ABC Upfront: Fall 2009

[Superbowl]

Well, so much for Romantically Challenged for me. Good luck Alyssa and company. I will not be watching. I will be watching The Big Bang Theory.

[Pavan]

Superbowl, you can always DVR or TiVo/record it (whatever you have). And Big Bang will be repeats on April 19 and 26. You should be happy a sitcom of this caliber is airing. Both shows can succeed in one time slot and if it does well this show will be Wednesday-bound next season anyway. It's not like Big Bang Theory will be in any danger of cancelation or anything.

I love The Big Bang Theory but I watch Dancing with the Stars live, but I still watch Big Bang later on at night around 11. Doesn't mean I don't watch a show just because another show is on opposite it. Really this isn't 1980 anymore.

[Superbowl]

Originally Posted by Pavan

Superbowl, you can always DVR or TiVo/record it (whatever you have). And Big Bang will be repeats on April 19 and 26. You should be happy a sitcom of this caliber is airing. Both shows can succeed in one time slot and if it does well this show will be Wednesday-bound next season anyway. It's not like Big Bang Theory will be in any danger of cancelation or anything.

I love The Big Bang Theory but I watch Dancing with the Stars live, but I still watch Big Bang later on at night around 11. Doesn't mean I don't watch a show just because another show is on opposite it. Really this isn't 1980 anymore.

I do not watch shows on DVR. The DVR in my house is not in the room I watch TV. I will not start watching a show that I can only see two episodes of. I have said I love Alyssa, but not more than The Big Bang Theory. Sorry, Romantically Challenged, you lose.

[Pavan]

If you love Alyssa, you'd watch. ABC.com? Hulu? Why so stubborn?

[Superbowl]

Originally Posted by Pavan

If you love Alyssa, you'd watch. ABC.com? Hulu? Why so stubborn?

I guess I am old fashioned. I don't watch TV online either.

Yes, I do love Alyssa, but you know I love Kaley more. Not even close.

[Pavan]

Old fashioned? Get that VCR to record the premiere then, lol. You can watch episodes 2 and 3 live.

More news:

Saturday Night Football on ABC will kick-off with the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game:

Saturday, September 4, 2010
8:00-11:30 PM ET Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game: LSU vs. North Carolina (live from the Georgia Dome in Atlanta)

[Pavan]

The first Romantically Challenged promo will air during DWTS this Monday on ABC! Will run 15 seconds, but still good! It'll air after a Greys/PP promo.

[Pavan]

Last night's timeslot premiere for Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution posted an impressive prelim 2.6 18-49 rating at 9pm. That was the highest rated rating for any regular series this season on a Friday (excluding sports/Olympics) in the 9pm hour (and the 8pm hour as well). The only regular airing that was rated higher this season was ABC's 20/20 on Nov. 6 at 10pm which did a 2.8 18-49 rating.

The highest rated regular Friday series from 8-10pm this season prior to Jamie Oliver was the season premiere of Ghost Whisperer which did a 2.3 18-49 rating on Sept. 25 in the 8pm hour.

[canuck75]

Originally Posted by Pavan

Last night's timeslot premiere for Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution posted an impressive prelim 2.6 18-49 rating at 9pm. That was the highest rated rating for any regular series this season on a Friday (excluding sports/Olympics) in the 9pm hour (and the 8pm hour as well). The only regular airing that was rated higher this season was ABC's 20/20 on Nov. 6 at 10pm which did a 2.8 18-49 rating.

The highest rated regular Friday series from 8-10pm this season prior to Jamie Oliver was the season premiere of Ghost Whisperer which did a 2.3 18-49 rating on Sept. 25 in the 8pm hour.

Do you know if ABC will be airing repeats of Romantically Challenged on another night, like Saturdays?

[Pavan]

Probably not, but I'm guessing the first two episodes will repeat on Wednesday, April 21 from 10-11pm since Comedy Wednesday is repeats that night and nothing is scheduled in this 10pm hour yet.

[Pavan]

Last night's week two of season 10 of Dancing with the Stars did a prelim 22.56 million viewers. That is the second highest ratings ever for a non-premiere and non-performance/grand finale behind only the 11/19/2007 episode which did 22.85 million (and that was a week before the finale). So when the finals come out, last night could outrate that episode in total viewers and become the highest rated episode non-premiere/finale wise.

And Castle hit series highs of course last night with the conclusion of a thrilling two-part episode! Prelim 3.7 18-49 rating!

