ABC revealed its 2008-2009 schedule today in New York City, and the company pulled a shocking maneuver: Cavemen has been canceled.
Joking aside, Cavemen will be joined in ABC's dumpster by Oprah's Big Give, Miss/Guided, Carpoolers, October Road, Cashmere Mafia, Women's Murder Club, and Men in Trees, all of which fell victim to the axe. Big Give certainly had the ratings punch to be granted a second season, but apparently Oprah Winfrey didn't want to continue the show, according to ABC exec Stephen McPherson.
But enough bad news--new television schedules aren't just for mourning lost loves (Maurice the Caveman, you will be missed), they're also for checking out the new freshman class. Picked up for fall debuts are the new drama Life on Mars and the "alternative series" Opportunity Knocks.
Mars made news yesterday when it was the centerpiece of Boston Legal's renewal, as producer David E. Kelley handed over the rights to the show to ABC on the condition that Legal was picked up. The drama is an adaptation of a British series which sees a modern-day detective transported back to 1973. It will hold the coveted post-Grey's Anatomy slot on Thursday nights this fall.
Opportunity Knocks is basically a game show on wheels. The show's crew will be hauling prizes around in a semi and pull up to people's houses and ask them trivia questions based on their own lives. Opportunity Knocks is slated to air on Tuesday nights before Dancing With the Stars.
Aside from yesterday's news of Boston Legal's return, the only other real bubble show that successfully fought for its survival was Eli Stone, which will air Tuesday nights at 10 p.m. this fall. The dramedy, which was a midseason program this year, stars Jonny Lee Miller as a lawyer who has prophetic visions...usually accompanied by George Michael songs.
Other returning shows this fall include Dirty Sexy Money, Pushing Daisies, Ugly Betty, Desperate Housewives, Brothers & Sisters, Samantha Who?, Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, Wife Swap, Dancing with the Stars, Supernanny, and America's Funniest Home Videos.
ABC also announced the pickup of two new shows for midseason. The Goode Family is an animated show from Mike Judge (King of the Hill) about a clan that insists on doing the right thing, with often hilarious consequences. New reality fare for midseason comes from an untitled show from Ashton Kutcher and Tyra Banks, centering on a unique take on beauty pageants.
Finally, the worst-kept secret in Hollywood is finally out. Scrubs is coming over to ABC and will air next midseason.
Also announced to return later are The Bachelor, Lost (duh), and--wait for it--According to Jim.
Below is ABC's current schedule for the fall.
Monday
8:00 p.m. Dancing with the Stars
9:30 p.m. Samantha Who?
10:00 p.m. Boston Legal
Tuesday
8:00 p.m. Opportunity Knocks
9:00 p.m. Dancing with the Stars the Results Show
10:00 p.m. Eli Stone
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
9:00 p.m. Supernanny
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 (73)
Finally! No Cavemen! Yay!
Cavemen was a smart comedy and I think that some of the comedy went over people's heads. It is ironic that a comedy about cavemen went over people's heads. :) I am sorry to see that show and also Carpoolers go. They were both fantastic.
They kept the best shows. Cant wait for the new seasons of dancing with the stars and samantha who. hopefully the cast of dancing with the stars will be really good this season just like the past seasons.
Yey, Eli Stone! One of most intriguing productions the network's come out with of late.
no shows that i watch here
of those shows listed the one i only watch on a regualr basis is extrmeme makeover home edition, i have an odd tv watcing schedule, that invovles mostly scifi channel, or g4tv, and hardly anything inbetween, oh well...
YAY for Ugly Betty and Samantha Who!SO sad that Miss Guided wasn't renewed. With back to back episodes on only for like a month why have it on in the first place? I LOVED IT! BRING IT BACK! please?
It's too bad ABC gave Miss/Guided the toss. With back to back episodes, it just doesn't seem that the network ever trusted the sitcom, let alone gave the show a real shot.
ABC, you can count me in when Eli Stone and Pushing Daisies are back in business. Life on Mars US sounds fun too.
Too bad Carpoolers was canceled, because it was a great comedy!
I'm pumped that Boston Legal is back.....Yes Scrubs is on ABC!
Extremely happy <i>Eli Stone</i> was picked up, stellar cast, great dramedy, I hope more people find out what a really terrific show it is. <i>Boston Legal</i> is the other favorite of mine that I'm so happy about, I will be extremely upset when this show leaves the air.
All the matters is that Scrubs is coming to ABC. If it is truly ending with this last season then it needed to end the right way and I'm glad that atleast ABC could recognize this, best show ever!
