ABC shows set to return in April

CBS swaps 'Big Bang,' 'Mother' timeslots

By JOSEF ADALIAN, MICHAEL SCHNEIDER

'Samantha Who?' returns with six new segs for ABC.

ABC's signature scripted skeins will be back in April with original, post-writers strike episodes, the net said Wednesday.

Meanwhile, CBS said it will do a Monday night switcheroo with the timeslots of promising freshman "The Big Bang Theory" and third-year skein "How I Met Your Mother."

Alphabet's key Thursday night sked will return April 24, with "Lost" moving to 10 p.m. to make room for the return of "Grey's Anatomy" at 9 p.m. ("Ugly Betty" is back at 8). All three shows will run five more originals, keeping the night stocked with firstrun episodes through the May sweeps. (In the case of "Lost," the five come in addition to the current run of eight originals that began at the end of January.)

"Desperate Housewives" returns with seven new hours starting at 9 p.m. April 13, with six weeks of originals, including a two-hour finale.

"Housewives" companion "Brothers & Sisters" is back at 10 p.m. April 20 with four more segs.

Also returning: "Boston Legal" is back Tuesdays at 10 starting April 8 with six more episodes. ABC's only frosh skein returning in the spring, "Samantha Who," is back on Monday, April 7, at 9:30 p.m. with six originals.

As previously announced, freshman dramas "Pushing Daisies," "Private Practice" and "Dirty Sexy Money" won't be back until fall.

The Eye net's Monday moves will see "Big Bang" swap spots with "Mother" to lead off the 8 o'clock hour.

Move comes a few days after the Eye announced an early second-season renewal for "Big Bang," which got off to a solid start last fall. CBS has not yet announced a renewal for "Mother," even though the laffer is a solid Nielsen performer that's generated more pop culture buzz than any other Eye comedy.

Nonetheless, timeslot change could help "Mother," which will get the benefit of airing a bit later in the evening, when viewership levels are higher. It may also benefit from the halo of 9 p.m. hit "Two and a Half Men."

Shift will also give "Big Bang" a way to prove itself as a possible leadoff show for CBS. Eye execs had been impressed with the show's Nielsen momentum in the weeks leading up to the strike.