[Zedman2]

Originally Posted by Pavan

Last night's week two of season 10 of Dancing with the Stars did a prelim 22.56 million viewers. That is the second highest ratings ever for a non-premiere and non-performance/grand finale behind only the 11/19/2007 episode which did 22.85 million (and that was a week before the finale). So when the finals come out, last night could outrate that episode in total viewers and become the highest rated episode non-premiere/finale wise.

And Castle hit series highs of course last night with the conclusion of a thrilling two-part episode! Prelim 3.7 18-49 rating!

ABC just picked up a third season of Monday night drama "Castle."

@franklinavenue
Michael Schneider

[Zedman2]

Published on The Wrap (http://www.thewrap.com)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

March 30, 2010, 4:01PM PDT
By: Josef Adalian

Quickie Q&A: ABC's Steve McPherson on 'Castle'


It's a big day at ABC.

The network's decision to greenlight another season of "Castle" marks a big turning point. While serialized dramas such as "Grey's Anatomy" and "Brothers & Sisters" have come almost easily to ABC, finding repeatable procedural dramas that work has seemed to be all but impossible for the network.

But now, with "Castle" a hit, ABC seems to have gotten the procedural monkey off its back. TV MoJoe caught up with ABC chief Steve McPherson Tuesday to check in on the day's events:

It's rare these days that shows grow into hits as opposed to simply launching successfully out of the box. "Castle" is clearly in the former camp?
We all believed, on both the production side and the network side, we believed in the creative on this show from the get-go. We loved the casting, we loved Andrew (Marlowe, executive producer) and the work he was doing on the story-telling. It's a great story of patience. It's good to see the ability of broadcast networks to be patient when they can.

What have viewers responded to with "Castle"?
There's a certain amount of alchemy that goes into any kind of show. Our procedurals are always going to have to have a big character element. But I think the mystery and the play-along storytelling and certainly the chemistry (of the stars) is a big part, too.

Have the showrunners been good at working with you to bring up the ratings?
They've been fantastic collaborators. They're very reactive, whether it's ripped from the headlines stuff or the Dana Delany two-part episode... they've been great at adjusting on the fly. One of the biggest things for this show is, it shows the power of what the ABC Entertainment Group can do. It's been a great collaboration between the network and the studio, really working together. It's a great example of success.

This is your first big procedural in a long time.
In terms of close-ended mystery storytelling, yes. The big goals for us going into this season. were procedural dramas that repeat and (boosting) 10 p.m. Those were a big goals for us, along with launching comedies. So that's another check in the success box. There are a lot of positive things about this one.

Now that you've launched one successful close-ended procedural, does it get easier to find more?
Hopefully they become calling cards for us. Before "Modern Family" and "The Middle" and "Cougar Town," people had to take our word for it that we were going to really invest in comedy. Now they see it. People have always brought us the big, serialized ambitious out-there high-concept stuff. Now they know they can bring us this kind of fare as well.

ABC plans scripted three-pack for summer

ABC Planning Scripted 3-Pack for Summer



ABC is hoping to keep its drama momentum going into the summer, moving ahead with plans to launch three new scripted series during what had previously been TV's off-season.

Steve McPherson, head of both ABC and ABC Studios, told TheWrap Tuesday that the the network has decided to launch three new first-run dramas this summer. Scheduling hasn't been announced yet, but should come soon.

"We're doing three originals," McPherson said. "So summer now really is the third trimester for us."

ABC's big push into summer scripted isn't a complete shock, as the network has made no secret of its intention to beef up its warm weather scripted slate, developing certain projects specifically for summer. Still, network plans often change -- so McPherson's statement indicates the network has moved first-run in the summer from the "goal" box to the category of "firm plan."

The scripted shows join previously scheduled unscripted fare, including "Wipeout" and "True Beauty."

For more from McPerson, check out our Instant Q&A with him right here. Descriptions of ABCs previously announced summer shows below:

SCOUNDRELS – “Scoundrels” is an ABC one-hour comedy/drama series produced by ABC Studios that focuses on a family of small-time criminals who attempt to go straight after the father is sent to prison. Virginia Madsen, Independent Spirit Award winner as well as an Academy Award and Golden Globe nominee (“Sideways,” The Astronaut Farmer”) will play Cheryl West, the mother who must take charge and try to keep her kids on the straight and narrow.

“Scoundrels” also stars David James Elliott as Wolfgang “Wolf” West; Patrick Flueger as Logan West/Calvin “Cal” West; Leven Rambin as Heather West; Vanessa Marano as Hope West and Carlos Bernard as Sergeant Mack.

