Makeover for alphabet
ABC makeover: Net cuts back on comedy for fall
May 18, 2004
ABC is mounting an extreme makeover of its primetime schedule for next season.
The network, in a fourth-place slump this season, is expected to announce today in New York a schedule that reduces its comedy contingent from 10 shows to eight and from three nights this season to Tuesday and Friday in the fall. The schedule also includes four hours of unscripted programming, including the newcomer "Wife Swap."
ABC News also is set to officially name Elizabeth Vargas as the successor to Barbara Walters as co-anchor with John Stossel of "20/20" during the network's upfront presentation at the New Amsterdam Theater. Walters announced in January that she intends to step down in September after 25 years at the helm of the newsmagazine.
The WB Network also officially unveils its fall lineup today at Madison Square Garden, and it also is betting on fewer comedies next season. The WB will keep its slate of family-friendly comedies on Friday while giving up on its two-hour comedy block on Thursday (HR 5/17).
Among ABC's moves is the expected shift of "My Wife and Kids" from the 8 p.m. anchor position on Wednesday to the tough 8 p.m. slot on Tuesday, followed by "George Lopez," which would move from Friday, "According to Jim" and a new untitled comedy featuring comedian Rodney Carrington. Steven Bochco's "NYPD Blue" is said to be staying at 10 p.m., rotating with Bochco's new drama "Blind Justice."
On Wednesday, "The Bachelor" is rumored to be sandwiched by new drama "Lost" at 8 p.m. and possibly "Extreme Makeover" at 10 p.m.
The network is said to be betting on reality series "Wife Swap," a show from producer Michael Davies based on a British format about two mothers who swap households, to open its Thursday lineup at 8 p.m. Freshman drama "Life as We Know It" is tipped for the 9 p.m. slot, while newsmagazine "Primetime Thursday" stays put at 10 p.m.
Meanwhile, former Tuesday 8 p.m. anchor "8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter" will move to Friday at 8 p.m., where it will be paired at 8:30 p.m. with newcomer "Savages," featuring Keith Carradine as a single dad raising five boys. "Hope & Faith" will stay in the 9 p.m. berth for its sophomore season, followed by another Tuesday transplant, "Less Than Perfect." "20/20" will cap the night at 10 p.m. as usual.
Saturday is expected to continue being home to the "Wonderful World of Disney" movie franchise. Sunday's lineup is said to be mostly the same: "America's Funniest Home Videos," "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" and "Alias," with David E. Kelley's new legal drama taking the 10 p.m. spot of the show that spawned it, "The Practice."
"Desperate Housewives" also is rumored to be Sunday-bound, sharing a slot with either 9 p.m.'s "Alias" or Kelley's new 10 p.m. "Practice" spinoff.
ABC's midseason orders were unclear late Monday. Sources said the network was in talks with pop starlet Jessica Simpson for more variety specials, following the success last month of "The Nick & Jessica Variety Hour," in which she starred with husband Nick Lachey. ABC developed a sitcom project with Simpson, but it did not get picked up.
The WB's Monday and Tuesday lineups will stay intact with reality or drama projects rotating periodically through the Monday 9 p.m. slot, reducing the number of repeats of "Everwood." On Wednesday, "Smallville" will be followed by new entries "Blue Collar TV," a sketch comedy toplined by Jeff Foxworthy and "Green Screen," an improv comedy starring Drew Carey.
On Thursday, the network is going with "The Mountain," a new drama starring Oliver Hudson, from the producers of Fox's teen hit "The O.C.," and "Studio 7," a reality/game show from producer Davies that is set to go against the second installment of NBC's "The Apprentice" and CBS' "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation."
On Friday, "Reba" will move back to 9 p.m., while "What I Like About You" will take its former 8 p.m. slot. New sitcom "Commando Nanny" follows at 9:30 p.m.; the show is based on producer Mark Burnett's experience as a commando-turned-Beverly Hills nanny.
Meanwhile, Rachel Sweet (ABC's "Dharma & Greg") has come on board "Commando Nanny" as executive producer/showrunner. Writer David Flebotte, who penned the pilot, has departed and is said to be in negotiations to serve as co-showrunner on NBC's comedy "Will & Grace" next season alongside Alex Herschlag.
A retooled one-hour variety version of "Steve Harvey's Big Time" anchors the WB's new Sunday lineup at 7 p.m., with new drama "Jack & Bobby" landing the post-"Charmed" 9 p.m. slot.
