ABC unveils 2008-09 primetime sked

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Stephen McPherson, president, ABC Entertainment, yesterday outlined ABC’s plans for next season and unveiled the network’s 2008-09 fall schedule at the company’s upfront presentation at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall.
Scheduled to debut this fall are new drama “Life on Mars,” and new alternative series “Opportunity Knocks” from executive producer Ashton Kutcher.


Returning series on the fall schedule are “America’s Funniest Home Videos,” “Boston Legal,” “Brothers & Sisters,” “Dancing with the Stars,” “Desperate Housewives,” “Dirty Sexy Money,” “Eli Stone,” “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Private Practice,” “Pushing Daisies,” “Samantha Who?,” “Supernanny,” “Ugly Betty,” “Wife Swap” and “20/20.”

In addition, “Saturday Night College Football” will return for a fourth season.

New series for midseason include “The Goode Family,” “Scrubs” and “Untitled Ashton Kutcher/Tyra Banks Project.”
Other returning series include “According to Jim,” “The Bachelor,” “Lost” and ABC News’ “Primetime: What Would You Do?”

 “We’re returning our dominant core group of shows from last fall,” said McPherson. “The few openings we had we’ve filled with the kind of quality programming viewers have come to expect from ABC, and we have a very strong bench. As always, our focus is on delivering the best stories and most memorable characters on TV every day of the week, every week of the year.”

ABC’s fall primetime schedule and new show details (all times ET):

MONDAY:
8:00 p.m. “Dancing with the Stars”
9:30 p.m. “Samantha Who?”
10:00 p.m. “Boston Legal”                                                                                           
TUESDAY:
8:00 p.m. “Opportunity Knocks”       
9:00 p.m. “Dancing with the Stars the Results Show”
10:00 p.m.  “Eli Stone”
WEDNESDAY:
8:00 p.m. “Pushing Daisies”                 
9:00 p.m. “Private Practice”
10:00 p.m. “Dirty Sexy Money”
THURSDAY: 
8:00 p.m. “Ugly Betty”
9:00 p.m. “Grey’s Anatomy”
10:00 p.m. “Life on Mars”
FRIDAY:
8:00 p.m.  “Wife Swap”
9:00 p.m. “Supernanny”
10:00 p.m. “20/20”
SATURDAY:
8:00 p.m.  “Saturday Night College Football”
SUNDAY:
7:00 p.m. “America’s Funniest Home Videos”
8:00 p.m.  “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”
9:00 p.m. “Desperate Housewives”
10:00 p.m. “Brothers & Sisters”

NEW FALL SERIES

DRAMA
“LIFE ON MARS”
“Life on Mars” is based on the BBC series created by Matthew Graham, Tony Jordan and Ashley Pharoah. The series revolves around Sam Tyler, a modern-day police detective who, after a car crash, mysteriously finds himself transported back to 1973 and still working as a detective.
The series is produced by Twentieth Century Fox Television and ABC Studios.

ALTERNATIVE

 “OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS”
“Opportunity Knocks” is a new show that breaks the mold of typical game and reality shows. We will be showing up on America’s doorstep and testing how well they know their family. Our mobile team will arrive at “Anywhere, America” in a semi-truck that is full of flat screen TVs, new furniture and big cash prizes that the family can win right there.

The host poses trivia questions to family members based directly on their lives, each other and articles found in and around their home. If they’re able to prove they know their family inside and out, they’ll win the prizes of their dreams.

Executive producers for “Opportunity Knocks” are Ashton Kutcher, Jason Goldberg, Karey Burke, J.D. Roth and Todd A. Nelson. “Opportunity Knocks” is produced by Katalyst Films and 3 Ball Productions.

NEW MIDSEASON SERIES

COMEDY

“THE GOODE FAMILY”

A new animated series from Mike Judge, creator of “King of the Hill.” “The Goode Family” is obsessed with doing the “right” thing, whether it’s environmentally, politically or socially. Unfortunately their efforts often have unintended comic consequences.

“The Goode Family” is voiced by Mike Judge as Gerald, Nancy Carell as Helen, Dave Herman as Ubuntu and Abby Elliot as Bliss.

Executive producers for “The Goode Family” are Mike Judge, David Krinsky, John Altschuler, Michael Rotenberg and Tom Lassally. The series is produced by MRC and 3 Arts Entertainment.

ALTERNATIVE

“UNTITLED ASHTON KUTCHER/TYRA BANKS PROJECT”

A beauty pageant unlike any you’ve ever seen, from executive producers Ashton Kutcher and Tyra Banks.