Alphabet places its bets on edgy fare
ABC plays its hand on Sunday nights
The combination of last season's hot unscripted skein "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" and the very promising new drama "Desperate Housewives" has the Alphabet net in position to steal a night on which no net is a dynamo.
Now "Housewives" isn't a lock, but this dark-comedy soap has enough going for it -- a fantastic title, cast, pilot and timeslot -- to suggest it could be ABC's first real drama hit since "The Practice."
If last season's success of the WB's "One Tree Hill" and Fox's "The OC" didn't get the drama development teams at other nets creating a primetime soap, than "Desperate Housewives" certainly will.
It is one of four new Sunday programs this fall, a list that also includes the WB's coming-of-age drama "Jack & Bobby," ABC's lawyer drama/semi-"The Practice" spinoff "Boston Legal," and Fox's unscripted legal skein "The Partner."
Fox led the night last season in adults 18-49, according to regular-program stats from Nielsen, but its 3.9 rating repped a 22% year-to-year decline. CBS, which dominated the night in total viewers and was the only net to improve its Sunday standing, moved up to second in 18-49 (3.4), followed by NBC (3.3) and ABC (3.1).
Here's a look at how Sunday shapes up this fall:
7-8 p.m.
CBS, with football overruns and "60 Minutes," should lead as usual in adults 25-54 and total viewers, but keep an eye on a pair of unscripted shows -- ABC's indefatigable "America's Funniest Home Videos" and the WB's transplanted and expanded hourlong "Steve Harvey's Big Time."
Both are well-positioned for an hour of heavy post-football family viewing, where auds can easily pick up a show at any time. "Videos" got stronger last spring when skedmate "Home Edition" blossomed, so it could emerge the hour's 18-49 leader.
Fox's "King of the Hill" remains formidable competish at 7:30, especially among the under-35 crowd.
8-9 p.m.
Fox's 15-year-old "The Simpsons" took something of a ratings tumble last season and is in danger of losing the slot's demo lead to "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition." The ABC show should win in 18-49, 25-54 and perhaps even 18-34.
Fox is making a risky move by putting critically adored but ratings-challenged "Arrested Development" at 8:30, hoping heavy promotion during football, a strong lead-in and Emmy buzz can lift the show.
Among the hour's three dramas, soph CBS crime drama "Cold Case" will win most weeks in total viewers and could challenge in 25-54. The WB's "Charmed" remains potent among young femmes, while it's a make-or-break third season for NBC's "American Dreams," whose audience fell sharply last season opposite "Cold Case."
9-10 p.m.
ABC's "Desperate Housewives," easily the best-looking and most enticing new program on any net this fall, could become the buzz show of the hour, since neither "The Sopranos" nor "Sex and the City" are around for HBO. Look for it to possibly challenge NBC's slot-leading "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" in key demos, especially women 18-49.
Fox's "The Partner," an "Apprentice"-like show set in the legal world, remains something of an unknown, but seems an odd fit with the net's comedies, while CBS' movie is back with a roster of titles that feel a bit darker in theme and tone, perhaps looking to tie into its "Cold Case" lead-in.
The WB's "Jack & Bobby" may turn off some viewers with its title and talk of politics, and is ill-matched with lead-in "Charmed." Still, the titular thesps are perfect in their roles and the unique storytelling concept is one worth rooting for.
10-11 p.m.
NBC's "Crossing Jordan," which returned from a lengthy hiatus with surprisingly strong numbers last March, remains the show to beat in 18-49 -- except perhaps for the occasionally strong CBS movie.
No pilot was made available for ABC's "Boston Legal," which stars former "Practice" lead James Spader, but it should benefit from its lead-in and be competitive.
Bottom line
If "Desperate Housewives" takes off, ABC could slip past Fox for the night's 18-49 lead while also making things tougher for CBS and NBC.
