Thread: ABC in 2008-09: Two New Fall Series; Changes on Only Four Evenings

ABC in 2008-09: Two New Fall Series; Changes on Only Four Evenings Mediaweek.com - 1 hour, 10 minutes ago

http://news.yahoo.com/s/mediaweek/20...t9aIX8B8txFb8C

Citing stability in this strike infected season (despite, in fact, ongoing double-digit rating losses, according to Nielsen Media Research data), ABC in fall 2008 could be considered the most passive prime-time schedule the network has ever offered. ABC will introduce only two new series next fall (Thursday 10 p.m. drama Life on Mars and non-scripted Opportunity Knocks, which opens Tuesday), while re-launching Pushing Daisies, Private Practice and Dirty Sexy Money and relying heavily on the strength of scripted returnees like Grey's Anatomy, Desperate Housewives, Brothers & Sisters, Ugly Betty, Samantha Who? and Boston Legal.

Veteran Wife Swap and Supernanny will move to Fridays from 8-10 p.m., Boston Legal heads to Mondays at 10 p.m. out of Samantha Who?, and sophomore Eli Stone will air Tuesdays at 10 p.m. out of the live Dancing With the Stars results show. Three of the nights from last fall -- Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday -- are unchanged.

ABC will feature two additional sitcoms in midseason -- former NBC occupant Scrubs and The Goode Family, an animated series from King of the Hill creator Mike Judge. And the comedy that will just not die, According to Jim, will also return. But only one half-hour sitcom, returning Samantha Who?, will be present on the fall schedule, which is the least number of comedies on a fall ABC line-up in over 50 years.

Also on the midseason front is an untitled non-scripted project from Tyra Banks and Ashton Kutcher; and new seasons of The Bachelor, Lost and ABC News' Primetime: What Would You Do? And there are several other unnamed series concepts considered contenders for the 2008-09 season. ABC series not returning next season include sitcoms Cavemen, Carpoolers, Miss-Guided and Notes From the Underbelly; dramas Men In Trees, October Road, Big Shots, Cashmere Mafia and Women's Murder Club; and the non-scripted Just For Laughs and Oprah's Big Give.

Here is ABC's fall 2008 primetime schedule with the two new shows in caps, followed by the new program descriptions:

Monday

8:00 p.m. Dancing With the Stars
9:30 p.m. Samantha Who?
10:00 p.m. Boston Legal (new day)

Tuesday

8:00 p.m. OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS
9:00 p.m. Dancing With the Stars Results Show
10:00 p.m. Eli Stone (new day)

Wednesday

8:00 p.m. Pushing Daisies
9:00 p.m. Private Practice
10:00 p.m. Dirty Sexy Money

Thursday

8:00 p.m. Ugly Betty
9:00 p.m. Grey's Anatomy
10:00 p.m. LIFE ON MARS

Friday

8:00 p.m. Wife Swap (new day)
9:00 p.m. Supernanny (new day)
10:00 p.m. 20/20

Saturday

8:00 p.m. Saturday Night College Football

Sunday

7:00 p.m. America's Funniest Home Videos
8:00 p.m. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
9:00 p.m. Desperate Housewives
10:00 p.m. Brothers & Sisters

New Program Descriptions

Comedies

The Goode Family (midseason)

From King of the Hill creator Mike Judge, this new animated sitcom focuses on a flawed family obsessed with doing the right thing. The voices include Mike Judge, Nancy Carell, Abby Elliot and Dave Herman.

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Dramas

Life on Mars

After being knocked unconscious when his girlfriend is kidnapped by a serial killer, a 21st century detective wakes up in 1973 and looks for clues to solve the crime and get back home. Lenny Clarke, Rachel Lefevre, Colm Meaney and Jason O'Mara star. David E. Kelley (Boston Legal) is the executive producer.

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Non-Scripted

Opportunity Knocks

Contestants compete to win a gamut of prizes literally from their own home when a mobile team arrives at Anywhere, America in a semi-truck full of flat screen TVs, new furniture and cash prizes that the family can win right there. J.D. Roth hosts; Ashton Kutcher is one of the executive producers.

Untitled Ashton Kutcher/Tyra Banks Project (midseason)

The concept is described as a beauty pageant unlike any you have ever seen.

-- Marc Berman

glad to see that Pushing Daisies is back I liked that show. Wish it wasn't on Wed. b/c that's a tough night for me.