ABC 2006-2007 Season

As I mentioned yesterday, this week marks the week that the broadcast television networks reveal their programming for the upcoming fall season. These announcements are called the upfronts. This is the first opportunity that advertisers and critics get to see the new programs.

Yesterday NBC revealed their schedules. Today is ABC’s turn.

Previous ABC series that didn’t make it to the fall schedule include freshman programs Invasion and Commander in Chief as well as longer running programs Hope & Faith.

In a big gamble, ABC is moving hit program Grey’s Anatomy from its Sundays at 10pm slot to Thursdays at 9pm, where it will face off with CBS’ juggernaut CSI and NBC’s much anticipated Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.

Here’s a night-by-night look at what the ABC schedule for the 2006-2007 television season has in store, including a brief description for each of the new series. All times listed are Eastern. (In the time slots that feature more than one program, the program listed second will air after the preceding program’s limited episode run.)


Mondays:

8pm-9pm Wife Swap

9pm-10pm The Bachelor/Supernanny

10pm-11pm What About Brian


Tuesdays:

8pm-9pm Dancing with the Stars/
Set for the Rest of Your Life

A game show in which contestants play for the highest possible monthly check that they could receive every month for the rest of their lives. First they compete for the amount of the check. It could be $50, $500, or even over $10,000 a month. Next they have to compete for how long they will receive the monthly payments. Will it be for just one month, every month for a year, every month for ten years, or possibly every month for the rest of their lives? The biggest twist is that the contestant’s partner, who is off stage in a sound-proof isolation booth, could assist in making the contestant’s dream come true or turn it all horribly wrong.

9pm-9:30pm Let’s Rob…

In this comedy, Eugene Gurkin is a janitor with bigger dreams. He wants to open a bar of his own. The only problem is that his janitorial job won’t allow him to make the money necessary to start his dream. After the death of a coworker, and after watching some television, Eugene has an idea about how to help himself. He recruits a group of “misfits” in order to plan and execute a heist that will make all of their dreams come true. They plan to rob the apartment of rock legend Mick Jagger. What ends up happening is that these individuals end up finding friendship and confidence within each other. Starring Donal Logue (Grounded for Life) and featuring a cameo by Mick Jagger himself.

9:30pm-10pm Help Me Help You

This comedy looks at a group therapy session and their leader. Their leader, Dr. Bill Hoffman, is a well respected celebrity due to his authorship of an incredibly popular series of self-help books. But this façade hides the fact that Dr. Hoffman is probably the one most in need of mental help. Starring Ted Danson (Cheers) and guest starring Jane Kaczmarek (Malcolm in the Middle).

10pm-11pm Boston Legal


Wednesdays:

8pm-9pm Dancing With the Stars/
George Lopez (8pm-8:30pm), According to Jim (8:30pm-9pm)

9pm-10pm Lost

10pm-11pm The Nine

This drama looks at the relationships built between nine people after they endure a 52-hour hostage standoff inside a bank. Not everyone escapes the bank alive. These people will share a bond that will carry through their ordeal in the bank and into the outside world. Starring Tim Daly (Wings), Chi McBride (Boston Public), and Scott Wolf (Party of Five).


Thursdays:

8pm-8:30pm Big Day

This comedy examines the biggest day in many individuals’ lives: their wedding day. The entire season takes place on Danny and Alice’s wedding day, and the trials and tribulations the groom, bride, and their families must endure while getting the ceremony to happen. Starring Marla Sokoloff (The Practice) and Wendie Malick (Just Shoot Me).

8:30pm-9pm Notes from the Underbelly

Andrew and Lauren are going to have a baby, but want to try to keep it a secret. However, changing their everyday habits is making it very difficult to keep it from family and friends. Once the secret is out they realize that dealing with the help and advice is just as difficult as parenthood itself.

9pm-10pm Grey’s Anatomy

10pm-11pm Six Degrees

In this drama six New Yorkers go about their daily lives without every realizing that they are having an impact on each other. With each subsequent coincidence these six individuals are brought closer and closer to each other. Is what happens to each of the six people fate or some greater force guiding their lives?


Fridays:

8pm-9pm Betty the Ugly

Betty Suarez, a slightly plump plain girl, is hired as the assistant to the publisher of a fashion magazine. She is hired because she is the one woman that the publisher will not sleep with. Betty’s spirit and ideas win the publisher over and they make a great team against the world of fashion that wants to see them fail.

9pm-10pm Men in Trees

Marin Frist is the author of two best selling self-help books about how to make you happy. While Marin is able to give advice, she doesn’t actually follow it. She learns that her fiancé has cheated on her and the wedding is cancelled. On a trip to Alaska, during a snowstorm, she is stranded in a small town full of available men. Her friends offer her long distance support as she starts to follow some of her own advice. Now the only problem she has is the raccoon living in her hotel room. Starring Anne Heche (Nip/Tuck).

10pm-11pm 20/20


Saturdays:

8pm-11pm ABC Saturday Night College Football

ABC features one spectacular college football game each week.

Sundays:

7pm-8pm America’s Funniest Home Videos

8pm-9pm Extreme Makeover: Home Edition

9pm-10pm Desperate Housewives

10pm-11pm Brothers & Sisters

In this drama the adult children of William Walker gather together for a birthday party that ends up changing their lives. Kitty has a great job offer in New York City, but her Los Angeles boyfriend has just proposed. Thomas & Sarah decide to join together to save the family business. Kevin is shocked to hear that his ex-wife is moving their sox to Texas. Justin, a Gulf War vet, has finally stopped smoking but has to deal with some other addictions. And all six kids start to learn some of the family secrets that threaten to tear all of their lives apart. Starring Calista Flockhart (Ally McBeal), Rachel Griffiths (Six Feet Under), and Ron Rifkin (Alias).

Also announced were mid-season series in development that will appear later in the 2006-2007 season.

Comedies coming mid-season:

In Case of Emergency

Four friends from high school start to realize that their lives have not taken the paths that they had originally planned. Sherman learns that his wife left him and cleaned out their bank accounts. Financial whiz Jason is facing a fraud indictment. Harry, who was recently divorced, goes for a “massage” only to find that his “masseuse” is high school friend Kelly, who was the class valedictorian. Emergencies bring these four friends back together and they realize that they can still depend on each other. Starring David Arquette (Scream), Greg Germann (Ally McBeal), Lori Loughlin (Full House), and Jonathan Silverman (The Single Guy).

Dramas coming mid-season:

Day Break

Detective Brett Hopper is having a horrible day, and he keeps living the same day over and over again. Detective Hopper is accused of killing the assistant DA, but he has an alibi that no one believes. When he decides to go on the run he realizes that his family is in danger too. Every night he goes to sleep and when he wakes up he’s living the exact same day. The only way to break this vicious cycle is to learn who is framing him for the murder. Starring Taye Diggs (Rent).

Traveler

Two friends from grad school are about to leave for summer vacation when a rollerblading prank through a famous New York City museum makes two of them prime suspects in a terrorist bombing of that same museum moments later. Hopeful that their friend Will will be able to clear them of the charges, Jay and Tyler learn that Will is missing and may be dead. The friends are unable to go to the authorities when they realize that they can not even prove that Will exists. In every photo that they have of him from the past two years his face is blocked. These students are pawns in a great conspiracy that may take years to figure out.

Alternative/Reality Programs coming mid-season:

Greg Behrendt’s Wake-Up Call

Greg Behrendt, author of the book He’s Just Not That Into You, will help one couple in each episode through their issues and give them the tools to help.

Just for Laughs

A hidden-camera comedy series that "cuts across cultural boundaries by appealing to viewers of all ages and demographics."