“Firefly” executive producer Tim Minear recently reawakened fans’ demand for a revival (or maybe just made their cries louder than they already were) when he tweeted out a picture from the final day of shooting on Joss Whedon’s short-lived, cult-classic Fox series. And then Whedon added fuel to their fire by retweeting this.
Since Minear started this whole thing, TheWrap asked both him and Fox’s president of entertainment, Michael Thorn, what it would take to revive the Nathan Fillion-led space western at the Television Critics Association press tour Tuesday.
“The macro answer is, any time we look at one of our classic titles, if there’s a way to reinvent it for today so it’s as resonant now as the original was, and is, to the fans, we’re wide open,” Thorn said. “I loved ‘Firefly,’ personally, and I watched every episode. I didn’t work on it, but I loved the show. It had come up before, but we had ‘The Orville’ on the air and it didn’t make sense for us to have, as a broadcast network who is very targeted, to have two space franchises on our air.”
Also Read: Fox's 'neXt' Creator Manny Coto Does Not Believe We're Living in a Simulation
And while “Orville” has since moved to Hulu, freeing up that “space franchise” territory, Thorn points out that Minear is already “very busy” at Fox right now, showrunning both “9-1-1” and its upcoming spinoff “9-1-1: Lone Star.”
“But it’s a good idea,” the Fox exec said.
The 20th Century Fox Television-produced “Firefly” premiered on Fox in September 2002 and was canceled after eleven of the first season’s fourteen produced episodes were aired. But since then, the show has amassed a very serious fanbase. Along with Fillion, the show starred Gina Torres, Alan Tudyk, Morena Baccarin, Adam Baldwin, Jewel Staite, Sean Maher, Summer Glau and Ron Glass.
“In this crowded marketplace, if you can start with some kind of brand awareness and IP that has a vocal support and, in this case, a crazy, passionate love for it, you’re ahead of the game,” Thorn said.
Also Read: Fox Orders Stop-Motion Animated Holiday Special From Seth Green's Stoopid Buddy Stoodios
As for Minear, he says he and Whedon have been talking about a revival at different points over the past decade.
“Joss did sort of revive it by making ‘Serenity,'” Minear said, referring to the 2005 film that acted as a big-screen series finale for the show. “But we have talked about different permutations and how that might work. Do you take two of the characters and put them in a different place and sort of retell a new story with two old characters, with new characters?”
“You’re not gonna get everybody back — unless you did something like a limited series, like they did for ‘The X-Files.’ Then maybe you could get these people to come back. ‘Cause Nathan is a little busy doing ‘The Rookie.’ But I also know, ’cause I just texted a little bit with Nathan over the weekend, when I posted those pictures from ‘Firefly’ and he got very sentimental. Everyone who worked on that show dearly loves it and they all still talk to each other. I still see Alan occasionally.”
Basically, Minear thinks the only way “Firefly” could be revived is in a limited series format.
“I would love to see, like, an eight- or 10-episode limited adventure in that universe.”
Winter TV 2020: Premiere Dates for New and Returning Shows (Photos)
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ABC/AMC/NBC/NetflixWinter is well underway and with it, naturally, comes the Winter TV season. In honor of the colder months and their small-screen offerings, TheWrap has rounded up the premiere dates for not just the new and returning shows on Fox, ABC, NBC, CBS and The CW, but also the ones for the eagerly anticipated series hitting cable channels and streaming services this winter. Click through our gallery to find out when your favorite winter shows will be back and when your possible new favorites will debut.
Also Read: Why Netflix Is Betting You’ll Want ‘The Witcher’ Season 2 – Before You’ve Seen Season 1
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NetflixSeries: "Dracula" Net: Netflix Premiere Date: Saturday, Jan. 4 Time: N/A
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TLCSeries: "Say Yes to the Dress: America" Net: TLC Premiere Date: Saturday, Jan. 4 Time: 8 p.m.
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TLCSeries: "Sister Wives" Net: TLC Premiere Date: Sunday, Jan. 5 Time: 8 p.m.
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Discovery ChannelSeries: "Naked and Afraid: Alone" Net: Discovery Channel Premiere Date: Sunday, Jan. 5 Time: 10 p.m.
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NBCSeries: "America's Got Talent: The Champions" Net: NBC Premiere Date: Monday, Jan. 6 Time: 8 p.m.
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ABCSeries: "The Bachelor" Net: ABC Premiere Date: Monday, Jan. 6 Time: 8 p.m.
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VH1Series: "Love & Hip Hop: Miami" Net: VH1 Premiere Date: Monday, Jan. 6 Time: 9 p.m.
