Comedies seem to be the “in” thing right now. Like NBC, ABC has opened
up new comedy nights on Tuesday and Friday. The reason, just like NBC, is that
their new, hour long dramas so far have
failed to gain any traction (Once Upon A
Time the lone exception)
Analysis below.
Monday
8 pm-10 pm: Dancing With The Stars
10 pm: Castle
The night is working for ABC, but DWTS has been bleeding viewers for
the past couple years now. Even with its ratings in decline, it’s still the highest
rated show for the network. Because of that, ABC would be better off slotting a
new drama here. Castle has been in this slot ever since it debuted, and it has
done a phenomenal job. But going into season 5 and its ratings in a holding
pattern, the show would be better off plugging one of ABC’s more troubled time
slots, Thursday 8pm.
ABC is in need of a new drama hit, and I see this as a missed
opportunity to capitalize on the DWTS audience.
Tuesday:
8 pm: Dancing With The Stars (results)
9 pm: Happy Ending/ Don’t Trust the B**** In Apt. 23
10 pm: Private Practice
ABC is following NBC and using their marquee reality show to launch a
new comedy block. Come fall, the Tuesday 9pm hour will be populated by comedies
from ABC, Fox, and NBC.
Happy Endings and Apt. 23 haven’t exactly set the ratings
system on fire. Both comedies have their ratings inflated because of Modern Family. Without the Modern Family lead-in support, both
shows were getting low 2’s in the demos. And with DWTS being an older audience,
lead-in support won’t be as strong. Maybe airing at a different night could
help, but with competition for Fox’s New
Girl and NBC, success may be limited.
Private Practice was doing
OK when moved here in the spring. While not a solid hit, it was doing better
than the former occupant Body Of Proof,
which surprisingly was renewed even with mediocre ratings.
Wednesday:
8 pm: The Middle/ Suburgatory
9 pm: Modern Family/ The Neighbors
10 pm: Nashville
ABC is smart to keep this night a family-oriented night, so to speak.
The three returning comedies do very well for ABC, and ABC is smart to air a
new comedy, The Neighbors, here
after having mix results with Happy
Endings and Apt. 23.
ABC had some traction at 10 pm with the well-received Revenge. ABC opted to try a new show
here Nashville. It’s being billed as
a family soap, keeping true to the overall theme of the night. Good move.
Thursday:
8 pm: Last Resort
9 pm: Grey’s Anatomy
10 pm: Scandal
Thursdays has been anchored by Grey’s Anatomy for the past 7 seasons,
but like many aging shows, has declined in the ratings in recent years.
However, ABC has had problems scheduling the 8 pm hour the past couple of
years, with FlashForward, Charlie’s
Angels, and Missing all canceled
after a season. I like ABC not giving up on dramas in this slot, but the trend
has not been friendly. ABC will once again try an action-oriented drama in this
slot, Last Resort, from Shawn Ryan.
With Fox airing reality, NBC and CBS airing comedies, ABC could get some
traction here with their counter programming.
Friday:
8 pm: Last Man Standing/ Malibu Country (both debuting in November)
9 pm: Shark Tank
10 pm: Primetime: What Would You Do?
With no network airing comedies on Friday last year, there will be 2
networks trying to stake a claim on comedy Friday this fall. ABC is returning
to its TGIF comedies of years back. ABC will air a pair of multi-cams at 8 pm,
the returning Tim Allen laugher Last Man
Standing, paired with the new comedy from Reba McIntyre Malibu Country. Reba is extremely popular in the heartland,
and if Tim Allen can migrate is fans over to Fridays, ABC has a winner here.
Shark Tank has flown under
the radar and has quietly done a solid job for ABC on Fridays, consistently one
of the higher rated shows on Friday. 20/20
will say on at 10pm.
Sunday:
8 pm: Once Upon A Time
9 pm: Revenge
10 pm: 666 Park Avenue
ABC struck gold with Once Upon A
Time, giving ABC a much needed to hit that could replace their aging
veterans Grey’s Anatomy and the
recently concluded Desperate Housewives.
The network hopes Revenge can be
their next Wisteria Lane at 9 pm,
giving the show a better chance to find a wider audience at an earlier time
slot. ABC will try to launch a new drama out of Revenge, the supernatural soap 666
Park Avenue. This is a smart choice since the show has elements from both Once and Revenge.
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