Three New Comedies and Four New Dramas Join ABC's 2002-2003 Primetime Schedule This Fall
Three New Comedies and Four New
Dramas Join ABC's 2002-2003 Primetime Schedule This Fall
8 Simple Rules For Dating My Teenage Daughter • Dinotopia • Life With
Bonnie • Less Than Perfect • Meds • Push, Nevada • That Was Then
— Join Fall Lineup
Dragnet • Miracles • My Second Chance and Veritas Picked Up For Mid-Season
Brand New Late-Night Talk/Variety Show starring Jimmy Kimmel Also Announced
Speaking before representatives of the advertising and media communities at the New Amsterdam Theater in New York, Lloyd Braun, Chairman, ABC Entertainment Television Group, outlined ABC’s plans for next season, and Susan Lyne, President, Entertainment, unveiled the network’s new 2002--2003 primetime schedule. The new schedule includes the addition of seven new entertainment series for the fall -- three comedies and four dramas.
In addition Ms. Lyne also announced a strong mid-season development slate, including three drama series, one new comedy series and a brand new late night talk/variety series hosted by “The Man Show’s” Jimmy Kimmel. She also announced a two-hour Paul McCartney special based on his current sold out tour, to air next season.
In making the announcement, Ms. Lyne said: “When I took this job in early January, I knew we had a big challenge and a short window in which to achieve results - because we had to be able to announce today a clear vision for the network and great shows to back it up. We knew the network had strayed from the program mix that made it a powerhouse in the past -- smart family comedies that reflect our viewers’ lives, adult comedies with heart, and a mix of dramas ranging from escapist to provocative. That mix, in combination with signature news magazines and sports franchises, made ABC the broadest of the broadcasters - and that’s the mantle we’re reclaiming today. This year, our 50th as a network, we want to earn the title of America’s Broadcasting Company. You’ll see that reflected in the way we’ve scheduled each night, and in the seven new shows that made the fall schedule.”
Mr. Braun added: “As we sat in scheduling meetings this year and looked at the competitive landscape, we took note of the opportunity that existed from 8:00-9:00 p.m. on most nights of the week - a time period that historically has been a strength and mainstay of ABC. To that end, we are going to promote and claim ownership of the 8:00-9:00 time period every weekday by establishing a horizontal block across the schedule - the ABC Happy Hour. People will know that they can come home from a tough day at work, take their shoes off, relax, turn on ABC at 8:00 and have a great time. ‘My Wife and Kids,’ ‘Drew Carey,’ ‘8 Simple Rules…,’ ‘According To Jim,’ ‘George Lopez,’ ‘Videos’ and ‘Dinotopia’ - each one an inviting and fun show - and most importantly, right in the ABC wheelhouse.”
ABC’s complete 22-hour fall primetime schedule, which will premiere in September, is as follows (all times listed are Eastern, with new shows in bold-faced type):
| DAY | TIME | SERIES |
| MONDAY: | 8:00 p.m. | “The Drew Carey Show” |
| 8:30 p.m. | “Whose Line is it Anyway?” | |
| 9:00 p.m. | “Monday Night Football” (through January) | |
| 9:00 p.m. | “Dragnet” (in January after football) | |
| 10:00 p.m. | “Miracles” (in January after football) | |
| TUESDAY: | 8:00 p.m. | “8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter” |
| 8:30 p.m. | “According To Jim” | |
| 9:00 p.m. | “Life With Bonnie” | |
| 9:30 p.m. | “Less Than Perfect” | |
| 10:00 p.m. | “NYPD Blue” | |
| WEDNESDAY: | 8:00 p.m. | “My Wife and Kids” |
| 8:30 p.m. | “The George Lopez Show” | |
| 9:00 p.m. | “The Bachelor II” | |
| 10:00 p.m. | “Meds” | |
| THURSDAY: | 8:00 p.m. | “Dinotopia” |
| 9:00 p.m. | “Push, Nevada” | |
| 10:00 p.m. | “Primetime Thursday” | |
| FRIDAY: | 8:00 p.m. | “America’s Funniest Home Videos” |
| 9:00 p.m. | “That Was Then” | |
| 10:00 p.m. | “20/20” | |
| SATURDAY: | 8:00 p.m. | “ABC Big Picture Show” |
| SUNDAY: | 7:00 p.m. | “Wonderful World of Disney” |
| 9:00 p.m. | “Alias” | |
| 10:00 p.m. | “The Practice” |
Descriptions of the seven new entertainment series joining ABC’s primetime schedule this fall, listed in alphabetical order, are (all titles are working titles and all times are Eastern):
“8 Simple Rules For Dating My Teenage Daughter” (half-hour comedy, Tuesdays at 8:00 p.m.) -- What happens to a loving, rational dad when his darling, pliable daughters morph into hormonally-challenged, incomprehensible teenagers? If he’s Paul Hennessy (John Ritter, “Three’s Company”), he reacts in ways even he finds crazy. Thank God he has a 13-year-old son who still speaks his language.
