ABC Announces 2008-09 Primetime Schedule

Earlier this morning ABC President Steve McPherson announced the primetime schedule for ABC’s 2008-09 TV season. There weren’t a lot of big shockers here. In addition to the new ABC shows, it was nice to see that ELI STONE was picked up for a second season. BOSTON LEGAL will finish up its run with it’s final season in the Fall. And what shouldn’t be a big shock to anyone, SCRUBS will its final season on ABC this year. UGLY BETTY is moving production from L.A. to New York next year.  As previously announced, MEN IN TRESS and OCTOBER ROAD have been canceled.

ABC is making their presentation to advertisers this afternoon, and it will be the first chance to get a look at the new shows.  I’ll be watching and will let you know if anything interesting happens.

Get a taste for ABC’s new shows, and then continue on to get a peek at ABC’s new primetime schedule.

DRAMA
LIFE ON MARS:
“Life on Mars” is based on the BBC series created by Matthew Graham, Tony Jordan and Ashley Pharoah. The series revolves around Sam Tyler, a modern-day police detective who, after a car crash, mysteriously finds himself transported back to 1973 and still working as a detective.

“Life on Mars” stars Jason O’ Mara as Sam Tyler, Rachelle LeFevre as Annie Cartwright, Colm Meaney as Gene Hunt, Stephanie Jacobsen as Maya, Lenny Clarke as George Randall, Patrick Wenk-Wolff as Colin Raimes and Richard Benjamin as Milton Kornboll. (CASTING is subject to change)

COMEDY
THE GOODE FAMILY: A new animated series from Mike Judge, creator of “King of the Hill.” “The Goode Family” is obsessed with doing the “right” thing, whether it’s environmentally, politically or socially. Unfortunately their efforts often have unintended comic consequences.

“The Goode Family” is voiced by Mike Judge as Gerald, Nancy Carell as Helen, Dave Herman as Ubuntu and Abby Elliot as Bliss.

REALITY TV
OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS: “Opportunity Knocks” is a new show that breaks the mold of typical game and reality shows. We will be showing up on America’s doorstep and testing how well they know their family. Our mobile team will arrive at “Anywhere, America” in a semi-truck that is full of flat screen TVs, new furniture and big cash prizes that the family can win right there. We will take the action of a game show directly into our contestants’ homes, setting up shop in a family’s front lawn. The instant our host, JD Roth, knocks on the front door, the game will begin. Hollywood will invade a suburban neighborhood, and each week one lucky family will play the game of a lifetime in front of all their friends and neighbors.

The host poses trivia questions to family members based directly on their lives, each other and articles found in and around their home. If they’re able to prove they know their family inside and out, they’ll win the prizes of their dreams.

Executive producers for “Opportunity Knocks” are Ashton Kutcher, Jason Goldberg, Karey Burke, J.D. Roth and Todd A. Nelson.

ABC PRIMETIME SCHEDULE 2008-09 (Subject the change)

Monday
8pm- “Dancing with the Stars”
9:30pm – “Samantha Who?”
10pm – “Boston Legal” | “the Bachelor” (midseason)

Tuesday
8pm – “Opportunity Knocks”
9 pm– “Dancing with the Stars” results show | “Scrubs” and “The Goode Family” (midseason)
10pm – “Eli Stone”

Wednesday
8pm – “Pushing Daisies”
9pm – “Private Practice”
10pm – “Dirty Sexy Money”

Thursday
8pm – “Ugly Betty”
9 pm– “Grey’s Anatomy”
10pm – “Life on Mars”

Friday
8 pm– “Wife Swap”
9pm – “Supernanny”
10pm – “20/20”

Saturday
8pm – “Saturday Night College Football”

Sunday
7pm – “America’s Funniest Home Videos”
8pm – “Extreme Makeover Home Edition”
9pm – “Desperate Housewives”
10 pm– “Brothers & Sisters”

Additionally, the following shows have been picked up or renewed by ABC, but there placement on the schedule is TBD at this time.

• Lost
• According to Jim
• The Untitled Ashton Kutcher/Tyra Banks Project – A beauty pageant like you’ve never seen.