[07.16.08 - 09:28 AM]
ABC ANNOUNCES FALL PREMIERE DATES
Released by ABC

[NOTE: The following article is a press release issued by the aforementioned network and/or company. Any errors, typos, etc. are attributed to the original author. The release is reproduced solely for the dissemination of the enclosed information.]

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ABC ANNOUNCES FALL PREMIERE DATES

Fall premiere dates for the 2008-2009 season were announced today for the ABC Television Network by Stephen McPherson, president, ABC Entertainment.

"We are very excited about the return of our core group of shows from last Fall. They dominated for us, and it will be great to see viewers reconnect," said Mr. McPherson. "We are building momentum for our two new shows, 'Opportunity Knocks' and 'Life on Mars,' and are thrilled by their tremendous potential."

ABC primetime fall premiere dates are as follows:

Friday, September 19

10:00-11:00 p.m. "20/20"

Monday, September 22

8:00-10:00 p.m. "Dancing with the Stars" (special two-hour performance show premiere)

10:00-11:00 p.m. "Boston Legal"

Tuesday, September 23

8:00-9:00 p.m. "Opportunity Knocks" (new series debut)

9:00-11:00 p.m. "Dancing with the Stars" (special performance show)

Wednesday, September 24

8:00-9:00 p.m. "Dancing with the Stars Results Show Special" (special day and time)

9:00-11:00 p.m. "David Blaine Special"

Thursday, September 25

8:00-9:00 p.m. "Ugly Betty"

9:00-11:00 p.m. "Grey's Anatomy" (special two-hour season premiere)

Sunday, September 28

7:00-9:00 p.m. "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" (two-hour season premiere)

9:00-10:00 p.m. "Desperate Housewives"

10:00-11:00 p.m. "Brothers & Sisters"

Tuesday, September 30

9:00-10:00 p.m. "Dancing with the Stars Result Show" (regular day and time period premiere)

Wednesday, October 1

8:00-9:00 p.m. "Pushing Daisies"

9:00-10:00 p.m. "Private Practice"

10:00-11:00 p.m. "Dirty Sexy Money"

Friday, October 3

8:00-9:00 p.m. "Wife Swap"

9:00-10:00 p.m. "Supernanny"

Sunday, October 5

7:00-8:00 p.m. "America's Funniest Home Videos"

8:00-9:00 p.m. "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" (regular time period premiere)

Monday, October 6

9:30-10:00 p.m. "Samantha Who?"

Thursday, October 9

9:00-10:00 p.m. "Grey's Anatomy" (regular time period premiere)

10:00-11:00 p.m. "Life on Mars" (new series debut)

Tuesday, October 14

10:00-11:00 p.m. "Eli Stone"

Posted: Wed., Jul. 16, 2008, 11:55am PT
By MICHAEL SCHNEIDER

Also during the McPherson's press tour sesh, the exec confirmed that he's looking at ways to keep "Scrubs" on the air beyond this year, potentially with new cast members.

"There's still an opportunity for growth there," he said. "It will not hopefully be a one season situation."

McPherson noted that ABC is still adjusting to the impact of the WGA strike - it's still producing pilots, after all, with an eye toward screening the projects in late August and making series orders after that.

With just two new shows on the air this fall, Alphabet will be able to spend more marketing dollars on returning skeins, McPherson added. As it has the past few years, ABC will continue to strategically put promo money behind shows that could benefit the most.

"We'll make Sunday and 'Desperate Housewives' a priority for fall - that wouldn't be the case if we had a lot of new shows," he said. Also, among the two new series, "'Opportunity Knocks' will get a little more than 'Life on Mars,' which has a more protected slot."

Also, McPherson said the net may be able to air extra episodes of several series this season, as shows such as "Pushing Daisies" didn't return to the air post-strike but started banking segs.

As for rumors that "Grey's Anatomy" star Katherine Heigl may be departing the show (after voicing frustration over her character's story arc last year), McPherson said the thesp is still committed to the series this season.

"It's unfortunate when there's any kind of turmoil on a show," he said. "So many people work unbelievably hard to make that show the No. 1 show in the country... She's absolutely staying with the show, there's an unbelievable storyline for her, central to everything going on this season."

Meanwhile, ABC is talking to "Wipeout" producer Endemol about ordering additional episodes of the summer hit. McPherson said he'd ideally like to keep the show in the summer as an off-season franchise.

"We're going to try to resist the temptation to just burn things out," he said.

