ABC: 2006-2007 Primetime Schedule

May 16, 2006 News

Let's Rob...

Timeslot: Tue., 9:00-9:30 p.m.
Genre: Comedy
Premise: A gang of have-nots plot heists to finance their long-deferred dreams.
Reminds me of: A comic version of Ocean's 11.
Famous names: Executive producer Mick Jagger.

Men in Trees

Timeslot: Fri., 9:00-10:00 p.m.
Genre: Drama
Premise: A relationship coach, with a little help from her friends, starts working on her own relationship issues while stranded in Alaska.
Reminds me of: Sex and the City.
Famous names: Anne Heche.

The Nine

Timeslot: Wed., 10:00-11:00 p.m.
Genre: Drama
Premise: The lives of nine strangers become intertwined when they are taken hostage during a bank robbery.
Reminds me of: Six Degrees (see below).
Famous names: Tim Daly, Scott Wolf.

Notes from the Underbelly

Timeslot: Thu., 8:30-9:00 p.m.
Genre: Comedy
Premise: A couple expecting a child finds that their biggest challenge comes from other people's expectations.
Reminds me of: None.
Famous names: Director Barry Sonnenfeld.

Set for the Rest of Your Life

Timeslot: Tue., 8:00-9:00 p.m.
Genre: Game show
Premise: Contestants compete for monthly payoffs.
Reminds me of: None.
Famous names: None.

Six Degrees

Timeslot: Thu., 10:00-11:00 p.m.
Genre: Drama
Premise: The lives of six New Yorkers are gradually intertwined.
Reminds me of: The Nine (above).
Famous names: Executive producer J.J. Abrams, Hope Davis, Campbell Scott.

Traveler

Timeslot: TBD
Genre: Drama
Premise: To clear their names, two friends implicated in a bombing must locate a third friend -- and prove he even existed.
Reminds me of: None.
Famous names: None.

Returning

According to Jim
America's Funniest Home Videos
The Bachelor
Boston Legal
Dancing with the Stars
Desperate Housewives
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
George Lopez
Grey's Anatomy
Lost
Primetime
Supernanny
20/20
What About Brian
Wife Swap

Not returning

Commander in Chief
Hope & Faith
Jake in Progress
Sons & Daughters

My predictions

First new show to get cancelled: Men in Trees. Even with the time-sensitive shows ABC has (you can't prolong pregnancy or wedding prep indefinitely), this is easily the silliest one. In this day and age, how plausible is it that someone would be stuck in a snowstorm for weeks on end?

First new show to become a cult favorite: a tie between Day Break and Traveler. Both are interesting concepts, though if forced to choose I'd go for the former.

New show I'm most looking forward to: a tie between Day Break and Traveler.

-- A. Wu