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NBCSeries: "Manifest" Net: NBC Premiere Date: Monday, Jan. 6 Time: 10 p.m.
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NBCSeries: "Ellen's Game of Games" Net: NBC Premiere Date: Tuesday, Jan. 7 Time: 8 p.m.
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ABCSeries: "Jeopardy: The Greatest of All Time" Net: ABC Premiere Date: Tuesday, Jan. 7 Time: 8 p.m.
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VH1Series: "Nick Cannon Presents: Wild N' Out" Net: VH1 Premiere Date: Tuesday, Jan. 7 Time: 8 p.m.
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FoxSeries: "Gordon Ramsay's 24 Hours to Hell and Back" Net: Fox Premiere Date: Tuesday, Jan. 7 Time: 9 p.m.
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OWNSeries: "The Haves and the Have Nots" Net: OWN Premiere Date: Tuesday, Jan. 7 Time: 9 p.m.
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Pop TVSeries: "Schitt's Creek" Net: Pop TV Premiere Date: Tuesday, Jan. 7 Time: 9 p.m.
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BravoSeries: "Vanderpump Rules" Net: Bravo Premiere Date: Tuesday, Jan. 7 Time: 9 p.m.
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CBSSeries: "FBI: Most Wanted" Net: CBS Premiere Date: Tuesday, Jan. 7 Time: 10 p.m.
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NBCSeries: "Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist" Net: NBC Premiere Date: Tuesday, Jan. 7 Time: 10 p.m.
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NetflixSeries: "Cheer" Net: Netflix Premiere Date: Wednesday, Jan. 8 Time: N/A
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CBSSeries: "Undercover Boss" Net: CBS Premiere Date: Wednesday, Jan. 8 Time: 8 p.m.
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MTVSeries: "Catfish: The TV Show" Net: MTV Premiere Date: Wednesday, Jan. 8 Time: 8 p.m.
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CBSSeries: "Criminal Minds" Net: CBS Premiere Date: Wednesday, Jan. 8 Time: 9 p.m.
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A&ESeries: "America's Top Dog" Net: A&E Premiere Date: Wednesday, Jan. 8 Time: 9 p.m.
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FreeformSeries: "Party of Five" Net: Freeform Premiere Date: Wednesday, Jan. 8 Time: 9 p.m.
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NetflixSeries: "Medical Police" Net: Netflix Premiere Date: Friday, Jan. 10 Time: N/A
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NetflixSeries: "AJ & The Queen" Net: Netflix Premiere Date: Friday, Jan. 10 Time: N/A
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NBCSeries: "Lincoln Rhyme: Hunt for the Bone Collector" Net: NBC Premiere Date: Friday, Jan. 10 Time: 8 p.m.
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HBOSeries: "The Outsider" Net: HBO Premiere Date: Sunday, Jan. 12 Time: 9 p.m.
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HBOSeries: "The New Pope" Net: HBO Premiere Date: Monday, Jan. 13 Time: 9 p.m.
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NetflixSeries: "Grace & Frankie" Net: Netflix Premiere Date: Wednesday, Jan. 15 Time: N/A
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SyfySeries: "The Magicians" Net: Syfy Premiere Date: Wednesday, Jan. 15 Time: 10 p.m.
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Paramount NetworkSeries: "68 Whiskey" Net: Paramount Network Premiere Date: Wednesday, Jan. 15 Time: 10 p.m.
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CNBCSeries: "Listing Impossible" Net: CNBC Premiere Date: Wednesday, Jan. 15 Time: 10 p.m.
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NetflixSeries: "Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez" Net: Netflix Premiere Date: Wednesday, Jan. 15 Time: N/A
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FreeformSeries: "Grown-ish" Net: Freeform Premiere Date: Thursday, Jan. 16 Time: 8 p.m.
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FreeformSeries: "Everything's Gonna Be Okay" Net: Freeform Premiere Date: Thursday, Jan. 16 Time: 8:30 p.m.
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Apple TV+Series: "Little America" Net: Apple TV+ Premiere Date: Friday, Jan. 17 Time: N/A
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Disney+Series: "Diary of a Future President" Net: Disney+ Premiere Date: Friday, Jan. 17 Time: N/A
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NetflixSeries: "Sex Education" Net: Netflix Premiere Date: Friday, Jan. 17 Time: N/A
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BBC AmericaSeries: "Seven Worlds, One Planet" Net: BBC America Premiere Date: Saturday, Jan. 18 Time: 9 p.m.
