Tuning In to TV

ABC unveils fall slate

ABC’s new fall schedule includes an expanded “Dancing With the Stars,” a two-hour Wednesday night comedy block and the apocalyptic thriller “Flash Forward,” being used as a lead-in for “Grey’s Anatomy” on Thursday nights, the Hollywood Reporter said Tuesday.

On Mondays, “Dancing,” expanded from its usual 90 minutes, will give a strong lead-in to the sophomore detective drama “Castle,” which showed more ratings heft when provided a direct boost from the reality show at the end of this season.

Tuesdays kick off with Mark Burnett’s new reality competition, “Shark Tank” (with the return of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” filling the slot in early fall, the network said). The “Dancing” results show remains at 9 p.m., followed by Jerry Bruckheimer’s latest crime drama, “The Forgotten.”

The headline here is Wednesday nights, when ABC will become the third broadcast network to offer a two-hour comedy block. “Hank,” “The Middle,” “Modern Family” and “Cougar Town” compose the lineup. “Eastwick,” ABC’s update of the John Updike novel “The Witches of Eastwick,” will follow at 10 p.m.

Launching an entirely new night of television is something ABC has done before, when it premiered “Pushing Daisies,” “Private Practice” and “Dirty Sexy Money” on this night a few years back. However, having four comedies without a familiar title among them is considered a bold move.

“This is our biggest risk, but our biggest upside as well,” ABC entertainment President Steve McPherson said at the network’s press conference.

Mr. McPherson also said that “Scrubs” and “Better Off Ted,” while better known to viewers, were considered too male-skewing for the lineup. Both shows are planned for sometime in midseason, he added.

Thursdays will lead off with “Flash Forward,” which is unexpected, followed by the return of “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Private Practice.”

Asked if “Grey’s” actors Katherine Heigl and T.R. Knight are signed up to return next season, Mr. McPherson said: “They’re both signed on; I can’t say whether they will both be there,” which drew a laugh in the room.

Friday will have “Supernanny,” followed by “Ugly Betty” and “20/20.”

Sunday remains the same with “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” “Desperate Housewives” and “Brothers & Sisters.”

Mr. McPherson confirmed the cancellation of “Cupid” and “According to Jim.” He also said the network plans to run off the remaining “Surviving Suburbia” episodes this summer.

Regarding “Scrubs,” the ABC executive said Zach Braff’s six contracted episodes may be spread throughout the show’s 13-episode order, with show runner Bill Lawrence still mulling whether he’s going to do a complete creative reboot of the show or merely segue to another generation of interns a la “ER.”

Asked about the impact of Jay Leno’s 10 p.m. audience, Mr. McPherson said, “It’s a different audience; I think it’s an older audience. It will be interesting to see how many watch that show every night of the week and make it an appointment; that certainly isn’t how they do it in late night. We think it’s an opportunity that throws up audience for CBS and ourselves.”

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