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ABC Sets Fall Schedule, Defends Development

May 15, 2007  •  Post A Comment

This fall, ABC is going to look like a whole new network, complete with nine new prime-time shows.
ABC confirmed Tuesday it has picked up a total of seven new dramas, four new comedies and an Oprah Winfrey reality series for next season. Nine of those shows are on the fall schedule.
In the drama genre, ABC is rolling out “Big Shots,” “Cashmere Mafia,” “Dirty Sexy Money,” “Eli Stone,” “Private Practice,” “Pushing Daisies” and “Women’s Murder Club.”
The new comedies are “Carpoolers,” “Cavemen,” “Miss/Guided” and “Sam I Am.” The network is also introducing alternative series “Oprah’s Big Give.”
Addressing reporters at ABC headquarters in New York, Entertainment President Steve McPherson confirmed that sitcoms “Knights of Prosperity” and “George Lopez” have been canceled and that talks continue with producers of “According to Jim.”
Another show missing from ABC’s fall lineup is “Lost,” which the network is bringing back in January to run straight through for 16 episodes. When asked if ABC will take any other steps to reduce hiatus gaps in its schedule— like NBC’s plan announced yesterday to boost series orders for “Heroes” and “The Office”—McPherson noted that sometimes extra episodes can degrade the quality of a show.
“If we could do 47 episodes of ‘Desperate Housewives,’ we would,” he said. “I think you have to be careful not to push it too much. … There’s a limited of number of shows you can get done and keep the quality up.”
Since the start of the current season, ABC slid from first to third place among viewers aged 18-49, but also managed to produce two breakout hits with “Ugly Betty” and “Brothers and Sisters.”
Mr. McPherson defended ABC’s development process this season, which included about 30 pilots.
“I think it’s comical when I hear other people saying we’re spending too much on television,” Mr. McPherson said. “We’re not spending $600 million on football. We’ll continue to spend on R&D.”
In a surprising move, ABC gave the coveted post-“Grey’s Anatomy” time period to a male ensemble drama, “Big Shots,” about a quartet of CEOs.
“We’ve been wanting to do a male ensemble for a while with truthful male relationships,” Mr. McPherson said. “We feel it’s a great pairing with ‘Grey’s’ on Thursday.”
Mr. McPherson gave “Grey’s” spin-off “Private Practice” a slot at Wednesdays at 9 p.m., the former home of “Lost.” He acknowledged the two-hour backdoor “Practice” pilot that was blended with a “Grey’s” episode earlier this month could have been better executed.
“[The episode spent] lot of time introducing the characters but not enough time with the stories,” he said, something he assured would be remedied for the fall premiere.
Another talked-about ABC fall debut is the sitcom “Cavemen,” based on a series of commercials for Geico. McPherson said the insurance company has agreed to cease airing the commercials once the series launches, though advertising integration is possible at a future point.
Of the new shows, Mr. McPherson saved his most effusive praise for “Pushing Daises,” about a man who can bring the dead back to life, which will serve as a lead-in to “Practice.”
“The vision for this world is extraordinary,” he said. “It’s like nothing you ever seen on television. This is one you have to see to understand.”
ABC’s fall lineup follows. Shows picked up but not listed on the schedule will debut later in the 2007-08 season. “Cashmere Mafia,” “Notes from the Underbelly” and “October Road” will premiere after “Dancing with the Stars” and “The Bachelor” end their fall runs.
* All times listed are Eastern, with new shows in capital letters.
MONDAY
8:00 p.m. “Dancing with the Stars”
9:30 p.m. “SAM I AM”
10:00 p.m. “The Bachelor”
TUESDAY
8:00 p.m. “CAVEMAN”
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”
(Editor: Baumann)

5 Comments

  1. Where is Eli Stone going to air?
    Are you going to keep the best shop on TV?

  2. Great blog!! You should start many more. I love all the info provided. I will stay tuned 🙂

  3. Wow, amazing blog layout! How long have you been blogging for? you make blogging look easy.

  4. Amazing freakin blog here. I almost cried while reading it!

  5. Hello. Oh,nice article. Good informations. Happy New 2011 Year

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