Genius, and Bull. We had the chance to talk to the stars of the new upcoming series Pure Genius. New up comer Augustus Prew tells us the show is one to look out for.
Watch the trailer for Pure Genius below!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFR75kb3MM4
On the last and final day of Upfront Week, The CW hosted their presentation at New York City Centre followed by an after party at Park Avenue Spring. They announced that DC will be having a major crossover between The Flash, Arrow, Supergirl and Legends of Tomorrow. The Vampire Diaries, Jane The Virgin, IZombie, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, The Originals will all return in the fall. Hit show The 100 will also be returning, but it said to be returning in 2017 instead. New series joining The CW this fall are Riverdale, No Tomorrow, and Frequency. We chatted with Riley Smith, star of Frequency, and he tells us the show will be filled with drama and mystery. He also mentions how he used to live in Toronto while filming Beauty & The Beast, and New York Minute, and that he misses Yorkville. We also cleared up what was happening with The 100 with Marie Avgeropoulos who tells us we will see a really dark side of Octavia next season. (How amazing was the season finale last Thursday?!). Isaiah Washington dishes that we will also be seeing a lot more of Jaha next season. Another familiar star we had a brief encounter was with Cole Sprouse, who has been away from the spotlight for about five years. He wasn’t the friendliest, he was very off to himself and only wanted to chat with his co-stars. None the less, we are very excited for his new show Riverdale!
Check out the trailer for Frequency below!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BL8Rl2n2C6Y
As usual, Thanks New York for being amazing! Watch out for our post on Toronto’s own Upfront happening in Toronto June 8! Until next time!
