ABC 2007-2008 Season Schedule

Today is Day 2 of the network upfronts. ABC announced their 2007-2008 schedule today.

ABC had both successes and failures during the 2006-2007 season. Brothers & Sisters and Men in Tress were all renewed for a second season. Ugly Betty was ABC’s runaway hit. However, most of the sitcoms that began this season on ABC failed. Neither Help Me Help You, Knights of Prosperity, nor Big Day even aired for a full season.

Returning programs also faced difficulties. Both Desperate Housewives and Lost faced smaller ratings. Desperate Housewives has had difficulties recovering from an uneven second season. Lost has also been uneven, and faced a three month hiatus between November and February. Creatively both shows have been recovering. In addition, next season Lost will follow 24’s broadcast model: not beginning the new season until January and then airing all 16 episodes nearly non-stop.

Long running sitcom The George Lopez Show has also ended after a five year run. The future of ABC’s other long running comedy, According to Jim, has yet to be decided.

Once Dancing with the Stars and The Bachelor reach their fall finales, they will be replaced by returning series October Road, Notes from the Underbelly, and the new series Cashmere Mafia. Also returning mid-season will be reality shows Wife Swap and Supernanny.

Here’s a night-by-night look at the primetime ABC schedule for next season. Included are brief descriptions, partially taken from tvguide.com. All times listed are Eastern.

Mondays:

8pm-9:30pm Dancing with the Stars

9:30pm-10pm Sam I Am

This sitcom follows Samantha “Sam” Newly as she recovers from an eight day coma and dealing with her subsequent amnesia. Sam begins to realize that before her accident she was not well liked and considered a bitch, and words toward doing what’s right while fighting the temptation to not be good. Starring Christina Applegate (Married With Children), Tim Russ (Star Trek Voyager), and Jean Smart (Designing Women, 24).

10pm-11pm The Bachelor

Tuesdays:

8pm-8:30pm Cavemen

This comedy is based on the Caveman in the Geico insurance commercials. Three cavemen are the ultimate outsiders as they try to find their place in the modern world. Nick doesn’t believe that they will ever be accepted, Jamie has accepted their role in the world, and Joel straddles the middle between the two.

8:30pm-9pm Carpoolers

In this comedy, four men from different backgrounds enjoy their daily commute because they are able to commiserate about the trials and tribulations of their daily lives. It is only when carpooling that these men are truly able to be themselves. Starring Faith Ford (Murphy Brown) and Jerry O’Connell (Crossing Jordan, Sliders).

9pm-10pm Dancing with the Stars

10pm-11pm Boston Legal

Wednesdays:

8pm-9pm Pushing Daisies

This drama follows Ned, who can touch dead things and bring them back to life. Ned works with an investigator, bringing back murder victims long enough to name their killers. When Ned comes across a childhood sweetheart he brings her back to name her killer, but then keeps her alive. His revived sweetheart, Chuck, encourages him to use his power to help people and not just solving the murder mysteries. There is one catch though. Ned and Chuck want to live happily ever after, but if Ned ever touches her again she will die for good. Starring Chi McBride (Boston Public), Swoosie Kurtz (Sisters), and Kristen Chenoweth (The West Wing).

9pm-10pm Private Practice

This spin-off from Grey’s Anatomy follows the character of Addison Forbes Montgomery as she leaves for Los Angeles because she realizes she can no longer coexist with her ex-husband. Addison reunites with medical school friends and joins their private medical practice. Starring Kate Walsh (Grey’s Anatomy), Tim Daly (Wings), Taye Diggs (Day Break), and Amy Brenneman (Judging Amy).

10pm-11pm Dirty Sexy Money

Nick George is asked to become the personal lawyer of the Darling family, and extremely wealthy family. Nick is asked to take over once the patriarch of the family dies mysteriously. The money he would earn in the job would allow Nick to be an do-gooder while the job would require him to get into the dubious dealings of this powerful family. Starring Peter Krause (Six Feet Under) and Donald Sutherland (Backdraft, MASH).

Thursdays:

8pm-9pm Ugly Betty

9pm-10pm Grey’s Anatomy

10pm-11pm Big Shots

This drama follows the lives of four CEOs who are best friends. They are in full control of their lives, until their wives enter the picture. These men retreat to their friendship, where they are able to confide in each other, ask advice, and support each other throughout the twists and turns their lives take. Starring Michael Vartan (Alias), Dylan McDermott (The Practice), and Christopher Titus (Titus).

Fridays:

8pm-9pm Men In Trees

9pm-10pm Women’s Murder Club

This drama is based on the novels by James Patterson. A detective, a district attorney, a medical examiner, and a reporter join together to solve murder cases. Each woman is successful in their own field, but all four realize that by pooling their expertise they can successfully investigate and solve tough murder cases.

10pm-11pm 20/20

Saturdays:

8pm-11pm Saturday Night College Football

Sundays:

7pm-8pm America’s Funniest Home Videos

8pm-9pm Extreme Makeover: Home Edition

9pm-10pm Desperate Housewives

10pm-11pm Brothers & Sisters

Other series coming mid-season:

Cashmere Mafia

Four women try to balance their careers as successful executives with their personal lives in New York City. They protect each other, confide in each other, yet try to have it all. All of these women try to break the glass ceiling, but what if one friend does while the others are still struggling? Starring Lucy Liu (Ally McBeal, Kill Bill).

Eli Stone

This drama follows a lawyer who has built a successful career at a law firm in San Francisco. Eli represents only large corporations and has a reputation of walking all over the little guy. Eli experiences a series of strange hallucinations, and afterwards looks for a deeper meaning in his life while trying not to lose his job and while maintaining a romantic relationship with the bosses’ daughter. It turns out the hallucinations are being caused by a brain aneurysm, and Eli wonders if maybe he now has a higher calling to follow. Starring Victor Garber (Alias), Loretta Devine (Boston Public), and Natasha Henstridge (Species).

Miss Guided

In this sitcom, Rebecca finds herself returning as a guidance counselor to the high school that she barely made it through. Rebecca has to ward of the romantic advances of the school’s male nurse while dealing with her own romantic interest in the auto-shop/Spanish teacher. Rebecca also has to deal with her high school nemesis when she joins the faculty as the school’s new English teacher and sets her sights on the auto-shop/Spanish teacher as well.

Oprah’s Big Give

This reality show is Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Productions first foray into primetime. This series will focus on contestants who will give away millions of dollars in order to make a difference in other people’s lives. Each week will bring a big twist that will impact the contestant’s decisions about how to do good work with the money. Each week the stakes will be higher, with one person ultimately being chosen as The Biggest Giver.