And ABC becomes the third network this week to push some of their most anticipated shows to midseason. As the networks normally put their big shows in the fall, it’s a scheduling move that has everyone scratching their heads. What kind of fall schedule will this be, when we have to wait until spring for the shows we really want?
Could this be a way to allow their new and thus uncertain shows to get a cheaper 13-episode full commitment? Or maybe it’s a way to use the extra time to build up buzz, and then air all the episodes in the spring without breaks? It’s definitely a curious strategy, and only made curiouser because I’m pretty sure the networks didn’t consult each other when they made this plan.
ABC FALL 2011 PRIMETIME SCHEDULE
MONDAY:
8:00 p.m. Dancing with the Stars
10:00 p.m. CastleTUESDAY:
8:00 p.m. LAST MAN STANDING
8:30 p.m. MAN UP
9:00 p.m. Dancing with the Stars the Results Show
10:00 p.m. Body of ProofWEDNESDAY:
8:00 p.m. The Middle
8:30 p.m. SUBURGATORY
9:00 p.m. Modern Family
9:30 p.m. Happy Endings
10:00 p.m. REVENGETHURSDAY:
8:00 p.m. CHARLIE’S ANGELS
9:00 p.m. Grey’s Anatomy
10:00 p.m. Private PracticeFRIDAY:
8:00 p.m. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
9:00 p.m. Shark Tank
10:00 p.m. 20/20SATURDAY:
8:00 p.m. Saturday Night College FootballSUNDAY:
7:00 p.m. America’s Funniest Home Videos
8:00 p.m. ONCE UPON A TIME
9:00 p.m. Desperate Housewives
10:00 p.m. PAN AM
Note: Cougar Town and Apartment 23 will air Tuesdays starting at 9:00 p.m. once Dancing with the Stars ends. And the anticipated Good Christian Belles will premiere midseason.
I was originally interested in Charlie’s Angels because the pilot was directed by Vampire Diaries’ Marcos Siega and brought back the female action hero. Watching the trailer left me feeling unenthused. I’ll still check it out though because of the reasons already stated, plus to see Minka Kelly outside of Friday Night Lights, but I’m just not as excited as before. Please, don’t let it be as bad as most of those other remakes of old series. See: Knight Rider, Bionic Woman, etc.
On the other hand, Once Upon a Time I was only mildly interested in before, but I think the trailer makes it at least look better than NBC’s Grimm. I really hope it succeeds for ABC and its parent company Disney. This could be a great money maker for them seeing as they’re already in the business of fairytale princesses and such. And it’ll be nice to have something to watch on Sunday nights again.
Of the two fantasy series premiering this fall, NBC’s Grimm and ABC’s Once Upon a Time, I think this one will do better. Do you think there’s a place for both series in viewers’ fall lineup? Which one, if any, do you think will survive? I think it’s clear after Legend of the Seeker, Game of Thrones, and now these two that fantasy is back in style and it’s here to stay.
Also, suddenly in style are apparently 1960’s period series, no doubt due to the success of AMC’s Mad Men. Even though ABC’s Pan Am has Christina Ricci, I still haven’t seen anything that makes me want to tune in. Just like with the previously mentioned fantasy series, both ABC and NBC will again be competing for which of their will survive, ABC’s Pan Am or NBC’s Playboy Club? Personally, I’m kind of wary since both series seem to be trying to cash in on the success of Mad Men. Why do we need three series on television set in the 1960s? I did hear the script for Pan Am is really good, but I’m curious to see if either of these shows will do well this fall.
Then, there’s ABC’s other two new dramas Revenge, with Everwood’s Emily VanCamp, and midseason’s The River, which have gotten little buzz so far. They were last minute additions to the fall schedule, so I hope ABC starts the engines on the hype machine soon for those two shows. I’d really like to see more about them.
Summaries and trailers for ABC’s new shows can be found here and here. Extended trailers for Charlie’s Angels and Once Upon a Time can be found here and here.
MY FALL 2011-12 SCHEDULE
MONDAY
8 p.m. – TERRA NOVA (FOX)
TUESDAY
—
WEDNESDAY
10 p.m. REVENGE (ABC)
THURSDAY
8 p.m. – CHARLIE’S ANGELS (ABC)
FRIDAY
9 p.m. – Fringe (FOX)
9 p.m. – GRIMM (NBC)
SATURDAY
—
SUNDAY
8:00 p.m. ONCE UPON A TIME (ABC)
What do you think of all these new series? How does your fall schedule look now?
Good to see your schedule is filling up :)
Saw the trailer for Once Upon a Time. It has potential, I’ll check it out but I am not super excited for it. I don’t know if Grimm appeals to me.
How’s your schedule doing though?
The writer of CW’s Life Unexpected said on Twitter she is going to be working on Once Upon a Time now, so that gives me a bit more umph to check it out, too. Grimm doesn’t really appeal to me either, but I’ll still check it out and see.
Maybe I’ll check out Pan Am, too. I hear the pilot script is really good and one of the Vampire Diaries writers has moved to that show.
And Jane Espenson (Buffy, BSG/Caprica, and upcoming Torchwood writer) has just announced she’ll be working on Once Upon a Time, too.
That’s cool!
My schedule is pretty sparse right now but I haven’t really looked into every channel yet.
I’m excited for more Modern Family! I love that show so much! I’m also interested in watching Terra Nova too, but mostly because a Degrassi alum (Landon Libiron) will be on that show.
I’ve never seen Degrassi, but I like that alum from that show are getting roles here and there. Terra Nova will be interesting to check out.