ABC Upfront: Fall 2009

[tvcrazed]

Originally Posted by Pavan

To keep Kelsey Grammer happy I guess. They won't air Polar Express on Thanksgiving Eve for sure.

In order to attract more new viewers to the program, SOAPnet will air a four episode marathon of “Cougar Town” on Saturday, November 14, 2009 from 5:00-7:00 PM ET/PT.
The “Cougar Town” marathon will include four previous episodes (Pilot, Into the Great Wide Open, Don’t Do Me Like That, I Won’t Back Down) previously broadcast on ABC earlier this season.

Kelsey ain't stupid. The ratings are horrendous and there has not been a positive thing written about his show anywhere. Even NBC's lowest rated flops are getting better numbers.They are just delaying the inevitable and I just hope not at the expense of growth from the other comedies. I am sure he is not expecting a pickup. I can't imagine they would preempt it before sweeps and not during, when like you said, the affiliates need better numbers. I assume it will be pulled before sweeps. The truth is, I am less concerned about them showing originals on Thanksgiving eve, if they have a decent lead in at 8p. But if Hank, which is getting a 1.5 now, is still scheduled that's gonna be under a 1.

[JulieSomoski]

Originally Posted by tvcrazed

Kelsey ain't stupid. The ratings are horrendous and there has not been a positive thing written about his show anywhere. Even NBC's lowest rated flops are getting better numbers.They are just delaying the inevitable and I just hope not at the expense of growth from the other comedies. I am sure he is not expecting a pickup. I can't imagine they would preempt it before sweeps and not during, when like you said, the affiliates need better numbers. I assume it will be pulled before sweeps. The truth is, I am less concerned about them showing originals on Thanksgiving eve, if they have a decent lead in at 8p. But if Hank, which is getting a 1.5 now, is still scheduled that's gonna be under a 1.

And you expect The Middle repeats to so any better? I understand the reasoning that some shows do better airing in block format, but I don't think airing repeats of The Middle at 8pm is anymore beneficial. ABC has 13 episodes of the show, and sweeps or not, they might as well air them

[Mr. Television]

Originally Posted by Brent88

WTF, screw the affiliates. I agree, to keep them happy they should air a new special, it's a compromise.

I agree. Half the time I forget there are new episodes on Thanksgiving Eve. They never learn. They should save the new episode for December when all they seem to air are repeats.

[Pavan]

The Winter Olympics run from Friday, Feb. 12 to Sunday, Feb. 28. So when Lost takes a break, it will only be a two week break since it will likely air on a Tuesday or Wednesday this year. Only Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are nights when the Olympic games air three times in, and I doubt Lost is airing on any of those nights. I bet we will see a schedule similar to this for Lost's final season:

Wk of 1/11: Episodes 1 and 2
Wk of 1/18: Episode 3
Wk of 1/25: Episode 4
Wk of 2/1: Episode 5
Wk of 2/8: Episode 6
--2 week Winter Olympic Break 2/15 and 2/22--
Wk of March 1: Episode 7
Wk of March 8: Episode 8
Wk of March 15: Episode 9
Wk of March 22: Episode 10
Wk of March 29: Episode 11
Wk of April 5: Episode 12
Wk of April 12: Episode 13
Wk of April 19: Episode 14
Wk of April 26: Episode 15
Wk of May 3: Episode 16
Wk of May 10: Episodes 17/18 (finale)

[tvmadman]

Originally Posted by Pavan

The Winter Olympics run from Friday, Feb. 12 to Sunday, Feb. 28. So when Lost takes a break, it will only be a two week break since it will likely air on a Tuesday or Wednesday this year. Only Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are nights when the Olympic games air three times in, and I doubt Lost is airing on any of those nights. I bet we will see a schedule similar to this for Lost's final season:

Wk of 1/11: Episodes 1 and 2
Wk of 1/18: Episode 3
Wk of 1/25: Episode 4
Wk of 2/1: Episode 5
Wk of 2/8: Episode 6
--2 week Winter Olympic Break 2/15 and 2/22--
Wk of March 1: Episode 7
Wk of March 8: Episode 8
Wk of March 15: Episode 9
Wk of March 22: Episode 10
Wk of March 29: Episode 11
Wk of April 5: Episode 12
Wk of April 12: Episode 13
Wk of April 19: Episode 14
Wk of April 26: Episode 15
Wk of May 3: Episode 16
Wk of May 10: Episodes 17/18 (finale)

When do you expect ABC to officially announce the date? Hoping for soon!

