Off the Map

Upfronts news continues to roll in, and now we have some big updates about ABC's fall lineup. First, the bad news: ABC has canceled V, Brothers & Sisters, No Ordinary Family, Off the Map, Mr. Sunshine, and Detroit 187. With the exception of Brothers & Sisters and V, the casualties were all within their first seasons.

And now, the good news: Happy Endings has been renewed! The midseason show just got its start in April, but it's gained a decent amount of fans and ratings and will be back for a second season. In addition, Body of Proof has also just been renewed.

Photo copyright 2011 ABC, Inc.

At last week's Winter TCA, I checked out the panel for Shonda Rhimes's latest series Off the Map, about a group of young doctors who try to save lives in the South American rain forest. Afterward, I sat down with Friday Night Lights alum Zach Gilford, who plays one of the eager physicians, Tommy, a role that's a pretty far cry from football star Matt Saracen. We chatted about his new TV series vs. his old one, living in paradise to shoot Off the Map, and naturally, how often he'll be shirtless.

I'm at the Winter TCA right now bringing you all the news from the TV conference, and it's ABC day. Earlier I gave you the scoop on Pretty Little Liars, and now I have the details for you on brand-new series Off the Map. Exec producer Shonda Rhimes came to give us the info on the show, along with other showrunners and cast members including Zach Gilford, Mamie Gummer, Martin Henderson, and Rachelle Lefevre.

• Rhimes was immediately asked how Off the Map isn't just Grey's Anatomy in the jungle. She looked to creator Jenna Bans, saying that "it's Jenna's voice, Jenna's characters," and Bans herself said this group of characters "aren't at the top of their game personally or professionally." The three young docs played by Gilford, Gummer, and Caroline Dhavernas "need to start over, need to reinvent themselves."
• Former Friday Night Lights star Gilford acknowledged that his character, Tommy, is quite different than meek hero Matt Saracen, and he's happy about that. He said, "I couldn't be luckier to get to do something new."
• In case you didn't know, Gummer is the daughter of Meryl Streep, so naturally she was asked if her mother ever gave her career advice. Gummer says they "don't really talk shop at home" but that Streep gives advice about "things that any other mother would try to convey, things like SPF." She seems to know that people are looking at her more closely because of her famous mom, but she joked humbly, "It's not like we own a line of pizza joints and there's a secret ingredient in the sauce."

For more on Off the Map, just read more

Welcome to my previews of new midseason TV. I've been treating you to sneak peeks at the new shows with my pilot scoops and slideshow of all the new series, so today the fresh new series I'm putting under the microscope is ABC's Off the Map.

What it's about: From Grey's Anatomy creator Shonda Rhimes, this medical drama follows a group of young doctors (including Mamie Gummer and Friday Night Lights' Zach Gilford) as they join a clinic in the South American jungle. Under the tutelage of renowned Dr. Ben Keeton (Martin Henderson) and other veterans like Twilight's Rachelle LeFevre, the new recruits have to deal with the limited resources and, like other Rhimes shows, relationships with each other.

Where it works: Gilford and Gummer are both charming and highly watchable as the newbie doctors (especially Gilford's sweet but frat-boy-esque character). And while I wasn't that invested in the pilot's patient story lines at first, I was pretty hooked by the end of the episode.

Where it doesn't: In the pilot, meek Lily (Caroline Dhavernas) is the center of the show, but I'm not sure she's the best character to focus on. And a word of warning: this show isn't for the squeamish. There were a couple of gruesome scenes I had to look away from.

Am I hooked? Mildly. I'm definitely interested to see where the show goes in the second episode.

When is it on: Wednesday, Jan. 12 at 10 p.m. on ABC.

To see some pics and a preview clip of Off the Map, just read more

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