There won't likely be any formal announcements, but combing through the advance listings The Futon Critic saw that ABC was doubling up on Better Off Ted and Scrubs airings in January on a schedule that will have the 13 episodes orders of both shows completed by the end of the month (including special Friday January 1 episodes - two for BOT and one for Scrubs). Starting Tuesday January 5, ABC will air Scrubs at 8pm and 9pm and BOT at 8:30p and 9:30p for the remainder of the month.
Many (including us) have wondered why ABC ever brought Better Off Ted back in the first place based on the ratings (no opinion on show quality) last season. At least with Scrubs there were additional episodes for syndication.
Though it won't likely quiet speculation from fans, this seems to significantly reduce (all the way down to zero) the likelihood that either show will get renewed for additional episodes.
why they ever brought them back is a mystery.
I think it’s weird that they put it like
8:00 Scrubs
8:30 Ted
9:00 Scrubs
9:30 Ted
It makes more sense to do it like
8:00 Scrubs
9:00 Ted
That’s just me.
And so the question remains, what will ABC do with the 8-8:30 slot on Wednesdays. I was thinking they would timeshare Scrubs, BOT and Romantically Challenged, but now that idea is out. With only 7 episodes of Romantically Challenged, they can’t fill the spot with that on its own.
Julia I think they will probably just keep the repeats going at 8, maybe start cycling repeats of the other comedies at 8. And then premiere RC at some point.
I have a hard time believing ABC will schedule repeats during sweeps February. What are they, the CW?
Not only does this news indicate the shows are dead, it also indicates Spring DWTS will be two hours again. I’d also guess it says that RC takes February, while repeats (whether of MF or Lost) take over after RC runs out.
Tom, this doesn’t necessarily say anything about DWTS. They could go for 90 minutes and put The Middle there. Wednesdays 8-9 could be Happy Town and/or Copper, which would be a fitting sacrifice to Idol. Romantically Challenged could be saved for summer or aired for a few weeks while The Middle takes a break.
I don’t think that’s going to happen, but it’s possible.
Damn, I was hoping Scrubs 2.0 would be given a chance to really get its feet under it. Oh well, when they didn’t give this show a new name it was going to have a limited shelf life anyway.
Rob, full article is up at thefutoncritic.com
Also, different news story:
http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=8433
big news since it puts idol up against modern family
I was under the impression RC was going to be on Wednesdays? Or do they have something else on Wednesdays?
@Ron
wow, that news makes it official. Rupert Murdoch has lost his Mofoing mind.
johnthemon, ABC hasn’t announced anything regarding the 8pm slot on Wednesday or Romantically Challenged. But there are only 7 episodes of Romantically Challenged, so it can’t fill the spot on its own.
john what are you refering to
well at least they all will are and since it ends run in january means both scrubs and bot can be out on dvd earlier in 2010
I don’t think that means anything regarding Murdoch’s mind (plus, he probably has very little to do with scheduling). Idol has always been at 9 on Wednesdays. All this shows is Fox has no faith in Human Target. I was hoping for a nice easy spot for Modern Family, but I guess it’s not to be. This also nixes any hope of LTM getting a post-Idol spot when Human Target is over.
I don’t get it……
I thought Scrubs was doing okay in the ratings. Castle & Scrubs had the same renewl/cancel index. I mean….the show just started up again.
I mean, why Scrubs and not Caslte? It must boil down to which show is cheaper to produce.
@Julia
Oh yeah, I forgot that AI was on at 9:00 on wednesdays anyway. Still, I think it’s kind of a dumb move. Human Target will FAIL without the AI lead-in.
OMG I really hate FOX. Now American Idol is going against Modern Family. Just DIE FOX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
NOOO Scrubs, I thought it would live longer than me!
Chucksmom, with ABC having 3 other comedies that outperform Scrubs it’s days were numbered. You cant really compare Scrubs to Castle because the broadcast networks usually treat 30min comedies differently.
I think the AI move is based on FOX having no faith in Human Target. The move doesn’t shock me considering that AI has always been on at 9 on Wednesdays. Now I wonder if ABC will move Modern Family to 8 or 8:30 to avoid Idol. That would leave Cougar Town against AI and probably kill it.