Matt’s Inside Line: Scoop on CSI: Vegas, Ghosts, Blood & Treasure, The Orville, the Walker Prequel, WWDITS and More

Will Ghosts Season 2 get into any mythology or rules, like why Hetty’s husband was unable to pass through the vault door? –Craig
Co-showrunner Joe Wiseman told us that while in Season 1 they tried to keep some things “vague,” “we have talked about other sort of supernatural rules-bending, or revealing things that we can’t do.” For example, “We’re going to start exploring the idea that the ghosts get to leave the property, and whether they will be successful or not,” Wiseman said. Also, “We’ve thought of ways to bring back some of the ghosts that maybe we wouldn’t think you’d be able to see again,” though for now all of the above are “just ideas that we’re talking about in the writers room.”

CBS announced a Drop Dead Diva reboot in September, but there haven’t been updates since. Is it still in development? I loved the original. –Phil
Sorry, Phil, to dash your Drop Dead dreams, but sources tell me that CBS is not moving forward with the project after all.

Any word on Season 3 of Upload? –Gary
Series lead Robbie Amell told me that he is well aware that fans were a bit deflated by the oft-delayed Season 2’s low episode count (7), and he hopes that Season 3 can be a make-good of sorts. “[Upload creator] Greg [Daniels] has been hard at work on Season 3 for a long time,” Amell said. “He thought up the show years ago when he was working on Saturday Night Live, so he has a lot in the tank for the show.” And while there “was a bit of a COVID issue” with Season 2, “where it took the same amount of time to make less episodes,” he said, “Fingers crossed we can do a bit more” in Season 3.

Is there any indication that Lina Esco will be a recurring cast member of S.W.A.T. next season? Especially since her character and Jim Street finally accepting their feelings at the end of the season? –RJ
I’m hearing that is far too early to speculate/count on any encore(s), but given that the parting of ways between actor and show was extremely amicable, I wouldn’t rule out it eventually, maybe happening.

Any word on season 2 of CSI: Vegas? Can we expect it to be another 10 episodes, or will we get to see more? –Maple
I put that question to CBS Entertainment chief Kelly Kahl, and he said that despite kicking off last year with just 10 episodes, CSI: Vegas is not by design a short-season series. “We have not done a final tally yet, but it’s going to be more than 13 [episodes],” Kahl told me. “After we set the schedule, then we populate the schedule and figure out how many we need of each show. And that’s what we’re in the process of doing right now.”

Any word on if there will be another season of Heartland? –Tom
Indeed, CBC has renewed the family drama for Season 16, to air this fall (Sundays at 7 pm). Stateside, the series typically eventually airs on UPtv.

On Walker Independence, is Katherine McNamara’s Abigail a Walker by blood or by marriage? –Ivan
First off, for the uninitiated: McNamara explained to TVLine at the CW Upfront that she is playing Cordell’s “great-great-great-great grandmother — so I’ve gone from playing Stephen Amell’s daughter in the future [on Arrow] to Jared Padalecki’s grandmother, several times removed!” But as for why Abby bears the Walker surname…. you’ll have to tune in Thursday nights this fall. As showrunner Seamus Fahey tells Inside Line, “We will learn of the origins of the Walkers in every sense.”

Can you tease anything about who the Big Bad for Part 3 of Season 8 of The Flash will be? –KoS
I delivered your Q to Flash showrunner Eric Wallace, and he teased back, “Theres a reason why Iris got her time sickness, and the final big bad of Season 8 is the person behind it. And you will learn why this is all happening.”

Why was United States of Al cancelled? What are the chances Netflix or any other network might pick it up? –Cheryl
I asked CBS Entertainment president Kelly Kahl if Al‘s fate was strictly numbers-dictated — it did rank fifth out of CBS’ seven sitcoms, ahead of the similarly cancelled B Positive and How We Roll — or if perhaps the real-life sitch in Afghanistan was casting any pall on the comedy. “All of Chuck [Lorre]’s shows are really well done, including US of Al,” he said. “And certainly, early in the season, they did an incredible, admirable job handling a tough situation,” by writing in the Taliban’s power siege. “But we had to make some hard choices this year,” he added, “and that was one of them.” As for US of Al being shopped, I am asking around and have heard nothing (so far).

Will Transplant be renewed in the U.S. for Season 3? –Janet
The Canadian medical drama was renewed by CTV back in February, but NBC has yet to make a decision on airing Season 3 in the States.

Is there any word on The CW’s Justice U show starring David Ramsey? I know the network is in a bit of flux right now, but I am hoping that the show is not officially dead as it seemed like an interesting way to continue Diggle’s story. –Brian
You should “dig” this news, Brian, as I am told that Justice U is still in development at the network.

Have you heard of any news on a third season of Hardy Boys on Hulu? Season 2 ended on a huge cliffhanger. –Eric
There is no official word yet, though I am hearing that all parties are “hopeful” it will come to pass.

Do you want scoop on a favorite show? Email InsideLine@tvline.com! Questions left in Comments will not be read and may very well count against your final score. (With additional reporting by Dave Nemetz and Vlada Gelman)