Based on the bestselling book by W. Bruce Cameron that has given solace and belly-laughs to parents across the country, this show finds comedy in real-life situations. Its distinct point-of-view will be familiar to countless fathers (and their bemused wives and offspring). Produced by Tom Shadyac (“Liar Liar” and “The Nutty Professor”).
Starring John Ritter as Paul, Katey Sagal
(“Married…With Children”) as Cate, Kaley Cuoco as Bridget, Amy Davidson as
Kerry and Martin Spanjers as Rory.
Production Company: Touchstone Television
Executive Producers: Tom Shadyac, Flody Suarez, Michael Bostick
Executive Producer/Writer: Tracy Gamble.
“Dinotopia” (one-hour drama, Thursdays at 8:00 p.m.) -- Have you ever seen a brachiosaurus taxi cab? A library run by a Stenonychosaurus? A city built over towering waterfalls? Only in “Dinotopia,” a lost world where man and dinosaur live together in harmony.
”Dinotopia: The Series” picks up where May’s mega miniseries leaves off, following a father and his two sons as they struggle to adapt to a land technology and humanity forgot. Our heroes will discover new challenges in every episode, as they explore the perils and promise of this utopian landscape.
Shot on a 40-acre back-lot in Hungary and employing groundbreaking digital effects, “Dinotopia” is the most ambitious project yet in Executive Producer Robert Halmi, Sr.’s legacy of success, a that includes “Merlin,” “Cleopatra” and “Arabian Nights.”
Starring Erik von Detten (“The Princess Diaries”)
as Karl Scott, Shiloh Strong as David Scott, Michael Brandon as Frank Scott, Georgina
Rylance as Marion, Jonathan Hyde as Mayor Waldo, Sophie Ward as Rosemary, Lisa Zane
(“Monkeybone”) as Le Sage.
Production Company: Hallmark Entertainment
Executive Producers: Robert Halmi, Sr., Robert Halmi, Jr.
“Less Than Perfect” (half-hour comedy, Tuesdays at 9:30 p.m.) -- Huge egos. Backbiting assistants. Screaming deadlines. Claudia “Claude” Casey has moved up in the secretarial world of television news, from permanent floater to the anchor’s desk.
It’s a short elevator ride from the depths of the mailroom to the executive summit, but still the ice queen assistants give her a chilly reception. Now, can this perky former temp’s warmth and humanity melt the hearts of the competitive up-and-comers? Writer Terri Minsky (“Sex and the City”) has a brand new take on the working girl. If you can’t join ‘em, you better beat ‘em.
Starring Sara Rue (“Popular”) as Claude, Zachary
Levi as Kipp, Sherri Shepherd (“Suddenly Susan”) as Ramona, Andrea Parker
(“The Pretender”) as Lydia, Andy Dick (“NewsRadio,” “The Andy
Dick Show”) as Owen, Eric Roberts (“Star 80”) as Will.
Production Company: Touchstone Television
Executive Producer/Writer: Terri Minsky
Executive Producers: Nina Wass, Gene Stein
“Life with Bonnie” (half-hour comedy, Tuesdays at 9:00 p.m.) -- On the streets, in the stores and, occasionally at the office, local TV show host Bonnie Molloy has the life of a sort-of celebrity. Sometimes her fans actually remember her name. But when it comes to her family life, a little fame goes a long way. Especially when her husband and children catch a glimmer of themselves in the supposedly true anecdotes Mom tells her morning viewers.
