Predicting the Skeds 2005: ABC

[bschmale1113]

The alphabet had an unprecedented turn around last season with the help of new series "Desperate Housewives" and "Lost", which have parlayed into big audiences for "Alias", "Boston Legal" and "Grey's Anatomy". Also, returning hits like "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" and "According to Jim" posted nice gains if not staying solid. But ABC is still far from perfect, and we'll try and figure out their holes here.

Already Renewed: "Monday Night Football", "Desperate Housewives", "Lost", "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition", "Alias", "Boston Legal

99.9% it's Coming Back: "According to Jim", "Hope & Faith", "Primetime", "20/20" "Grey's Anatomy,"

Decent Shot at Renewal: "The George Lopez Show", "Rodney", "Blind Justice", "8 Simple Rules", "America's Funniest Home Videos" "Eyes,

On the Bubble: "My Wife and Kids", "Less than Perfect", "Supernanny", "The Bachelor" series, "Wife Swap" series, "Extreme Makeover", "Jake in Progress"

Not a Chance in Hell: "Life as we Know It"

(NOTE: All series with a backslash in between mean they will share the timeslot this season.)

Sunday:
7:00 America's Funniest Home Videos
8:00 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
9:00 Desperate Housewives
10:00 Commander In Chief (New Series)/"Grey's Anatomy"

AFHV, EMHE, and the Housewives were HUGE last season, so expect those to stick. "Chief" has Geena Davis as the 1st Female President, which seems like a perfect fit.

Monday:
8:00 Primetime
9:00 Monday Night Football

This is the only thing that might ever work with MNF, which will likely relocate to ESPN after this season.

Tuesday:
8:00 8 Simple Rules
8:30 Joint Custody (New Series)
9:00 According to Jim
9:30 Rodney
10:00 Blind Justice/Boston Legal

I think moving "Rules" back to 8:00 would help, and "Custody" would most certainly fit right in. It's not like anything will get big ratings against "Idol" anyway. As for "Justice", I think the alphabet will give it another try, same with "Legal".

Wednesday:
8:00 Lost
9:00 Eyes/The Catch (New Series)
10:00 Wife Swap/Alias

I think that "The Catch" is destined to catch on, pardon the pun. Greg Grunberg is going to be a big star. As for "Alias", the "Non-Stop Season" will be gangbusters again, and "Swap" is a terrific place-holder. "Eyes" and "The Catch" should also share a timeslot nicely.

Thursday:
8:00 Jake in Progress
8:30 Untitled Chris Kattan Project (New Series)
9:00 Extreme Makeover
10:00 20/20

I think, despite middling numbers, ABC knows it can't do better that what "Jake" is doing. Kattan's comedy is single camera, therefore it should be a decent fit. "20/20", I think, will move, and you'll see why at "Friday".

Friday:
8:00 The George Lopez Show
8:30 Untitled Peter Dinklage Project (New Series)
9:00 Hope & Faith
9:30 Red & Blue (New Series)
10:00 Extreme Makeover: Wedding Edition (New Series)

Unfortunately, I don't think "Perfect" will survive. However, these 2 new comedies fit the tone perfectly, with one about a high school, and one about a GOP Grandpa and Democrat dad who disagree about the next generation. As for "EM: WE" I think it's either this, or Monday's at midseason.

Saturday:
Moovies

[Brent88]

Lost, Desperate Housewives, Alias, Boston Legal, and Home Edition were renewed last week.

I'll post mine tonight...

[barwars]

With 27 episodes airing next season.... Boston Legal will more than likely have a timeslot all to itself.

Tuesdays at 10 is my bet.

[Mr. Television]

Originally Posted by barwars

With 27 episodes airing next season.... Boston Legal will more than likely have a timeslot all to itself.

Tuesdays at 10 is my bet.

Yea I think so too. ABC needs a veteran show to go against SVU. It won't win the time slot but it can be competitive.

[Brent88]

Originally Posted by barwars

Tuesdays at 10 is my bet.

Mine too... and I think Grey's would be perfect on Thursdays at 10 against the failing ER(it might stay after Housewives, but I think Soccer Moms will be going there).

[barwars]

Originally Posted by Brent88

Mine too... and I think Grey's would be perfect on Thursdays at 10 against the failing ER(it might stay after Housewives, but I think Soccer Moms will be going there).

I've read that Soccer Moms may be passed on now that a companion for DH has been found. It didn't sound serious enough to air in the 10:00 timeslot anyways. Maybe Tuesdays at 8, if ABC is indeed cutting back on comedy.

[Pavan]

OK I will make TWO schedules. What I would want, and what I think ABC will do.


What I Want:
Sundays
7:00PM AFV
8:00PM Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
9:00PM Desperate Housewives
10:00PM Soccer Moms

Unstoppable line-up here. I think Soccer Moms will only work after DH. If they try it on Thursdays, I don't think it will last. They need Grey's Anatomy or Boston Legal on Thursdays.


Mondays
8:00PM Primetime Live
9:00PM MNF
Post MNF: 9:00PM Extreme Makeover: Wedding Edition; 10:00PM Wife Swap

ABC should go with realilty night after MNF in January. Nothing else would work.


