Pavan
05-11-2003, 07:44 PM
Looks like ABC's TGIF block is returning, with George Lopez being the main anchor. Shows like Hope & Faith and Hench at Home are contenders. AFHV could move to Sundays (or Thursdays), Disney movie could move to Saturdays, Dragnet looks like will move to Saturdays:
ABC -- hoping to recover after a difficult midseason -- could potentially make the most moves of any network this week, announcing a fall schedule Tuesday that will resurrect the "TGIF" franchise and relocate Sunday staple "The Wonderful World of Disney."
Alphabet web Sunday confirmed the return of "TGIF," a move network execs had been hinting at since the March development meetings. The net was tight-lipped, however, when it came to confirming which shows might populate the night.
"The George Lopez Show," returning for its third season, was one candidate for the night. ABC will shift "America's Funniest Home Videos" to another night, with Thursdays and Sundays the most likely options.
"Videos" has been a solid player Fridays at 8 p.m. this midseason; it's one of ABC's only shows that wins its time period among total viewers.
ABC, of course, dominated Friday nights for years with "TGIF" (which the net said stood for Thank Goodness It's Funny). Starting in 1987 with a block that included "Full House," the night was a kid-friendly staple for years, churning out hits such as "Family Matters," "Boy Meets World" and "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch."
The popularity of "TGIF" waned as kids, tweens and teens started looking elsewhere, such as Nickelodeon, for programming. The final death knell came at the end of the 1999-2000 season, when "Boy Meets World" went off the air and Viacom Prods. struck a deal to move "Sabrina" from ABC to the WB.
Meanwhile, "Wonderful World of Disney's" potential move to Saturdays comes as the franchise has seen its numbers dwindle, save a few occasional special events. Industry rivals have expected ABC to move "Wonderful World" to Fridays for years, so the Saturday shuffle comes as a surprise.
The Saturday night "Wonderful World" would displace ABC's theatrical movie block, which the net would likely hold back for Mondays in midseason, after "Monday Night Football" leaves the air.
The switch would then allow ABC to air dramas on Sunday night before "Alias." Indeed, the flow from "Wonderful World" to "Alias" was one of the smallest in primetime TV; the web probably expects any drama at 8 p.m. would provide a better lead-in to "Alias."
Back to Saturday night, insiders expect ABC to move "Dragnet" to 10 p.m., coming out of "Wonderful World."
ABC -- hoping to recover after a difficult midseason -- could potentially make the most moves of any network this week, announcing a fall schedule Tuesday that will resurrect the "TGIF" franchise and relocate Sunday staple "The Wonderful World of Disney."
Alphabet web Sunday confirmed the return of "TGIF," a move network execs had been hinting at since the March development meetings. The net was tight-lipped, however, when it came to confirming which shows might populate the night.
"The George Lopez Show," returning for its third season, was one candidate for the night. ABC will shift "America's Funniest Home Videos" to another night, with Thursdays and Sundays the most likely options.
"Videos" has been a solid player Fridays at 8 p.m. this midseason; it's one of ABC's only shows that wins its time period among total viewers.
ABC, of course, dominated Friday nights for years with "TGIF" (which the net said stood for Thank Goodness It's Funny). Starting in 1987 with a block that included "Full House," the night was a kid-friendly staple for years, churning out hits such as "Family Matters," "Boy Meets World" and "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch."
The popularity of "TGIF" waned as kids, tweens and teens started looking elsewhere, such as Nickelodeon, for programming. The final death knell came at the end of the 1999-2000 season, when "Boy Meets World" went off the air and Viacom Prods. struck a deal to move "Sabrina" from ABC to the WB.
Meanwhile, "Wonderful World of Disney's" potential move to Saturdays comes as the franchise has seen its numbers dwindle, save a few occasional special events. Industry rivals have expected ABC to move "Wonderful World" to Fridays for years, so the Saturday shuffle comes as a surprise.
The Saturday night "Wonderful World" would displace ABC's theatrical movie block, which the net would likely hold back for Mondays in midseason, after "Monday Night Football" leaves the air.
The switch would then allow ABC to air dramas on Sunday night before "Alias." Indeed, the flow from "Wonderful World" to "Alias" was one of the smallest in primetime TV; the web probably expects any drama at 8 p.m. would provide a better lead-in to "Alias."
Back to Saturday night, insiders expect ABC to move "Dragnet" to 10 p.m., coming out of "Wonderful World."