‘The Catch’ Season 2 Premiere,’Dirty Dancing’ Event TV & Other ABC Returning Dates Revealed!

ABC has unleashed its midseason schedule with the announcement of the return dates for “The Catch,” “American Crime” And “Designated Survivor.” The network is also set to premiere its event series “Dirty Dancing,” which is a remake of the 1980s movie starring Patrick Swayze.

ABC’s midseason schedule will kick off on the last week of January. Apart from usual favorites, the show is also bringing in new shows like “Downward Dog,” “When We Rise,” “Time After Time” and “Imaginary Mary.”

Below are ABC’s midseason premiere dates (all times listed are EST) as well as the synopsis of its new series.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 26
8:00-9:00 p.m. “Grey’s Anatomy”
9:00-10:00 p.m. “Scandal” (Season Six Premiere)
10:00-11:00 p.m. “How to Get Away with Murder”

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27 – THURSDAY, MARCH 2
9:00-11:00 p.m. “When We Rise”

SUNDAY, MARCH 5
8:00-9:00 p.m. “Once Upon a Time”
9:00-11:00 p.m. “Time After Time” (Two-Hour Premiere)

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8
10:00-11:00 p.m. “Designated Survivor”

THURSDAY, MARCH 9
10:00-11:00 p.m. “The Catch” (Season Two Premiere)

SUNDAY, MARCH 12
9:00-10:00 p.m. “Time After Time” (Time-Period Premiere)

SUNDAY, MARCH 12
10:00-11:00 p.m. “American Crime” (Season Three Premiere)

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29
8:30-9:00 p.m. “Imaginary Mary” (Sneak Peek)

TUESDAY, APRIL 4
9:30-10:00 p.m. “Imaginary Mary” (Time-Period Premiere)

WEDNESDAY, MAY 24
8:00-11:00 p.m. “Dirty Dancing”

DIRTY DANCING

“Dirty Dancing,” the global pop-cultural phenomenon, becomes a three-hour filmed musical event this season on the ABC Television Network. The adaptation of the beloved 1987 romantic drama and instant movie classic “Dirty Dancing,” which will celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2017, will be produced by Lionsgate Television in association with Allison Shearmur Productions, executive produced by Allison Shearmur (“Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” “The Hunger Games” franchise; “Cinderella”) and Grammy Award-nominee Adam Anders (“Glee,” “Rock of Ages”), who also serves as executive music producer. The teleplay is by Jessica Sharzer. Wayne Blair (“The Sapphires,” “Septembers of Shiraz”) is the director, and two-time Tony Award-winner Andy Blankenbuehler (“Hamilton,” “Bring It On,” “In the Heights”) is the choreographer.

Spending the summer at a Catskills resort with her family, Frances “Baby” Houseman falls in love with the camp’s dance instructor, Johnny Castle, and nothing is ever the same for anyone in the Houseman family. Not only are the memorable songs from the original movie included, but there are additional songs from the era that will be featured, showcasing double the number of musical performances by the stellar cast.

“Dirty Dancing” stars Abigail Breslin (“Scream Queens”) as Baby, Debra Messing (“Will & Grace”) as Marjorie Houseman, Bruce Greenwood (“American Crime Story: The People vs, OJ Simpson”) as Dr. Jake Houseman, Nicole Scherzinger (“Dancing with the Stars”) as Penny, Colt Prattes (“Rock of Ages,” Pink’s music video “Try”) as Johnny, Sarah Hyland (“Modern Family”) as Lisa Houseman, Tony Roberts (“Annie Hall”) as Max Kellerman, Trevor Einhorn (“Mad Men,”) as Neil, Shane Harper (“The Passion”) as Robbie Gould, J. Quinton Johnson (“Everyone Wants Some”) as Marco, Beau “Casper” Smart (“Step Up 3D”) as Billy, Katey Sagal (“Sons of Anarchy”) as Vivian Pressman and Billy Dee Williams (“Star Wars”) as Tito.

DOWNWARD DOG

Based on a web series, “Downward Dog” is about a struggling millennial, Nan (Allison Tolman), as observed from the point of view of her lonely and philosophical dog, Martin (voiced by Samm Hodges). Just one session at obedience school makes them realize that even at their worst they may be the best thing for each other. While Martin lays around at home questioning the motives of the neighborhood cat and exercises newly acquired “superpowers” to open the doggie door with his mind, Nan spends her days at advertising agency Clark and Bow, struggling to prove herself to clients and senior management. Despite her boss Kevin’s (Barry Rothbart) patronizing and demoralizing criticisms, Nan and her best friend and co-worker, Jenn (Kirby Howell-Baptiste), find creative ways to persevere. Because of Nan’s long hours at work, she relies on ex-boyfriend Jason (Lucas Neff) to help take care of Martin. Jason’s easy-going and sometimes unemployed lifestyle strengthens his friendship with Martin, but makes it difficult for Nan to move on.

