ABC has announced release dates for two new series, Black Box (Thursday, April 24th) and Mind Games (Tuesday, February 25th); two returning shows, The Bachelor and Dancing With the Stars (Monday, March 17th), and a new Toy Story holiday adventure, Toy Story That Time Forgot (Holiday 2014).
Black Box is a unique medical series starring Kelly Reilly as Catherine Black (above left), a world famous neurologist at the state of the art medical facility known as The Cube. As the staff of The Cube attempt to unravel the mysteries of the brain, Black hides from them the fact that she is bipolar.
Mind Games (above right) stars Christian Slater as Ross Edwards, con artist and ex-con who, with his brilliant, bipolar, behavioral scientist brother, Clark, sets up a company to use their unique skills to influence situations to their clients’ advantage without the clients’ target even knowing that they’re doing it. Their methods could be described as ‘a little bit of science, a dash of con-artistry, plus a smattering of Jedi mind tricks.’
Follow the jump for series descriptions, dates and times.
ABC ANNOUNCES PREMIERE DATES FOR NEW DRAMA SERIES “BLACK BOX” ALONG WITH “DANCING WITH THE STARS” AND AN ALL-NEW DISNEY•PIXAR SPECIAL, “TOY STORY THAT TIME FORGOT,” FOR THE 2014 HOLIDAY SEASON
Two-Night Event Scheduled For “The Bachelor,”
And New Premiere Date for “Mind Games” on Tuesday, February 25
Paul Lee, president, ABC Entertainment Group, today announced premiere dates for the new drama series “Black Box” on THURSDAY, APRIL 24 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET), along with a new season of “Dancing with the Stars” on MONDAY, MARCH 17 (8:00-10:00 p.m., ET), and the pick-up of an all-new Disney•Pixar holiday special, “Toy Story That Time Forgot” for the 2014 holiday season, following the recent success of “Toy Story OF TERROR!.”
The network also announced a special two-night “Bachelor” event featuring everyone’s favorite Bachelor, Juan Pablo Galavis, on MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24 and TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25 (8:00-10:00 p.m., ET), and new drama “Mind Games” will now premiere on TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET), following night two of the “Bachelor” event.
Following is information about the series and special, in alphabetical order:
“THE BACHELOR” (Monday, February 24 & Tuesday, February 25, 8:00-10:00 p.m., ET)
Juan Pablo Galavis, the former Venezuelan soccer player, stepped out of the limo to meet last season’s Bachelorette, Desiree Hartsock, and into the hearts of female fans across the country who were taken with his sincerity, easy-going charm and good looks. The dashing single dad, very devoted to his daughter, Camila, was ready to find love. Juan Pablo became one of the most talked about men of the season, despite failing to win Desiree’s heart. The fans spoke and now Juan Pablo is back for his own chance to find the love of his life, wife and stepmother to his daughter.
Hosted by Chris Harrison, “The Bachelor” is a production of Next Entertainment in association with Warner Horizon Television. Mike Fleiss, Martin Hilton and Alycia Rossiter are the executive producers.
“BLACK BOX” (Thursday, April 24 10:00-11:00 p.m. ET)
Catherine Black is a world-famous neurologist at the state-of-the-art medical institution known as “The Cube.” Catherine is brilliant, beautiful, and at the top of her game, though she’s hiding a secret of her own: she’s bipolar. Each week, the doctors on staff attempt to unravel the mysteries of the brain and are constantly challenged by cases never-before-seen on television. The medical stories are moving, bizarre and a visual feast. The personal stories are riveting. The patients have rare, highly visual, often hallucinogenic and startling conditions, which we’ll see through their eyes as Catherine diagnoses and treats them.
“Black Box” stars Kelly Reilly as Catherine Black, Ditch Davey as Dr. Ian Bickman, David Ajala as Will Van Renseller, Ali Wong as Dr. Lina Lark, Laura Fraser as Reagan Black, David Chisum as Joshua Black, Siobhan Williams as Esme Black with Terry Kinney as Dr. Owen Morely and Vanessa Redgrave as Dr. Hartramph.
