ABC Releases Fall 2008 Line-Up

Contrary to earlier reports that "Dirty Sexy Money" would move to Thursday nights, as well as yesterday's Zap2it report that it would swap timeslots with "Brothers & Sisters" on Sunday nights, very little will change on ABC this fall. Take a look.

CANCELLED:

"Men In Trees," "October Road," "Big Shots," "Women's Murder Club," "Cashmere Mafia," "Dance War," "Here Come the Newlyweds," "Carpoolers," "Cavemen," "Miss/Guided," and "Notes from the Underbelly."


2007 FRESHMAN SERIES RENEWED FOR 2nd SEASON:

"Samantha Who?," "Eli Stone," "Pushing Daisies," "Private Practice" and "Dirty Sexy Money."


NEW SHOWS THIS FALL:

1. Ashton Kutcher's new reality series "Opportunity Knocks" in which a mobile team will be showing up on America's doorstep and testing how well they know their family with a semi-truck full of flat screen TVs, new furniture and big cash prizes that the family can win on the spot (to air Tuesdays at 8/7c)

2. "Life on Mars," a new drama based on a BBC series which revolves around Sam Tyler, a modern-day police detective who, after a car crash, mysteriously finds himself transported back to 1973 and still working as a detective (to air Thursday nights at 10/9c after "Grey's Anatomy").


MIDSEASON SHOWS:

1. "The Goode Family," a new animated series from Mike Judge, creator of "King of the Hill." "The Goode Family" is obsessed with doing the "right" thing, whether it's environmentally, politically or socially. Unfortunately their efforts often have unintended comic consequences (to air Tuesday nights at 9:30/8:30c, after "Dancing with the Stars" closes its fall cycle).

2. "Scrubs," the medical comedy moves from NBC to ABC Tuesday (at 9:00pm, again after "Dancing with the Stars" ends its fall season).

3. An untitled Ashton Kutcher/Tyra Banks beauty pageant (to air Monday nights at 8:00pm during the winter, temporarily replacing 'Dancing with the Stars')

4. "Lost: Season 5," 17 all-new episodes of the blockbuster drama will most probably air on Thursday nights at 10:00pm beginning February 2009, but the exact airdate has yet to be confirmed.

5. "The Bachelor" replaces "Boston Legal" on Monday nights at 10:00pm at midseason.

6. "According to Jim" will inexplicably be back for an 8th season at midseason in an unspecified timeslot.

7. "Primetime: What Would You Do?" will also return.


ABC FALL 2008 SCHEDULE:


MONDAYS:

8:00 DANCING WITH THE STARS
9:30 SAMANTHA WHO?
10:00 BOSTON LEGAL/THE BACHELOR

TUESDAYS:

8:00 OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS (NEW)
9:00 DANCING WITH THE STARS RESULTS SHOW / SCRUBS & THE GOODE FAMILY (NEW)
10:00 ELI STONE

WEDNESDAY:

8:00 PUSHING DAISIES
9:00 PRIVATE PRACTICE
10:00 DIRTY SEXY MONEY

THURSDAY:

8:00 UGLY BETTY
9:00 GREY'S ANATOMY
10:00 LIFE ON MARS (NEW)

FRIDAY:

8:00 WIFE SWAP
9:00 SUPERNANNY
10:00 20/20

SATURDAY:

8:00 SATURDAY NIGHT COLLEGE FOOTBALL / MOVIES

SUNDAY:

7:00 AMERICA'S FUNNIEST HOME VIDEOS
8:00 EXTREME MAKEOVER: HOME EDITION
9:00 DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES
10:00 BROTHERS & SISTERS


COMMENTS:

"Dancing with the Stars" Results Show should give a new season of "Eli Stone" a solid ratings bump in its new timeslot on Tuesday nights at 10:00pm. If it worked for an aging "Boston Legal," it should work for quirky "Eli Stone."

ABC Wednesday did seem to work last fall, but the night lost some Nielsen steam just before it went off the air. I am a little concerned those figures might continue to deflate and would feel more comfortable if "Dirty Sexy Money" was airing after "Desperate Housewives" or "Grey's Anatomy."

The fact that ABC has the most stable line-up of all 4 big networks (just 2 new shows are premiering this fall) confirms how strong its development slate of 2007 was. The network may add more shows later in the season once they actually shoot new pilots (this year's development season was hampered by the writers' strike).

The network has already begun production of new episodes on Greg Berlanti shows "Brothers & Sisters" and "Dirty Sexy Money" as well as Kate Walsh's medical series "Private Practice." Some shows are expected to have longer seasons ("Desperate Housewives" 24 episodes, "Brothers & Sisters" 27 episodes, etc.)

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