SOURCE: Marketwatch
ABC unveils 2005-06 lineup
'8 Simple Rules,' 'Blind Justice' among canceled shows
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Seeking to maintain its momentum after a spectacular turnaround, the ABC Television Network on Tuesday unveiled a fall schedule that includes three new dramas, two new comedies, and seven shows planned for midseason.
Among canceled shows for the 2005-06 season are "8 Simple Rules," which was dealt a devastating blow by the death of star John Ritter in September 2003; and "My Wife and Kids," which starred Damon Wayans.
Walt Disney Co. (DIS: news, chart, profile) -owned ABC, which went from fourth place in total households and adults 18-49 years old last season to first place in those categories this year, brings back this season's breakout successes, such as "Desperate Housewives," "Grey's Anatomy," "Lost" and "Extreme Makeover."
Also returning will be "According to Jim," "Wife Swap," "Rodney" and "George Lopez," among other shows.
The Sunday night lineup stays the same, with the hour-long "Housewives" at 9 p.m. (Eastern), followed by "Grey's Anatomy."
"Boston Legal," which occupied the Sunday night 10 p.m. slot until midseason, moves to Tuesday nights at 10, as the network tries to shore up one of the weaker nights on its schedule. The program replaces the Steven Bochco drama, "Blind Justice."
"Boston Legal's" 9 p.m. lead-in on Tuesdays is the new drama "Commander-in-Chief," featuring Geena Davis as the first female president of the U.S. Veteran actor Donald Sutherland co-stars.
ABC also moved to improve its effort on Thursday nights, where it is moving "Alias," starring Jennifer Garner as a sexy CIA agent, from its Wednesday slot. The show, which will be entering its fifth season, will be seen at 8 p.m., instead of its old 10 p.m. time period.
"Alias" will lead into a remake of the 1974-75 ABC thriller "The Night Stalker" at 9 p.m. Stuart Townsend of "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" takes on the Darren McGavin role of crime reporter Carl Kolchak. The newsmagazine "Primetime Live" returns for its 17th season at 10.
The 2005-06 season will be the last year that ABC carries "Monday Night Football," which moves to ESPN in 2006. When the program leaves the air in January, ABC will bring back "The Bachelor" at 8 p.m., followed by the new comedy "Emily's Reasons Why Not," starring Heather Graham as a single woman who uses a series of self-imposed guidelines to avoid some of life's complications.
The sitcom "Jake in Progress" is back for a second season at 9:30, followed by the new drama "What About Brian," featuring "7th Heaven" star Barry Watson as the last of a group of friends to remain single, and the situations that ensue as he tries to find love. Rosanna Arquette is among the co-stars.
"Lost" begins its second season on Wednesday nights, moved to 9 p.m. from its current 8 p.m. time slot.
The network opted to move two sitcoms into the 8-9 period: "George Lopez," which moves from Tuesdays, and "Freddie," a new comedy featuring Freddie Prinze Jr. as a successful young chef who invites several family members to come live with him after his brother passes away.
The new drama "Invasion" closes out Wednesday nights at 10, with the premise that the recent spate of natural disasters to hit the U.S. is actually the work of alien invaders from outer space.
The schedule:
Monday:
8 p.m. "Wife Swap" (through January)
8 p.m. (after "Monday Night Football" concludes in January) "The Bachelor"
9 p.m. "Emily's Reasons Why Not"
9:30 p.m. "Jake In Progress"
10:00 p.m. "What About Brian"
Tuesday:
8 p.m. "According to Jim"
8:30 p.m. "Rodney"
9 p.m. "Commander-in-Chief"
10 p.m. "Boston Legal"
Wednesday:
8 p.m. "George Lopez"
8:30 p.m. "Freddie"
9 p.m. "Lost"
10 p.m. "Invasion"
Thursday:
8 p.m. "Alias"
9 p.m. "The Night Stalker"
10 p.m. "Primetime Live"
Friday:
8 p.m. "Supernanny"
9 p.m. "Hope & Faith"
9:30 p.m. "Hot Properties"
10 p.m. "20/20"
Saturday:
8 p.m. "ABC Movie of the Week"
Sunday:
7 p.m. "America's Funniest Home Videos"
8 p.m. "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition"
9 p.m. "Desperate Housewives"
10 p.m. "Grey's Anatomy"
ABC unveils 2005-06 lineup
'8 Simple Rules,' 'Blind Justice' among canceled shows
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Seeking to maintain its momentum after a spectacular turnaround, the ABC Television Network on Tuesday unveiled a fall schedule that includes three new dramas, two new comedies, and seven shows planned for midseason.
