Global’s fall line-up heavy on drama with ‘Gracepoint,’ ‘State of Affairs’

TORONTO – The David Tennant murder mystery “Gracepoint” and the Katherine Heigl CIA thriller “State of Affairs” are among eight new dramas that will air on Global this fall.

Shaw Media, which also runs specialty channels History and Showcase, announced its 2014-15 television schedule on Wednesday while highlighting new dramatic fare headed to Global.

Also on the new roster is “Stalker,” a psychological thriller starring Dylan McDermott and “Nikita”‘s Maggie Q as detectives who handle stalking cases for the LAPD.

Tea Leoni will play a newly appointed U.S. Secretary of State in “Madam Secretary,” while “State of Affairs” stars Heigl as a CIA analyst working closely with the first female president.

“Gracepoint” also features Nick Nolte and “Breaking Bad”‘s Anna Gunn and is the U.S. adaptation of the critically acclaimed British drama “Broadchurch,” in which Tennant also starred as a prickly detective working a child murder case in a picturesque small town.

Based on the DC Comics series “Hellblazer,” superhero show “Constantine” will also join Global’s schedule this fall. The series stars Matt Ryan as John Constantine, a demon hunter and master of the occult.

Global struck gold last season with hit U.S. dramas “Sleepy Hollow and “The Blacklist,” both returning this fall, and hopes to build on that momentum with 14.5 hours of simulcast programming in total.

“Global is Canada’s drama destination,” said Barbara Williams, senior vice president of content at Shaw Media, in a statement. “Packing in political intrigue, mystery and star-power, our network’s eight new dramas feel right at home in the schedule.”

A handful of new comedies will round out the line-up, including “Partners,” starring Kelsey Grammer and Martin Lawrence, and romantic comedies “A to Z” and “Marry Me.”

“Bad Judge,” from executive producers Will Ferrell and Adam McKay, stars Kate Walsh as an untameable judge who plays by her own rulings. John Mulaney of “Saturday Night Live” will also appear in “Mulaney,” about a rising stand-up comic.

Returning to the schedule are “The Good Wife,” “About a Boy,” “Hawaii Five-0,” “Big Brother Canada” and Canadian dramas “Remedy” and “Rookie Blue.”

Global has also picked up “NCIS: New Orleans” to complement the popular “NCIS” and “NCIS: LA,” and will continue to air “Chicago PD” and “Chicago Fire.”

Two new shows will air mid-season: “Heroes Reborn,” billed as the “saga behind the 2006 breakout hit ‘Heroes,’ and “The Dovekeepers,” a Mark Burnett-produced four-hour miniseries based on the Alice Hoffman historical novel.

CBC-TV revealed its fall schedule last week, while Rogers unveiled its line-up Tuesday and CTV showcases its slate of programs Thursday.