ABC at TCA: Executive Session Live-Blog

ABC Entertainment Group president, Paul Lee, will be talking with reporters about the state of the network and the upcoming slate of shows.

Keep refreshing to see the latest comments from Lee…

10:04 AM: We’re starting off with a 3-minute sizzle reel clip of ABC’s shows. Lots of MODERN FAMILY, SCANDAL, GREY’S ANATOMY, ONCE UPON A TIME, CASTLE, and THE GOLDBERGS, plus their new shows.

10:07 AM: Lee calls ONCE UPON A TIME an underrated series…he thinks it gets overlooked because it’s also a family series.

10:10 AM: SHIELD will have a split season and AGENT CARTER will fill the gap. ONCE UPON A TIME will have GALAVANT filling its gap. SCANDAL will “only” have 22 episodes, HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER will only have 15 or 16.

10:12 AM: “Adam and Eddy are endlessly inventive,” Lee says of OUAT’s stories. He won’t rule out a spinoff, but he points out the show constantly reinvents itself by adding new characters and arcs.

10:13 AM: “We’re very pleased it’s starting to build,” Lee says of RISING STAR. He’s pleased they’re growing, though.

10:15 AM: They haven’t built a plan on how to release the GALAVANT music.

10:16 AM: Lee admits he’s under strict instruction to not give too much Marvel story away. He says there is no “specific plans I can talk about now” to merge the TV and movie universes more.

10:17 AM: Lee says title issues are something they think about, and both BLACK-ISH and FRESH OFF THE BOAT have strong voices and titles.

10:18 AM: On THE GOLDBERGS: “Frankly, Adam did such a great job with the show itself…We love the idea of moving it to Wednesday…we think our Wednesday nights are going to be very strong.” He says they’re very “bullish” about their Wednesday night. He calls it an extraordinary show, and they’re excited to have the show between THE MIDDLE and MODERN FAMILY.

10:22 AM: Lee calls Shonda Rhimes one of the most authentic storytellers out there. Showers similar praise on John Ridley, who has a new series with ABC this year.

10:23 AM: Lee says his own personal history does make him look at the shows on his schedule in a different light: “Great stories will resonate in the heart and gut of the audience anywhere in the world.” He grew up watching American shows, even though he didn’t live here.

10:25 AM: On TROPHY WIFE: “We have used Wednesday night to launch comedy…we did get a pulse out of THE GOLDBERGS [on Tuesdays].” Lee says they were disappointed to not get a pulse out of the TROPHY WIFE, even when repeated it, but he does reiterate at least THE GOLDBERGS hit: “I truly believe THE GOLDBERGS is going to be an asset on this network for many years to come,” Lee says. He notes they tried to have easily promotable episodes later on in the run.

10:29 AM: “The shows that lack diversity seem to be dated,” Lee says. He notes that so many of their shows have diverse people working on them, off and on screen.

10:31 AM: “People choose what they’re passionate about…now it’s no longer the least objectionable. Now it’s, ‘what do I love?'” Lee says of the sheer amount of television on right now. He says that network limitations can often lead to better storytelling, and Rhimes excels at that.

10:35 AM: Will THE GOLDBERGS explore their Jewishness? “I don’t think there’s anyone in the country who watches THE GOLDBERGS who doesn’t think they’re watching a show about a Jewish family,” Lee says. He says they won’t push him towards showing more or say he can’t. “It’s Adam’s show, and that’s why it’s so good.”

10:38 AM: “We love the Tim Allen. We think Cristela is a great swing…we love that show, we think she’s a star.” – Lee on multicams.

10:39 AM: They reiterate that no time period really popped for TROPHY WIFE. They’re sad to lose it.

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