The New ABC Sitcom 'Hank', the 'Green Acres' of the 21st Century?!?

[Brian Damage]

Disney’s D23 Expo is a massive exercise in brand-building across the entertainment giant’s ventures, and one corner of the empire that needs the help is the Mouse-owned network ABC.

On Thursday, ABC brought out some big stars to spread the word about its new slate of comedies. The quartet might be thought of as the Second Chance Gang. Kelsey Grammer, Courtney Cox, Patricia Heaton and Ed O’Neill have each enjoyed a signature role on a long-running sit-com and now each is trying to add a career encore.

Grammer is the star of “Hank,” which has a bit of a 21st century “Green Acres” vibe to it with its take of a high-flying New York businessman who finds himself and his family living in the sticks in Virgina. There’s an of-the-moment twist -- he’s there because he has “had his head handed to him” by the bad economy, as ABC Entertainment Group President Steve McPherson described it during a panel with his new stars as well as Tom Bergeron of “Dancing with the Stars.”

Grammer said he was excited about playing the role of a father after so many years on “Frasier” as a character who was technically a parent but never acted like it. He said when he first met with the makers of “Frasier,” he pushed for no children and no animals. “I got half of my demands,” he said with a sly smile.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/show...ew-season.html