ABC Upfront: Fall 2009

[tvmadman]

The way I see it. LOST will air its finale on May 18th. Then V will finish its 13th episode on May 25th following DWTS's finale. That works for both LOST and V.

FlashForward I think will most likely air a two hour premiere, and maybe the April 29th episode will be two hours making room for Grey's to air straight thru till the finale.

I am also thinking ABC will announce that Castle will finish up by March or so, and that maybe The Deep End will air for 7 weeks out of DWTS on Mondays, works seeing as Castle will have aired 11 of the 22 episodes already in 2009.

I hoping to see ABC put Happy Town in Brothers and Sisters slot in Mar/April (only 8 episodes).

[mtlguy]

They will need V to be 2 hours at some point so that could be a week when Lost is off because by starting March 30th, with 9 episodes left, it would bring V to March 25th and since they need a 3 hours Lost finale (recap and finale 2hours) AND a 2 hour DWTS finale, V needs a week off.

So, V finale would be on May 18th (1hr) along with the DWTS finale on the 18th (2hrs) with Lost finale 3 hours on the 25th.

[tvmadman]

Originally Posted by mtlguy

They will need V to be 2 hours at some point so that could be a week when Lost is off because by starting March 30th, with 9 episodes left, it would bring V to March 25th and since they need a 3 hours Lost finale (recap and finale 2hours) AND a 2 hour DWTS finale, V needs a week off.

So, V finale would be on May 18th (1hr) along with the DWTS finale on the 18th (2hrs) with Lost finale 3 hours on the 25th.

True, but I don't see how V could go two hours at any point unless they move DWTS Results to Wednesday for one week. Maybe if Wednesday comedies end of the 19th of May, DWTS could air finale on the 26th and V's last two on the 25th. But still it is a long way off.. .

[tvcrazed]

Originally Posted by tvmadman

I am also thinking ABC will announce that Castle will finish up by March or so, and that maybe The Deep End will air for 7 weeks out of DWTS on Mondays, works seeing as Castle will have aired 11 of the 22 episodes already in 2009.

I hoping to see ABC put Happy Town in Brothers and Sisters slot in Mar/April (only 8 episodes).

dont you think they way CASTLE is growing it would be smart to run it through May. I feel like they have buzz and momentum, dont replace it with anotehr new show. DEEP END could go Sunday maybe. I hear bad things about HAPPY TOWN everywhere. Plus we dont know what airing for 5 weeks on Thursdays at 9p, maybe DEEP END or reality show.

[Pavan]

Amazing FLASHFORWARD tonight! One of my top 3 episodes of the series thus far behind the pilot and the heartwarming episode a few weeks ago. The promo for upcoming episodes was amazing!
And the two-hour Private Practice event was great as usual. The season has been excellent every episode so far.

Anyway, as far as scheduling goes...this is what I would do. Just a note, May 2010 sweep is April 29 - May 26, 2010. Memorial Day is May 31 (the latest it could be). Other key notes: Olympics Feb. 12-28; March Madness begins Thursday, March 18.

LOST - Series finale Tuesday, May 18, 9-11pm.
FLASHFORWARD season finale- Thursday, May 20, 8pm
Dancing with the Stars 10 finale - Tuesday, May 25, 8-10pm
V season finale - Tuesday, May 25 at 10pm

Notes:
FLASHFORWARD - two-hour episodes April 8 and 22.
V - special night and time on April 15 at 9pm (so it can fit all 9 episodes)
I like tvcrazed's Grey's Anatomy proposal. Episodes 11-15 (Jan. 14-Feb. 11); Episodes 16-20 (March 4-April 1); Episodes 21-24 (April 29-May 20). No two-hour season finale, unless they order a 25th hour.
I'd keep Castle on Mondays throughout the season. I see it breaking out.

Just what I would do with these particular series.

[Pavan]

ABC is adding a third airing of Prep and Landing...on Christmas Eve, followed by comedy repeats. Also, Jennifer Hudson Christmas special will get a second airing now.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009
8:00PM JENNIFER HUDSON: I'LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS (encore)

Thursday, December 24, 2009
8:00PM DISNEY PREP & LANDING (second encore)
8:30PM THE MIDDLE (R, special night)
9:00PM MODERN FAMILY (R, special night)
9:30PM COUGAR TOWN (R, special night)
10:00PM GREY'S ANATOMY (R, special time)

Once again, updated list of holiday specials:
http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/...&postcount=180

[tvmadman]

Originally Posted by tvcrazed

dont you think they way CASTLE is growing it would be smart to run it through May. I feel like they have buzz and momentum, dont replace it with anotehr new show. DEEP END could go Sunday maybe. I hear bad things about HAPPY TOWN everywhere. Plus we dont know what airing for 5 weeks on Thursdays at 9p, maybe DEEP END or reality show.

