TV News Wrap-Up: ‘The 100’ Gets New Series Regular, ‘This Is Us’ Adds 10 New Cast Members, and More

We’re less than a month away from the network’s premiering all of their fall TV shows and we’re starting to get a lot of teasers.

There have been plenty of new casting announcements and there are even a few renewals still on the horizon. Plus, with more series in development, many actors from shows that are ending have been cast in new series. 

Here are some of the TV news highlights from this week.

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Lauren Graham has joined the cast of Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist. Earlier this week, NBC announced that the Parenthood and Gilmore Girls alum has joined the cast as a series regular in a recasting. Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist follows a computer coder living in San Francisco, who after an unusual accident begins to hear her innermost wants and desires through songs. While she at first questions her sanity, she begins to realize that the curse may be a gift. Graham is replacing Carmen Cusack as Joan, Zoey’s boss. You can read more about this story right here. 

A Million Little Things Season 2 will feature the death of a major character that you’ve already seen. Series creator DJ Nash told TV Line, “There is a death that happens this season, and we will see how the group rallies to support each other.” While must of the cast can’t say much about the upcoming series, Christina Moses did say that the death would have an effect on Regina, Rome, Eddie, Catherine, Delilah, and Maggie. 

The 100 has promoted grown-up Hope to a series regular for the final season. The final moments of The 100 Season 6 Episode 13, “The Blood of Sanctum,” showed Diyoza’s daughter Hope all grown up. TV Line exclusively reports that Shelby Flannery has been promoted to a series regular.  Jason Rothenberg told TV Line, “I’m fairly certain we were her first professional job. She’s just out of drama school, so she’s really new, and I’m excited to see what she can do. That scene was just the tip of the iceberg. She’s going to be a big part of the story moving forward. I have a good feeling about her as an actress and a person. We’ve got her in serious fight training right now.”

It looks like Max is getting a new oncologist in New Amsterdam Season 2. TV Line learned exclusively that Ana Villafañe will recur as Valentina Castro. Castro is described as “a young, whip-smart and enthusiastic — all qualities Max will likely need as he undergoes treatment for cancer. The doc also has a history with Dr. Helen Sharpe, who let her go from the hospital several years ago.” Last season, Max’s current oncologist Dr. Helen Sharpe reinstated herself as his doctor before she and several others got caught in an ambulance crash during the New Amsterdam Season 1 finale. No word on what Castro’s appearance might mean for the fate of Helen Sharpe.

This Is Us has added ten new members to the cast including Jennifer Morrison and Omar Epps. NBC released a trailer for Season 4 on The Big Three’s birthday and has given fans much to speculate about. In addition to Jennifer Morrison and Omar Epps, the new cast members include Nick Wechsler (Revenge), filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan, and Timothy Omundson (Psych). While each of these cast members are set to join the cast at some point during This Is Us Season 4, it is unclear how they will all play into the Pearson family drama. Read more about the This Is Us cast surge right here. 

Viola Davis has been cast in the Showtime series First Ladies. Variety reports that Davis has signed on to play the former First Lady Michelle Obama. The series has received a three-script commitment from the cabler and will follow the personal and public lives of various first ladies throughout history. The first season will focus on Eleanor Roosevelt, Betty Ford, and Michelle Obama. Davis previously headlined ABC’s How to Get Away With Murder which will begin airing its final season this fall.

Cote de Pablo’s return to NCIS Season 17 will last longer than originally thought. The former Mossad liaison officer was thought to be dead but resurfaced in the NCIS Season 16 premiere. This week TV Line reported that de Pablo would be back for at least two more episodes in addition to the season premiere, and CBS released the Season 17 trailer where the team reacted to the agent’s return. 

Queen of the South has scored a Season 5 renewal. According to TV Line, the USA Network drama received the news of its upcoming fifth season just hours before the Season 4 finale aired. The renewal makes Suits spinoff, Pearson, the only show currently awaiting renewal. 

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Which bit of TV news was your favorite this week? Are you awaiting any of the new fall TV shows? Let us know in the comments below.

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