“Downward Dog” stars Allison Tolman (Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated, “Fargo”) as Nan, Lucas Neff (“Raising Hope”) as Jason, Kirby Howell-Baptiste (“Love”) as Jenn, Barry Rothbart (“The Wolf of Wall Street”) and co-creator Samm Hodges as the voice of Martin.

“Downward Dog” creators/writers Michael Killen and Samm Hodges executive produce with Mosaic’s Jimmy Miller and Sam Hansen, and Animal’s Kathy Dzubiek. Showrunners Kat Likkel and John Hoberg also executive produce. The series is produced by Legendary Television and ABC Studios.

IMAGINARY MARY

Alice (Jenna Elfman) is a fiercely independent career woman whose life is turned upside-down when she meets the love of her life – a divorced father with three kids. This triggers even more upheaval when the slightly unhinged imaginary friend she created as a child suddenly reappears to help her navigate the transition from single girl to a woman ready for a family.

The series stars Jenna Elfman (“Dharma and Greg”) as Alice, Stephen Schneider as Ben, Rachel Dratch (“Saturday Night Live”) as Mary (VO), Nicholas Coombe as Andy, Matreya Scarrwener as Dora and Erica Tremblay as Bunny.

The live action/CGI hybrid comes from “The Goldbergs” team Adam F. Goldberg (writer/executive producer), David Guarascio (writer/executive producer) and Doug Robinson (executive producer). Mary CG animation is designed by Patrick Osborne (creator of Academy Award-winning animated short “The Feast”), who is also executive producer. The pilot was directed by Shawn Levy (“Night at the Museum,” “Cheaper by the Dozen”), who is also executive producer.

The series is a co-production with Sony Pictures Television, Happy Madison and ABC Studios.

TIME AFTER TIME

Using the 1979 novel and movie as a launching point, “Time After Time” chronicles the adventures of a young H.G. Wells (Freddie Stroma) as he travels through centuries, decades and days in the time machine he created. While in the pursuit of the charismatic (yet secretly psychopathic) Dr. John Stevenson (Josh Bowman), better known as “Jack the Ripper,” Wells travels to modern day New York City in search of Stevenson following the doctor’s brazen escape from authorities in Wells’ London home. But instead of the Utopia he imagined, Wells finds a world more aligned with Stevenson’s temperament that leads him on a daring adventure full of mystery, romance and intrigue. Using creative elements from many of Wells’ classic stories, beginning with “The Time Machine” and “The Invisible Man” to “The Island of Dr. Moreau” and others, “Time After Time” creates a fantasy world surrounding the events that inspired these great literary works that focus on the best and worst of human nature and its relationship to science and technology. Using the time machine to launch the series, “Time After Time” is not a time travel show, rather it’s a series that looks at the world of today through the eyes of yesterday while fully charged with danger and adventure and centered in thrills, satire, humor – and most of all – an epic love story.

“Time After Time” stars Freddie Stroma (“UnReal”) as H.G. Wells, Josh Bowman (“Revenge”) as Dr. John Stevenson (Jack the Ripper), Genesis Rodriguez (“Big Hero 6”) as Jane Walker, Nicole Ari Parker (“Rosewood”) as Vanessa Anders, Jennifer Ferrin (“Hell On Wheels”) as Brooke and Will Chase (“Nashville”) as Griffin.

“Time After Time” is from Warner Bros Television. Kevin Williamson is the creator and executive producer. Marcos Siega is executive producer and a director.

WHEN WE RISE

“When We Rise” is written and created by Academy Award-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black. This mini-series event chronicles the real-life personal and political struggles, set-backs and triumphs of a diverse family of LGBT men and women who helped pioneer one of the last legs of the U.S. Civil Rights movement from its turbulent infancy in the 20th century to the once unfathomable successes of today.

Starring in the mini-series are Guy Pearce (“Memento,” “L.A. Confidential”) as LGBT activist Cleve Jones, Mary-Louise Parker (“Weeds,” “Angels in America”) as women’s rights leader Roma Guy, Rachel Griffiths (“Brothers and Sisters,” “Six Feet Under”) as her wife, social justice activist Diane, Michael K. Williams (“Boardwalk Empire,” “The Wire”) as African American community organizer Ken Jones and Ivory Aquino as transgender activist Cecilia Chung. Joining them are Austin McKenzie (“Spring Awakening”) as Younger Cleve Jones, Emily Skeggs (“Fun Home”) as Younger Roma Guy, newcomer Jonathan Majors as Younger Ken Jones, and Fiona Dourif (“The Master”) as Younger Diane.

“When We Rise” is executive produced by the Dustin Lance Black (“Milk,” “Big Love,” “J. Edgar”), Gus Van Sant (“Milk,” “Elephant,” “Good Will Hunting”) Laurence Mark (“Julie & Julia,””Dreamgirls,””I, Robot,” “Jerry Maguire”), and Bruce Cohen (“American Beauty,” “Milk,” “Silver Linings Playbook”). Van Sant directs the two-hour premiere of the eight-hour mini-series event. “When We Rise” is produced by ABC Studios.