With “Downton Abbey” coming to its finale and “The People v. O.J. Simpson” nearly halfway over, we are wondering what we will watch next month. We’ve consulted the media oracles and this is what they have offered us. Fingers crossed any of these shows sees a second season.
March 3
“The Family,” ABC In what may be a case of mistaken identity, Adam Warren (Liam James) comes home to his family after being kidnapped ten years before by a local sex offender (Andrew McCarthy). While Adam’s parents (Joan Allen and Rupert Graves) are initially relieved to see their son, doubts surface when the young man in front of them doesn’t quite match their memories. “The Family” promises not to let its secrets stay buried too long as the Warrens learn to cope with their uncomfortable new realities.
This show bears similarities to last year’s “Secrets & Lies,” but hopefully Oscar nominee Allen can be counted on to make “The Family” a miniseries to remember.
March 8
“The Real O’Neals,” ABC This series is another one of those “perfect family” shows where everyone is crazy, offensive and secretive. Throw in one gay character for good measure. In this case, they’re also Irish Catholic so expect “The Real O’Neals,” which stars Martha Plimpton and Jay R. Ferguson, to burst with tasteless Jesus jokes, bad Virgin Mary jokes, trite repressed sexuality jokes and anything else the hacks in Hollywood (in this case, Casey Johnson and David Windsor) can scribble down in the writers’ room. We’re hoping this one dies before the nearest priest can administer last rites.
“Of Kings and Prophets,” ABC It’s “Game of Thrones” set in Biblical times, 1,000 B.C. (For millennials, that means “before Christ”). The creators even borrow that series’s motifs, calling the descendants of King Saul (Ray Winstone) the “House of Saul.” This show doesn’t have dragons, White Walkers or Jon Snow, so what does it offer? King David! Played by someone named Olly Rix (!), he is the Bethlehem shepherd whose pastoral days are numbered as he is short-listed to be the next King of Israel (hello, penthouse). The prophet of the piece is Samuel (Mohammad Bakri). As usual, he is mysterious and enigmatic and doesn’t use social media. But he still plays a pivotal role in the hierarchy of the kingdom of heaven.
Last year, holy roller Mark Burnett brought us “The Bible” on NBC and it didn’t even make it to the Resurrection. “Of Kings and Prophets” will have to part the Red Sea to find an audience.
March 16
“Criminal Minds — Beyond Borders,” CBS Gary Sinise (“CSI: NY”) returns to CBS in this spinoff from the out-of-gas “Criminal Minds.” Sinise is Jack Garrett, an FBI veteran dedicated to safely returning US residents home by profiling and apprehending foreign criminals. With American isolationism at an all-time high, this could be the right show at the right time. Sinise has the same icy blue stare as his CBS compadre Mark Harmon, but brings years of theater experience to enliven what is basically a procedural. Co-starring Alana De La Garza, a casualty of last season’s “Forever,” as Sinise’s wife, Clara.
March 20
“Crowded,” NBC This topical sitcom broaches the phenomenon of adult children moving back in with their parents. Just when Mike and Martina Moore (Patrick Warburton and Carrie Preston) get their kids out the door and start making up for lost alone time, there’s a knock at the door. Mike and Martina can’t run; they can’t hide. Their grown daughters (Miranda Cosgrove and Mia Serafino) need their mommy and daddy — and their spacious home — again.
March 23
“Heartbeat,” ABC The real-life achievements of heart transplant surgeon Dr. Kathy Magliato serve as the inspiration for this medical drama. In “Heartbeat,” Kathy becomes Alex Panttiere and she is played by Melissa George (“Grey’s Anatomy’). Her TV personality combines cliches from half a dozen medical shows. She’s unorthodox, cutting edge, dismissive and, of couse, brilliant. And she has two surgeon boyfriends, two kids and a gay ex-husband. How does she find to operate? Co-starring Dave Annable as one of her suitors.
March 24
“The Catch,” ABC As Viola Davis takes a break from the histrionics on “How To Get Away With Murder,” Mireille Enos, so memorable as the intense detective with the wet sweaters on “The Killing,” takes her place on “The Catch.” Enos plays Alice Vaughan, a filthy rich private investigator whose fiancé, Benjamin Jones (Peter Krause), cons her out of millions and disappears, The narrative? Alice wants payback.
The latest project out of the melodrama factory known as Shondaland, “The Catch” stars two familiar TV faces in Enos and the versatile Krause. Should provide comfort food to Shonda Rhimes’ hungry, hell-bent female fan base.
March 31
“Rush Hour,” CBS Justin Hires and Jon Foo star in this remake of the hit movie that featured Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan. Hires is Carter, the maverick LAPD detective and Foo is Lee, the by-the-book Hong Kong detective who also knows martial arts. Not too formulaic, but let us go on. Sitcom vet Wendie Malick (“Hot in Cleveland”) plays their boss who is frequently exasperated by their scrapes. Even as cultures clash and tempers flare, Carter and Lee can’t deny they make a formidable team.
April 4
“Game of Silence,” NBC Jackson Brooks (David Lyons) is a successful, cocky attorney on the fast track to becoming partner at his firm — until his childhood friends show up after a long absence wanting his expertise in a matter with criminal implications. Just who are these friends? Gil (Michael Raymond James), Shawn (Larenz) and Boots (Derek Phillips) spent summers in a Texas small town–and 9 months in jail when they were in a fatal car accident. What happened during their life behind bars resurfaces in the ugliest of way, tempting the grown men to right the wrongs of their shared past.