Alias to air Wednesdays at 9 p.m. starting Jan 5, 2005!

[Pavan]

ABC ANNOUNCES PLANS FOR MONDAY NIGHT POST-FOOTBALL,

AS WELL AS THE RETURN OF “ALIAS”



ABC has locked down plans for its Monday night programming block post-football, as well as for the return of “Alias,” it was announced today by Stephen McPherson, president, ABC Primetime Entertainment.

The electrifying Emmy Award-winning spy drama, “Alias,” returns for an emotionally gripping fourth season on Wednesday, January 5 with a two-hour premiere from 9:00-11:00 p.m. (ET/PT), before settling into its regular time slot on January 12, following “Lost” on Wednesday nights from 9:00-10:00 p.m. Jennifer Garner reprises her Golden Globe Award-winning role as CIA agent Sydney Bristow in this non-stop thrill ride through espionage, adventure and heart-wrenching drama that will air, without repeat, through the end of the season.

“When we made the strategic decision this fall on ‘Alias,’ we only hoped to be in the situation we find ourselves in today. ‘Lost’ provides a terrific platform for ‘Alias’’ new season,” said Mr. McPherson. “Not only do both shows have similar audience profiles with great appeal to television’s most coveted young adult viewers, but they also share J.J.’s unique sensibility. This is a great two-hour block of programming.”

Then on Monday, January 10, ABC will premiere a new night of reality programming, beginning at 8:00 p.m. with “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition: How’d They Do That?” In this new series, the producers from “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” literally open every door to show how Ty Pennington and his team of designers, workers and contractors are able to change the lives of deserving families as they rebuild the entire interior and exterior of a run-down house in just seven days. On its initial Monday telecast, when it aired as a special, “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition: How’d They Do That?” generated ABC’s highest Adult 18-49 rating in the time period during the TV Season on a night with “Monday Night Football” in nearly three years – since 11/26/01. Each Monday night episode will feature behind-the-scenes footage and information from the original “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” that would have aired the day prior.

Reality TV star and fan favorite Jen Schefft gets a second chance at love in the third installment of “The Bachelorette,” when the show returns to the ABC lineup (and moves to a new night) on Monday, January 10 with a two-hour premiere (9:00-11:00 p.m., ET/PT). Beginning on Monday, January 17, the show will then air in its normal 9:00-10:00 p.m. time slot. This season “The Bachelorette” says goodbye to the beaches of Southern California and hello to the streets of the Big Apple, as New York becomes the exciting new location for the hit series. Schefft, a 28-year-old from Chicago, was originally introduced to TV audiences during the third installment of “The Bachelor,” when she became engaged to Andrew Firestone. Although her relationship with Firestone ultimately ended in heartbreak, Schefft remains a hopeless romantic and is optimistic about finding true love on “The Bachelorette.”

In the tradition of physical and home makeovers, ABC leads the way with the next step in life enhancement with family behavior makeovers – via a “Supernanny,” when the series premieres following “The Bachelorette” at 10:00 p.m. on Monday the 17th. Based on the hugely successful (Channel 4, UK) British series, “Supernanny” stars Jo Frost, a modern day, tough-love “Mary Poppins” who is placed with families in need of guidance or care. Frost, a genuine nanny with more than 15 years’ experience in the United States and the U.K., has seen it all, from tantrums to potty-training. She will spend an extended period of time with a family, observing their issues and then, using a series of her own tried-and-true methods, offer solutions. Problems can range from discipline to sloppiness or anything in between, and while her efforts may concentrate on the children of the household, she also works closely with the parents to establish new rules of behavior and conduct.

“What to do with Monday night after football has always been one of the network’s biggest challenges,” added Mr. McPherson. “But we think that we’ve come up with a strategy for success – three hours of compelling programming that speaks directly to our proven, wish-fulfillment brand of reality in ‘Home Edition: How’d They Do That?,’ ‘The Bachelorette’ and ‘Supernanny’”

“Alias” stars Jennifer Garner as Sydney Bristow, Victor Garber as Jack Bristow, Ron Rifkin as Arvin Sloane, Michael Vartan as Michael Vaughn, Carl Lumbly as Marcus Dixon, Kevin Weisman as Marshall Flinkman, Greg Grunberg as Eric Weiss and Mia Maestro as Nadia Santos. The series was created by J.J. Abrams, who executive-produces the series along with Ken Olin and Jeff Melvoin. Jeffrey Bell, Jesse Alexander and Jeff Pinkner are co-executive producers. The series, which is filmed in Los Angeles and premiered on September 30, 2001, is from Touchstone Television.


“Extreme Makeover: Home Edition: How’d They Do That?” is produced by Endemol USA, a division of Endemol Holding. The series is executive-produced by Tom Forman.



“The Bachelorette” is produced by Next Entertainment in association with Telepictures Productions. Mike Fleiss (“High School Reunion”) is executive producer. Lisa Levenson, Scott Jeffress and Jason Carbone are co-executive producers.



Nick Powell is the creator and executive producer of both the American and British versions of “Supernanny,” which is produced by Ricochet, Ltd.



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WEDNESDAYS, starting January 5
8:00 p.m. Lost
9:00 p.m. Alias (2 hour season premiere)
10:00 p.m. Wife Swap


MONDAYS, starting January 10
8:00 p.m. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition: How’d They Do That?
9:00 p.m. “The Bachelorette" (2 hour season premiere)
10:00 p.m. “Supernanny” (starts January 17)