Black elite family drama 'Our Kind of People' set for fall
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Affluent and well-connected Black families are the focus of 'œOur Kind of People,'ť a new Fox drama series from 'œEmpire'ť creator Lee Daniels.
Based on 'œOur Kind of People: Inside America's Black Upper Class," a 1999 nonfiction book by Lawrence Otis Graham, the series will join the network's fall schedule, while midseason's 'œThe Cleaning Lady'ť will bring the rarity of an Asian lead character to TV.
Elodie Yung ('œThe Hitman's Bodyguard'ť) stars as a Cambodian doctor who is driven by family circumstances to work for mobsters as a crime scene 'œcleaner,'ť Fox said Monday in announcing its 2021-22 schedule
'œOur Kind of People,'ť according to Fox's thumbnail description, is an 'œunapologetic celebration of Black resilience and achievement.'ť Set on Massachusetts' fabled Martha's Vineyard island, it stars Yaya DaCosta ('œChicago Med,'ť 'œWhitney'ť) and Morris Chestnut ('œThe Resident'ť).
'œWe're not only saying something culturally, we're doing something culturally,'ť producer Daniels told advertising buyers, who are rotating among virtual presentations of next season's offerings from Fox and other broadcasters this week.
Fox, which touted its success with young adult viewers favored by sponsors, will add four new dramas in total next year, along with two freshman sitcoms and an animated comedy. The singing contest 'œAlter Ego'ť is set for a fall debut, with other reality shows waiting in the midseason wings.
The newcomers will fill shelf space created by the cancellation of "Bless the Harts,'ť 'œNext,'ť 'œProdigal Son'ť and 'œFilthy Rich,'ť with 'œThe Moodys'ť still 'œon the bubble,'ť or at risk of being axed.
The new series' themes reflect 'œhope and second chances and reinvention,'ť Charlie Collier, CEO of Fox Entertainment, said in a conference call Monday with reporters.
The other freshman dramas are fall's 'œThe Big Leap'ť starring Scott Foley, Teri Polo and Piper Perabo, about unlucky people trying to change their lives with a reality dance show, and 'œMonarch,'ť a midseason musical drama centered on 'œAmerica's first family of country music,'ť the fictional Romans.
'œWelcome to Flatch,'ť set in a Midwestern town that's under the eye of a documentary crew, and 'œPivoting,'ť about three childhood friends seeking a new path in life, are the new comedies coming midseason, along with the animated comedy 'œKrapopolis.'ť Created by Dan Harmon ('œCommunity'ť), it's set in a mythical ancient Greece populated by humans, gods and monsters.
Returning series 'œ9-1-1'ť will air this fall, with 'œ9-1-1: Lone Star'ť taking over its Monday time slot at midseason.
Fox's full schedule this fall, all times Eastern:
Monday:
8 p.m. - 'œ9-1-1.'ť
9 p.m. - 'œThe Big Leap.'ť
Tuesday:
8 p.m. - 'œThe Resident.'ť
9 p.m. - 'œOur Kind of People.'ť
Wednesday:
8 p.m. - 'œThe Masked Singer.'ť
9 p.m. - 'œAlter Ego.'ť
Thursday:
8 p.m. - 'œThursday Night Football.'ť
Friday:
8 p.m. - 'œWWE'S Friday Night Smackdown.'ť
Saturday:
7 p.m. - 'œFox Sports Saturday.'ť
Sunday:
7 p.m. - 'œNFL on Fox'ť
7:30 p.m. - 'œThe OT'ť and Fox repeats.
8 p.m. - 'œThe Simpsons.'ť
8:30 p.m. - 'œThe Great North.'ť
9 p.m. - 'œBob's Burgers.'ť
9:30 p.m. - 'œFamily Guy.'ť
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AP Media Writer David Bauder in New York contributed to this report.