ABC also announced its premiere dates Wednesday. Net bows premiere week, starting Monday, Sept. 22, with a two-hour "Dancing with the Stars" followed by "Boston Legal" at 10 p.m. Monday laffer "Samantha Who?" returns two weeks later, on Oct. 6.

Tuesdays are back Sept. 23 with the frosh reality entry "Opportunity Knocks" and a two-hour "Dancing"special; the "Dancing" results hour returns on Sept. 30, while "Eli Stone" slides into its 10 p.m. slot on Oct. 14.

Alphabet will stick with specials on Wednesday during premiere week, with a one-time Wednesday "Dancing" results show and an event starring David Blaine. The night's "Pushing Daisies," "Private Practice" and "Dirty Sexy Money" are back on Oct. 1.

On Thursday, Sept. 25, "Ugly Betty" returns at 8 p.m., followed by a two-hour "Grey's Anatomy." "Grey's" shrinks to one hour on Oct. 9, making way for new drama "Life on Mars" at 10 p.m.

"Wife Swap" and "Supernanny" launch new episodes on Friday, Oct. 3, joining newsmag "20/20," which actually starts its new season on Sept. 19.

Then there's Sunday, which is back on Sept. 28 with a two-hour "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," followed by "Desperate Housewives" and "Brothers & Sisters." The following week, "America's Funniest Home Videos" is back at 7 p.m.

Katie Holmes returning to TV in ABC's "Eli Stone"
2 hours, 10 minutes ago

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Actress Katie Holmes will make a guest appearance on ABC's critically acclaimed "Eli Stone" this season, returning to U.S. network television in a role that will feature her singing and dancing, network executives said on Wednesday.

Holmes, 29, who is married to film star Tom Cruise, is due to shoot the guest spot before she makes her Broadway debut this fall in a revival of Arthur Miller's "All My Sons," alongside Dianne Wiest and John Lithgow.

ABC Entertainment President Stephen McPherson, speaking to a gathering of reporters, said Holmes had wanted to reunite with "Eli Stone" executive producer Greg Berlanti, with whom she worked on "Dawson's Creek," the TV teen drama that made Holmes famous in the late 1990s.

"It's a really special piece of business," McPherson said. "Greg came to me with the idea because he really had a creative way to do it. And he and Katie wanted to get back together and do something."

McPherson also acknowledged that bringing Holmes to "Eli Stone" would assist promotional efforts for an offbeat drama that won critical praise but drew modest ratings in its first season.

"It's a great role for her," McPherson said. "There is some singing and dancing she does. And she's exquisite."

Earlier this year, she co-starred with Diane Keaton and Queen Latifah in comedy "Mad Money," her first film since Cruise and Holmes' daughter, Suri, was born in April 2006. She and Cruise married in November of that year.

Reuters/Nielsen

It's Pilot Season at ABC
'Castle,' 'Never Better' among contenders for midseason

August 6, 2008



Nathan Fillion

ABC's delayed pilot season will come to a head in the next few weeks, and several shows are picking up buzz as screenings roll around.

A couple of dramas, including the Nathan Fillion crime show "The Castle" and Rob Thomas' "Good Behavior," and comedies from Victor Fresco and Damon Wayans are reportedly strong contenders for pickup, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Most of the shows being considered now would join the schedule early next year, although one or two could debut before the end of 2008.

The writers' strike forced changes to the development cycle across the TV landscape, with some networks opting to go straight to series with several projects -- NBC in particular went with that strategy -- and others doing shorter presentations. ABC decided to do full pilots for most of its shows but delayed the process until the summer.

"The Castle" stars Fillion ("Firefly,""Desperate Housewives") as a novelist who consults with the NYPD. "Good Behavior," from "Veronica Mars" creator Thomas, stars Catherine O'Hara as the matriarch of a law-breaking family who wants her kids to go legit. The "Hamlet"-inspired drama "Prince of Motor City" might also have a chance.

Fresco's untitled comedy about a moral man (Jay Harrington) who works for an amoral corporation is considered a good bet -- particularly since ABC Studios just signed Fresco ("Andy Richter Controls the Universe") to a new deal. "Never Better," starring Wayans as a recovering alcoholic, and an Alyssa Milano vehicle by writer Kristin Newman ("That '70s Show," "How I Met Your Mother") have some buzz as well.

ABC is launching only two new shows in the fall: the drama "Life on Mars" and game show "Opportunity Knocks." Animated comedy "The Goode Family" and NBC import "Scrubs" are on deck for midseason.

"The Castle" stars Fillion ("Firefly,""Desperate Housewives") as a novelist who consults with the NYPD.