Among canceled shows for the 2005-06 season are "8 Simple Rules," which was dealt a devastating blow by the death of star John Ritter in September 2003; and "My Wife and Kids," which starred Damon Wayans.
Walt Disney Co. (DIS: news, chart, profile) -owned ABC, which went from fourth place in total households and adults 18-49 years old last season to first place in those categories this year, brings back this season's breakout successes, such as "Desperate Housewives," "Grey's Anatomy," "Lost" and "Extreme Makeover."
Also returning will be "According to Jim," "Wife Swap," "Rodney" and "George Lopez," among other shows.
The Sunday night lineup stays the same, with the hour-long "Housewives" at 9 p.m. (Eastern), followed by "Grey's Anatomy."
"Boston Legal," which occupied the Sunday night 10 p.m. slot until midseason, moves to Tuesday nights at 10, as the network tries to shore up one of the weaker nights on its schedule. The program replaces the Steven Bochco drama, "Blind Justice."
"Boston Legal's" 9 p.m. lead-in on Tuesdays is the new drama "Commander-in-Chief," featuring Geena Davis as the first female president of the U.S. Veteran actor Donald Sutherland co-stars.
ABC also moved to improve its effort on Thursday nights, where it is moving "Alias," starring Jennifer Garner as a sexy CIA agent, from its Wednesday slot. The show, which will be entering its fifth season, will be seen at 8 p.m., instead of its old 10 p.m. time period.
"Alias" will lead into a remake of the 1974-75 ABC thriller "The Night Stalker" at 9 p.m. Stuart Townsend of "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" takes on the Darren McGavin role of crime reporter Carl Kolchak. The newsmagazine "Primetime Live" returns for its 17th season at 10.
The 2005-06 season will be the last year that ABC carries "Monday Night Football," which moves to ESPN in 2006. When the program leaves the air in January, ABC will bring back "The Bachelor" at 8 p.m., followed by the new comedy "Emily's Reasons Why Not," starring Heather Graham as a single woman who uses a series of self-imposed guidelines to avoid some of life's complications.
The sitcom "Jake in Progress" is back for a second season at 9:30, followed by the new drama "What About Brian," featuring "7th Heaven" star Barry Watson as the last of a group of friends to remain single, and the situations that ensue as he tries to find love. Rosanna Arquette is among the co-stars.
"Lost" begins its second season on Wednesday nights, moved to 9 p.m. from its current 8 p.m. time slot.
The network opted to move two sitcoms into the 8-9 period: "George Lopez," which moves from Tuesdays, and "Freddie," a new comedy featuring Freddie Prinze Jr. as a successful young chef who invites several family members to come live with him after his brother passes away.
The new drama "Invasion" closes out Wednesday nights at 10, with the premise that the recent spate of natural disasters to hit the U.S. is actually the work of alien invaders from outer space.
The schedule:
Monday:
8 p.m. "Wife Swap" (through January)
8 p.m. (after "Monday Night Football" concludes in January) "The Bachelor"
9 p.m. "Emily's Reasons Why Not"
9:30 p.m. "Jake In Progress"
10:00 p.m. "What About Brian"
Tuesday:
8 p.m. "According to Jim"
8:30 p.m. "Rodney"
9 p.m. "Commander-in-Chief"
10 p.m. "Boston Legal"
Wednesday:
8 p.m. "George Lopez"
8:30 p.m. "Freddie"
9 p.m. "Lost"
10 p.m. "Invasion"
Thursday:
8 p.m. "Alias"
9 p.m. "The Night Stalker"
10 p.m. "Primetime Live"
Friday:
8 p.m. "Supernanny"
9 p.m. "Hope & Faith"
9:30 p.m. "Hot Properties"
10 p.m. "20/20"
Saturday:
8 p.m. "ABC Movie of the Week"
Sunday:
7 p.m. "America's Funniest Home Videos"
8 p.m. "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition"
9 p.m. "Desperate Housewives"
10 p.m. "Grey's Anatomy"
