It was ABC's turn to outline its upcoming fall lineup today, and the alphabet did so with 12 new shows--seven dramas, four comedies, and one "alternative series." As previously announced, the network is also returning several programs, including big hits Grey's Anatomy, Lost, and Ugly Betty.
"Seventeen returning shows is really key for us--some of which are breakout hits and some of which we are building. We're confident they're going to be big assets for us," said Stephen McPherson, president of ABC, in a conference call with the press. "To me, it's all about good programming. If we could do 47 Desperate Housewives, we would, but we can't," he said later.
Word on most of ABC's new pickups got out before today's announcements, but the network confirmed it has added the comedy Miss/Guided starring Two and a Half Men's Judy Greer and the renewals of midseason series October Road and Notes from the Underbelly.
Not included in the in network's announcement today--and presumed canceled--were a pair of long-running comedies, the Jim Belushi vehicle According to Jim and George Lopez.
Another laugher that didn't make the cut, but which ABC loved and many thought could be revived with Ray Romano as the mark, was the freshman comedy Knights of Prosperity. "It was a show that we all really loved, and [there were] a lot of factors [that led to the decision to cancel it]," said McPherson. "In the end, [it was] performance that we were baffled by. We thought they did a great show."
McPherson also touched on ABC's shift from heavy dramas to more escapist fare, such as Heroes and Ugly Betty. Speaking about gritty serial dramas, such as last year's failed The Nine and Daybreak, he said, "People just didn't show up for these shows. It wasn't a matter of seeing a show and rejecting the show...The Nine was very dense...it was compelling, but it was demanding. We felt there may be a tonal shift in the viewers in terms of what they have a thirst for."
Wednesday will see the biggest change for ABC, as its primetime slot will be filled with three new dramas. Pushing Daisies, which is produced by Bryan Fuller (Heroes) and stars Lee Pace as a man whose touch can bring the dead back to life, will air at 8 p.m. Filling the 9 p.m. hole is the Grey's Anatomy spin-off Private Practice, starring Kate Walsh as Addison and featuring the Grey's team behind the camera. Airing at 10 p.m. will be Dirty Sexy Money--which ABC president Stephen McPherson compares to Falcon Crest--starring Six Feet Under alum Peter Krause as a lawyer to a very wealthy family with suspicious doings.
Big Shots, a male-bonding drama starring Dylan McDermott, Christopher Titus, Joshua Malina, and Michael Vartan as high-powered execs, gets the money slot behind Grey's Anatomy. Christina Applegate's amnesia comedy Sam I Am is sandwiched between reality shows Dancing with the Stars and The Bachelor on Monday. It looks as though ABC is targeting Tuesday as comedy night, with Cavemen and Carpooling airing back-to-back.
When asked about a new time slot for Lost, McPherson joked, "Saturday morning at 7:30." The exec didn't confirm any changes, but made it clear that he would like it to move up from its current 10 p.m. slot to an 8 p.m. or 9 p.m. period. Lost is expected to return in January for a 16-episode season with no interruptions.
Returning shows to ABC: Grey's Anatomy, Lost, Ugly Betty, Boston Legal, Brothers & Sisters, Men in Trees, Dancing with the Stars, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, The Bachelor/Supernanny, America's Funniest Home Videos, Wife Swap, Jimmy Kimmel Live, October Road, Notes from the Underbelly, 20/20, Saturday Night College Football
New shows to ABC: Big Shots, Cashmere Mafia, Eli Stone, Dirty Sexy Money, Private Practice, Pushing Daisies, Women's Murder Club, Cavemen, Carpoolers, Miss/Guided, Sam I Am, and Oprah's Big Give.
The following is ABC's 2007-2008 fall lineup. (New shows in bold, shows picked up but not on the schedule will air later in the season.)
MONDAY:
8:00 p.m. Dancing with the Stars
9:30 p.m. Sam I Am
10:00 p.m.The Bachelor
(Cashmere Mafia, Notes from the Underbelly, and October Road will air after Dancing with the Stars and The Bachelor conclude.)
TUESDAY:
8:00 p.m. Cavemen
8:30 p.m. Carpoolers
9:00 p.m. Dancing with the Stars the Results Show
10:00 p.m. Boston Legal
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. Big Shots
FRIDAY:
8:00 p.m. MEN IN TREES
9:00 p.m. Women's Murder Club
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
Comments (53)
Very glad to see Lost and October Road returning. Not a big fan of Grey's Anatomy but glad to see it returning nonetheless for people that are fans. This whole 'canceling great shows' business is getting out of hand. And to all Lost bashers, I believe you're upset because there is actually a successful show that doesn't have to deal with law or medicine. It's a shocker, but get over it.
