LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- "We're going to be doing split seasons on most of our shows this year," Paul Lee (President, ABC Entertainment Group) told reporters this morning during ABC's pre-upfront conference call. "Certainly Sunday night will be that, certainly 'S.H.I.E.L.D.' will be that, certainly 'Grey's' and 'Scandal' will be that."
Filling said voids will be "Marvel's Agent Carter," "Galavant" and "American Crime."
"In the gap between 'S.H.I.E.L.D.'... when we pause it between the two halves of the season, we're bringing in 'Marvel's Agent Carter' with Hayley Atwell," Lee said. Adding that on Sundays, "in the gap between 'Once Upon a Time,' when that breaks between the two halves of the season, we're putting in 'Galavant.' [We] think it's the perfect place. All the families are watching 'America's Funniest Home Videos.' And of course, fairy tales with 'Once Upon a Time.' And then when 'Resurrection' finishes, which is going to be later in the season on Sunday night at 9 we're putting in 'American Crime.'"
Lee would later clarify that "Galavant" will "do original episodes at 8 and a number of original episodes at 8:30. It's sort of perfect for that audience if you think about it and it will allow us to build a big campaign over Christmas which when we you see 'Galavant' it's just the perfect thing to be selling at Christmas." As for "Resurrection," Lee indicated its order is for "15 or 16" episodes rather than a traditional 22-episode season.
To be determined though are which shows will serve as the bridge between "Grey's Anatomy" and "Scandal" breaks on Thursdays.
Other highlights:
Following its abbreviated run this year due to Kerry Washington's pregnancy, "Scandal" will have a full season going forward. "Revenge" likewise has a full season. "The showrunners have a great idea of just how we can give it a little twist and reset the idea [of the show]."
And as far as content issues with "Grey's Anatomy" moving to the 8:00/7:00c hour, Lee said "I think that's much less relevant than it was five years ago." He later added that, "We think 'Grey's' is going to be fine. We have strong S&P and they'll be sure that whatever we air is appropriate."
[UPDATED!] During the actual presentation, Lee provided a few other programming notes:
-- "How to Get Away with Murder" will wrap in March, to be succeed by the 10-episode series "Secrets & Lies" on Thursday nights at 10:00/9:00c.
-- "Resurrection" is set to conclude its second season just after the Oscars, with the 11-episode series "American Crime" subsequently taking over the Sunday, 9:00/8:00c hour.
-- Lee also gave "Marvel's Agent Carter" a more specific launch date of January, where it will spell "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." on Tuesday nights at 9:00/8:00c.
-- And Susannah Grant's "The Club," while not mentioned in this morning's announcement, is still on tap with the new moniker "Members Only."
|