“Black Box” was written by Amy Holden Jones (“Mystic Pizza,” “Indecent Proposal”). Simon Curtis (“My Week with Marilyn”) is the director. Ilene Chaiken (“The L Word”), Amy Holden Jones, Bryan Singer (“House,” “X-Men”), Anne Thomopoulos (“Oz,” “From the Earth to the Moon”), Oly Obst, Gary Michael Walters (“Drive,” “Bobby”), David Lancaster (“Drive,” Broadway’s “The Bridges of Madison County”) and Michel Litvak are the executive producers. The series is a production of Bold Films Television.
“DANCING WITH THE STARS” (Monday, March 17, 8:00-10:00 p.m., ET)
“Dancing With the Stars” returns for its 18th season with an all-new celebrity cast. The competition will feature twelve celebrities who will brave the dance floor for the very first time. Each week, these celebrities will leave their comfort zones and endure hours of gruelling rehearsals to master technical choreography and entertaining performances. In the end, only one star will rise above the rest to be crowned champion and win the coveted mirror-ball trophy.
Hosted by Emmy® Award-winning Tom Bergeron (“America’s Funniest Home Videos”) and Brooke Burke-Charvet (“Dancing with the Stars” Season 7 Champion), “Dancing with the Stars” is the hit series in which celebrities perform choreographed dance routines which are judged by renowned ballroom judge Len Goodman and dancer/choreographers Bruno Tonioli and Carrie Ann Inaba.
“Dancing with the Stars” is produced by BBC Worldwide Productions. Conrad Green, Ashley Edens-Shaffer and Joe Sungkur are executive producers. Alex Rudzinski directs.
“MIND GAMES” (Tuesday, February 25, 10:00-11:00 p.m. ET)
With a little bit of science, a dash of con-artistry, plus a smattering of Jedi mind tricks, brothers Ross (Christian Slater) and Clark Edwards (Steve Zahn) can tailor a plan to influence any life-altering situation, thereby making their clients’ dreams come true and their nightmares go away. They are partners in Edwards and Associates, an unusual business based on the belief that people’s decisions are influenced by their environment in ways they’re not aware.
By using the hard science of psychological manipulation, the brothers commit to solving their clients’ problems. With Clark’s expertise and Ross’s con artist ways, each believing to know what makes people tick, and with their unique staff to help them, the brothers will use psychology and science to offer clients an alternative to their fates.
“Mind Games” stars Steve Zahn as Clark, Christian Slater as Ross, Megalyn Echikunwoke as Megan, Gregory Marcel as Miles, Jaime Ray Newman as Sam, and Cedric Sanders as Latrell.
Written and executive-produced by Kyle Killen, the series is also executive-produced by Keith Redmon, Timothy Busfield and Donald Todd. “Mind Games” is a 20th Century Fox Television production.
“TOY STORY THAT TIME FORGOT” (Holiday 2014)
“Toy Story That Time Forgot,” Disney•Pixar’s new Christmas special featuring your favorite characters from the “Toy Story” films, will air during the holidays this year on ABC. The special comes on the heels of the success of “Toy Story OF TERROR!,” which premiered to stellar ratings this past October.
During a post-Christmas play date, the “Toy Story” gang find themselves in uncharted territory when the coolest set of action figures ever turn out to be dangerously delusional. It’s all up to Trixie, the triceratops, if the gang hopes to return to Bonnie’s room in this “Toy Story That Time Forgot.”
ABC’s October 2013 premiere of “Toy Story OF TERROR!” ranked No. 1 in its time period among Total Viewers (10.5 million) and Adults 18-49 (3.1/10), giving the Net its best performance in the half-hour in nearly 2 years – since 11/09/11. In addition, it was the night’s dominant No. 1 show with Kids 2-11 posting the Net’s highest rating in the half-hour in almost 6 years – 11/28/07.
The cast of “Toy Story That Time Forgot” includes Tom Hanks as Woody, Tim Allen as Buzz, Kristen Schaal as Trixie, Kevin McKidd (“Grey’s Anatomy”) as Reptillus Maximus, Wallace Shawn as Rex, Timothy Dalton as Mr. Pricklepants, Don Rickles as Mr. Potato Head and Joan Cusack as Jessi.
“Toy Story That Time Forgot” is produced by Galyn Susman and directed by Steve Purcell. The special is from Disney•Pixar.
Kelly Reilly Photo by Rick Rowell, Mind Games cast by Bob D’Amico/Courtesy ABC