‘Revenge” is a dish best served on Sunday nights, when ABC’s newly announced prime-time lineup will be noticeably darker this fall.
Now that “Desperate Housewives” has packed up and left and its ill-fated heir apparent, “GCB,” has been axed, the third-place network is making some big changes to television’s most-watched evening.
The successful freshman fairy tale fantasy “Once Upon a Time” will stay put on Sundays and lead into “Revenge,” which moves from its Wednesday slot. “Revenge’s” shift to Sunday is a vote of confidence for the soapy, vengeance-seeking drama, proudly touted by ABC execs as the “No. 1 Most Buzzed About Show,” whatever that means.
Capping things off will be the dark new drama “666 Park Avenue,” where an idealistic couple from the Midwest (of course) moves into a swanky – and scary – Manhattan apartment building. Looking like a broadcast network version of cable’s creepy hit “American Horror Story,” the thriller stars “Desperate Housewives” alum Vanessa Williams, whose new gig makes her one of the few things staying the same on ABC’s Sunday schedule.
“Sunday night is going to be a battle between good and evil,” network chief Paul Lee said Tuesday, when ABC unveiled its fall lineup to advertisers.
Monday night will remain a battle in the ballroom with the 15th season of “Dancing With the Stars,” which will be an all-star edition.
“We can’t talk about casting yet,” Lee said, “but I’d love to see some of the fan favorites from the past seasons come back.”
“Dancing” attracts a grayer audience; Nielsen reports that nearly three-quarters of its viewers are older than advertisers’ coveted 18-to-49-year-old demographic. Even so, ABC has decided to move two of its younger-skewing comedies to Tuesday following “Dancing’s” results show. The increasingly hilarious “Happy Endings” and edgy newcomer “Don’t Trust the B—- in Apt. 23” will get bumped up from Wednesday, freeing the sweet spot behind network darling “Modern Family.”
Judging by clips shown to advertisers Tuesday, ABC appears to be wasting that prime Wednesday night position with a new comedy called “The Neighbors.” It’s about a family who moves into a gated New Jersey community made up of aliens who cry green goo from their ears and share names with pro athletes.
Come November, ABC harks back to its TGIF days with two family comedies on Friday night: Tim Allen’s “Last Man Standing” followed by newcomer “Malibu Country.” It stars Reba McEntire as a recently divorced mom who moves to California with her mother (Lily Tomlin) and kids to try to kick start her music career.
