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Tube Talk's verdict: ABC lineup 2009-10
Published Thursday, May 21 2009, 10:23 BST | By Dan French | 7 comments
Upfronts week continues - and now we know what's in ABC's lineup for 2009-10. Click here for the full details, or read on for our analysis of the new-look schedule.
Biggest Surprise
ABC shunts Ugly Betty to Fridays. Uh oh - is that an Ugly hearse we see in the distance? It's no secret that Friday night is traditionally the night that networks place dying shows to take their last breaths (farewell, Prison Break!), and Betty's declining ratings seem to suggest the drama is on its way out. Oh, and the graveyard slot is slap bang between Supernanny and news magazine 20/20. Hardly riveting viewing, eh?
Most Promising New Series
I know we've been banging on about it since forever, but have you had a look at Flash Forward yet? The new Lost-like drama premieres on ABC in the Autumn, which is quite frankly too far away. For now we'll have to make do with short previews like this:
Best Return
Where do we start? OK, probably with Lost. The most head-scratching drama ever is returning to ABC early next year for its sixth and (sadly) final season - but it's not all bad, because it means we're finally going to get some answers, right?
Also back are Desperate Housewives, Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice. As for the latter, it's now been moved to a new slot immediately after Grey's on Thursday. This represents a huge vote of confidence in the show. Ratings haven't ever really matched expectations, but there was a notable uptick when Practice aired alongside Grey's in the latter half of this season.
Biggest Loss
We can't help it, we're still mourning the loss of Pushing Daisies. After two seasons, the show was officially cancelled halfway through this season amid dwindling ratings. But every cloud has a silver lining, and the passing of Daisies meant that creator Bryan Fuller was free to reinvigorate Heroes.
Best Decision
Not picking up comedies including Brandy-fronted This Little Piggy, and axing Life On Mars - it's probably a case of the less said about that the better...
What did you think of the ABC lineup? Are you excited about Flash Forward? What do you make of the Ugly Betty move? Add your comments to this entry below!
ABC shunts Ugly Betty to Fridays. Uh oh - is that an Ugly hearse we see in the distance? It's no secret that Friday night is traditionally the night that networks place dying shows to take their last breaths (farewell, Prison Break!), and Betty's declining ratings seem to suggest the drama is on its way out. Oh, and the graveyard slot is slap bang between Supernanny and news magazine 20/20. Hardly riveting viewing, eh?
Most Promising New Series
I know we've been banging on about it since forever, but have you had a look at Flash Forward yet? The new Lost-like drama premieres on ABC in the Autumn, which is quite frankly too far away. For now we'll have to make do with short previews like this:
Best Return
Where do we start? OK, probably with Lost. The most head-scratching drama ever is returning to ABC early next year for its sixth and (sadly) final season - but it's not all bad, because it means we're finally going to get some answers, right?
Biggest Loss
We can't help it, we're still mourning the loss of Pushing Daisies. After two seasons, the show was officially cancelled halfway through this season amid dwindling ratings. But every cloud has a silver lining, and the passing of Daisies meant that creator Bryan Fuller was free to reinvigorate Heroes.
Best Decision
Not picking up comedies including Brandy-fronted This Little Piggy, and axing Life On Mars - it's probably a case of the less said about that the better...
What did you think of the ABC lineup? Are you excited about Flash Forward? What do you make of the Ugly Betty move? Add your comments to this entry below!
Your Views
7 Comments
Your Responses
Pete, London, on May 21st, 2009
Not fussed about Flash Forward, but really looking forward to V! The trailer was awesome, but it's a (semi) long wait 'til 2010... : (
Not fussed about Flash Forward, but really looking forward to V! The trailer was awesome, but it's a (semi) long wait 'til 2010... : (
RichardAM, on May 21st, 2009
FlashForward is something i'm looking forward to a lot. I haven't read the book, but it seems perfect post-LOST viewing for when the show ends. Hopefully ABC make it work.
FlashForward is something i'm looking forward to a lot. I haven't read the book, but it seems perfect post-LOST viewing for when the show ends. Hopefully ABC make it work.
Daniel Erskine, on May 21st, 2009
ABC's new show V looks AMAZING! That should have been the most promising show! OMG losts last season *sob, it really is the best TV show ever made....it really is! And LMAO was that seth macfarlene?
ABC's new show V looks AMAZING! That should have been the most promising show! OMG losts last season *sob, it really is the best TV show ever made....it really is! And LMAO was that seth macfarlene?
J, Solihull, on May 21st, 2009
Nick, it's easy to set a novel in a foreign country but it's harder to try and pass an American city off as, say, Geneva. It's a popular criticism aimed at Americans (why does every important world event happen in the US?) but, from a production perspective, they can't do alot to change that. As for the 21 years thing. Once again it's easy in a book because you know it will end in precisely x pages. Doing the same thing in a TV series will put people off because they'll assume resolution is way too far away. As I understand it, the producers of Flashforward (slight spoiler) came up with 6 months so they could resolve the initial mystery in the first season. They claim to have further story devices they can implement in later seasons. This way, they can give their audience regular closure, which is important for a series of indefinite length.
Nick, it's easy to set a novel in a foreign country but it's harder to try and pass an American city off as, say, Geneva. It's a popular criticism aimed at Americans (why does every important world event happen in the US?) but, from a production perspective, they can't do alot to change that. As for the 21 years thing. Once again it's easy in a book because you know it will end in precisely x pages. Doing the same thing in a TV series will put people off because they'll assume resolution is way too far away. As I understand it, the producers of Flashforward (slight spoiler) came up with 6 months so they could resolve the initial mystery in the first season. They claim to have further story devices they can implement in later seasons. This way, they can give their audience regular closure, which is important for a series of indefinite length.
Nick, Leeds, on May 21st, 2009
Regarding FlashForward, I happen to be currently reading the book (by Robert J Sawyer) so when I heard this was being made into a TV Series I thought "great". However after seeing the preview clips of the show and reading the ABC site, I'm very disappointed to see its completely different and has been (once again) Americanised. Sawyer's book is set around characters working at CERN on the Swiss/French border and the flashforward is 21 years, not the 6 months in the TV show. Surely keeping the multiple nationalities at CERN would have made the show more attractive internationally, and how are they going to keep this going if the jump was only 6 months? 21 years adds far more mystery and I would have thought far more opportunity for great (and lasting) storylines and character development.
Regarding FlashForward, I happen to be currently reading the book (by Robert J Sawyer) so when I heard this was being made into a TV Series I thought "great". However after seeing the preview clips of the show and reading the ABC site, I'm very disappointed to see its completely different and has been (once again) Americanised. Sawyer's book is set around characters working at CERN on the Swiss/French border and the flashforward is 21 years, not the 6 months in the TV show. Surely keeping the multiple nationalities at CERN would have made the show more attractive internationally, and how are they going to keep this going if the jump was only 6 months? 21 years adds far more mystery and I would have thought far more opportunity for great (and lasting) storylines and character development.
Adam, London, on May 21st, 2009
Haha, was that Seth MacFarlane? He really took me out of the scene!
Haha, was that Seth MacFarlane? He really took me out of the scene!
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You're right, Flash Forward is a lot like Lost - it's a show that's starting out with one concept, one idea, and after that initial concept wears itself out or the mystery is solved at the end of the initial run, it'll proceed to become as aimless and annoying as Lost after the first season, with the writers doing anything to keep the cash cow going.