From reality shows to drama, the new TV spring lineup brings some changes to your plasma TV. Not all of the shows coming down the line seem built to last. Here’s a primer on what to expect from the major networks and premium channels for spring shows.
ABC
- Bet on Your Baby – Beginning April 13, there will be a new game show for parents: Parents must guess or predict what their baby will do for a chance to win $50,000 toward their child’s college tuition.
- Family Tools – Premiering in May comes Family Tools, a drama about a handyman adapted from the BBC show White Van Man. The British drama had a good show of it in season one before going off the rails on season two; thus far, there have only been 10 episodes of Family Tools ordered so don’t get too attached to this one.
- Mistresses – ABC is again borrowing from the Brits with this one, adapting a 2008-2010 British drama about four female friends and their different relationships. Think Sex in the City, but with more cheating and scandal.
Showtime
- Bob Saget: That’s What I’m Talkin’ About – Longtime comedian and family favorite Bob Saget returns to TV with a comedy special, “Bob Saget: That’s What I’m Talkin’ About.” While Saget’s sitcom work make him seem like a family man, his humor veers toward the dark and can be effectively funny when it goes there. Worth a tune-in if you’ve enjoyed his previous work.
- The Big C – While not exactly new, this Showtime cancer drama is switching to a new format — four hour long shows instead of the previous shorter shows. Expect to see the major character’s Cathy Jameson (played by Laura Linney) wind down her life as the series answers some of the big questions last season’s cliffhanger finale left open. While this one promises more drama than comedy in its final season, Showtime promises a “satisfying” ending.
Bravo
- The Real Housewives of Orange County – This reality drama follows a rotating cast of glitzy Orange County, California housewives. Past seasons have seen the housewives adapt to financial losses, foreclosures, evictions, marital stress and more. Live vicariously through these OC divas as they shop, gossip and play to the cameras.
- The Kandi Facory – Watch Kandi Burress as she tries to help 16 young artists get their musical careers off the ground. Bravo began The Kandi Factory as a one-time special, but so many viewers tuned it to watch that the station ordered a full-season reality series for Kandi and her crew. This show started in April 2013 and has premiered two episodes so far.
- Newlyweds: The First Year – Beginning in May, this reality show chronicles four couples’ first year of marriage. The couples never meet but viewers will experience the commonalities in their relationships.
NBC
- Hannibal – Fans of the film “Silence of the Lambs” will want to watch Hannibal, which features serial killer Hannibal Lechter and which premiered in April. This psychological thriller with police and FBI presence looks promising.
These new spring releases cover the gamut, so there’s sure to be something for everyone. Only time will tell which of these releases has staying power in the crowded television marketplace.