ABC picks up 'Once Upon a Time' spin-off, Ryan Seacrest comedy and more

ABC picks up ‘Once Upon a Time’ spin-off, Ryan Seacrest comedy and more

By Yvonne Villarreal

May 10, 2013 12 AM PT

ABC has a load of new faces slated to make their debut next season, including a “Once Upon a Time” spin-off and comedies from Ryan Seacrest and Rebel Wilson.

On the drama front, the network is tapping into its solid performer “Once Upon a Time” with the spin-off centered on Wonderland -- post- and pre-curse. Sophie Lowe (“Beautiful Kate”) stars as resident fairy-tale figure Alice. It’s written and executive produced by “Once Upon a Time” czars Eddie Kitsis and Adam Horowitz.

And ABC continues to expand its soap drama initiative. In “Betrayal,” love and marriage take center stage when an unhappily married photographer (Hannah Ware, “Boss”) gets entangled in an affair with a lawyer (Stuart Townsend, “Queen of the Damned”) for a powerful family. Things unravel from there.

No stranger to the adaptation game, the network has picked up “Killer Women,” based on the Argentine series “Mujeres Asesinas.” The drama centers on the only woman (Tricia Helfer, “Battlestar Galactica”) in the notoruosly all-male Texas Rangers. And she proves to be anything but a damsel in distress. “Modern Family” star Sofia Vergara serves as an executive producer.

Wish fulfillment is front and center in “Lucky 7.” The series centers on seven gas station employees in Queens, N.Y., whose lives are changes when they win a lottery jackpot.

In “Resurrection,” a town is forced to confront an abnormal reality: Their deceased loved ones suddenly return. The drama stars Omar Epps (“House”).

The network is also giving Christian Slater another chance at a TV career. He will star opposite Steve Zahn (“Treme”) in “Mind Games,” about an agency that solves clients’ problems using hard science and psychological manipulation. Hmm, “Scandal” cross-over? Please don’t. The show is written and executive produced by failed “Lone Star” mastermind Kyle Killen.

Joining the network’s comedy ranks is “Super Fun Night.” Written, executive-produced and starring Rebel Wilson, the series centers on a junior attorney named Kimmi Boubier (Wilson) and her two besties, who all have a standing date every Friday night until life gets in the way. Conan O’Brien also serves as one of the executive producers.

In “Trophy Wife,” Malin Akerman (“Suburgatory”) stars as a party girl-gone-good who finds herself occupying third wife position to Pete (Bradley Whitford). As if that weren’t enough to navigate, she’s got three stepchildren and two ex-wives to contend with too. “The Office” scribes Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky serve as executive producers.

“Back in the Game” features another set of curve balls. Maggie Lawson (“Psych”) stars as a former all-star softball player whose career hit the skids when she had a baby, lost a college scholarship and married a loser. So she and her son are moving in with her estranged father (James Caan -- yes, the James Caan). And she soon finds herself back in on the field when her son takes up the sport.

“The Goldbergs” is a family comedy set in the ‘80s. It stars Wendi McLendon-Covey (“Bridesmaids”) as the overbearing, hyper-emotional mom and Jeff Garlin (“Curb Your Enthusiasm”) as the hot-tempered dad. The show is from Adam Sandler’s production company Happy Madison and is produced by Sony Pictures Television.

And continuing his world domination is Ryan Seacrest. He serves as one of the executive producers of “Mixology,” a single-camera comedy set in Manhattan bar, following the exploits of singles looking for love. Sarah Bolger (“Once Upon a Time”) and Kate Simses (“What’s Your Number”) are among its stars.

ALSO:

ABC renews ‘The Middle,’ ‘Last Man Standing’

ABC picks up Joss Whedon’s ‘Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’

ABC renews ‘Scandal,’ ‘Nashville,’ others; cancels ‘Happy Endings’

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