Multi-talented Bonnie Hunt borrows a page from her own life in this comedy about having it all and then some. Bonnie writes, directs and stars with the same comic flair she brought to her film, “Return to Me.” It's modern life as only Bonnie could live it.
Starring Bonnie Hunt as Bonnie Molloy, Brian Kerwin (“Beggars and Choosers”) as Dr. John Molloy, David Alan Grier (“In Living Color”) as David Bellows, Marianne Muellerleile as Gloria, Anthony Russell as Tony Russo, Samantha Browne-Walters as Samantha Molloy, Charlie Stewart as Charlie Molloy.
Production Company: Touchstone Television
Executive Producers/Writers: Bonnie Hunt, Don Lake
Director: Bonnie Hunt
“Meds” (one-hour drama, Wednesdays at 10:00 p.m.) -- “Medicine could be a lucrative business if it weren’t for all those sick people.”
So goes the motto of the mega-sized, mega-frugal HMO that runs Mission General Hospital in San Francisco, where two renegade doctors bend the rules and find the loopholes in a constant quest to treat their patients. Together they practice medicine with a take-no-prisoners attitude and don’t-take-no-for-an-answer tactics.
Like “M*A*S*H,” “Meds” mixes the real drama of life and death situations with sharp wit and unique characters.
Starring William Fichtner (“The Perfect Storm”)
as Kellerman, John Hannah (“The Mummy Returns”) as Dalgety, Jacqueline McKenzie
as Shelly, Robert Joy as Frank, Aunjanue Ellis as Dr. Quinn Joyner, Michaela Conlin as
Maggie Yang, Jane Lynch (“Best in Show”) as Nurse Poole, Edward Herrmann
(“Gilmore Girls,” “The Practice”) as Mr. Jeremiah Orbach
"God."
Production Company: Touchstone Television
Executive Producer/Writer: Gary Tieche
Executive Producer: Marc Platt
“Push, Nevada” (one-hour drama, Thursdays at 9:00 p.m.) -- Ben Affleck, Oscar-winning co-writer of “Good Will Hunting,” and Sean Bailey, his executive-producing partner on breakout hit, “Project Greenlight,” take another bold step in the re-invention of modern entertainment.
A mild-mannered IRS agent travels to a remote desert region in search of missing money and stumbles into a strange small town where mystery, danger, and peculiar characters lurk around every off-kilter corner. Everyone in Push has a secret, but no one is talking … unless they’re telling our man to get out of town, fast. Every word, every sign, every gesture holds a clue toward solving the riddle of “Push, Nevada.” Each episode has new puzzles to follow and solve, along with a dazzling array of guest stars. In a next-generation twist on reality television, if one viewer can put the evidence together at the end of a multi-episode arc, they’ll win the missing money that everyone is after.
Starring Derek Cecil (“Pasadena”) as Jim,
Scarlett Chorvat (“The District”) as Mary
Production Companies: Touchstone Television in association with LivePlanet
Executive Producers/Writers: Ben Affleck, Sean Bailey
Executive Producers: Matt Damon, Chris Moore
“That Was Then” (one-hour drama, Fridays at 9:00 p.m.) -- Travis Green is about to turn 30 and his life couldn’t be worse. He lives with his parents. He’s a door-to-door door salesman. And the longtime love of his life is married to his brother. His descent into loserdom dates back to a fateful and humiliating week in high school, and Travis wishes for nothing more than the chance to do it over.
Be careful what you wish for!
Travis wakes up the next morning 16 again, with a chance to re-write history. The results of his tinkering save a life, destroy a marriage and lose Travis the most precious thing in his flawed life. Now, he’ll have to stay in high school ‘til he figures out how to fix things.
Starring James Bulliard (“On the Line”) as
Travis, Tyler Labine as Danny Pinkus, Bess Armstrong (“My So-Called Life”) as
Mickey, Kiele Sanchez as Claudia, Jeffrey Tambor (“The Larry Sanders Show”) as
Double G, Brad Raider as Gregg, Andrea Bowen as Zooey, Tricia O'Kelley as Sophie.
