Well, I actually did foresee some asspull plot twist where agent Coulson is still alive [though I foresaw this in Avengers 2]. They didn't explicitly show the medics pronouncing him dead. It was just Fury who told everyone, and I mean, he's Fury, for goodness' sakes; he even pulled the old 'poor bloodstained trading cards' move after all.
Also, I don't see how this can pull in the same audience share like the movie did.
Aside from the Coulson, I don't believe any of the other characters will be making an appearance. From what I've read it seems to be a take on only the SHIELD Agents (including a bunch of new characters) living and working in a world with heroes, super villains, and assassins. I'm sure they'll be part of some sorta reference one way or another though.This is the first I've heard of this show. Would it have Hawkeye, Black Widow, Fury, and Coleson played by their respective actors in the Avengers? If so, I'd be interested. It's a good way to fill them in without dedicating a movie to them (since the characters, while good, don't stand as well on their own as Iron Man, Thor, or Captain America).