More Buzz, Better Hits: Bell Media Lands Hollywood's Next Big Series for CTV Networks' 2015/16 Primetime Lineup

â€" Heavy-hitting series QUANTICO secured for CTV's fall lineup along with standouts BLINDSPOT, CODE BLACK, and OIL â€"
â€" THE CATCH, LUCIFER and DC'S LEGENDS OF TOMORROW join CTV's midseason schedule â€"
â€" CTV Two lands BEST TIME EVER WITH NEIL PATRICK HARRIS and SLEEPY HOLLOW for fall â€"
â€" Buzz-worthy award-winning talent including Marcia Gay Harden, Neil Patrick Harris, Victor Garber, Don Johnson, Chace Crawford, Luis Guzmán, and Bollywood break-out star Priyanka Chopra top new season lineup â€"
â€" New series come from hit-making producers with powerful pedigree including Shonda Rhimes, Greg Berlanti, and Jerry Bruckheimer â€"
â€" CTV and CTV Two's 2015/16 primetime schedules to be revealed June 4 in Toronto â€"

To tweet this release: http://bmpr.ca/1ITI7JU

"Amazing script. The direction is great." â€" James Hibberd, Entertainment Weekly on QUANTICO

"…The thriller BLINDSPOT is one of the best bets to breakout" â€" James Hibberd, Entertainment Weekly

"Unlike most current medical dramas, CODE BLACK moves with the urgency and intensity of ER, which we sorely miss, but the script's emotional beats still land very well. Also: Harden has the gravitas to turn the meaty, no-nonsense lead role into a standout performance." â€" Robyn Ross and Adam Bryant, TVGuide

"Meredith Grey, Olivia Pope, and Annalise Keating just met their match." -- Madeline Boardman, US Weekly on THE CATCH

"…[LUCIFER] …looks like â€" pardon the expression â€" a hell of a lot of fun!" â€" Selina Wilken, Hypable

"If you're even casually invested in…current superhero shows, then the level of crazy packed in [the DC'S LEGENDS OF TOMORROW trailer] probably had your jaw dropping." â€" Liz Shannon Miller, IndieWire

TORONTO, May 22, 2015 /CNW/ - After an unprecedented season in which it delivered five new series among the Top 10 most-watched TV programs in Canada, CTV announced today it has landed two of the most sought-after new dramas from this year's Los Angeles Screenings for CTV this fall: conspiracy drama QUANTICO and hit-maker Greg Berlanti's action-packed mystery thriller BLINDSPOT. Rounding out a total of four new dramas for CTV this fall are the intriguing, heart-stopping hospital drama CODE BLACK and strike-it-rich explosive family drama OIL. The three new dramas joining the CTV schedule in mid-season are no less impressive, headlined by THE CATCH, the latest, fierce, female-led drama from the reigning queen of primetime Shonda Rhimes, along with the devilish DC Comics-inspired police procedural LUCIFER, and the superpowered ARROW/THE FLASH spin-off DC'S LEGENDS OF TOMORROW.

Acquired for CTV Two this fall is BEST TIME EVER WITH NEIL PATRICK HARRIS, a weekly live television event based on the smash-hit British series ANT AND DEC'S SATURDAY NIGHT TAKEAWAY. In addition, the network adds to its lineup the third season of thrilling mystery-adventure drama SLEEPY HOLLOW.

The new series, along with CTV and CTV Two's 2015/16 primetime schedules, will be presented at the #CTVUpfront on Thursday, June 4 in Toronto. CTV ended the 2014-15 season as Canada's most-watched television network among total viewers and A25-54 for the 14^th year in a row.

"It's another strong year for dramas, and there's no question for our team that we've brought home with us the very best of this year's L.A. Screenings offerings," said Phil King, President - CTV, Sports, an‎d Entertainment Programming. "We have picked up a diverse palette of compelling dramas including appointment television series QUANTICO and BLINDSPOT, as well as Shonda Rhimes' latest THE CATCH, and with DC'S LEGENDS OF TOMORROW, have added to the strength of our superhero slate that already includes THE FLASH, ARROW, and GOTHAM. Pairing the new acquisitions with our returning lineup stacked with more returning hit shows than ever before, we're perfectly positioned for another trailblazing year."

**Media Note** Photography for CTV's newly acquired series are available online at BellMediaPR.ca

Following last year's successful model, CTV's new series arrive with an outstanding pedigree as some of the most acclaimed television producers and showrunners in the U.S. bolster the lineup with their latest projects. These include QUANTICO's powerhouse producer Mark Gordon (CRIMINAL MINDS), and Greg Berlanti (ARROW, THE FLASH) -- with two installments this year â€" BLINDSPOT and DC'S LEGENDS OF TOMORROW. Also making a repeat appearance is Shonda Rhimes with THE CATCH, fresh off the heels of last season's blockbuster hit HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER, and Emmy^® Award-winner Jerry Bruckheimer (CSI:CYBER) is also in the mix with LUCIFER this year.

