ABC has announced its 2009-10 schedule. Compared to 2008 it has lots more new shows, far more new show time, and slightly less unscripted show time. ABC is going with a lineup of entirely new shows on Wednesday night but is keeping Saturday and Sunday nights unchanged. They're putting a presumably cheap scripted show (Ugly Betty) on Friday nights.
Here is a look at its Fall 2009 Schedule vs. its Fall 2008 Schedule by the Numbers.
New Shows
2009 (8 shows, 6 hours): Shark Tank (1 hour), The Forgotten (1 hour), Hank (1/2 hour), The Middle (1/2 hour), Modern Family (1/2 hour), Cougar Town (1/2 hour), Eastwick (1 hour), Flash Forward (1 hour)
2008 (2 shows, 2 hours): Opportunity Knocks (1 hour), Life on Mars (1 hour)
Unscripted Shows
2009 (11 hours): Dancing with the Stars + Results (3 hours), Shark Tank (1 hour), Supernanny (1 hour), 20/20 (1 hour), Saturday Night College Football (3 hours), America's Funniest Home Videos (1 hour), Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (1 hour).
2008 (11.5 hours): Dancing with the Stars + Results (2.5 hours), Opportunity Knocks (1 hour), Wife Swap (1 hour), Supernanny (1 hour), 20/20 (1 hour), Saturday Night College Football (3 hours), America's Funniest Home Videos (1 hour), Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (1 hour).
My Ratings Forecast
Monday looks to be a net positive with an extra half hour of DWTS. Tuesday about even. Wednesday looks to be a net negative, potentially large. Thursday's a net positive (vs. Fall 2008). Friday about even. Saturday and Sunday even. Overall, it looks to me like status quo vs. Fall 2008 unless Wednesday night surprises substantially either to the upside or the downside.
For information on other broadcast TV Fall 2009 schedules click here.
| Day/Time | 2008 | 2009 |
| Monday | ||
| 8-9:30p | Dancing with the Stars | Dancing with the Stars (8-10p) |
| 9:30-10p | Samantha Who? | |
| 10-11p | Boston Legal | Castle |
| Tuesday | ||
| 8-9p | Opportunity Knocks | Shark Tank |
| 9-10p | Dancing with the Stars Results | Dancing With The Stars Results |
| 10-11p | Eli Stone | The Forgotten |
| Wednesday | ||
| 8-8:30p | Pushing Daisies (8-9p) | Hank |
| 8:30-9p | The Middle | |
| 9-9:30p | Private Practice (9-10p) | Modern Family |
| 9:30-10p | Cougar Town | |
| 10-11p | Dirty Sexy Money | Eastwick |
| Thursday | ||
| 8-9p | Ugly Betty | Flash Forward |
| 9-10p | Grey’s Anatomy | Grey’s Anatomy |
| 10-11p | Life on Mars | Private Practice |
| Friday | ||
| 8-9p | Wife Swap | Supernanny |
| 9-10p | Supernanny | Ugly Betty |
| 10-11p | 20/20 | 20/20 |
| Saturday | ||
| 8-11p | Saturday Night College Football | Saturday Night College Football |
| Sunday | ||
| 7-8p | America’s Funniest Home Videos | America’s Funniest Home Videos |
| 8-9p | Extreme Makeover: Home Edition | Extreme Makeover: Home Edition |
| 9-10p | Desperate Housewives | Desperate Housewives |
| 10-11p | Brothers & Sisters | Brothers & Sisters |
Shows in BOLD are/were new, shows in italics are unscripted, 2008 shows in strikethrough did not return.
The shows scheduled to premiere in mid-season or later are: The Bachelor, Scrubs, and Better Off Ted. The Deep End, Wife Swap and V were in ABC's announcement, but had no date/time attached.
It's not worth the time to compare mid-season schedules. Changes are almost certain between now and January.