“Scoundrels” is based on a New Zealand series entitled “Outrageous Fortune.” Lyn Greene & Richard Levine (“Nip/Tuck”) and Francie Calfo serve as executive producers. John Barnett, whose company South Pacific Pictures produces the New Zealand series, will also be an executive producer. Co-executive producers will include Michael Larkin, Michael Goldstein, Bruce Cervi and John Lansing.

THE GATES – Nestled inside a private mountain community are The Gates. The image of perpetual suburban bliss, each street is lined with perfectly manicured homes protected by the massive iron gates, but a dark and delicious secret is buried just beneath the surface of this picturesque neighborhood.

Like most families that settle inside The Gates, the Monahans are unmoored from a complicated life they abandoned in Chicago. Named the new police chief of The Gates, Nick Monahan is expecting a change of pace in this quiet suburb. Nick's wife Sarah and their children Charlie and Dana are embarking on new adventures as well. Their house is to die for, but amidst the excitement, Sarah is still burdened with the revelation that her husband may not be the man she thought he was. Their children Charlie and Dana will also face some challenges of their own. Along with navigating the trials and tribulations of adolescence, they will also face the daunting task of fitting into their new upscale school where their new friends run in tight knit packs.

There's something very different about this place almost...haunting. Unions will be complicated by friends with an unnatural influence. Insatiable housewives will struggle with ravenous cravings, and teenagers will be cursed with keeping their beastly instincts in check. The Monahans are facing an uncertain fate. Nick is about to be tangled up in a mystery where he will begin to piece together the dark truth about their new home, and the supernatural elements that lurk behind the shadows of The Gates.

“The Gates” stars Frank Grillo as Nick Monohan, Marisol Nichols as Sarah Monahan, Rhona Mitra as Claire Radcliff, Luke Mably as Dylan Radcliff, Travis Caldwell as Charlie Monohan, Skyler Samuels as Andie Bates, Colton Haynes as Brett Crezski, Chandra West as Devon, Victoria Platt as Peg Mueller, Justin Miles as Marcus Jordan, and Janina Gavankar as Leigh Turner. “The Gates” is produced by Fox Television Studios. Series is executive produced by Gina Matthews, and written and executive produced by Grant Scharbo and Richard Hatem.

ROOKIE BLUE – “Rookie Blue,” a sexy, high-stakes drama with a twist of danger, follows the lives of five inexperienced rookie cops plunged into the world of big city policing, where even the smallest mistake can have life-or-death consequences. The soul of this close-knit group, Andy McNally (Missy Peregrym), comes from a police family and it’s all she’s ever wanted to be. Her dad was cop, although not exactly the best cop nor the best father, so now she is left searching for that sense of family. This group of young, ambitious 20-somethings carries big guns and even bigger emotional baggage. The series examines the trials and triumphs, competition and camaraderie of this rookie family: boyfriends, best friends and “frenemies,” who are about to learn that no amount of training can prepare them for this job – or for life.

“Rookie Blue” stars Missy Peregrym as Andy McNally, Gregory Smith as Dov Epstein, Charlotte Sullivan as Gail Peck, Enuka Okuma as Traci Nash and Travis Milne as Chris Diaz. Tassie Cameron, Ilana Frank, Noreen Halpern, John Morayniss and David Wellington are the executive producers. “Rookie Blue” is produced by Thump Inc. and E1 Entertainment. E1 holds all international rights to the drama series.



Source URL: http://www.thewrap.com/ind-column/qu...cpherson-15805
Links:
[1] http://www.thewrap.com/users/adalian
[2] http://www.thewrap.com/column/tv-mojoe
[3] http://www.thewrap.com/ind-column/ab...-pack-summer-1

[Pavan]

9:30pm repeat for Modern Family added on a night of repeats on Wednesday, April 21. Also, 8pm half-hour and 10pm hour are TBD:

Wednesday, April 21, 2010
8:00pm The Middle (R, TBD)
8:30pm The Middle (R, TBD)
9:00pm Modern Family (R, "Moon Landing")
9:30pm Modern Family (R, "Starry Night")
10:00pm Cougar Town (R, TBD)
10:30pm Cougar Town (R, TBD)

[tvcrazed]

or possibly Matt Damon special at 10p or maybe V without LOST lead in, which I would love to see them try, but dont expect?

Either way has to be decided by today, doesnt it?