Upfrontgasm: ABC - 
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By Umnata
My coverage of the "upfronts" in New York—the television networks' annual presentation of their fall schedules to foaming-at-the-mouth advertisers and media outlets—continues with a look at ABC's fall schedule.
In probably the biggest shakeup of the season, ABC has made plans to move Sunday night juggernaut Grey's Anatomy (which has now surpassed Desperate Housewives as the network's number one show) to Thursdays at 9PM. The shakeup is necessary for ABC, though. After an out-of-nowhere 2004 season that launched Desperate Housewives, Lost, and Grey's Anatomy as monster hits, none of ABC's shows from last season are making it back for sophomore seasons (except What About Brian, which was one of the biggest surprise renewals this year, and I think had more to do with appeasing executive producer J. J. Abrams than anything else). It doesn't help that ABC is still smarting from the colossal flameout of Commander in Chief (this is what happens when you hire Geena Davis, people), which was poised to be the "next great drama," with huge ratings and positive reviews last fall, until it crashed and burned under the weight of its own pedigree.
So ABC is casting a wider net this season to see what they catch with the ten (!!!) new shows slated for the fall. Betting on so many new shows mean a lot of old ones had to be let go, which in most cases on ABC's schedule was not a bad thing. Of the cancelled shows, only Invasion (finally, picking up steam after a lackluster half season) and midseason comedy Sons & Daughters (a worthy successor to the Arrested Development dysfunctional family throne) were worth saving. Other shows like Hope & Faith, Freddie (I admit a guilty pleasure of mine, but certainly not changing the face of television as we know it—although Brian Austin Green's comedic talents must be put on display elsewhere), and In Justice, had either passed their prime or had a failure to launch. So ABC is spreading the wealth and hoping that the relocation of a big hit like Grey's will serve as a launching pad for some new series. Here's what the schedule looks like:
Sunday
I have to laugh because America's Funniest Home Videos starts the night off at 7PM, and I am completely shocked to find out this show is still on television. Seriously. Not only did I think it was off the air, I was pretty sure it had been cancelled for a decade. Whoops. ABC is keeping the feel good vibe at the front of the evening with Extreme Makeover: Home Edition at 8PM. This opinion doesn't make me very popular, but I hate this show. I mean Ty Pennington. Really? Isn't he like Billy Bush's long-lost, even more annoying brother? And Paul!?!? He and Daddy McPhee could have a manly cry-off to see who the burliest crier on national television is. That being said, I think the purpose of the show, rebuilding houses for families in need, is a good one. It's nice to help people who are so obviously down and out. But sometimes I feel like they pick the most extreme cases. Like they find a family with no arms and no legs and they build them a house that has arms and legs or something. Why not just a single mother of three whose husband DIDN'T die of ebola or whatever, who just kind of needs a break? I'm sure they do things like that every once in a while, but ehh... Regardless, at 9PM, Desperate Housewives will stay where it is, since the network doesn't think the show is strong enough to sustain a big move to a different night. Umm, you think? If you have any question of whether or not that is true, PLEASE read my last two DH recaps. Credit does need to be given where it is due, and while the ladies of Wisteria Lane have certainly tumbled (okay, crashed) this season, they ended on a high note, and the show still pulls in more than 20 million viewers a week. ABC is hoping the post-DH timeslot is still a viable launch pad for a new show.
That's why Grey's has vacated its 10PM post (get used to it, because you're going to be reading A LOT about this move over the long summer months) to make room for the ensemble soap Brothers & Sisters, starring Ally McBeal herself, Calista Flockhart. Thankfully, she plays a character far removed from her Ally McAnnoying days, who actually isn't suffering from delusions and visions. Did anyone else think that whole entire show was one long, very bad acid trip? The show revolves around a well-to-do family and the secrets that start bubbling to the surface during a family party that will change their lives forever! Although the description sounds a little melodramatic, the show must have impressed someone to be getting this timeslot in the first place. Though early screenings have been only lukewarm to Calista, the cast is top-notch: Ron Rifkin, so evil as Sloane on Alias, and fellow Alias refugee Balthazar Getty, who has yet to live up to any promise he showed 15 years ago in Lord of the Flies, are joined by Rachel Griffiths (Six Feet Under) and Patricia Wettig (I wonder how this bodes for the evil Vice President/new Commander in Chief's position on Prison Break?). Things aren't complete smooth sailing however, as the producers have recast Betty Buckley as the clan's matriarch and Jonathan LaPlaglia as one of the siblings. Despite a soapy premise, early word suggests that it may be a bit more subtle then say, Desperate Housewives, and certainly worth a try.
Monday
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