Matt’s Inside Line: Scoop on Ghosts, Daryl Dixon, Blue Bloods, NCIS, Tracker, Abbott, Chicago P.D., NCIS: Origins, Around the World and More

Any scoop on Chicago P.D.‘s Burgess? –Marj
In fact, next Wednesday, Nov. 6, “marks her first big episode of the season, and we see her face a big challenge. It’s a fun ride for her,” showrunner Gwen Sigan previews. “It’s a lot about sort of ‘inside baseball’ policing. It presents good ethical dilemmas for her throughout the episode, and we get to see her be really resilient and to come out the other end of it a bit changed, which is always fun.”

The serial killer last season on Chicago P.D. was really good. Are we going to have a big bad for multiple episodes this season? –M.
“There are a couple, yes. I can tell you that one sort of big bad we sort of introduce a little bit in Episode 6 (airing Nov. 6) and then Episode 7 you get to know more,” showrunner Gwen Sigan reveals. “And then we’ve got another, I would say one of the darkest characters we’ve done is introduced in episode 10, which will also be for a few episodes of the season as well. So, yeah, we’ve got some really twisted big bads coming up.”

Around the World in 80 Days with David Tennant was renewed a while ago, and since then there has been no news. Is it still happening, or was it cancelled? –Pam
Technically, it was reported in November 2021 that a second season was “in development,” with Tennant “almost certain” to reprise his role as Phileas Fogg. But now, almost three years later, a spokesperson for the series tells TVLine, “At this time, MASTERPIECE cannot confirm any further seasons.”

Will there be any returning characters on Abbott Elementary this season? Are we going to be seeing any of Janine’s family again? —Kimmy
In short, series creator Quinta Brunson told us, “The plan is now, yes,” though “I’ve always said the crazy thing about getting people who are more well-known actors is that they have busy schedules. But yeah, everyone who we’ve kind of ever had, I always want to be able to see again. So I think we’ll probably see Janine’s family returning, and probably see Gregory’s family returning, for sure.”

When is Tracker going to return to Colter’s “white whale” case? —Josh
Series star Justin Hartley recently told TVLine that Colter’s “white whale” case involving the abduction of Camille’s sister Gina will span the first half of Season 2. He also gave us a bit of exclusive casting scoop: “There’s a character that comes in,” played by Deadwood alum Brent Sexton, “that has his own white whale case and a completely different approach. He’s a retired cop, older, a little more jaded, a little more affected by the way things are, and has an entirely different view on human beings and why they do what they do.” He and Colter “kind of converge, start to deal with something else… and then you start to see that they have a choice: It’s either gonna to be working together, or it’s gonna be me against you.” In turn, Colter reconsiders the whole “lone-wolf thing,” realizing that “maybe a separate set of eyes, from a different generation,” could help him get to the bottom of Gina’s disappearance.

The reboot of The Joe Schmo Show was announced in Spring 2023. I think filming is finished, yet there has been no mention of this show since. What gives? –Michael
The full season was shot, I can confirm, and I hear that TBS is planning on a 2025 premiere date.

How many episodes will the current seasons of Happy’s Place and Lopez vs. Lopez be, respectively? –Mason
Each of NBC’s Friday sitcoms is working on a 13-episode order.

Any scoop on why Donnie Wahlberg had on Danny’s dress blues for the Blue Bloods series finale? –Jess
I asked showrunner Kevin Wade about Donnie’s Instagram post, which already had some light shed on it by the final-season trailer (press play above). “I can only say they’re only in dress blues for certain kinds of ceremonies. And I’ll leave it at that,” Wade teased. “There is a rather large set piece towards the end of the final episode where they are all in their dress blues.”

Is the Reese Witherspoon cheerleading comedy All Stars still set up at Prime with that two-season order? –PMB
Yep, All Stars is still moving forward.

On this week’s NCIS: Origins, what was Mary Jo about to tell Gibbs before the phone rang? –Maya
To recap: When Gibbs was unable to personally deliver his dead daughter’s prized toy to murder witness Mille, Mary Jo told him, “You’re not alone. I have my own—” And then that darn phone rang. “We will unravel that [mystery] as time moves on,” co-showrunner Gina Lucita Monreal told me, explaining, “One of the things we wanted to do was have all of our characters have a deep emotional life.” Co-showrunner David J. North added, “Mary Jo (played by Tyla Abercrumbie) is the backbone of the office, and you see that a bit [this week]. But in Episode 5 (airing Nov. 4) we really see how much Franks relies on her, and how much more she is that just her job title of secretary.”

Do YOU want scoop/have questions about a favorite show? Email [email protected]! Questions plopped in Comments will not be considered and may count against your final score. (With additional reporting by Vlada Gelman and Charlie Mason)