ABC has officially announced fourteen shows which will be picked up for next year’s primetime schedule. It will probably be a few more weeks until we find out what other shows will complete their primetime schedule, but ABC penciled in a large chunk with yesterday’s announcements.
It comes as no surprise that ratings powerhouses ‘Grey’s Anatomy’, ‘Dancing With The Stars’, ‘Desperate Housewives’, and ‘Extreme Makeover: Home Edition’ were picked up. It would have probably taken an act of God or at least a producer feud to put any of those four in jeopardy.
Despite falling off the rating’s cliff, ‘Lost’ was also renewed for another season. The ABC vehicle has had a rough go this year but still performs well in the important advertising demographic of eighteen to forty-nine year olds. ‘Lost’ really needs to improve overall viewership or could be in trouble after next season.
Variety is reporting ABC also has renewed a triumvirate of freshman standouts: ‘Ugly Betty’, ‘Brothers & Sisters’, and ‘Men In Trees.’ The renewal of ‘Betty’ and ‘Brothers & Sisters’ comes as no shock. They have received both critical acclaim and better than expected ratings. ‘Men in Trees’ was a little out of left field, but the primetime soap has benefited from the weekly ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ lead in.
Four unscripted shows also got the proverbial thumbs up. ‘America’s Funniest Home Videos’, ‘The Bachelor’, ‘Wife Swap’, and ‘Supernanny’ all skated by with average or below-average performances. One reason for all four’s return may be the relatively low cost of producing reality programming.
ABC also OK’d more William Shatner with the pickup of law dramedy ‘Boston Legal.’ The Golden Globe winner is one of the best shows on television, but it just hasn’t quiet caught on with viewers. Late night laugher ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ has also been given the go ahead on future production.
You may notice the complete dearth of half-hour comedies. ABC sitcoms have been complete garbage this season, and it’s refreshing that, apparently, they realize this too. It’s still possible old standbys ‘According To Jim’ and ‘George Lopez’ could get renewed; however, if rational human beings have anything to say about it, they will get the big ugly ax.
ABC will unveil its entire schedule in early May.
