ABC has picked up drama Flash Forward and comedy Modern Family for its fall schedule.

This is in advance of its upfront presentation where the network will announce its full fall schedule on May 19.

On Thursday, ABC announced its pickup for Modern Family, a single-camera mockumentary about three suburban couples. The cast includes Ed O’Neill, Sofia Vergara and Jesse Tyler Ferguson.

On Friday, ABC announced Flash Forward’s pickup and 13-episode order. A teaser promo has already been shown during Lost.

Flash Forward, based on Robert J. Sawyer’s novel and starring Joseph Fiennes, follows the aftermath of a goblal event in which everyone in the world blacks out for 2 minutes and 17 seconds and has mysterious visions of six months into the future, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Others cast in Flash Forward include Sonya Walger, John Cho, Jack Davenport, Brian F. O’Byrne, Courtney B. Vance, Christine Woods, Zachary Knighton and Peyton List.

Image: Bauer-Griffin (Pictured: Joseph Fiennes)

Here are previews to four of the shows NBC has just added to its fall lineup - dramas Trauma, Mercy and Parenthood and comedy Community.

I think my favorites from the previews are Mercy and Trauma. Overall, I think they look like pretty interesting shows - nothing too goofy or over the top. Plus, there’s lots of good talent in these shows. Keep watching for more posts about these new shows.

Click here to read the full scoop on the new additions to the NBC fall lineup.

What show interests you the most?

The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series will debut at 8 p.m. ET/PT on HBO today (Sunday, March 29). Based on Alexander McCall Smith’s book series, The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency’ chronicles the adventures of Precious Ramotswe, the proprietor of the only female-owned detective agency in Botswana (Africa). Aided by her highly-efficient secretary Grace Makutsi (Anika Noni Rose, Dreamgirls), Preciouis investigates cases and helps people solve problems in their lives. Grammy® Award-winning singer Jill Scott stars as series heroine Precious Ramotswe, who has become a beloved characters in international contemporary fiction.

Lucian Msamati stars as her devoted suitor JLB Matekoni. Desmond Dube (Hotel Rwanda) stars as her neighbor BK, a flamboyant hairdresser. Growing up in Botswana,

Precious was encouraged by her father to follow her dreams, which is what she is doing now by opening the country’s first and only female-owned detective agency. This is the first major film/TV project to be shot entirely on location in Botswana, according to HBO. The series follows Precious as she investigates a series of cases ranging from missing children to philandering husbands and scams.

Nathan Fillion, the star of ABC’s new series Castle, talks about the premiere of the new dramedy with NY Post’s Pop Wrap.

Check out a preview of Castle here.

Castle will premiere Monday at 9 p.m. CST following a great lead-in from the premiere of a new season of Dancing with the Stars.

Take a sneak peek (above) at the first 13 minutes of ABC’s new dramedy Castle, which will premiere following Dancing with the Stars on Monday, March 9 at 8 p.m. CST.

Castle follows Rick Castle (Nathan Fillion), a successful mystery novelist and lady’s man who is bored with his success so much that he kills off the main character in his popular series. His boredom ends when police detective Kate Beckett (Stana Katic) needs his help to catch a copycat murderer who is using Castle’s books for his crime scenes.

What we learn is Castle has writer’s block and his publisher (one of his ex-wives) is going to take back his advance if Castle doesn’t finish the book he has agreed to write within a few weeks.

Together, Beckett and Castle work like Bruce Willis and Cybil Shepherd did so well in the ’80s series Moonlighting. Castle enjoys cutting up, is known for being a little rowdy (the charges never stick because the mayor is a big fan), and enjoys the attention he receives from his female fans. Beckett, on the other hand, is very serious and passionate about her work and doesn’t want to deal with someone who is going to waste her time. Interestingly enough, she’s read many of his books, which is why she knew to contact him about the murders.

Read more

A whole slew of new shows are coming up in March and April. Are you ready?

One of those shows currently receiving lots of buzz is NBC’s drama Kings about a modern-day monarchy starring Ian McShane (Deadwood) as King Silas Benjamin, Chris Egan as young soldier David Shepherd and Sebastian Stan as the prince, Jack Benjamin.

In order to keep up excitement as the show premieres, NBC has set up a really cool interactive Kings experience that includes exclusive video, allows for interaction with the characters via phone calls and messaging.

Basically, it helps you understand what the show is about while giving you an inside “scoop” to understand some of the character’s motivations.

As part of the interactive experience, you are the “producer” working with a reporter on a news piece about David Sheppard, the new hero of Gilboa. Through your investigations you learn that David’s being thrust into the spotlight has had a ripple effect on the Royal Family including Prince Jack, Princess Michelle (Allison Miller) and even King Silas himself.

Read more

When 13 Fear is Real moves to Fridays at 9 p.m. CST on The CW this week, the remaining contestants are transported  to an abandoned high school where they set up camp and carry out the mastermind’s instructions.

Finally, the killer’s identity is revealed, along with a first-hand account of the techniques used to keep their identity a secret. Who do you think the killer is?

Here are a few previews:

Read more

On Monday’s fourth episode of True Beauty on ABC called “Timeless Beauty,” the remaining contestants will be tested on respect for their elders.

During a photo school for a Timeless Beauty billboard campaign, they will each be partnered with a senior citizen for the assignment. What they don’t know is the judges are secretly watching how they treat and connect with their senior partners.

Will they offer their seats when no other seats are available? Personally, I think the majority of the contestants will do well on this challenge, but who knows? What do you think?

Read more

Here’s another clip of FOX’s new show Lie to Me starring Tim Roth as the world’s top human lie detector. The show will make its debut at 8 p.m. CST tonight following American Idol.

He’s a leading deception expert who studies facial expressions and body language to discover if someone is lying. So be careful — your expressions may tell on you.

What I like about this clip is the show is more than just the science. It’s also about a man who can’t turn off his skill once it’s on. That doesn’t fare well for the teenage boy who is coming to pick up his daughter.

The series also stars Kelli Williams (The Practice), Monica Raymund and Brendan Hines.

Lie to Me will air at 8 p.m. CST on Wednesdays on FOX.

Win prizes from The Beast starring Patrick Swayze, airing Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT on A&E in New to TV’s Patrick Swayze-The Beast Giveaway!

The Beast, starring Patrick Swayze and Travis Fimmel, centers on an unorthodox but effective FBI veteran, Charles Barker (Swayze), who takes on a rookie partner, Ellis Dove (Fimmel), to train in his hard-edged and psychologically clever style of agenting. (Read a review of the show)

The mischievous veteran hazes his new partner as they work undercover, brilliantly manipulating situations, constantly testing his new partner and pushing him to delve deeper into his “roles.”

As Dove realizes he can no longer maintain normal relationships and still do his job, the rookie is confronted with yet another challenge: An FBI team trying to enlist him as a double-agent in the bureau’s investigation of his partner.

Visit http://www.aetv.com/the-beast/ for more information about the new show.

The Patrick Swayze-The Beast Givevaway Package includes:

• The Beast Jacket
• The Beast T-shirt
• The Beast Hat
• Patrick Swayze DVD package featuring: Ghost, Dirty Dancing, Road House and Point Break.

(Totally cool!)

To enter the giveaway, leave a comment on this post about the new show The Beast or about Patrick Swayze. Be sure to fill out the e-mail part correctly so I can contact you if you are the winner.

You may enter the contest once daily. Deadline to enter the giveaway is Wednesday, February 18 at midnight CST.

Photo courtesy Electric Artists/A&E/The Beast.