And with new titles comes a whole new list of stars to light things up in primetime. This year's roster includes: Oscar^® and Tony Award^® winner Marcia Gay Harden (Pollock), five-time Emmy Award nominee Victor Garber (ALIAS), Golden Globe^® winner Don Johnson (MIAMI VICE), Golden Globe and Emmy nominee Mireille Enos (THE KILLING), Oscar and Golden Globe Award nominee Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Secrets & Lies), Golden Globe nominee Wentworth Miller (PRISON BREAK), Bollywood break-out star Priyanka Chopra (Mary Kom), Delroy Lindo (The Cider House Rules), Chace Crawford (GOSSIP GIRL), Luis Guzmán (HOW TO MAKE IT IN AMERICA), Arthur Darvill (DOCTOR WHO), Marvel Cinematic Universe star Jaimie Alexander (Thor and Thor: The Dark World), Sullivan Stapleton (STRIKE BACK), and Bonnie Somerville (FRIENDS).

CTV's New 2015/16 Acquired Series:

FALL

QUANTICO
A diverse group of recruits has arrived at the FBI Quantico Base for training. They are the best, the brightest and the most vetted, so it seems impossible that one of them is suspected of masterminding the biggest attack on New York City since 9/11. QUANTICO stars Priyanka Chopra (Mary Kom) as Alex, Jake McLaughlin (BELIEVE) as Ryan, Aunjanue Ellis (THE BOOK OF NEGROES) as Miranda, Yasmine Al Massri (Caramel) as Nimah, Johanna Braddy (GREEK) as Shelby, Tate Ellington (THE MINDY PROJECT) as Simon and Graham Rogers (REVOLUTION) as Caleb. QUANTICO was written by Josh Safran (GOSSIP GIRL). Executive producers are Josh Safran, Mark Gordon (CRIMINAL MINDS, Saving Private Ryan) and Nick Pepper (DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES). QUANTICO is produced by ABC Studios.

BLINDSPOT
Sullivan Stapleton (300: Rise of an Empire), Jaimie Alexander (Thor) and Oscar® nominee Marianne Jean-Baptiste (WITHOUT A TRACE) star in this one-hour action thriller from Berlanti Productions (THE FLASH, ARROW, PAN) and writer/executive producer Martin Gero (THE L.A. COMPLEX). Stapleton stars as hardened FBI agent Kurt Weller, who is drawn into a complex conspiracy when a naked amnesiac, Jane Doe (Alexander), is found in Times Square covered in a series of cryptic tattoos ... including his name on her back. As Weller and his teammates at the FBI -- among them, wartime vet Edgar Reed (Rob Brown, TREME), the secretive Tasha Zapata (Audrey Esparza, BLACK BOX), and Assistant Director Mayfair (Jean-Baptiste) -- begin to investigate the veritable treasure map that are Jane Doe's tattoos, they are drawn into a high-stakes underworld that twists and turns through a labyrinth of secrets and revelations -- the information they uncover might ultimately change the world. At the center of this mystery is the relationship between Weller and Jane Doe. With every passing day, Jane unveils a new skill or a hidden talent without understanding its origin, while Weller is drawn deeper into his troubled, complicated relationship with this enigmatic woman. They both strive to make a connection, unaware of the dangerous blindspot that threatens them. BLINDSPOT also stars Ukweli Roach (THE ROYALS) as Dr. Borden, and Ashley Johnson (THE KILLING) as Patterson. Sarah Schechter (THE FLASH) and Mark Pellington (Arlington Road) are also executive producers on the series. BLINDSPOT is produced by Warner Bros. Television and Berlanti Productions.

CODE BLACK
Set in the busiest and most notorious ER in the nation, this new medical drama follows LA County Hospital doctor Leanne Royer (Marcia Gay Harden, THE NEWSROOM), a brilliant, hard-nosed residency director training a group of new doctors in her aggressive style of medicine borne out of her own shocking past and often putting her at odds with colleagues and students. CODE BLACK also stars Bonnie Somerville (FRIENDS) as Christa Lorenson, Melanie Kannokada (Boogie Nights) as Malaya Pineda, Benjamin Hollingsworth (Joy Ride 3) as Mario Savetti, Harry M. Ford (Louder Than Bombs) as Angus Leighton, Luis Guzman (HOW TO MAKE IT IN AMERICA) as nurse Jesse Sallander, Raza Jaffrey (HOMELAND) as Dr. Neal Hudson, and William Allen Young (District 9) as Dr. Rollie Guthrie. Executive producers are Michael Seitzman (INTELLIGENCE), Marti Noxon (BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER), Linda Goldstein-Knowlton (Whale Rider), Ryan McGarry (Code Black), and David Semel (MADAM SECRETARY). CODE BLACK is produced by ABC Studios and CBS Television Studios.