[tvcrazed]

Originally Posted by Pavan

The Winter Olympics run from Friday, Feb. 12 to Sunday, Feb. 28. So when Lost takes a break, it will only be a two week break since it will likely air on a Tuesday or Wednesday this year. Only Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are nights when the Olympic games air three times in, and I doubt Lost is airing on any of those nights. I bet we will see a schedule similar to this for Lost's final season:

Wk of 1/11: Episodes 1 and 2
Wk of 1/18: Episode 3
Wk of 1/25: Episode 4
Wk of 2/1: Episode 5
Wk of 2/8: Episode 6
--2 week Winter Olympic Break 2/15 and 2/22--
Wk of March 1: Episode 7
Wk of March 8: Episode 8
Wk of March 15: Episode 9
Wk of March 22: Episode 10
Wk of March 29: Episode 11
Wk of April 5: Episode 12
Wk of April 12: Episode 13
Wk of April 19: Episode 14
Wk of April 26: Episode 15
Wk of May 3: Episode 16
Wk of May 10: Episodes 17/18 (finale)

Pavan. I agree except one thing. American Idol most likely premieres 1/13 and if ABC moves LOST to Tuesday I don't see them premiering it against that. AI's 1st night is 2 hours. I understand why you schdeuled teh finale as week of MAy 10t as last year they ended the 2nd to last week of season so as not to compete with the AI finale. Since this year LOST's will be its final episode I could see them airing it on the last night of the season (even if LOST moves to Tuesday, the last night will probably be on Wed since DWTS will be 9-11p on Tues. Plus I could see the comedies season finales the week before so as not to go against AI finale). Also the last hour of the LOST finale will not have AI as it airs 8-10p. SO I could see them starting the week of 1/18 and finishing the last week of season. Lpke you said with the exception of the OLympics it would be rerun free all the way though.

[tvcrazed]

Originally Posted by Pavan

The Winter Olympics run from Friday, Feb. 12 to Sunday, Feb. 28. So when Lost takes a break, it will only be a two week break since it will likely air on a Tuesday or Wednesday this year. Only Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are nights when the Olympic games air three times in, and I doubt Lost is airing on any of those nights. I bet we will see a schedule similar to this for Lost's final season:

Wk of 1/11: Episodes 1 and 2
Wk of 1/18: Episode 3
Wk of 1/25: Episode 4
Wk of 2/1: Episode 5
Wk of 2/8: Episode 6
--2 week Winter Olympic Break 2/15 and 2/22--
Wk of March 1: Episode 7
Wk of March 8: Episode 8
Wk of March 15: Episode 9
Wk of March 22: Episode 10
Wk of March 29: Episode 11
Wk of April 5: Episode 12
Wk of April 12: Episode 13
Wk of April 19: Episode 14
Wk of April 26: Episode 15
Wk of May 3: Episode 16
Wk of May 10: Episodes 17/18 (finale)

Pavan. I agree except one thing. American Idol most likely premieres 1/13 and if ABC moves LOST to Tuesday I don't see them premiering it against that. AI's 1st night is 2 hours. I understand why you schdeuled teh finale as week of MAy 10t as last year they ended the 2nd to last week of season so as not to compete with the AI finale. Since this year LOST's will be its final episode I could see them airing it on the last night of the season (even if LOST moves to Tuesday, the last night will probably be on Wed since DWTS will be 9-11p on Tues. Plus I could see the comedies season finales the week before so as not to go against AI finale). Also the last hour of the LOST finale will not have AI as it airs 8-10p. SO I could see them starting the week of 1/18 and finishing the last week of season. Like you said with the exception of the OLympics it would be rerun free all the way though.

[Pavan]

Welcome tvmadman! I think the Lost premiere date will be announced very soon. I'm guessing in early-mid November. I am not sure what the first promo will say on Thursday, but I bet it will just say "returning in January" or something similar to that. Maybe the premiere date will be announced through promos/press releases the night V launches. That would be good cross-promotion.

tvcrazed, good point about Idol. I thought it was Jan. 19/20 (isn't sometimes the third week of Jan?), but if it is Jan. 12/13, then Lost should launch week of Jan. 18...then the finale would be week of May 17 indeed. That is going to be huge.

[Yobb]

Originally Posted by Pavan

Welcome tvmadman! I think the Lost premiere date will be announced very soon. I'm guessing in early-mid November. I am not sure what the first promo will say on Thursday, but I bet it will just say "returning in January" or something similar to that. Maybe the premiere date will be announced through promos/press releases the night V launches. That would be good cross-promotion.

tvcrazed, good point about Idol. I thought it was Jan. 19/20 (isn't sometimes the third week of Jan?), but if it is Jan. 12/13, then Lost should launch week of Jan. 18...then the finale would be week of May 17 indeed. That is going to be huge.

