ABC Schedule Recapped

ABC's fall 2007 schedule boasts 8 new shows, including 5 dramas and 3 comedies, with more on the way at a midseason point. Nevertheless, network staples remain intact.

MONDAY
"Dancing with the Stars" is on fire and this line-up should continue to give NBC a run for their Monday. Christina Applegate's new comedy "Sam I Am" (featuring one of my favorite actresses Jean Smart) looks promising.

TUESDAY
Comedies have been the weakest link in ABC's line-up over the past few years and I am not sure the new offerings will change that. Come midseason we get to see if Darren Star's "Cashmere Mafia" has more mojo than NBC's "Lipstick Jungle."

WEDNESDAY
This is the night I am most looking forward to. Wednesday nights will be my ABC nights. In addition to Kate Walsh's "Private Practice" that ABC promised to improve, we get one of the most delightful pilots of the year, Bryan Fuller's enchanting "Pushing Daisies." And as if that isn't enough, to cap it all off, there's "Dirty Sexy Money" at 10 from Greg Berlanti, that some describe as "Dynasty" meets "Six Feet Under," while others call it "Brothers & Sisters" on crack.

THURSDAY
Little change on Thursdays. I was hoping the early buzz about ABC moving "Ugly Betty" to Sundays was true, as we would then get another amazing 3-show line-up like Wednesday. Plus "Men In Trees" could then have stayed on Thursdays, which you would think ABC would want to do after all the effort they invested into it. With recent "is it coming back?" dilemma, that remains the most mistreated show on ABC's schedule. Oh, well. "Big Shots" doesn't look bad (how can Michael Vartan look bad?) but it doesn't look too good either. Having only seen some clips, I will however keep an open mind.

FRIDAY
For some reason, I was really looking forward to Angie Harmon-fronted "Women's Murder Club." I suppose I originally envisioned this pilot as a classic detective story in line with "Murder She Wrote." Something like the mystery part of "Desperate Housewives." But, the show will be more "CSI" meets "Sex and the City," and with both types of shows in abundance all across broadcast TV, I am not sure we needed this hybrid. It a less competitive night, though, which may either kill this show or, on the contrary, give it a better shot at success (think "Numbers" and "Ghost Whisperer".)

SATURDAY
Football. 'nuff said.

SUNDAY
No change. I already wrote the "'Ugly Betty' should have moved to Sundays" rant. As for "Brothers & Sisters" being strong enough to stand on its own feet and moving to another night to help launch a new show - as much as I love "Brothers & Sisters" I am really not sure if the show is capable of that and if its ratings wouldn't dip in that case. Plus, I bet ABC would still not dare air the show before 10 p.m. since the writers never shy away from displaying gay affections. I am afraid we have not progressed that far. On the other hand, the show may continue to grow creatively and this timeslot allows for that without pressure to add ill-advised stunt twists to spike up the ratings.

All in all, we love you ABC, we really, really love you.

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