OIL
Billy (Chace Crawford, GOSSIP GIRL) and Cody Lefever (Rebecca Rittenhouse, Philadelphia) dream of a new life beyond their working class roots and move to "The Bakken" in North Dakota, booming after the biggest oil discovery in American history. They're soon pitted against a ruthless tycoon (Don Johnson, NASH BRIDGES) who forces them to bet big and put everything on the line, including their marriage. OIL also stars Delroy Lindo (The Cider House Rules) as Tip, Amber Valletta (REVENGE) as Carla, Scott Michael Foster (GREEK) as Wick, India de Beaufort (ONE TREE HILL) as Jules, and Yani Gellman (The Lizzie McGuire Movie) as AJ. OIL was written by Josh Pate (LEGENDS) and Rodes Fishburne. Executive producers are Tony Krantz (24), Josh Pate, Rodes Fishburne, Drew Comins, and Don Johnson (MIAMI VICE). OIL is produced by ABC Signature.

MID-SEASON

DC'S LEGENDS OF TOMORROW
When heroes alone are not enough ... the world needs legends. Having seen the future, one he will desperately try to prevent from happening, time-traveling rogue Rip Hunter (Arthur Darvill, Doctor Who) is tasked with assembling a disparate group of both heroes and villains to confront an unstoppable threat -- one in which not only is the planet at stake, but all of time itself. From the creators of THE FLASH and ARROW comes this super hero team-up unlike anything that's ever been seen on television before. Combining characters from both shows -- in addition to new heroes from the DC Comics pantheon -- this epic story lives in an interconnected universe and presents a high-stakes "feature film" experience with edge- of-your-seat action, time travel, seamless visual effects and an infectiously fun character dynamic that's like a FLASH/ARROW crossover ... times a hundred! Featuring ARROW's Brandon Routh as The Atom and Caity Lotz as the resurrected Sara Lance/White Canary; with THE FLASH's Victor Garber as Dr. Martin Stein alongside Wentworth Miller as Captain Cold and Dominic Purcell as Heat Wave; plus, the newest heroes Rip Hunter, Jeff Jackson (Franz Drameh, Edge of Tomorrow), and the reincarnated warrior queen Hawkgirl (Ciara Renee, Pippin), this singular super hero spinoff series pits the ragtag team against an immortal threat that remains one of the most powerful villains in the DC Comics universe. Greg Berlanti (The Flash) executive produces, alongside Marc Guggenheim (ARROW), Andrew Kreisberg (The Flash), and Sarah Schechter (The Flash). Based on the characters from DC Comics, DC'S LEGENDS OF TOMORROW is from Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with Berlanti Productions and Warner Bros. Television.

LUCIFERÂ
LUCIFER is the story of the original fallen angel. Bored and unhappy as the Lord of Hell, Lucifer Morningstar (Tom Ellis, RUSH) has resigned his throne and retired to the City of Angels, where he owns an upscale piano bar called Lux. Lucifer is enjoying his retirement and indulging in a few of his favorite things -- wine, women, song -- when a beautiful pop star is brutally murdered outside of Lux. For the first time in roughly 10 billion years, he feels something awaken deep within him. He's not sure whether it's his suppressed desire to punish the wicked or something deeper and more confusing -- is he actually capable of feelings for a human being? The very thought disturbs him -- as well as his best friend and confidante, Mazikeen / Maze (Lesley-Ann Brandt, THE LIBRARIANS), a fierce demon in the form of beautiful young woman. The murder attracts the attention of LAPD homicide detective Chloe Dancer (Lauren German, CHICAGO FIRE), who finds herself both repulsed and fascinated by Lucifer. As they work together to solve the pop star's murder, Lucifer is struck by Chloe's inherent goodness. Used to dealing with the absolute worst of humanity, he begins to wonder if there's hope yet. At the same time, God's emissary, the angel Amenadiel (D.B. Woodside, SUITS), has been sent to Los Angeles to convince Lucifer to return to Hell. But with the City of Angels at his feet and a newfound purpose, Lucifer's having too much fun to go back now. Sexy, dark and irreverent, this one-hour drama from Jerry Bruckheimer Television, based on the characters created by Neil Gaiman, Sam Kieth and Mike Dringenberg for DC Entertainment's Vertigo imprint, offers up the concept that everyone might have a chance at redemption ... even the Devil. Executive producers are Tom Kapinos (CALIFORNICATION), Jerry Bruckheimer (CSI: CYBER, THE AMAZING RACE), Jonathan Littman (CSI: CYBER), Ildy Modrovich (CALIFORNICATION), Len Wiseman (SLEEPY HOLLOW), KristieAnne Reed (CSI: CYBER), and Joe Henderson (WHITE COLLAR), who also serves as showrunner. LUCIFER is produced by Jerry Bruckheimer Television and Aggressive Mediocrity, Inc. in association with Warner Bros. Television.