Aha! so there is still sense left in the world (cancelling Cavemen). I've seen alot of different series, but that was the DUMBEST show in the history of television (to me anyway).
Giving that show more than 1 episode was a crime in itself.
im glad shows like pushing dasies are back but why did they cut october road. that was like my favorite show!!! things lik this make me so mad.....
Yay! for Eli Stone....finally a law drama I can sink my teeth into. My only wish is that it gets a full season order soon and does not remain confined to 13 episodes only.
Yay! for Eli Stone....finally a law drama I can sink my teeth into. My only wish is that it gets a full season order soon and does not remain confined to 13 episodes only.
Why does everyone give Caveman and Carpoolers such a hard time, I understand they were no seinfeld or arrested development but I found them enjoyable, ABC has only 1 half hour on its shcedule? Glad they did pickup Scrubs.
The cancellation of Women's Murder Club really stinks. If it wasn't for Grey's and Private Practice I wouldn't watch ABC at all. Thanks alot for cancelling yet another great show.
Hopefully Scrubs will appear without all the annoying on-screen pop-ups that NBC were renowned for
I love my ABC! They're the best at not canceling the good shows.:)
Noooooo!!! Cavemen was one of the funnest shows on TV! ABC, you never even gave it a chance!
I'm glad Scrubs was picked up by ABC but not so happy about October Road. I wanted to see what happens next I can't believe they ended it like that. Oh well! I wandered why nothing was said about Big Shots?
SCRUBS!!! One of my favourites. Think it will do great at ABC.
Lost, Scrubs and Pushing Daisies are great shows and great reasons to watch ABC.
They're renewing According to Jim again.... I have a reason to live!!!!!!
They didn't cancel any of the shows that I like, thankfully. Glad to see those that are returning back.
Why haven't they mentioned Women's Murder Club?! Everyone is saying its cancelled! But why not mention it? I am so annoyed, I don't care about any of the other shows (not even Lost for my Josh Holloway fix!) right now, I just want more WMC! All my favourite shows always get cancelled! I am so fed up of networks.
I will never watch this network when Lost has completed it's story. I liked Caveman from what few shows I watched...never got a chance.
Looks as if the only thing on TV anymore is trashy soap operas, and soft porn. What a country!
Pushing Daisies
Why does ABC continue to cancel shows I *LIKE* and keep crap I hate like According To Jim? Argh!
I do not, for the life of me, understand how According to Jim continues to live when ABC cancels so many shows with far better ratings and substance. Does someone on Jim have pictures of the powers that be at ABC?
Cavemen sucked. Hope the actors can get another gig.
Finally! I've been waiting for Life on Mars for months! Jason O'Mara rocks.
Of course Scrubs is gonna come back, its a brilliant show (just look at its score here, and not to mention imdb)...no wonder I always want to watch it (does anyone knows whens the next time it would be starting all over again (you know, from episode 1 and so on)?
I can't believe they got rid of October Road. It was one of the best shows on TV. Maybe the writers can tell us who's kid it is?
Scrubs! Scrubs! Scrubs!Scrubs Forever...
no october road?!?!?!?!IDIOTS!!!!
You have got to be kidding! Jim got picked again? Someone up there at ABC mother must love the show! I think that Miss/Guided NEVER got a chance!
The only shows I watch on ABC are LOST and According to Jim. Btw why do so many people hate ATJ? It's a pretty good show if you give it a chance. Bah too many trolls out there. :P
Wife Swap, Dancing with the Stars, Supernanny, and America's Funniest Home Videos all need to go too.
Take out wife swap. Put in an action series! Take out super nanny and put in another sitcom! that would be totally undeniably unarguably awesome!
Yay, According To Jim gets another season...(am I the only one who's happy about it?)
I wish Women's Murder Club has stuck it out! LOVED the show! really sad abt October Road and Men in trees too! they were both good light-hearted shows
Have to admit a little disappointed that Womens Murder Club, or Cashmere Mafia was not picked up. And I am a 35 year old man who watches it with his wife. Yet they keep garbage like According to Jim.Very happy about Boston Legal, and Samantha Who, and of course Lost! And I would say Scrubs is on it's way out, Zach Braff wants to do movies anyway, and Sarah Chalke (Dr Reed already has the re-occuring role on How I met...
I'm glad Scrubs will have at least one more season. Good to hear Eli Stone got picked up for a 2nd season because it is a great show.
YES!! Scrubs Lives! Long Live Scrubs! Long Live Scrubs!
Long Live LOST!
ABC hopefully will move to #1!
After waiting for nearly a year for it to happen, the best thing I see on the new ABC fall schedule is <i>Life on Mars</i> -- finally!:D