Tuesdays
8:00PM Invasion
9:00PM According to Jim
9:30PM George Lopez
10:00PM Grey's Anatomy

If Grey's does move to Tuesdays, I think it'll give SVU a run for their money. One problem though: George Lopez might not be a good lead-in, but it works very well after According to Jim. 8:00PM mid-season should be interesting if Invasion is anything like Lost, American Idol will have some competition, or at least ABC will get 6 or 7 rating against AI in mid-season.


Wednesdays
8:00PM Lost
9:00PM Any J.J. Abrams New Drama/Alias
10:00PM Westside

Alias will probably air Jan-May again. Any J.J. Abrams drama will air at 9pm for the fall, either Pros and Cons, The Catch, or that Brian one. Westside can't do worse than what Eyes is doing right now.

Thursdays
8:00PM Jake in Progress
8:30PM Freddie Prinze
9:00PM love life (with Julie Bowen)
9:30PM Crumbs
10:00PM Boston Legal

Yes, airing 3 new sitcoms is a big risk, but who cares? It can't do any worse than what Exteme Makeover or life as we know it did. Boston Legal should do decent at 10. I'd have Grey's at 10pm, but I think it will win its slot on Tuesdays at 10.


Fridays
8:00PM My Wife & Kids
8:30PM 8 Simple Rules
9:00PM Hope & Faith
9:30PM any new 4 camera comedy (Bobby Cannon maybe?)
10:00PM 20/20

I'd like to see four sitcoms back here next fall. I think ABC will find its answer to the 8:30pm hole which they had the last two seasons. Why air a new sitcom, when 8 Simple Rules will probably build on My Wife & Kids?


Saturdays
8:00PM Supernanny
9:00PM Kolchak: The Night Stalker
10:00PM Eyes or Blind Justice

ABC should go and be aggressive on Saturdays. I think Supernanny would work well starting it off, but finding a compnion at 9pm might be hard, but Kolchak seems like a Saturday thing. I wouldn't air two new shows on Saturdays, so ABC will have to decide to air Eyes or Blind Justice at 10pm. And if this block fails, they can always air blockbuster movies for sweeps.
They can always bring back Extreme Makeover on Saturdays if anything fails here.









What I Think They'll Do:
Sundays
7:00PM AFV
8:00PM Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
9:00PM Desperate Housewives
10:00PM Soccer Moms

Mondays
8:00PM Primetime Live
9:00PM MNF
Post MNF: 9:00PM The Bachelor/orette; 10:00PM Extreme Makeover: Wedding Edition

Tuesdays
8:00PM Invasion
9:00PM According to Jim
9:30PM Bobby Cannon
10:00PM Boston Legal

Wednesdays
8:00PM Lost
9:00PM Any J.J. Abrams New Drama/Alias
10:00PM Westside

Thursdays
8:00PM love life (with Julie Bowen)
8:30PM George Lopez
9:00PM Freddie Prinze
9:30PM Crumbs
10:00PM Grey's Anatomy

Fridays
8:00PM Supernanny
9:00PM Hope & Faith
9:30PM 8 Simple Rules
10:00PM 20/20

Saturdays
8:00PM Wonderful World of Disney/Blockbuster movies

[JT]

I just hope that Desperate Housewives, Soccer Moms and Westside have good slots. DH will, of course. I don't think they'll even think of moving it around the schedule anywhere. SM will probably air after DH, but I'd prefer WS to be on after the Housewives.

[Superbowl]

Do you really think ABC will go with four sitcoms on Thursdays ? Right now Jake In Progress (which is not a bad show) is getting killed in the ratings on Thursdays. It is losing big time to repeats of Joey and Will and Grace. I am not even so sure they will put on 2 sitcoms on Thursdays, let alone four.

[USTVFanFromUK]

Originally Posted by Brent88

Mine too... and I think Grey's would be perfect on Thursdays at 10 against the failing ER(it might stay after Housewives, but I think Soccer Moms will be going there).

Failing ER? ER's in the top 10 this season and is doing better this season than
past few seasons. It's NBC's only true hit on Thurs.

[spunkygirl]

Originally Posted by pavanbadal

OK I will make TWO schedules. What I would want, and what I think ABC will do.


What I Want:
Sundays
7:00PM AFV
8:00PM Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
9:00PM Desperate Housewives
10:00PM Soccer Moms

Unstoppable line-up here. I think Soccer Moms will only work after DH. If they try it on Thursdays, I don't think it will last. They need Grey's Anatomy or Boston Legal on Thursdays.


Mondays
8:00PM Primetime Live
9:00PM MNF
Post MNF: 9:00PM Extreme Makeover: Wedding Edition; 10:00PM Wife Swap

ABC should go with realilty night after MNF in January. Nothing else would work.


Tuesdays
8:00PM Invasion
9:00PM According to Jim
9:30PM George Lopez
10:00PM Grey's Anatomy

If Grey's does move to Tuesdays, I think it'll give SVU a run for their money. One problem though: George Lopez might not be a good lead-in, but it works very well after According to Jim. 8:00PM mid-season should be interesting if Invasion is anything like Lost, American Idol will have some competition, or at least ABC will get 6 or 7 rating against AI in mid-season.


