ABC developing new "Holding Court" series
ABC just announced a new project worth keeping on our radar : a comedy-drama series called "Holding Court", currently in early development. The announcement dropped on June 1, 2026, and it's already drawing comparisons to a cult classic — we'll get to that. For now, here's everything we know.
What "Holding Court" is actually about
The premise is sharp. "Holding Court" centers on a highly capable yet stubborn paralegal who, following her father's death, finds herself having to help run his law firm. The catch ? She's teaming up with a charismatic, street-smart attorney who barely scraped through the bar exam. Two opposite personalities, one law firm to keep afloat — the tension practically writes itself.
The dynamic between the two leads is clearly the engine of the show. On one side, a book-smart woman with deep knowledge of legal procedure but no law degree. On the other, a charming guy with a license and very little else going for him professionally. It's the kind of pairing that's easy to root for and even easier to watch spiral into chaos.
Deadline has drawn a direct comparison to Moonlighting, the iconic 1985 ABC series starring Cybill Shepherd and Bruce Willis, which became a defining example of will-they-won't-they tension wrapped in sharp dialogue. That's a significant reference point — it sets the tone for what ABC seems to be aiming at with "Holding Court." Not just a legal procedural, but something with genuine wit and romantic friction.
Here's a quick breakdown of what the show sets up from the start :
- A paralegal inheriting her father's law firm after his death
- A reluctant partnership with a charming but barely-qualified attorney
- A comedy-drama format blending legal cases with personal conflict
- A tone inspired by classic will-they-won't-they network television
The creative team behind the project
The writer developing "Holding Court" is Alfredo Barrios Jr., known for his work on Hotel Cocaine, the MGM+ crime drama series. He brings a background in character-driven storytelling, which makes sense given how much this show depends on its two central figures.
On the producing side, Ross Fineman of Fineman Entertainment is attached as executive producer. Fineman isn't new to high-profile television — he recently worked on Netflix's The Lincoln Lawyer and on ABC's own Big Sky. Both are shows we've tracked closely here in terms of streaming availability and platform rollout, so his involvement adds real credibility to the project.
That pairing — a writer with sharp character instincts and a producer with proven network and streaming experience — is a combination that makes sense for a show aiming to land on both ABC and Hulu/Disney+. That dual-platform strategy has become increasingly standard for ABC originals, and "Holding Court" seems built for exactly that model.
| Role | Name | Previous work |
|---|---|---|
| Writer / Developer | Alfredo Barrios Jr. | Hotel Cocaine (MGM+) |
| Executive Producer | Ross Fineman | The Lincoln Lawyer (Netflix), Big Sky (ABC) |
No casting has been confirmed yet. No pilot order, no premiere date, no network schedule slot. The show remains at the development stage, which means a lot can still shift — creatively, structurally, or even in terms of whether it gets greenlit at all. ABC is currently developing several new projects, and not every one of them makes it to air.
What this means for ABC and its streaming strategy
"Holding Court" fits into a broader pattern worth paying attention to. ABC has been actively refreshing its comedy-drama slate, and this project slots neatly into that effort. The network recently officially ordered a new Grey's Anatomy spin-off series, signaling a clear push toward both legacy brand extension and fresh original concepts.
"Holding Court" falls into the second category — an original idea with no pre-existing fan base, which is always the riskier bet. But the Moonlighting comparison gives it a useful identity. Network TV audiences respond to chemistry-driven procedurals, and legal settings remain one of the most reliable backdrops for that formula. Shows like Suits, which drew over 503 million minutes of viewing in a single week on Netflix in July 2023 after years off the air, prove that appetite for this genre never really goes away.
For those of us who track which shows land where across Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, and Apple TV+, the ABC-to-Hulu/Disney+ pipeline is a well-established route. If "Holding Court" gets picked up, expect it to follow that same path — airing on ABC first, then becoming available on Hulu shortly after, with Disney+ distribution outside the US a likely next step.
The real question right now isn't whether the concept works — it does, at least on paper. The question is who ABC will cast. The entire show rests on the chemistry between its two leads, and finding that pairing is the hardest part of bringing something like this to life. Casting will be the clearest signal of how seriously the network is investing in this one. Keep that in mind when news eventually breaks — it'll tell you more than any logline ever could.