ABC has handed out new series orders for the 2021-2022 television season and a lot of key projects have made the cut.
The network has ordered hip-hop drama Queens and the comedy series The Wonder Years, Maggie and Abbott Elementary.
Queens, an early favorite, has an all-star cast including leads Eve, Naturi Naughton, Brandy and Nadine Velasquez. It centers on an “estranged and out-of-touch, four women in their 40s reunite for a chance to recapture their fame and regain the swagger they had as the Nasty Bitches—their ‘90s group that made them legends in the hip-hop world.” Taylor Selé and Pepi Sonuga also star. The executive producers are Zahir McGhee, Sabrina Wind and Tim Story. McGhee wrote the pilot, which was directed by Story.
As for The Wonder Years reboot, it is described as “a coming of age story set in the late 1960’s that takes a nostalgic look at a black middle-class family in Montgomery, Alabama through the point-of-view of imaginative 12 year-old Dean. With the wisdom of his adult years, Dean’s hopeful and humorous recollections show how his family found their “wonder years” in a turbulent time.” Don Cheadle narrates the series, which stars Elisha “EJ” Williams, Dule Hill, Saycon Sengbloh, Laura Kariuki, Julian Lerner, Amari O’Neil and Milan Ray. Saladin Patterson writes and executive produces. Lee Daniels and Marc Velez also executive produce with Fred Savage. The pilot episode was written by Patterson and directed by Savage.
And workplace comedy Abbott Elementary is about “a group of dedicated, passionate teachers — and a slightly tone-deaf principal — are brought together in a Philadelphia public school where, despite the odds stacked against them, they are determined to help their students succeed in life. Though these incredible public servants may be outnumbered and underfunded, they love what they do — even if they don’t love the school district’s less-than-stellar attitude toward educating children.” Quinta Brunson, who is the writer, headlines the series. Other stars are Tyler James Williams, Janelle James as Ava Coleman, Chris Perfetti, Lisa Anne Walter and Sheryl Lee Ralph.
Decisions about the remaining pilots and series that are still on the bubble are expected to be announced soon.