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HBOSeries: "Avenue 5" Net: HBO Premiere Date: Sunday, Jan. 19 Time: 10 p.m.
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FoxSeries: "9-1-1: Lone Star" Net: Fox Premiere Date: Sunday, Jan. 19 Time: 10 p.m.
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HBOSeries: "Curb Your Enthusiasm" Net: HBO Premiere Date: Sunday, Jan. 19 Time: 10:30 p.m.
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Nat GeoSeries: "Brain Games" Net: Nat Geo Premiere Date: Monday, Jan. 20 Time: 9 p.m.
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HGTVSeries: "Home Town" Net: HGTV Premiere Date: Monday, Jan. 20 Time: 9 p.m.
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The CWSeries: "DC's Legends of Tomorrow" Net: The CW Premiere Date: Tuesday, Jan. 21 Time: 9 p.m.
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HistorySeries: "Project Blue Book" Net: History Channel Premiere Date: Tuesday, Jan. 21 Time: 10 p.m.
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Comedy CentralSeries: "Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens" Net: Comedy Central Premiere Date: Wednesday, Jan. 22 Time: 10:30 p.m.
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CBS All AccessSeries: "Star Trek: Picard" Net: CBS All Access Premiere Date: Thursday, Jan. 23 Time: N/A
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ABCSeries: "Station 19" Net: ABC Premiere Date: Thursday, Jan. 23 Time: 8 p.m.
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FoxSeries: "Outmatched" Net: Fox Premiere Date: Thursday, Jan. 23 Time: 8:30 p.m.
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FreeformSeries: "The Bold Type" Net: Freeform Premiere Date: Thursday, Jan. 23 Time: 9 p.m.
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NetflixSeries: "Chilling Adventures of Sabrina" Net: Netflix Premiere Date: Friday, Jan. 24 Time: N/A
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NetflixSeries: "The Ranch" Net: Netflix Premiere Date: Friday, Jan. 24 Time: N/A
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HuluSeries: "Shrill" Net: Hulu Premiere Date: Friday, Jan. 24 Time: N/A
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NetflixSeries: "Goop Lab with Gwyneth Paltrow" Net: Netflix Premiere Date: Friday, Jan. 24 Time: N/A
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ShowtimeSeries: "The Circus" Net: Showtime Premiere Date: Sunday, Jan. 26 Time: 8 p.m.
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ShowtimeSeries: "Our Cartoon President" Net: Showtime Premiere Date: Sunday, Jan. 26 Time: 8:30 p.m.
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YouTubeSeries: "Justin Bieber: Seasons" Net: YouTube Premiere Date: Monday, Jan. 27 Time: N/A
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USA NetworkSeries: "Biggest Loser" Net: USA Network Premiere Date: Tuesday, Jan. 28 Time: 9 p.m.
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TBSSeries: "Miracle Workers: Dark Ages" Net: TBS Premiere Date: Tuesday, Jan. 28 Time: 10:30 p.m.
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NetflixSeries: "Next in Fashion" Net: Netflix Premiere Date: Wednesday, Jan. 29 Time: N/A
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USA NetworkSeries: "Miz & Mrs." Net: USA Network Premiere Date: Wednesday, Jan. 29 Time: 10 p.m.
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NetflixSeries: "The Stranger" Net: Netflix Premiere Date: Thursday, Jan. 30 Time: N/A
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NetflixSeries: "BoJack Horseman" Net: Netflix Premiere Date: Friday, Jan. 31 Time: N/A
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Amazon Prime VideoSeries: "Ted Bundy: Falling for a Killer" Net: Amazon Prime Video Premiere Date: Friday, Jan. 31 Time: N/A
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NetflixSeries: "Ragnorak" Net: Netflix Premiere Date: Friday, Jan. 31 Time: N/A
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FoxSeries: "The Masked Singer" Net: Fox Premiere Date: Sunday, Feb. 2 Time: 10:30 p.m.
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SpectrumSeries: "Manhunt: Deadly Games" Net: Spectrum Premiere Date: Monday, Feb. 3 Time: N/A
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HBOSeries: "McMillions" Net: HBO Premiere Date: Monday, Feb. 3 Time: 10 p.m.
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ShowtimeSeries: "Desus & Mero" Net: Showtime Premiere Date: Monday, Feb. 3 Time: 11 p.m.
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GettySeries: "Lego Masters" Net: Fox Premiere Date: Wednesday, Feb. 5 Time: 9 p.m.
