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This year's Big Fall Launch of the new TV season won't be so big. As a matter of fact, the number of shows premiering on the five broadcast networks will be a fraction of what it once was.

"For the first time in a long time, we're not running around throwing shows against the wall and hoping for the best," said NBC Entertainment chairman Robert Greenblatt, who's adding only three new series this fall.

He wasn't being facetious. For decades, the broadcast networks adding dozens of shows in September — so many that no viewer could possibly watch them all. And most disappeared without a trace.

Now, they're spreading out the premieres.

"Fall is obviously still important, but, I think increasingly so, midseason and summer are as important as the fall," said Greenblatt.

This fall, ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and The CW will launch a total of 19 shows — which may be the smallest number since 1947, when only NBC and the now-defunct Dumont were on the air.

A decade ago, the broadcast networks added 27 fall shows. Two decades ago, it was 40 — and that was down from 42 in the fall of 1995.

As for the traditional September launch, that's even more a thing of the past. We already know three of CBS' new shows won't premiere until October, so no more than 16 will debut in September. And that number is certain to grow smaller as other networks announce premiere dates.

The networks have announced 30 replacement shows, another number that's certain to grow. And it doesn't include 19 returning shows that are being held back for midseason.

"Midseason is going to be the time to make some changes and add some more shows," Greenblatt said, adding that the traditional fall launch "has the vestige of 75 years of kind of habitual television programing" — and, decades ago, was tied to the launch of new car models.

"This has become a 52-week world in terms of how you program and schedule and how you pitch this programming to consumers," said CW president Mark Pedowitz, which is why all the networks are adding more new series and scheduling them throughout the year. "Unfortunately, the old model of repeats on broadcasting truly does not work anymore, due to the fact that the consumer has so many other choices."

Still, the networks are rolling out a slew of series this fall. Here, in alphabetical order, are brief descriptions of the new offerings on ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and The CW:

"American Housewife"

(Tuesdays, 7:30 p.m., ABC/Ch. 4) • Katy Mixon ("Mike and Molly") stars as a confident, unapologetic wife and mother of three who is raising her flawed family in a wealthy Connecticut town. The original title of this show was "The Second Fattest Housewife in Westport."

"Bull"

(Tuesdays, 8 p.m., CBS/Ch. 2) • Michael Weatherly ("NCIS") stars as Jason Bull, who uses psychology, human intuition and high-tech data as a hugely successful "puppet master" trial consultant. Weirdly enough, "Bull" is "inspired" by the early career of TV's Phil McGraw.

"Conviction"

(Mondays, 9 p.m., ABC/Ch. 4) • Hayley Atwell ("Agent Carter") stars as a flamboyant former first daughter who, to avoid jail for cocaine possession — and to avoid hurting her mother's campaign for U.S. Senate — agrees to work for New York's district attorney (Eddie Cahill, "CSI: NY"), looking into cases that may have resulted in wrongful convictions.

"Designated Survivor"

(Wednesdays, 9 p.m., ABC/Ch. 4) • Kiefer Sutherland ("24") stars as a lower-level Cabinet member who becomes president after an attack on the Capitol kills the president, vice president, the rest of the Cabinet and Congress.

"The Exorcist"

(Fridays, 8 p.m., Fox/Ch. 13) • This reboot of the 1973 horror film follows two very different priests (Alfonso Herrera, "Sense8"; Ben Daniels, "Flesh and Bone") who tackle a family's case of demonic possession. Alan Ruck ("Spin City") and Geena Davis ("Thelma & Louise") also star.

"Frequency"

(Wednesdays, 8 p.m., CW/Ch. 30) • A young police detective (Peyton List) begins communicating with the father (Riley) she thought died in 1996 — over the radio. And he's still in 1996. Based on the 2000 movie.

"The Good Place"

(Thursdays, 7:30 p.m., NBC/Ch. 5) • Kristen Bell ("Veronica Mars") stars in this comedy as a woman who returns from the afterlife determined to be a better person. Ted Danson ("Cheers") co-stars as her "afterlife mentor."

"The Great Indoors"

(Thursdays, 8:30 p.m., CBS/Ch. 2) • Joel McHale ("Community") stars in this sitcom as a veteran reporter for an outdoor magazine who is forced to take a job as editor to the staff of the digital department — millennials seriously lacking in life experience.

"Kevin Can Wait"

(Mondays, 7 p.m., CBS/Ch. 2) • Kevin James ("King of Queens") returns to CBS in this sitcom. He stars as a newly retired police officer looking forward to spending time with his wife and three kids, only to discover raising kids is harder than being a cop.

"Lethal Weapon"

(Wednesdays, 7 p.m., Fox/Ch 13) • This reboot of the 1987 Mel Gibson-Danny Glover action film (and its 1989, 1992 and 1998 sequels) stars Damon Wayans Sr. and Clayne Crawford as cop partners who work a high-crime beat in Los Angeles.

"MacGyver"

(Fridays, 7 p.m., CBS/Ch. 2) • In this reimagining of the original series, young Angus "Mac" MacGyver (Lucas Till) is a government operative who uses his talent for unconventional problem solving and scientific knowledge to save lives.

"Man With a Plan"

(Mondays, 7:30 p.m., CBS/Ch. 2) • Matt LeBlanc ("Friends," "Episodes") stars in this sitcom as a contractor (hence the title) whose wife goes back to work and he has to spend more time with his three kids. And he's a befuddled dad.

"No Tomorrow"

(Tuesdays, 8 p.m., CW/Ch. 30) • Romantic comedy about an uptight young woman (Tori Anderson) who lives a regimented, safe life — until she meets a free-spirited young man (Joshua Sasse) who encourages her to live life to the fullest.

"Notorious"

(Thursdays, 8 p.m., ABC/Ch. 4) • Romantic comedy/drama about a high-profile attorney (Daniel Sunjata, "Rescue Me") and a cable news producer (Piper Perabo, "Covert Affairs") — inspired by the true-life stories of criminal defense attorney Mark Geragos and cable news producer Wendy Walker, who are executive producers.

"Pure Genius"

(Thursdays, 9 p.m., CBS/Ch. 2) • Medical drama about a young Silicon Valley tech titan (Augustus Prew) who builds a high-tech hospital and recruits a maverick surgeon (Dermot Mulroney) to be the chief of staff to a diverse staff.

"Son of Zorn"

(Sundays, 7:30 p.m., Fox/Ch. 13) • An animated (aka cartoon) warrior — the Defender of Zephyria, conqueror of the tribes of Agon, decapitator of the dark herdsmen of Grith (voiced by Jason Sudeikis, "The Last Man on Earth") — shows up in Southern California to win back his live-action ex-wife (Cheryl Hines, "Curb Your Enthusiasm") and teenage son.

"Speechless"

(Wednesdays, 7:30 p.m., ABC/Ch. 4) • Minnie Driver ( "About a Boy") stars in this sitcom as Maya, a determined wife and mother of three — including a special-needs son, who is in a wheelchair and cannot speak. Maya battles injustices, real and imagined.

"This Is Us"

(Tuesday, 8 p.m., NBC/Ch. 5) • Mandy Moore ("A Walk to Remember"), Milo Ventimiglia ("Heroes") and Sterling K. Brown ("The People V. O.J. Simpson") headline this ensemble drama about people whose life stories intertwine in curious ways.

"Timeless"

(Mondays, 9 p.m., NBC/Ch. 5) • When a criminal determined to destroy America by changing the past steals a time machine, an elite team sets out to thwart him.

spierce@sltrib.com

Twitter: @ScottDPierce