Are there any huge surprises in ABC's new fall schedule announced...ohhh...just about an hour ago?
Truth?
Not really. All pretty much as expected. Mostly in sync with expectations. No big mysteries. You got the picture.
But there are interesting tidbits, and here you have them:
- "Cavemen," AKA extended GEICO commercial, gets a Tuesday 8 p.m. slot, which would spell doom in the "Idol"-dominated winter months but at least offers a chance in the fall. ABC tries to give it a socially redeeming spin - "'Cavemen' is a unique buddy comedy that offers a clever twist on stereotypes and turns race relations on their head...'" - but they're not fooling anyone. This sounds like a Fred Silverman '70s creation. Here's more: "Inspired by the popular Geico Insurance commercials, the series looks at life through the eyes of the ultimate outsiders - three modern cavemen - as they struggle to find their place in the world..."
- Lotta stars: In case you didn't notice, NBC 2.0's lineup from Monday didn't really promise any stars, or any least any that you've ever heard of. (Ok, that I've ever heard of.) Stark contrast with ABC, which is strewn with familiar faces - Dylan McDermott, Lucy Liu, Peter Krause, The Great Victor Garber, and on and on. (TGVG, by the way, will be in a mid-seasoner called "Eli Stone, about lawyers.) Oh, and...
- Oprah's got what's billed as her first regular primetime series, in which "each week contestants will face a 'big twist' that will test their nerve, drive, ingenuity and passion. Big name stars will turn up throughout the series to join the 'Oprah’s Big Give.'" Over eight weeks, stakes climb, ratings too, and people win bucks. Etc. It's a limited run, so no specific date/time period given, though certainly mid-season with a conclusion during a sweeps month.
- "Grey's" spinoff: Yes, it's got an official name now, "Private Practice," and is pretty much as laid out during that recent two-hour launch.
- What's not on the schedule? Of course, "Lost," which will do a slightly shorter run in the winter. "What about Brian" didn't make it, nor did "According to Jim." No "George Lopez" either, which has already prompted George Lopez to noisily proclaim that he got dumped for a caveman, which he did, and which is kind of odd when you stop to think about. But really, don't stop to think about it.
Here's the lineup:
MONDAY: 8:00 p.m. “Dancing with the Stars” 9:30 p.m. “Sam I Am,” Christina Applegate, with amnesia. 10:00 p.m. “The Bachelor”
TUESDAY: 8:00 p.m. “Cavemen” 8:30 p.m. “Carpoolers,” Faith Ford, in male bonding sitcom. 9:00 p.m. “Dancing with the Stars the Results Show” 10:00 p.m. “Boston Legal”
WEDNESDAY: 8:00 p.m. “Pushing Daisies,” Chi McBride/Swoosie Kurtz/Kristin Chenoweth in high-concept crime procedural. 9:00 p.m. “Private Practice” 10:00 p.m. “Dirty Sexy Money,”Peter Krause/Donald Sutherland/William Baldwin, about rich idealist.
THURSDAY: 8:00 p.m. “Ugly Betty” 9:00 p.m. “Grey’s Anatomy” 10:00 p.m. “Big Shots,” Dylan McDermott's back, about CEOs.
FRIDAY: 8:00 p.m. “Men in Trees” 9:00 p.m. “Women’s Murder Club,” Paula Newsome/Angie Harmon, based on James Patterson novels, San Fran woman, solving crimes. 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”