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CBS All AccessSeries: "Interrogation" Net: CBS All Access Premiere Date: Thursday, Feb. 6 Time: N/A
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The CWSeries: "Katy Keene" Net: The CW Premiere Date: Thursday, Feb. 6 Time: 8 p.m.
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NBCSeries: "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" Net: NBC Premiere Date: Thursday, Feb. 6 Time: 8 p.m.
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USA NetworkSeries: "The Sinner" Net: USA Network Premiere Date: Thursday, Feb. 6 Time: 9 p.m.
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NBCSeries: "Indebted" Net: NBC Premiere Date: Thursday, Feb. 6 Time: 9:30 p.m.
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CBSSeries: "Tommy" Net: CBS Premiere Date: Thursday, Feb. 6 Time: 10 p.m.
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USA NetworkSeries: "Briarpatch" Net: USA Network Premiere Date: Thursday, Feb. 6 Time: 10 p.m.
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Apple TV+Series: "Mythic Quest: Raven's Banquet" Net: Apple TV+ Premiere Date: Friday, Feb. 7 Time: N/A
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NetflixSeries: "Locke & Key" Net: Netflix Premiere Date: Friday, Feb. 7 Time: N/A
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CBSSeries: "MacGyver" Net: CBS Premiere Date: Friday, Feb. 7 Time: 8 p.m.
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HBOSeries: "High Maintenance" Net: HBO Premiere Date: Friday, Feb. 7 Time: 11 p.m.
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ShowtimeSeries: "Homeland" Net: Showtime Premiere Date: Sunday, Feb. 9 Time: 9 p.m.
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ShowtimeSeries: "Kidding" Net: Showtime Premiere Date: Sunday, Feb. 9 Time: 10 p.m.
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OWNSeries: "Cherish the Day" Net: OWN Premiere Date: Tuesday, Feb. 11 Time: 10 p.m.
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ABCSeries: "For Life" Net: ABC Premiere Date: Tuesday, Feb. 11 Time: 10 p.m.
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CBSSeries: "Survivor" Net: CBS Premiere Date: Wednesday, Feb. 12 Time: 8 p.m.
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E!Series: "The Soup" Net: E! Premiere Date: Wednesday, Feb. 12 Time: 10 p.m.
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NetflixSeries: "Narcos: Mexico" Net: Netflix Premiere Date: Thursday, Feb. 13 Time: N/A
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NetflixSeries: "Love Is Blind" Net: Netflix Premiere Date: Thursday, Feb. 13 Time: N/A
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HuluSeries: "High Fidelity" Net: Hulu Premiere Date: Friday, Feb. 14 Time: N/A
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HuluSeries: "Utopia Falls" Net: Hulu Premiere Date: Friday, Feb. 14 Time: n/A
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Apple TV+Series: "Visible: Out on Television" Net: Apple TV+ Premiere Date: Friday, Feb. 14 Time: N/A
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StarzSeries: "Outlander" Net: Starz Premiere Date: Sunday, Feb. 16 Time: 8 p.m.
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ABCSeries: "American Idol" Net: ABC Premiere Date: Sunday, Feb. 16 Time: 8 p.m.
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FoxSeries: "Duncanville" Net: Fox Premiere Date: Sunday, Feb. 16 Time: 8:30 p.m.
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HGTVSeries: "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" Net: HGTV Premiere Date: Sunday, Feb. 16 Time: 9 p.m.
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NBCSeries: "Good Girls" Net: NBC Premiere Date: Sunday, Feb. 16 Time: 10 p.m.
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HBOSeries: "Last Week Tonight With John Oliver" Net: HBO Premiere Date: Sunday, Feb. 16 Time: 11 p.m.
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Facebook WatchSeries: "Sacred Lies" Net: Facebook Watch Premiere Date: Thursday, Feb. 20 Time: N/A
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NetflixSeries: "The Chef Show" Net: Netflix Premiere Date: Wednesday, Feb. 19 Time: N/A
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NetflixSeries: "Gentefied" Net: Netflix Premiere Date: Friday, Feb. 21 Time: N/A
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Amazon Prime VideoSeries: "Hunters" Net: Amazon Prime Video Premiere Date: Friday, Feb. 21 Time: N/A
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AMCSeries: "Better Call Saul" Net: AMC Premiere Date: Sunday, Feb. 23 Time: 10 p.m.
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NBCSeries: "The Voice" Net: NBC Premiere Date: Monday, Feb. 24 Time: 8 p.m.
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NBCSeries: "Little Big Shots" Net: NBC Premiere Date: Monday, Feb. 24 Time: 10 p.m.