I think CASTLE has been great this season so far and would love for it to fun through. I have seen HAPPY TOWN and it is not that great but I think it could work with DH's kind of soapy mystery elements.

Not sure where DEEP END will go, we will see though.

Pavan, like your ideas, the dates seem to work out but I would rather see, two hour FlashForward on March 11th (I know it is unlikely) but that would mean episodes 12/13 and I have heard that 13 has a reveal so big it was not suppose to happen until season 2 or 3. But if that cannot happen a two hour March 4th, and April 29th episode could work.

[Pavan]

I know April 29 is a huge date for FF, but that is the first night of May sweep and I just don't see ABC preempting Grey's that night. I think a two-hour FF would be great on April 22 for hype for the following week.

I also think ABC will use Primetime: What Would You Do in Jan/Feb. Perhaps Tues at 8? They have many episodes of that ready, as it didn't air in August as previously planned.

[Zedman2]

Originally Posted by JulieSomoski

Whatever happened to Inside the Box? That was one of the few drama pilots I was looking forward to. It could have worked well on ABC. About Flash Forward - I think this is officially the beginning of the end for this drama. I'll have to see the ratings for tonight's episode, but so far, ratings have been going down with every episode. It's expensive to produce, and the audience is losing interest. ABC could have easily continued airing it in January, but it seems like they're now moving on and are willing to give another show a chance in the timeslot.

I'd like to see Happy Town or The Deep End, if ready to go, end up in the slot come January. Happy Town could work well paired with Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice. If not, maybe Copper? Actually, it almost would have been wise to give Ugly Betty back the timeslot. It'll be interesting to see what they do here. And with V - if it returns March 30th, it'll be airing its finale out of May sweeps. My question is what are they going to fill the empty Tuesday timeslot with?

Why do you believe FlashForward is expensive to produce? I just don't see that at all. Yes, alot of money was invested in the pilot but the regular series? I doubt it cost any more than any other first year series and the fact that ABC Studios sold the show in so many different foreign territories worldwide indicates that they can make up for any licensing fees from ABC TV.

[Zedman2]

Originally Posted by tvcrazed

They'll proabably have a 2 hour finale. If there is a 2 hour opener on March 4th I really hope that means they arent running new GREYS during the OLYMPICS.

Maybe they'll be a one hour opener and one of those 3 weeks in April (when GA would be in reruns) will contain a 2 hour. I just hope there is no GA during Olympics. I hope its 5 consecutive weeks Jan 14th-Feb 11th and then 4 consecutive thru the month of March. then 3 weeks off, then final 4 weeks of season.

Why are you so afraid of the olympics? Yes they will do well, but there is no reason to run from them. These are the WINTER Games, not the SUMMER games. ABC's big programs will continue to de well, including the Wednesday comedies, The Middle is the best of that bunch by the way.

[Zedman2]

Originally Posted by Pavan

What will air in the Thursday at 8pm hour from Jan. 14-Feb. 25 will be announced tomorrow.

Anything except Grey's Anatomy repeats, please!

[tvcrazed]

Good notes, Pavan

I hope in light of the fact that there is an extra week of the season this year, that ABC still premieres DWTS March 8th. They can have 13 couples and a 12 week season. No results show first week. If starting the second week, you knock out just one couple at a time, you still have 3 for the finale (which they seem to prefer).

I also hope they give PP a 24 ep season (I thought both hours were excellent last night, the show really found itself this season) and the 2 weeks FF is 2 hours it can be followed by a new PP. I assume ABC will still have GREYS 2 hour finale (maybe I am wrong, but the seem to prefer) and if that is the case there will be another week GREYS is not in originals, so new eps of FF and PP will ease that burden.

Zedman, regarding not shceduling againts olympics, they are gonna run fresh eps of LOST against it, but all the other shows are gonna need weeks of reruns to get til the end of the season. If you're gonna have to be in reruns some weeks it makes sense to take off against Olympics. Just like Thanksgiving eve, I believe other shows on thoise nights will be down somewhat.

[tvcrazed]

Pavan,

any way to find out if ABC had ordered more eps of PP, wed comedies, etc? Thanks

[Pavan]

Hearing Jamie Oliver's healthy makeover show will launch in January on ABC, Thursdays at 8 for 6 weeks. Hopefully the schedule will come out in a few.

I'll try to inquire about the episode orders for MF, CT, Castle and PP. I think all of them will be 24.

[tvcrazed]

I guess they are running reality there to take adavantage of the fact there is no SURVIVOR until Feb?. I hope the show is good. (Wonder if CBS might put UNDERCOVER BOSS there)

Thanks for trying to find out about additional episodes