Follow along as we liveblog ABC’s Upfront presentation as ABC tries to sell their shows to advertisers. Are you excited that Shonda Rhimes will own Thursdays? What about Agents of SHIELD moving to 9pm? Excited to hear a series with songs by Alan Menken? Keep refreshing as we update this page throughout the presentation.
355 pm: Almost time for the presentation to begin. Earlier, Paul Lee took some flack for moving the sometimes steamy Grey’s Anatomy to 8pm. Do you think it is inappropriate to air a show like Grey’s at 8?
407 pm: While we wait, don’t miss the LaughingPlace Podcast Crew’s predictions about the ABC lineup.
416 pm: The presentation begins with a Disney sizzle real including non-ABC properties such as Star Wars and Frozen. Though I guess Frozen is now a part of ABC.
417 pm: In what will be her final Upfront presentation, Anne Sweeney takes the stage. She thanks Bob for “everything”. She talks about all the brands of Disney. Sounds like ABC will be more integrated into the larger company.
420 pm: Some enhancements are coming to the WatchABC app such as multiple camera angles for live events, social sharing. She spends time talking about how all mobile devices are now TVs.
424 pm: Geri Wang, ABC’s head of ad sales, is talking. ABC is joining the dynamic ad-insertion bandwagon when it comes to VOD. They are also working with ESPN on ad sales as they skew male while ABC skews female.
426 pm: Now ABC entertainment head Paul Lee is taking the stage. Here is where they will actually talk about their shows.
428 pm: In a video package, ABC just made an Adele Dazeem joke. They showed Travolta’s flub being played on Coulson’s laptop. Coulson was confused as to what just happened.
434 pm: Here is the ABC sizzle real for their upcoming season:
437 pm: Anthony Anderson and Laurence Fishburne take the stage to talk Black-ish. That show is getting the post Modern Family slot which so many shows have failed in.
440 pm: The clip shown shows Anderson’s son trying to get a Bar Mitzvah. Goldbergs crossover?
442 pm: Paul Lee calls Shonda Rhimes the VP of Thursday nights as she is producing all three shows. She takes the stage with Viola Davis to talk her latest; How to Get Away With Murder.
444 pm: Lee revealed that Secrets & Lies will air when How to Get Away with Murder takes a break. This means it will air Thursdays at 10 unless something changes (which it often does).
447 pm: Secrets & Lies is a ten episode mystery. It will wrap. If renewed it will be a whole new story.
452 pm: Lee just called the musical Galavant a demented fairytale. “Spamalot meets Princess Bride.”
455 pm: Alan Menken takes the stage to talk Galavant. He met the producer of the show when working on Tangled and worked on the musical episode of The Neighbors.
500 pm: Looks like Lee is keeping Marvel for last, just like last year, as the last day discussed is Tuesday.
507 pm: Now talking Forever. The lead character has lived for 200 years and can’t die. His name is Henry Morgan. Any relation to the Welsh privateer, pirate and admiral of the English navy?
509 pm: Now Agent Carter. Lee describes it as an origin story. It will premiere in January. Lee is proud of how inter-woven Agents of SHIELD is, so I would expect nothing less from Agent Carter.
512 pm: Now Jimmy Kimmel takes the stage for his traditional roast of the network. He says the highlight so far has been hearing British Lee say “Black-ish”
513 pm: Commenting on departing Sweeney’s desire to direct… Kimmel says, “Looking for a director w no experience? accept Anne Sweeney’s invite on LinkedIn”
514 pm: “The ABC I work at is not number one. We might need to crash on your couch for a while. Even Sweeney is like I’m out of here”
516 pm: “Barbara Walters is stepping down this week…very carefully”
517 pm: “American Crime is 11 episodes, Secrets & Lies is 10 episodes and most of our other shows will probably go even less than that”
518 pm: “All ABC shows are about superheroes or fairy tales/ We may be a terrible network but we’re a great birthday party for a 6-year-old”
519 pm: “It’s weird to see NBC doing well. It’s like if your uncle that works at Arby’s all of a sudden got a masters degree”
520 pm: Kimmel’s dig at FOX’s Gotham might be a little too close to home with ABC’s Marvel shows. “This is a show for people who love everything about Batman except Batman”
524 pm: Kimmel is done and Lee returns to talk live events before he turns to mid-season shows including Fresh off the Boat, Astronaut Wives Club and The Whispers.
530 pm: The Whispers is from Steven Speilberg and is based on a Ray Bradbury short story. It is getting almost universally good buzz.
533 pm: Felicity Huffman returns to the ABC Upfronts with American Crime. Lee seems very enthusiastic about this show. It is yet to be seen if the darker tone will mesh with ABC’s slate. The show’s arc is 11 episodes and promises to explore race relations in America.
537 pm: American Crime, Fresh Off the Boat, and The Whispers, all got a good reaction from the crowd. Perhaps ABC’s midseason will be stronger than their fall.
539 pm: The presentation concludes with Mitch and Cam coming out of a big wedding cake. Their nuptials will begin tomorrow night on ABC.