THE CATCH
From Shondaland's Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers, THE CATCH is a new thriller centered on the strong, successful Alice Martin (Mireille Enos, THE KILLING)). She's a fraud investigator who's about to be the victim of fraud herself by her fiancé. Between her cases, she is determined to find him before it ruins her career. THE CATCH stars Mireille Enos as Alice, Alimi Ballard (CSI) as Evan, Jay Hayden (CRIMINAL MINDS) as James, Jacky Ido (Inglorious Basterds) as Emil, Rose Rollins (THE L WORD) as Andie Derringer, and Elvy Yost (THE OFFICE) as Maria. THE CATCH was written by Jennifer Schuur (HANNIBAL). Executive producers are Jennifer Schuur, Shonda Rhimes (HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER, GREY'S ANATOMY), Betsy Beers (HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER, GREY'S ANATOMY), and Julie Anne Robinson (SCANDAL). THE CATCH is produced by ABC Studios.

CTV TWO

FALL

BEST TIME EVER WITH NEIL PATRICK HARRIS
Five Emmy Awards and a Tony Award make multi-talented Neil Patrick Harris the perfect star for this live one-hour show that is unlike any other currently on American television. Complete with stunts, skits, pranks, audience interaction, musical numbers, giveaways and unlimited surprises, this show proves that anything can happen, and it can happen to you. Based on the wildly popular British hit Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway, the modernized variety show format and its fearless, multi-talented star will make for one of the best nights ever on TV week after week. Neil Patrick Harris (HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER), Orly Adelson (Golden Globe Awards), Siobhan Greene (Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway), David A. Hurwitz (FEAR FACTOR), Anthony McPartlin (Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway) and Declan Donnelly (Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway) executive produce. Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris is produced by ITV Studios America.

SLEEPY HOLLOW
Thrilling mystery-adventure drama SLEEPY HOLLOW joins the CTV lineup for Season 3. The critically-acclaimed series spans two and a half centuries, in which a resurrected Ichabod Crane (Tom Mison, Salmon Fishing in Yemen) pairs up with a present-day police lieutenant (Nicole Beharie, Shame) to save the enigmatic town of Sleepy Hollow â€" and the world â€" from unprecedented evil. The jaw-dropping Season 2 conclusion left Ichabod Crane and Lieutenant Abbie Mills with a decisive, albeit heartbreaking, victory over evil. In the name of good, Crane made the ultimate decision to kill his wife, Katrina Crane (Katia Winter, DEXTER). With evil seemingly at bay, the third season will explore how the partnership between Crane and Mills will evolve and what challenges these two witnesses will now face. SLEEPY HOLLOW is co-created by Alex Kurtzman (Star Trek), Roberto Orci (Star Trek), Phillip Iscove and Len Wiseman (Underworld). The series is executive produced by Kurtzman, Orci, Wiseman, Heather Kadin (SCORPION) and Clifton Campbell (WHITE COLLAR), who also serves as showrunner. SLEEPY HOLLOW is from K/O Paper Products in association with 20^th Century Fox Television.

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About CTV
CTV is Canada's #1 private broadcaster. Featuring a wide range of quality news, sports, information, and entertainment programming, CTV has been Canada's most-watched television network for the past 14 years in a row. CTV is a division of Bell Media, Canada's premier multimedia company with leading assets in television, radio, digital, and Out-of-Home. Bell Media is owned by BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada's largest communications company. More information about CTV can be found on the network's website at CTV.ca.

- CTV â€"

Source: Numeris (BBM Canada), BY2014-15: 9/22/2014 â€" 4/26/2015 (Weeks 4-34), Top 10 based on A25-54, final data. Audiences prior to August 31, 2009 based on BBM Nielsen Media Research Mark II meters.

SOURCE CTV

Image with caption: "Priyanka Chopra in QUANTICO (CNW Group/CTV)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150522_C6519_PHOTO_EN_16906.jpg

Image with caption: "Jaimie Alexander in BLINDSPOT (CNW Group/CTV)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150522_C6519_PHOTO_EN_16907.jpg

Image with caption: "The cast of DC’S LEGENDS OF TOMORROW (CNW Group/CTV)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150522_C6519_PHOTO_EN_16908.jpg

Jaimie Alexander in BLINDSPOT (CNW Group/CTV)

The cast of DC’S LEGENDS OF TOMORROW (CNW Group/CTV)