"Ugly Betty" & "Grey's Anatomy" Return March 15

The end of February sweeps on US television brings not only the end of over-hyped celebrity-filled "very special" and "the-most-shocking-ever" stunt episodes of your favorite shows, but also the arrival of new midseason dramas and a short hiatus for some of those shows you love.

This season's must-see TV, the female-friendly combo of "Ugly Betty" and "Grey's Anatomy" on ABC Thursday, returns with fresh comedy at Mode Magazine and more drama at Seattle Grace Hospital on March 15.

The same evening, ABC will premiere a new drama in the 10pm timeslot called "October Road", sending its freshman series "Men In Trees" on a short hiatus following a not-that-stellar 3-month run leading out of "Grey's Anatomy".

Although "Men In Trees" performed much better in its Thursday slot than it did earlier this season on Friday nights, this should come as not surprise given the size of "Grey's" audience.

Unfortunately, "Men In Trees" would normally fail to retain even half of that 20 million+ audience, making the Alaska-set series a loser in a number of ratings analyses.

As for the new series, "October Road" centers on the young, popular author, Nick Garrett, at a crossroads in his life. To get over his writer's block, he goes back to his hometown and must face the family and friends he has avoided for years.

Once back home on October Road, he quickly discovers that the circle of friends whose teenaged lives he wrote about have trouble forgiving him for leaving them behind, and that his ex-girlfriend, Hannah Daniels, may have had his child.

ABC has ordered 6 episodes of the new drama. "Men In Trees" should return once "October Road" concludes its initial run. Of course, should the new show prove to be a Nielsen stinker, expect to see "Men In Trees" much earlier.

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...and more about "UGLY BETTY"

...and "GREY'S ANATOMY"

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