Most networks like to limit their fall launches to about five new shows, but ABC is tossing out the rule book -- rolling out a quirky quintet on Wednesday alone.
For the second time in three seasons, ABC is going with an all-new night of programming on Wednesday. Only this time, it’s a whopping five shows (four comedies and a drama) vying for the attention of both the viewing audience and the Alphabet’s marketing machine.
ABC doesn’t possess any hit comedies, so trying four newbies -- including three of the single-camera variety -- is indeed a long shot. But the net doesn’t need to hit a four-team parlay.
If, say, two of the laffers click with auds, it gives the net at least something to build on for next year. (And making its fourth-quarter dice roll a bit less risky is that ABC has "Lost" waiting in the Wednesday wings at midseason.)
In addition to ABC’s five rookies, three other shows -- dramas on NBC and CW and the Peacock’s "The Jay Leno Show" -- are new to the night.
CBS won here last fall and should prevail again as it returns the same lineup. Its biggest challenge likely will come from Fox or NBC.
Here’s a look at the night:
8 p.m.
In an hour with no juggernaut, Fox’s "So You Think You Can Dance" could sneak off with a victory. At the very least it will win in adults 18-34, and in the process could cut further into the audience for CW’s America’s Next Top Model," which remains potent despite some recent declines.
The more interesting battle will be waged in the comedy arena, where ABC and CBS will cut into each other’s potential audiences with a pair of family sitcoms. Neither of the incumbent Eye laffers is especially strong, though, giving the Alphabet newcomers a chance.
ABC’s "Hank," starring Kelsey Grammer, will get initial tune-in but doesn’t offer anything new and figures to rate roughly on par with "Old Christine" on CBS.
Patricia Heaton starrer "The Middle," on the other hand, is a surprisingly creative and funny take on family life and should be able to top the Eye’s "Gary Unmarried" in the 8:30 slot. Reminiscent of "Malcolm in the Middle," it could become the rare single-camera comedy to attract a sizable, fairly broad audience.
One dark-horse show to look out for is NBC’s new "Mercy," which benefits from being the only drama in the hour. The nurse skein has long-term potential, although its subject matter makes it better suited for a later hour.
(This will be a common problem for NBC, though, as the decision to go with Leno every weeknight at 10 pushes the net’s more adult dramas to earlier in the evening.)
9 p.m.
The season’s two freshest new series -- Fox’s "Glee" and ABC’s "Modern Family" -- face off against a pair of crime vets.
High school dramedy "Glee," which was exposed to a wide audience thanks to a special post-"American Idol" preview telecast in May, is well-matched with "So You Think You Can Dance," and should win in 18-34 but may settle for third place in the broader 18-49. It’s great to see Fox going for a younger audience again, and barring a total collapse, the net figures to be patient with this one.
The pilot for "Modern Family" is very funny, and nicely sets up the series; still, its ratings ceiling may not be all that high. Rather than ask "Family" to challenge for the ratings lead opposite the big-boy crime dramas out of the gate, ABC will probably be happy for consistently solid numbers.
In "Modern" and "Middle," ABC appears to possess the two best new comedies of the fall. It should try to give auds more than one chance to watch both, perhaps slating repeats for Friday nights in the early going.
ABC’s new 9:30 p.m. entry, "Cougar Town," disappoints with its pilot, which is too crude even for a show with this suggestive title. But given the talent involved ("Scrubs" creator Bill Lawrence and fan fave Courteney Cox in the lead role), this one could improve if it’s around long enough.
The hour’s 18-49 lead figures to come down to NBC’s "Law and Order: SVU," which was booted out of its longtime Tuesday timeslot by Leno, and CBS incumbent leader "Criminal Minds." Though the superior "SVU" might surprise, the grisly "Criminal" figures to prevail by 1 or 2 shares in 18-49 while winning by bigger margins in total viewers.
At CW, "The Beautiful Life" is a too-obvious attempt to hold onto the net’s "Top Model" audience. It’s not a bad show -- as the net’s sudsers go -- but it just seems unnecessary, especially with something as charming as "Glee" airing directly opposite it.
10 p.m.
CBS vet "CSI: NY" typically does better without any crime competish, so it should be a lock to win this hour, where NBC once put up a decent fight with "Law and Order" and ABC has had a string of failures.
This fall’s Alphabet entry, the bewitching drama "Eastwick," is intriguing and different enough to warrant a second look, but it’s hard to see it challenging for the timeslot lead. It’s been a long time since something this unique worked at 10 o’clock, long the domain of doctors, lawyers and cops.
At NBC, "Jay Leno" will get a solid lead-in from "SVU" and could benefit from the lack of a must-see program in the slot. End result is that this rather lackluster hour could prove to be a good one for cable and a busy one for DVR playback.
Bottom line
By staying put while its rivals made big changes, CBS is seemingly guaranteed to be the fourth-quarter leader.
Contact Rick Kissell at
rick.kissell@variety.com