In 2006, 2007 and 2009 (no season of 24 in 2008), the 2-night premiere event of "24" and the 2-night premiere event of "American Idol" aired the same week from sunday to wednesday with only 2 shows for 8 time slot. Since "24" starts sunday 17 and monday 18, American Idol could start on tuesday 19.

And is FOX going to air new episodes of "24" against the Olympics ? It should be better to air 2 new episodes the last monday before the olympics and the fisrt monday after the olympics.

Moreover, I think FOX is stupid to put the series premiere of "Human Target" between the big NFL overrun and the season premiere of "24" on sunday 17th, since "Human Target" will have a post-Idol time slot. It could hurt "24" and prevent him from doing a big rating. Remember the 5th season premiere of "24": 17 million !

EDIT : Human Target wednesday time slot premiere is scheduled for Wednesday 20th, so American Idol will likely start the week before.
http://www.fox.com/shows.htm

[tvcrazed]

Originally Posted by Pavan

Welcome tvmadman! I think the Lost premiere date will be announced very soon. I'm guessing in early-mid November. I am not sure what the first promo will say on Thursday, but I bet it will just say "returning in January" or something similar to that. Maybe the premiere date will be announced through promos/press releases the night V launches. That would be good cross-promotion.

tvcrazed, good point about Idol. I thought it was Jan. 19/20 (isn't sometimes the third week of Jan?), but if it is Jan. 12/13, then Lost should launch week of Jan. 18...then the finale would be week of May 17 indeed. That is going to be huge.

I am not sure. FOX has not officially announced yet. I am just conjecturing.
On further thought if the other shows start 1/19 you might be correct

[tvmadman]

Scrubs is premiering Tues December 1st according to the Scrubs writers on Twitter. I think that most likely means Better off Ted as well. Can we expect a ABC midseason schedule announcement tomorrow with a LOST date!?

UPDATE: More news from Twitter, Scrubs double episodes on Dec 1 at 9 with Better off Ted starting Dec 8th at 9:30.

[tvcrazed]

Episode 10 of GA airing Nov 19th takes place from Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years, so it is possible that is their last episode of 2009 which would follow the normal pattern of 10 eps first half, eliminating the one episode that usually airs in Dec because of the 2 hr premiere. This isnt great this year because their first ep back will be Jan 14th, so its a 2 month hiatus. I assume they will run 5 in a row? then until The Winter Olympics start or maybe just 4 with a week break in teh middle. Who knows?

I guess on Deccember 3rd they can run the 10th episode of FF followed by a 2 hour PP (ep 9 and 10). who knows?

Maybe December 10th after the 2 Scrubs episodes they can rerun the eps of MF and CT that ran on thanks eve at 10p and it would be an all comedy night. CBS should be in reruns that night, comedies could top the hour at 10p. Oh wait does the victoria Secrets special air that night?
.
Forgotten ep 9 and 10 can air Dec 8th and 15th.

[tvcrazed]

Accordfing to tvguidemagazine the cliffhanging Dh episode airs Dec 6th, so i assume it is new Nov 29th

[Pavan]

I was hoping no new DH on Nov. 29 so it can air Dec. 6 and 13. But whatever. I guess the gap between Nov. 15 to Dec. 6 would be too long.

Anyway, some schedule news:

ABC Thanksgiving Schedule
Thursday, November 26, 2009
8:00PM A CHARLIE BROWN THANKSGIVING/MAYFLOWER VOYAGERS (as previously announced)
9:00PM BEYONCE: I AM...YOURS (all-new)
An intimate performance of Beyonce's appearance at the Encore at Wynn, Las Vegas this past summer where she tells the story of her career through music and dance. Included is never before seen footage of her off stage life and includes rare childhood video.
10:00PM PAUL MCCARTNEY: GOOD EVENING NEW YORK CITY (all-new)
In the summer of 2009, Paul McCartney performed in Queens, NY where the Beatles performed 44 years ago. Paul McCartney performs both Beatles classics and some of his favorite songs. The program includes footage of the original Beatles concert at Shea. He does an interview talking about those early days and what it was like to return and sing many of those Beatle songs today.

Tuesday, December 1
9:00PM & 9:30PM SCRUBS (season premiere)

Effective Tuesday, December 8
9:00PM SCRUBS
9:30PM BETTER OFF TED

[tvcrazed]

I knew there was a beatles special on Thanksgiving night, didnt know it was MCcartney. Again, why waste a Beyonce (hottest singer currently) special on a low rated night.

Are you conceerned about the potential gap for GA if it really is 2 months?

Maybe they can do GA behind the scenes specials