ABC's Fall Schedule

ABC has announced its fall schedule:

Mondays (fall 2007)
8:00 Dancing with the Stars
9:30 Sam I Am (new comedy)
10:00 The Bachelor

Mondays (spring 2008)
8:00 Wife Swap
9:00 Sam I Am
9:30 Notes from the Underbelly
10:00 October Road

Tuesdays
8:00 Carpoolers (new comedy)
8:30 Caveman (new commercial-inspired comedy)
9:00 Dancing with the Stars (fall)/Cashmere Mafia (spring-new drama)
10:00 Boston Legal

Wednesdays
8:00 Pushing Daisies (new drama series)
9:00 Private Practice (Grey's Anatomy spin-off)
10:00 Dirty Sexy Money (new drama series)

Thursdays
8:00 Ugly Betty
9:00 Grey's Anatomy
10:00 Big Shots (new drama series)

Fridays
8:00 Men in Trees
9:00 Women’s Murder Club (new drama series)
10:00 20/20

Sundays
8:00 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
9:00 Desperate Housewives
10:00 Brothers & Sisters

So this schedule is generally unexciting, as my only real interest is “Desperate Housewives” which remains in the same slot. I do not care at all about “Caveman,” a new comedy inspired by the Geico commercials. I am unimpressed that “Notes from the Underbelly” and “October Road” are returning, while the much better “The Knights of Prosperity,” “In Case of Emergency,” and “The Nine” have been shelved for good. Odds of seeing the remaining episodes of “The Nine” this summer are extremely unlikely, as ABC has a ridiculous number of reality shows airing this summer. The fall schedule is far too full of reality. I do plan to watch “Private Practice,” the “Grey’s Anatomy” spin-off, after seeing the two-hour “Grey’s Anatomy” episode, which I will review very soon (a little late, I know). I think the time slot for that is good, and can probably eclipse “Criminal Minds” in ratings on CBS. "Lost" is planned for a midseason return, airing all its episodes consecutively from February to May. And for some odd reason, ABC is still deciding whether to bring "According to Jim" back, which, if it returns, will be ABC's longing-running scripted show.