Screenslave, I have to agree with you. But I'm willing to check out the season opener incase they found a comeback. But Grey's is drivin me nuts lately. There are only so many times you can play out a relationship. Meridith/McDreamy is just getting lame and boring. And the best friend in love thing? It happens real life, yeah, but in TV world? Played out.
Lost? That lost my interest after they opened the hatch. Well, after Boone died really, but I stuck aroundafter that. Now that Charlie's dead, what's the point?
I agree with Deniseoso all the way. Well, except I'm not sure how Grey's is gnna be now, but hey, I'm ready to check it out.
Does anyone know the real reason George Lopez was cancelled? What a coincidence he was cancelled after his HBO "America's Mexican" special!!! I can't help but think that the thin skinned, self-righteous Republicans had something to do with the cancellation.
October Road, Ugly Betty, Grey’s Anatomy,Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Desperate Housewives and Brothers & Sisters.. only ones worth keeping on..
YEAH...Thanks for keeping Grey's Anatomy. Also, please keep Traveler...I LOVE this show. FAVORITE!!!
Yeah Grey's! Thank goodness some TV executives have the brains to leave on the good shows, unlike some channels...(cough, cough, CW, cough , cough)
I can't believe they are getting rid of According to Jim!!!! what's wrong with you people?
Conservative Disney Drivel
I am so happy to see October Road returning. What a fresh new show! Also I am glad to see Lost, Heroes, and Greys Anatomy!!!
a show about cave men are you crazy thats sounds as fun as stareing at a strobe light for a hour.Lost and heroes are great shows if you see them from the beginning without missing a show.Some other to watch are roswell on sci-fi and the 4400 on usa good shows too
"Another season with "Grey's anatomy" and "Lost" - are you kidding me? Shows that have lost all plotlines, are monuments of bad scriptwriting and fillerstories, without any credibility and running on empty for a number of episodes? Why not just cancel these shows, to let the audience remember them as they once were: original, intelligent and personal shows? Now painful to watch and just loose ends. What to expect of another season of "Lost"? Well, probably 58 new charchters, 212 new fillerstories (which never get explained anyway) and no logic whatsoever. With "Grey's Anatomy"? Well, Izzie and George will continue to long for each other in a totally unbelievable passion (from 2,5 seasons of Best friends to Sex-Angst-Love-Passion - are you for real????), while Meredith reads from her fortunecookies in the beginning and end of every show, while the scriptwriters are thinking up new ways of abusing the audience intelligence and emotions, loosing everything that once made this show great. I'm amazed that more money and resources are put into these two shows and I truly fear for the outcome of the coming seasons. Like BTO once sang, it's probably: You ain't seen nothing yet."
I guess its a good thing that you're in the minority, after all, the shows were renewed. So take it to your blog, and leave those of us who aren't rampant pessimists who think that a show running past 6 episodes is a sell-out to have a good time.moreless
Wait does this mean Notes from the Underbelly won't be on anymore?
I'm so confused...Grey's just ended so how come they're starting it again so quickly...I know it was picked up for its season 4 but...wen does it actally start??? By da way it's da best show in da world!
Another season with "Grey's anatomy" and "Lost" - are you kidding me? Shows that have lost all plotlines, are monuments of bad scriptwriting and fillerstories, without any credibility and running on empty for a number of episodes? Why not just cancel these shows, to let the audience remember them as they once were: original, intelligent and personal shows? Now painful to watch and just loose ends. What to expect of another season of "Lost"? Well, probably 58 new charchters, 212 new fillerstories (which never get explained anyway) and no logic whatsoever. With "Grey's Anatomy"? Well, Izzie and George will continue to long for each other in a totally unbelievable passion (from 2,5 seasons of Best friends to Sex-Angst-Love-Passion - are you for real????), while Meredith reads from her fortunecookies in the beginning and end of every show, while the scriptwriters are thinking up new ways of abusing the audience intelligence and emotions, loosing everything that once made this show great. I'm amazed that more money and resources are put into these two shows and I truly fear for the outcome of the coming seasons. Like BTO once sang, it's probably: You ain't seen nothing yet.moreless
i know who's going to star in cavemen, those cavemen in those geico ads
I'm glad to know Boston Legal will be back. I love that show!!! It's one of my dad's and I's favorites.
interesting
When is lost showing? It's not listed...