Production Company: Touchstone Television
Executive Producers/Writers: Dan Cohn, Jeremy Miller
Executive Producer: Jeff Kline
MID SEASON - Primetime and Late Night
“Dragnet” (one-hour drama, Mondays at 9:00 p.m. after Monday Night Football) - Emmy Award-winning producer Dick Wolf, one of television’s most successful creators and architect of the long-running “Law & Order” franchise, is writing and producing a new, 13-episode incarnation of the classic police drama series. “Dragnet” originated on NBC in 1949 as a radio drama, then moved to the small screen in 1952, running for seven years in its initial incarnation. It resurfaced in 1967 for three more years, starring Jack Webb as the no-nonsense, “just the facts, ma’am” LAPD Sergeant.
“Jimmy Kimmel Project” (one-hour late night talk show premiering in January) - Jimmy Kimmel, host of Comedy Central’s “The Man Show” since its premiere in 1999, brings his unique brand of humor - one with a more personal approach - to Late-Night television in this new series set to debut in January.
“Miracles” (one-hour drama, Mondays at 10:00 p.m. after Monday Night Football) -- From the producers of “Unbreakable” comes a thrilling new adventure into the deepest recesses of the unknown.
Skeet Ulrich (“Scream,” “As Good As It Gets”) stars as Paul Callan, a young man assigned to investigate modern-day “miracles.” Callan is good at his job of finding a scientific basis for these purported acts of God, but everything changes when he witnesses something that can’t be explained away. Teaming up with a mysterious organization that leads their own investigations into the paranormal, Paul will continue his quest amid a dizzying and often frightening realm of possibilities.
Starring Skeet Ulrich as Paul, Angus MacFadyen
(“Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood”) as Alva Keel.
Production Companies: Touchstone Television in association with Spyglass Entertainment
Executive Producers: Roger Birnbaum, Gary Barber
Executive Producer/Writer: Richard Hatem
“My Second Chance” (half-hour comedy) -- Michael thinks he has it all under control. He’s an ad agency superstar with a fancy title and ambition to spare. But somewhere on the road to fame and fortune, he lost touch with his family. He’s about to get a wake-up call.
This heartfelt comedy takes us on the perilous journey of a man who will do anything to earn back the love of his wife and kids. But the winning strategies he’s developed at work are surprisingly useless at home. Executive producer Michael Jacobs (“Boy Meets World”) shows that going from businessman to family man isn’t as easy as it looks.
Starring Mitch Rouse (“Austin Powers: The Spy Who
Shagged Me”) as Michael, Connie Britton (“Spin City”) as Rachel, Gregory
Hines (“Bojangles,” “Waiting to Exhale”) as Jordan, Stark Sands as
Will, Leah Pipes as Sara, Gavin Fink as Josh.
Production Companies: Touchstone Television in association with NBC Studios
Executive Producer/Writer: Michael Jacobs
Executive Producer: Tony Jonas
“Veritas” (one-hour drama) -- Ancient relics. Hidden tombs. Religious icons. Boring stuff for 17-year-old rebel Nikko Zond. But when he’s kicked out of yet another boarding school and delivered to his archeologist father, Nikko starts to learn the truth about Solomon Zond’s life work. Behind the academic cover, Zond’s “company” is investigating the mysteries of the ancient world, and protecting its secrets at all costs. Together, father and son are swept up in a race to uncover this past before a mysterious brotherhood can stop them.
From the creators of “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider,” and the Award-winning producers of “Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows” and “Annie,” this hour combines the thrills of Indiana Jones with the intrigue of the world's greatest unsolved mysteries.
Starring Ryan Merriman (“The Deep End of the
Ocean,” “Lansky”) as Nikko, Alex Carter as Solomon, Arnold Vosloo
(“The Mummy”) as Vincent, Cobie Smulders as Juliet, Eric Balfour (“Six Feet
Under”) as Calvin, Cynthia Martells (“Nurse Betty,” “The Wood”)
as Maggie.
Production Company: Touchstone Television
Executive Producers/Writers: Patrick Massett, John Zinman
Executive Producer/Director: Bryan Spicer
Executive Producers: Craig Zadan, Neil Meron
--Posted May 14, 2002
Formatted: LaughingPlace.com
Source: ABC Media Press Release
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