ABC’s 2007-2008 Primetime Schedule Bold Yet Boring
Eleven Pick-Ups Can’t Make Up for Uninspired Offerings
Although mundane enough to almost put me to sleep while reviewing it, the 2007–2008 primetime schedule ABC announced this morning in New York during its upfront presentation to advertisers has one thing going for it: lots of new, if rather dull-sounding series. A total of twelve shows have made it to production courtesy of the Alphabet Network, including seven dramas (Big Shots, Cashmere Mafia, Dirty Sexy Money, Eli Stone, Private Practice, Pushing Daisies, and Women’s Murder Club), four comedies (Carpoolers, Cavemen, Miss/Guided, and Sam I Am), and one reality series (Oprah’s Big Give).
Among the slew of programs, the only ones I’m even mildly interested in checking out are the supernatural-ish “Am I Crazy?!” legal drama Eli Stone, which stars British actor and Angelina Jolie ex Jonny Lee Miller, Alias spy daddy Victor Garber, and Species alien chick Natasha Henstridge; the supernatural crime romance (!) Pushing Daisies, brought to us by Heroes co-executive producer Bryan Fuller and Men in Black director Barry Sonnenfeld; and perhaps the amnesiac sitcom Sam I Am with funnygirls Christina Applegate of Married with Children and Jennifer Esposito of Spin City.
Otherwise, the mere fact that ABC renewed the insufferably tedious and thoroughly brain-numbing recent newcomers October Road and Notes from the Underbelly for 13-episode second seasons is practically enough to make me boycott the network forever. A third season of What About Brian would have been better.
Speaking of which, it looks like the series George Lopez, According to Jim, Knights of Prosperity, Big Day, Day Break, Help Me Help You, In Case of Emergency, The Nine, Six Degrees, and the aforementioned What About Brian are all officially kaput. My condolences, especially to George Lopez, Day Break, The Nine, and Six Degrees, each of which deserved to live on for varying reasons.
As of today, ABC’s Fall 2007 primetime schedule takes the following shape, with the clarification that Cashmere Mafia, Notes from the Underbelly, and October Road will premiere after the fall finales of Dancing with the Stars and The Bachelor, while other series renewed or picked up but not currently listed will appear later in the 2007–2008 season:
Mondays
- 8pm: Dancing with the Stars (RETURNING REALITY SHOW)
- 9:30pm: Sam I Am (NEW COMEDY)
- 10pm: The Bachelor (RETURNING REALITY SHOW)
Tuesdays
- 8pm: Cavemen (NEW COMEDY)
- 8:30pm: Carpoolers (NEW COMEDY)
- 9pm: Dancing with the Stars the Results Show (RETURNING REALITY SHOW)
- 10pm: Boston Legal (RETURNING LEGAL DRAMA)
Wednesdays
- 8pm: Pushing Daisies (NEW DRAMA)
- 9pm: Private Practice (NEW MEDICAL DRAMA)
- 10pm: Dirty Sexy Money (NEW DRAMA)
Thursdays
- 8pm: Ugly Betty (RETURNING DRAMEDY)
- 9pm: Grey’s Anatomy (RETURNING MEDICAL DRAMA)
- 10pm: Big Shots (NEW DRAMA)
Fridays
- 8pm: Men in Trees (RETURNING DRAMEDY)
- 9pm: Women’s Murder Club (NEW DRAMA)
- 10pm: 20/20 (RETURNING NEWSMAGAZINE)
Saturdays
- 8pm: Saturday Night College Football (SPORTS SPECIAL)
Sundays
- 7pm: America’s Funniest Home Videos (RETURNING REALITY SHOW)
- 8pm: Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (RETURNING REALITY SHOW)
- 9pm: Desperate Housewives (RETURNING DRAMEDY)
- 10pm: Brothers & Sisters (RETURNING DRAMA)
Related News: Fourteen ABC Series Renewed Early for 2007-2008 | ‘Lost’ to End in 2010 at the Ripe Age of Six | ‘Men in Trees’ Season 1 Branching into Season 2
All times are EST/Eastern Standard Time
