Global Highlights New Comedies & Dramas for 2011-12

TORONTO: The prime-time schedule of Canada’s Global TV has a number of returning series for the fall, while new dramas, such as NBC’s Prime Suspect, and comedies, including How to Be a Gentleman, are also on the roster.

Returning series include Bones, Family Guy, Glee, The Good Wife, House, NCIS, NCIS: LA, The Office, The Simpsons and Survivor.

Recently acquired for the network, Prime Suspect, starring Mario Bello, is inspired by the U.K. series of the same name. Other dramas include A Gifted Man, starring Patrick Wilson; The Finder, from Bones creator Hart Hanson; and the Canadian original The Firm. Ringer, starring Buffy alum Sarah Michelle Gellar, joins The 2-2, executive produced by Robert De Niro, on the drama slate. Harry’s Law and Parenthood are also set for the Global schedule.

On the comedy front, How to Be a Gentleman features David Hornsby of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Are You There, Vodka? It’s Me Chelsea is inspired by comedian and talk-show host Chelsea Handler’s best-selling memoir. The animated series Allen Gregory features the voice talents of Jonah Hill (Superbad). I Hate My Teenage Daughter stars Jamie Pressly (My Name is Earl) and Katie Finneran (Wonderfalls). Rounding out the slate are Napoleon Dynamite, based on the hit feature film and featuring voices from the original cast, and Happily Divorced, a TV Land original from Fran Drescher (The Nanny).

Outside of prime time, Global will feature the daytime show The Talk, hosted by Leah Remini, Sara Gilbert, Sharon Osbourne, Holly Robinson Peete and Julie Chen. Also headed to Global is The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.

"This is an opportunity to make some strategic additions to our great programming and create an even more powerful prime-time schedule," said Barbara Williams, the senior VP of content at Shaw Media. "We have the proven performance of established, returning favorites like Survivor and Glee, now infused with a fresh slate of new shows from across all genres such as the most anticipated fall drama Prime Suspect and several new additions to our comedy slate, including How to Be a Gentleman. Without a doubt, Global has the most stable—and competitive—schedule being offered to viewers this fall."