I can't wait until Lost ends, only 48 more eps :) The only new shows I'll give a try are Private Practice and Cavemen.
Cavemen!!!??? If other networks based series on commercials, there would be spanish-speaking chiuauas running around for tacos for a half an hour!!!
Does anyone know what the deal is with Mitch Hurwitz's "The Thick of It" here it says it set to premier March 1st 2007 obviousely that isn't true and all the news says it has been picked up by ABC. Is it a midseason show? Or is it coming out this summer? anyone know
I'm still sad that they are planing to end lost
Why is LOST only getting 16 new episodes? That is bizarre in it self.
I can't believe they canceled "Knights of Prosperity" just because they choose a bad time slot for it! "Pushing Daisies" better be good or ABC is going to lose Wednesday!
Everyone has pretty much summed up my feelings, esp about Cavemen, but I'll watch Private Practice and might give Women's Murder Club a try. But nothing else sound remotely decent. However, we may be fooled. Who knew a show about a blonde high school girl killing vampires would be any good? :D
All new Wednesday night line up. Sounds a little crazy. Cavmen? LMAO! Sam I am sounds decent otherwise I do not think I will be tuning in to ABC.
Can't wait for Oprah's Big Give, woohoo!!! Quality. (note: sarcasm)
The cavemen show will last about 10 episodes if it's lucky. This is just another baby bob. A bad idea..But I will check it out, just to see how bad.
Can't wait for Cavemen. :)
Ugly Betty will be even bigger in their second season. Mark my words!
A show based on the Geico cavemen commercials? Like others have said, it won't even last one season.
Of course, the important question is: "Which of these shows will air in Australia?"
According to Jim wasn't canceled, it was a planned end because Jim's wife wants to retire and have kids. This was knowned before this season even started. Report facts please, instead of making it sound like it was pushed off the air.
I will give the new shows a chance and see if they are good but if they are not then I won't watch and I will stick to the abc shows I do watch now and thats Grey's Anatomy and Desperate Housewives.
Wow what a bunch of crappy shows, go and cancel the good ones (jericho for example) and come with that crap in the 8-9 tues slot, wow...
A comedy about Cavemen. Ugh. But I'm intrigued by Pushing Daisies, Women's Murder Club and Private Practice.
well glad to see brothers and sisters still there but mad to see jerico is gone
You get rid of George Lopez for a show about Cavemen? I also heard Mr. Lopez had a few choice words for ABC after learning his show got axed.
I don't blame him. Now he knows how blacks have felt all these years with thier shows getting the boot for overhyped crap.
glad men in trees will return too
glad to hear LOST will be on earlier time
maarin,
It's best not to post any rumors until the actual networks announce their schedules. They are always able to change information even when they are on the pulpit.
Lost and AFV is all I'll continue watching though on ABC.
I'm happy about the schedule. Most of the shows that they picked up seem pretty good. I think they should DEFINITELY replace Cavemen with Miss/Guided though. I don't think Cavemen will last for a season either. Plus, the idea seems pretty stupid in my opinion. I watched a clip of Miss/Guided and that was one of the funniest clips I've ever seen. I still think they should have picked up Nice Girls Don't Get the Corner Office and Football Wives though. Hopefully ABC will consider picking them up.
it shows TV execs really dont know what the public want at all.
Cavemen will be gone before the end of the season
There's not one series I'm interested in, maybe just Cavemen just to see how bad it will be. Looks like Lost will be the only show I will be watching on ABC.
@JetixMasterDan, I wouldn't post them if the rumours about NBC's and ABC's upfronts didn't come true yesterday and today...
ABC made a pilot called THE MIDDLE starring Ricki Lake. It was the best show I've seen in a long time. I can't believe they picked up CAVEMEN and pulled THE MIDDLE. I guess a network that canceled MY SO-CALLED life after one season has no regard for good content.
I think ABC will be overtaken by NBC for producing a sub-par line-up like this.As for the rumor posted about CBS and CW shows, don't believe it until upfront information is posted. People have believed items like that in the past and been outraged when they find out differing views.
I can't believe Jericho is cancelled, that has been my absolute favoriteshow this season. Big disapointment....HUGE!
Not about ABC, but:How I met your mother, The Unit, NCIS, Numb3rs, Ghost whisperer, Rules of engagement, all 3 CSI's - renewed.JERICHO, The Class, Close to home - Canceled...on the CW - OTH, Supernatural and Smallvile gettin new season, fate of Veronica still unknown...