What’s Coming (Then Leaving) ABC This Spring

The Spring television season is upon us, and that means it is time for mid-season replacements.  I thought I would take a look at each of ABCs upcoming series.  Hopefully, they will be more succesful than ABCs fall slate (0 for 2).

Better Off Ted:

What ABC Says It Is About: A satirical office comedy about successful good guy, Ted, who runs research and development at the morally questionable Veridian Dynamics.

What Disney Fans Think It Is About: a satirical office comedy about successful good guy, Ted Kryczko, who runs catalog development at Walt Disney Records:

Castle:

What ABC Says It Is About: Wildly famous mystery novelist Richard Castle , who is bored with his own success, learns that a real-world copycat killer has started staging murder scenes depicted in his novels.

What Disney Fans Think It Is About: A reality show depicting the hidden stories of the Cinderella Castle Suite.

Cupid:

What ABC Says It Is About: Trevor Pierce is a larger than life character who insists that he is Cupid, the Roman god of love.

What Disney Fans Think It Is About: John Lasseter is a larger than life character that has made all Disney fans fall in love with him.

In the Motherhood:

What ABC Says It Is About: takes a look at the importance of family and friends while trying to juggle motherhood, work and love lives in an overly complicated modern world.

What Disney Fans Think It Is About: takes a look at how new step-mothers adjust to being sudden parents in an overly simple fairy tale world.

Quick Takes:

Studio Entertainment: Hollywood Records has announced a March 10th release for the Ballas Hough Bands freshman album which features Mark Ballas and Derek Hough from Dancing with the Stars.  I think when the professional dancers crossover to actually being a D-list star, the show jumped the shark.   

Parks and Resorts:  So far, the Atlanta Braves are 4-1 in Spring Training games played at Champion Stadium in Disneys Wide World of Sports Complex.  Too bad they cant play the entire season there.   

Disney Interactive Media:  I have heard some surprisingly good things about the Disney Fairies DS game.  Too bad I could never get myself to buy it.  Ill stick to the online game and save myself the shame.    

Consumer Products: Do you think they are going to have a lot of Up merchandise?  I mean, I always wanted an Ed Asner action figure.   

Who is Celebrating: I dont know….but I know who isnt celebrating…anyone that owns Disney stock.  It reached its lowest point since September 2002. 

Video of the Day: Here is a video about Disneys California Adventure Food and Wine Festival.  Some great people are behind this, so I hope it continues to be successful.    

News from Around the Web:

ABC News:  An auditor report warns that GM survival is doubtful.  I am guessing now would not be a good time to announce a multi-million dollar extension of their Test Track deal.    

NY Times: The New York Times goes backstage at The Lion King.  The article shows you why Disney doesnt usually allow its Guests to go backstage.          

USA Today: Jewel and Nancy ODell had to bow out of Dancing with the Stars due to injury.  ABC is just lucky they still have the big stars like Mark Ballas and Derek Hough. 

LA Times: The LA Times reports that the producers of Life on Mars are grateful for being able to give the show closure.  They found out they were cancelled in time to shoot a series finale.  It doesnt really matter to me though.  Since I know that the show isnt returning I am finally going to delete the episodes that have been accumulating on my DVR.  Now I have room for Better Off Ted, until that gets cancelled as well. 

Orlando Sentinel:  The Orlando Sentinel reports that the sale of SeaWorld could be nearing.  Thats probably  a good decision.  It is a sellers market.  Oh wait, its not.   They might be able to ask for a higher price if they had more than one whale they keep flying around. 

Variety:  ESPNs film unit is fielding more features with two biopics in development.  I should note one important line in the article: Funding for any of what Semiao describes as “moderately budgeted” scripted projects has not been secured.  So basically, dont hold your breath.