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NetflixSeries: "I Am Not Okay With This" Net: Netflix Premiere Date: Wednesday, Feb. 26 Time: N/A
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NetflixSeries: "Altered Carbon" Net: Netflix Premiere Date: Thursday, Feb. 27 Time: N/A
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MTVSeries: "Jersey Shore: Family Vacation" Net: MTV Premiere Date: Thursday, Feb. 27 Time: 8 p.m.
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Vh1Series: "RuPaul's Drag Race" Net: Vh1 Premiere Date: Friday, Feb. 28 Time: 8 p.m.
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AMCSeries: "Dispatches From Elsewhere" Net: AMC Premiere Date: Sunday, March 1 Time: 10 p.m.
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FXSeries: "Breeders" Net: FX Premiere Date: Monday, March 2 Time: 10 p.m.
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BETSeries: "Twenties" Net: BET Premiere Date: Wednesday, March 4 Time: 10 p.m.
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CNBCSeries: "The Deed: Chicago" Net: CNBC Premiere Date: Wednesday, March 4 Time: 10 p.m.
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FXXSeries: "Dave" Net: FXX Premiere Date: Wednesday, March 4 Time: 10 p.m.
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NetflixSeries: "Castlevania" Net: Netflix Premiere Date: Thursday, March 5 Time: N/A
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FXSeries: "Devs" Net: FX on Hulu Premiere Date: Thursday, March 5 Time: N/A
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FXSeries: "Better Things" Net: FX Premiere Date: Thursday, March 5 Time: 10 p.m.
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FXXSeries: "Cake" Net: FXX Premiere Date: Thursday, March 5 Time: 10 p.m.
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Apple TV+Series: "Amazing Stories" Net: Apple TV+ Premiere Date: Friday, March 6 Time: N/A
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HuluSeries: "Hillary" Net: Hulu Premiere Date: Friday, March 6 Time: N/A
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FXSeries: "The Most Dangerous Animal of All" Net: FX Premiere Date: Friday, March 6 Time: 10 p.m.
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AMCSeries: "Ride With Norman Reedus" Net: AMC Premiere Date: Sunday, March 8 Time: 11 p.m.
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Nat GeoSeries: "Cosmos: Possible Worlds" Net: Nat Geo Premiere Date: Monday, March 9 Time: 9 p.m.
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NBCSeries: "Council of Dads" Net: NBC Premiere Date: Tuesday, March 10 Time: 10 p.m.
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NetflixSeries: "On My Block" Net: Netflix Premiere Date: Wednesday, March 11 Time: N/A
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NetflixSeries: "Elite" Net: Netflix Premiere Date: Friday, March 13 Time: N/A
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Pop TVSeries: "Flack" Net: Pop TV Premiere Date: Friday, March 13 Time: 10 p.m.
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NBCSeries: "The Wall" Net: NBC Premiere Date: Sunday, March 15 Time: 7 p.m.
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HBOSeries: "Westworld" Net: HBO Premiere Date: Sunday, March 15 Time: 9 p.m.
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ShowtimeSeries: "Black Monday" Net: Showtime Premiere Date: Sunday, March 15 Time: 10 p.m.
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The CWSeries: "Roswell, New Mexico" Net: The CW Premiere Date: Monday, March 16 Time: 9 p.m.
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HBOSeries: "The Plot Against America" Net: HBO Premiere Date: Monday, March 16 Time: 9 p.m.
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HBOSeries: "My Brilliant Friend" Net: HBO Premiere Date: Monday, March 16 Time: 10 p.m.
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FreeformSeries: "Motherland: Fort Salem" Net: Freeform Premiere Date: Wednesday, March 18 Time: 9 p.m.
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HuluSeries: "Little Fires Everywhere" Net: Hulu Premiere Date: Wednesday, March 18 Time: N/A
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IFCSeries: "Brockmire" Net: IFC Premiere Date: Wednesday, March 18 Time: 10 p.m.
Here’s when 137 broadcast, cable and streaming series debut and come back
Winter is well underway and with it, naturally, comes the Winter TV season. In honor of the colder months and their small-screen offerings, TheWrap has rounded up the premiere dates for not just the new and returning shows on Fox, ABC, NBC, CBS and The CW, but also the ones for the eagerly anticipated series hitting cable channels and streaming services this winter. Click through our gallery to find out when your favorite winter shows will be back and when your possible new favorites will debut.
Also Read: Why Netflix Is Betting You’ll Want ‘The Witcher’ Season 2 – Before You’ve Seen Season 1