Wednesdays
8:00PM Lost
9:00PM Any J.J. Abrams New Drama/Alias
10:00PM Westside

Alias will probably air Jan-May again. Any J.J. Abrams drama will air at 9pm for the fall, either Pros and Cons, The Catch, or that Brian one. Westside can't do worse than what Eyes is doing right now.

Thursdays
8:00PM Jake in Progress
8:30PM Freddie Prinze
9:00PM love life (with Julie Bowen)
9:30PM Crumbs
10:00PM Boston Legal

Yes, airing 3 new sitcoms is a big risk, but who cares? It can't do any worse than what Exteme Makeover or life as we know it did. Boston Legal should do decent at 10. I'd have Grey's at 10pm, but I think it will win its slot on Tuesdays at 10.


Fridays
8:00PM My Wife & Kids
8:30PM 8 Simple Rules
9:00PM Hope & Faith
9:30PM any new 4 camera comedy (Bobby Cannon maybe?)
10:00PM 20/20

I'd like to see four sitcoms back here next fall. I think ABC will find its answer to the 8:30pm hole which they had the last two seasons. Why air a new sitcom, when 8 Simple Rules will probably build on My Wife & Kids?


Saturdays
8:00PM Supernanny
9:00PM Kolchak: The Night Stalker
10:00PM Eyes or Blind Justice

ABC should go and be aggressive on Saturdays. I think Supernanny would work well starting it off, but finding a compnion at 9pm might be hard, but Kolchak seems like a Saturday thing. I wouldn't air two new shows on Saturdays, so ABC will have to decide to air Eyes or Blind Justice at 10pm. And if this block fails, they can always air blockbuster movies for sweeps.
They can always bring back Extreme Makeover on Saturdays if anything fails here.









What I Think They'll Do:
Sundays
7:00PM AFV
8:00PM Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
9:00PM Desperate Housewives
10:00PM Soccer Moms

Mondays
8:00PM Primetime Live
9:00PM MNF
Post MNF: 9:00PM The Bachelor/orette; 10:00PM Extreme Makeover: Wedding Edition

Tuesdays
8:00PM Invasion
9:00PM According to Jim
9:30PM Bobby Cannon
10:00PM Boston Legal

Wednesdays
8:00PM Lost
9:00PM Any J.J. Abrams New Drama/Alias
10:00PM Westside

Thursdays
8:00PM love life (with Julie Bowen)
8:30PM George Lopez
9:00PM Freddie Prinze
9:30PM Crumbs
10:00PM Grey's Anatomy

Fridays
8:00PM Supernanny
9:00PM Hope & Faith
9:30PM 8 Simple Rules
10:00PM 20/20

Saturdays
8:00PM Wonderful World of Disney/Blockbuster movies

So you don't think Eyes will make another season?


I hope Less than Perfect comes back, it has much of a shot as 8SR does doesn't it?

[Brent88]

I'm not Pav... but I don't expect Eyes to be back either, and Blind Justice is probably gone as well. If they do come back, it would likely be for half a season or something like that.

I doubt both Rules and LTP come back... and LTP is getting the lower ratings, so I think it's gone.

My schedule

Cancelled: My Wife and Kids, Less Than Perfect, Jake in Progress, Eyes, Blind Justice, EM: HE: How'd They Do That?(think that covers it)

SUNDAYS
7:00pm-America's Funniest Home Videos
8:00pm-Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
9:00pm-Desperate Housewives
10:00pm-Soccer Moms

MONDAYS
8:00pm-Primetime Live
9:00pm-Monday Night Football
(January: 9:00PM-Variants of Extreme Makeover, 10:00PM-Wife Swap)

TUESDAYS
8:00pm-New Drama(Commander-in-Chief?)
9:00pm-According to Jim
9:30pm-George Lopez
10:00pm-Boston Legal

WEDNESDAYS
8:00pm-Lost
9:00pm-Alias(Likely starting in January again)
10:00pm-Westside or Invasion

THURSDAYS
8:00pm-2 New Comedies
9:00pm-New Drama(Kolchak?)
10:00pm-Grey's Anatomy

FRIDAYS
8:00pm-8 Simple Rules
8:30pm-Hope and Faith
9:00pm-Supernanny
10:00pm-20/20

SATURDAYS
8:00pm-Movies/Encores

[spunkygirl]

Thanks Brent

I must be the only person who doesn't see 8SR returning. If LTP doesn't I don't see it returning either. Everything I've read suggests it's not

[Brent88]

Originally Posted by Sasette

Thanks Brent

I must be the only person who doesn't see 8SR returning. If LTP doesn't I don't see it returning either. Everything I've read suggests it's not

I'm concerned about 8SR... but think it'll ultimately return. It may not though... if ABC cuts back on comedies, then it could.

[Mr. Television]

I just don't see ABC putting Gray's Anatomy on Thursdays at 10 against ER and Without A Trace. That would be taking a risk with one of their big hits. Then again ABC has never handled success very well.