Posted at 3 p.m. Tuesday, May 13

ABC revealed its fall 2008 prime-time line-up Tuesday, and one thing is obvious: The network likes its current shows.

ABC is introducing only two new series in the fall—the drama “Life on Mars” and the game show “Opportunity Knocks.”

“Life on Mars,” based on a British series with the same name, follows a modern police detective who is transported back to 1973. It will be produced by David E. Kelley, who currently produces “Boston Legal.” I hope that its more “The Office”-style adaptation success than a “Coupling”-like disaster. The original, which still airs, is stellar.

In “Opportunity Knocks,” produced by Ashton Kutcher’s Catalyst company, producers go to peoples’ homes and quiz family members on what they know about each other.

Also Tuesday, ABC made “Scrubs” fans ecstatic. It made official news that it will air the former NBC sitcom at midseason. ABC Entertainment President Stephen McPherson couldn’t help but get a dig in against NBC during Tuesday’s press conference in New York, saying that NBC put the Zach Braff sitcom in 17 different time slots and gave it little promotion.

ABC also gave a midseason thumbs-up to an untitled reality beauty pageant show from Kutcher and Tyra Banks. It joins another midseason show, “The Goode Family,” an animated series from “King of the Hill” creator Mike Judge. The Goode family, according to an ABC release, is obsessed with doing the right thing but their efforts often cause unintended comic consequences. “Lost” will be back at midseason too.

Kelley’s long-running drama, “Boston Legal,” will return for a 13-episode final season in the fall.

McPherson said the 100-day writers strike affected the development of several series, which is why bubble shows—those that didn;t get great ratings—are getting a second chance this fall.

I’m thankful for that news. I’m a fan of “Eli Stone,” “Pushing Daisies,” and “Dirty Sexy Money.” Also included in the list is the “Grey’s Anatomy” spin-off “Private Practice.”

ABC has 17 series in development for midseason or after, but McPherson said he wouldn’t commit to those shows until pilots had been filmed.

Current ABC shows “Women’s Murder Club,” “Notes From the Underbelly,” “Men in Trees,” “October Road” and “Oprah’s Big Give” were not on ABC’s fall schedule.

"Oprah's Big Give" will not return, ABC said, but only because Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Studios did not wish to renew the reality show.

"With close to 10 million viewers each week of its eight-week run, we are tremendously proud of the hit series 'Oprah’s Big Give' and thrilled it struck a chord with viewers," Harpo said in a press release. "Although ABC offered us the opportunity to move forward with a second season of 'Oprah's Big Give,' ultimately we have decided that the series fulfilled its mission in its first season, having sparked a movement and a national dialogue about giving back. We are grateful to our friends at ABC for their partnership and support and look forward to working with them in the future on new projects that continue Harpo’s goal of providing quality content that inspires, uplifts and entertains."

ABC’s prime-time schedule for the fall
Monday
7 p.m.: “Dancing With the Stars”
8:30 p.m.: “Samantha Who?”
9 p.m.: “Boston Legal”

Tuesday
7 p.m.: “Opportunity Knocks”
8 p.m.: “Dancing With the Stars Results”
9 p.m.: “Eli Stone”

Wednesday
7 p.m.: “Pushing Daisies”
8 p.m.: “Private Practice”
9 p.m.: “Dirty Sexy Money”

Thursday
7 p.m.: “Ugly Betty”
8 p.m.: “Grey’s Anatomy”
9 p.m.: “Life on Mars”

Friday
7 p.m.: “Wife Swap”
8 p.m.: “Supernanny”
9 p.m.: “20/20”

Saturday
7 p.m.: “Saturday Night College Football”

Sunday
6 p.m.: “America’s Funniest Home Videos”
7 p.m.: “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”
8 p.m.: “Desperate Housewives”
9 p.m.: “Brothers and Sisters”

TrackBack

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d83451600969e200e5523a4baf8834

Listed below are links to weblogs that reference ABC keeps bubble shows, adds 2 new series:

Post a comment