The network, in a fourth-place slump this season, is expected to announce today in New York a schedule that reduces its comedy contingent from 10 shows to eight and from three nights this season to Tuesday and Friday in the fall. The schedule also includes four hours of unscripted programming, including the newcomer "Wife Swap."
ABC News also is set to officially name Elizabeth Vargas as the successor to Barbara Walters as co-anchor with John Stossel of "20/20" during the network's upfront presentation at the New Amsterdam Theater. Walters announced in January that she intends to step down in September after 25 years at the helm of the newsmagazine.
The WB Network also officially unveils its fall lineup today at Madison Square Garden, and it also is betting on fewer comedies next season. The WB will keep its slate of family-friendly comedies on Friday while giving up on its two-hour comedy block on Thursday (HR 5/17).
Among ABC's moves is the expected shift of "My Wife and Kids" from the 8 p.m. anchor position on Wednesday to the tough 8 p.m. slot on Tuesday, followed by "George Lopez," which would move from Friday, "According to Jim" and a new untitled comedy featuring comedian Rodney Carrington. Steven Bochco's "NYPD Blue" is said to be staying at 10 p.m., rotating with Bochco's new drama "Blind Justice."
On Wednesday, "The Bachelor" is rumored to be sandwiched by new drama "Lost" at 8 p.m. and possibly "Extreme Makeover" at 10 p.m.
The network is said to be betting on reality series "Wife Swap," a show from producer Michael Davies based on a British format about two mothers who swap households, to open its Thursday lineup at 8 p.m. Freshman drama "Life as We Know It" is tipped for the 9 p.m. slot, while newsmagazine "Primetime Thursday" stays put at 10 p.m.
Meanwhile, former Tuesday 8 p.m. anchor "8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter" will move to Friday at 8 p.m., where it will be paired at 8:30 p.m. with newcomer "Savages," featuring Keith Carradine as a single dad raising five boys. "Hope & Faith" will stay in the 9 p.m. berth for its sophomore season, followed by another Tuesday transplant, "Less Than Perfect." "20/20" will cap the night at 10 p.m. as usual.
Saturday is expected to continue being home to the "Wonderful World of Disney" movie franchise. Sunday's lineup is said to be mostly the same: "America's Funniest Home Videos," "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" and "Alias," with David E. Kelley's new legal drama taking the 10 p.m. spot of the show that spawned it, "The Practice."
"Desperate Housewives" also is rumored to be Sunday-bound, sharing a slot with either 9 p.m.'s "Alias" or Kelley's new 10 p.m. "Practice" spinoff.
ABC's midseason orders were unclear late Monday. Sources said the network was in talks with pop starlet Jessica Simpson for more variety specials, following the success last month of "The Nick & Jessica Variety Hour," in which she starred with husband Nick Lachey. ABC developed a sitcom project with Simpson, but it did not get picked up.
The WB's Monday and Tuesday lineups will stay intact with reality or drama projects rotating periodically through the Monday 9 p.m. slot, reducing the number of repeats of "Everwood." On Wednesday, "Smallville" will be followed by new entries "Blue Collar TV," a sketch comedy toplined by Jeff Foxworthy and "Green Screen," an improv comedy starring Drew Carey.
On Thursday, the network is going with "The Mountain," a new drama starring Oliver Hudson, from the producers of Fox's teen hit "The O.C.," and "Studio 7," a reality/game show from producer Davies that is set to go against the second installment of NBC's "The Apprentice" and CBS' "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation."
On Friday, "Reba" will move back to 9 p.m., while "What I Like About You" will take its former 8 p.m. slot. New sitcom "Commando Nanny" follows at 9:30 p.m.; the show is based on producer Mark Burnett's experience as a commando-turned-Beverly Hills nanny.
Meanwhile, Rachel Sweet (ABC's "Dharma & Greg") has come on board "Commando Nanny" as executive producer/showrunner. Writer David Flebotte, who penned the pilot, has departed and is said to be in negotiations to serve as co-showrunner on NBC's comedy "Will & Grace" next season alongside Alex Herschlag.
A retooled one-hour variety version of "Steve Harvey's Big Time" anchors the WB's new Sunday lineup at 7 p.m., with new drama "Jack & Bobby" landing the post-"Charmed" 9 p.m. slot.
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