Upfronts week continued today when ABC announced their 2017 fall schedule. The network saw a number of cancellations this spring, a few of which were quite unpopular.
Over the last number of years, ABC dominated the network television comedy scene. However, 2017 sees the network attempting to beef up their drama line-up. In a noted change, Friday nights will no-longer house a comedy block for ABC programming. The ABC Friday night comedies have historically held decent viewership, dating back to the 1980s and 1990s with the popular TGIF.
With the face of the network seemingly changing, a number of the Friday night comedies were canceled this year (namely consistent performer Last Man Standing) and the night will now house the network’s genre block.
MONDAY
Monday features ABC’s continual high performer DANCING WITH THE STARS staying in its usual Monday night time slot. The ballroom dancing competition will serve as a lead-in for THE GOOD DOCTOR. The medial procedural features BATES MOTEL star Freddie Highmore as a young doctor with “autism and savant syndrome” who relocates from the country to join the surgical unit of a prestigious hospital.
This time slot is historically a challenging one. While CASTLE survived quite happily there for a number of years, The Good Doctor is taking over for the legal procedural CONVICTION, which didn’t see its order extended earlier this season.
8 PM: Dancing with the Stars
10 PM: The Good Doctor
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYlZDTru55g
TUESDAY
Tuesday nights show that ABC continues to be a power player in the half hour comedy field. Bubble comedy FRESH OFF THE BOAT shifted time slots, and will now lead-in for the critical darling BLACK-ISH.
New shows on the night are THE MAYOR featuring Brandon Michael Hall as a rapper who runs for political office. While his campaign began as a publicity stunt, he suddenly finds himself being sworn in. Lea Michelle and Yvette Nicole Brown co-star.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtbzQi6c9mM
Wrapping up the night is freshman drama THE GOSPEL OF KEVIN. The series features Jason Ritter as a man struggling with depression. However, everything changes when a celestial being visits him with a directive to save the world.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zPOQmgEi_k
8 PM: THE MIDDLE
8:30PM: Fresh Off the Boat
9 PM: black-ish
9:30 PM: The Mayor
10 PM: The Gospel of Kevin
WEDNESDAY
Wednesday is once again proving to be the cornerstone of ABC’s comedy line up. All the series are returning, with the only real change being second season comedy AMERICAN HOUSEWIFE shifting to replace Black-ish.
8 PM: THE GOLDBERGS
8:30 PM: SPEECHLESS
9 PM: MODERN FAMILY
9:30 PM: American Housewife
10 PM: DESIGNATED SURVIVOR
THURSDAY
One word… Shondaland. No changes here.
8 PM: GREY’S ANATOMY
9 PM: SCANDAL
10 PM: HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER
FRIDAY
Genre fans take note of these schedule moves. ONCE UPON A TIME is moving to Friday nights before the start of its much changed final season. The fantasy series will lead-in for the much anticipated new series, MARVEL’S INHUMANS.
RELATED: We’ve Got Our First Synopsis for ABC’s THE INHUMANS.
8 PM: Once Upon a Time
9 PM: Marvel’s Inhumans
10 PM: 20/20
RELATED: First Teaser for ABC and Marvel’s THE INHUMANS Reveals Treason.
SATURDAY
8 PM: SATURDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
SUNDAY
In order to create their new Friday night genre block, a number of shows relocated to Sunday (take note, SHARK TANK fans). The network will be airing their new drama TEN DAYS IN THE VALLEY Sunday nights. The series features Kyra Sedgwick as a crime procedural, television producer struggling to find her missing daughter.
7 PM: AMERICAS FUNNIEST HOME VIDEOS
8 PM: TO TELL THE TRUTH
9 PM: Shark Tank
10 PM: Ten Days in the Valley
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2203m9WpnU
There is one lingering question left by this schedule. AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D., is noticeably absent. However, in the wake of the upfront presentation, TVLine is reporting that the fifth season of the popular Marvel drama is being held for mid-season. Once the eight episode run of Marvel’s Inhumans wraps, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. will drop nicely into its Friday night time slot. The network recently picked up the Jed Whedon/Maurissa Tancharoen series for a full 22 episode order. Check back for updates.
With ABC’s scheduled firmed up and ready to go for this fall, what shows are you excited for? Will you miss any of the canceled series?
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