It is always weird that ABC waits until just a few days before its upfront presentation to make its renewal and cancellation decisions. However, this year the list of renewals is a particularly impressive list - with 22 dramas, comedies and alternative series returning for the 2015-16 season.
Here is the full list of shows returning on ABC next season:
- 20/20
- Agent Carter (Season 2)
- Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Season 3)
- American Crime (Season 2)
- America's Funniest Home Videos (Season 26)
- The Bachelor (Season 20)
- Beyond the Tank (Season 2)
- black-ish (Season 2)
- Castle (Season 8)
- Dancing With the Stars (Season 21)
- Fresh Off the Boat (Season 2)
- Galavant (Season 2)
- The Goldbergs (Season 3)
- Grey's Anatomy (Season 12)
- How to Get Away With Murder (Season 2)
- The Middle (Season 7)
- Modern Family (Season 7)
- Nashville (Season 4)
- Once Upon a Time (Season 5)
- Scandal (Season 5)
- Secrets & Lies (Season 2)
- Shark Tank (Season 7)
As this list clearly indicates, this was a good season for ABC with 8 of its new shows making it to year two. The list isn't without some curiosities, but this is still a very solid lineup of shows. The only show whose fate is still in limbo at ABC is Last Man Standing - where the deals are still being negotiated.
The ratings for American Crime and Galavant weren't all that great in their initial runs. And yet, they are being brought back for more episodes because they will likely be awards players - with the original songs on Galavant and the performances on American Crime (with Felicity Huffman, Elvis Nolasco and the show around nominated at the Critics' Choice Awards just yesterday).
Despite rumors about two other Marvel projects being eyed for next season, both current Marvel shows are being brought back, with the prospective spinoff of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. centered around Adrianne Palicki and Nick Blood's characters being shelved for now.
Castle's renewal for an eighth season comes with only Nathan Fillion signed on to star, with Stana Katic's fate with the series still up in the air at the moment. Also the veteran procedural still has to find a new showrunner, following the departure of David Amann after one year on the job.
