This Week in TV:

ABC renews freshman comedy Fresh Off the Boat, along with several other shows; Fear the Walking Dead adds Mercedes Mason (666 Park Avenue) to its cast; ABC orders Uncle Buck to series; Bones earns a season 11 renewal with its stars returning; AMC's Preacher adds two to its cast; and Orlando Jones leaves Sleepy Hollow after season 2.

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In shaping its upcoming 2015-2016 fall schedule, ABC made some changes to its lineup this week. New comedy Fresh Off the Boat was among the survivors, while several dramas faced the network's ax, including Forever.

Fresh Off the Boat cast members posing together

We've been championing Fresh Off the Boat since it premiered and recently included it in our list of 5 New TV Shows that Deserve a Season 2 Renewal, so we're as ecstatic as its fans will be to hear the announcement of a second season. Despite ho-hum ratings, the new comedy based on Eddie Huang's memoir stuck to its guns and seemed to find a loyal audience that appreciated the show's honesty, humor and fresh perspective from an ethnic minority that is rarely represented on network television (in a non-stereotypical way).

Along with Fresh, ABC hits Black-ish, Modern Family, The Middle and The Goldbergs earned additional seasons. The network also renewed Galavant, Castle, Grey’s Anatomy, How to Get Away with Murder, Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Nashville, Once Upon a Time, Scandal, American Crime, Secrets and Lies and Marvel’s Agent Carter.

Unfortunately, it wasn't all good news for ABC shows, as Cristela, Resurrection and reality cooking competition The Taste joined Forever and Revenge in the network's discard pile. The only member of its lineup ABC has yet to make a decision on is (fittingly) the Tim Allen sitcom Last Man Standing.

We'll continue to pass along the latest renewal and cancellation news as it comes in.

Source: Variety

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AMC's Walking Dead spinoff, Fear the Walking Dead, added Mercedes Mason (666 Park Avenue) as a series regular.

Mercedes Mason cast in Fear the Walking Dead

Details on Mason's role haven't been released, but we do know she will first appear sometime after the series premiere, as the spinoff's pilot is already in the can. She joins a cast that includes Cliff Curtis (Missing), Kim Dickens (Gone Girl), Frank Dillane (Harry Potter & The Half-Blood Prince) and Elizabeth Rodriguez (Orange Is the New Black).

A TV veteran of nearly 10 years, Mason has appeared in recurring and guest-starring roles in shows such as Chuck, NCIS: Los Angeles and Californication. Her last regular gig was on the short-lived supernatural drama 666 Park Avenue, but with Fear the Walking Dead already greenlit for two seasons, it looks like audiences will be seeing a lot more of her (unless she is killed off, that is).

Look for Fear the Walking Dead to premiere on AMC this summer. In the meantime, check out the teaser and learn what we know about the series so far.

Source: EW

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ABC ordered its Uncle Buck adaptation to series.

ABC Uncle Buck cast

Based on the classic 1989 John Hughes comedy that starred the late John Candy as the titular character, ABC's series will see comedian Mike Epps (The Hangover) take on the role of the fun-loving but irresponsible Uncle Buck, a lifelong slacker who winds up taking care of his brother's children after initially just looking for a place to crash.

Here's the official synopsis for the series:

"By happy coincidence, his [Buck's] nieces and nephew’s Nanny has just quit and his brother and sister-in-law need his help. His unconventional personality just may make him the right fit for the family and they may be the answer to his problems, too."

Joining Epps in the cast are Nia Long (Third Watch), James Lesure (Las Vegas), Iman Benson, Sayeed Shahidi (Alex Cross) and Aalyrah Caldwell. The project comes from MADtv writers Steven Cragg and Brian Bradley, who will also executive produce with Will Packer (Ride Along).

Although CBS' Kevin Meaney-led 1990 adaptation of Uncle Buck failed after just one season, ABC's new version appears to have a higher likelihood to succeed, considering the strong batch of comedies (Black-ish, Fresh Off the Boat, The Goldbergs) the network could use as lead-ins in a weekday programming block.

We'll let you know when ABC's Uncle Buck secures an official premiere date.

Source: The Wrap

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FOX renewed Bones for season 11 with stars Emily Deschanel and David Boreanaz on board.

Bones season 10 cast

After Deschanel and Boreanaz's contracts expired following season 10, the show's renewal was in serious doubt, but the two stars finalized new deals this week, giving FOX reason to give the comedic procedural another season. However, it's currently unclear if season 11 will be the show's last, since details on those contracts weren't released.

For fans of Bones, season 11 may look like the same old show on the surface, but things will be different behind the scenes as showrunner Stephen Nathan is taking a temporary leave from the series. Filling in for him in season 11 will be executive producers Jonathan Collier and Michael Peterson.

Bones season 11 hasn't secured a premiere date yet, but when it does, we'll pass it along.

Source: Deadline

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AMC's Preacher adaptation (from the Garth Ennis and Steven Dillon comic book series) added Derek Wilson (Rectify) and Jamie Anne Allman (The Killing) to its cast in recurring roles.

Derek Wilson and Jamie Anne Allman cast in Preacher

In the project that centers on a powerful preacher named Jesse Custer (Dominic Cooper) and his quest to literally find God, Allman will play Betsy Schenck, a meek wife in an abusive marriage with Wilson's Donny Schenck, a thug who clashes with Jesse.

The two additions join a cast that - along with Cooper in the lead role - includes Ruth Negga, Ian Colletti, Joseph Gilgun, Elizabeth Perkins, Lucy Griffiths and W. Earl Brown.

We expect more Preacher casting news to come in soon, so stay tuned.

Source: Deadline

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Orlando Jones has exited Sleepy Hollow ahead of the series' third season.

Orlando Jones leaves Sleepy Hollow

For many, the news will be surprising given that Jones portrayed a fan-favorite character (Captain Frank Irving) on a popular series. However, we recently learned that Jones has launched a digital entertainment company with partner Jay Williams and will star in its debut series, High School 51, so it appears his commitment to that project is the reason for the move.

The only question regarding the character of Frank Irving now is: How will new showrunner Clifton Campbell handle him and his exit in season 3?

Sleepy Hollow season 3 will premiere on FOX in October 2015.

Source: Variety