ABC’s fall TV schedule is set, but virus has say on timing
LOS ANGELES » ABC’s fall schedule optimistically details its plans, including a new thriller from the creator of “Big Little Lies.” But there’s a key element missing — the debut dates made uncertain by the coronavirus pandemic.
“I am hopeful that the season will start sometime in late September or early October,” said ABC Entertainment President Karey Burke.
As she sees it, the “traditional September premiere week is probably overly optimistic for the networks to be looking for.”
The broadcast season typically kicks off the day after the Emmy Awards, this year to air Sept. 20 on ABC. But with new safeguards in place as film and TV production restarts after a coronavirus-caused halt that began in March, it’s unclear how quickly and efficiently the industry will get back to work.
CBS, NBC and Fox all are facing the same potential obstacles, with a smaller network, CW, already throwing in the towel on fall and pushing its new season to January 2021. A mix including unscripted and acquired series will fill in before then.
Most of the 20 series the network renewed for next season are set to return in the fall, including veterans “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Dancing With the Stars.” They’ll be joined by a trio of freshman including “Big Sky,” a thriller from “Big Little Lies” writer-producer David E. Kelley; the Kyra Sedgwick comedy “Call Your Mother,” and game show revival “Supermarket Sweep” with host Leslie Jones (“Saturday Night Live”).
Programs that will debut later in the season are “American Idol,” “The Bachelor,” “black-ish,” “For Life” and “mixedish.”
After years of criticism for featuring only white men, reality series “The Bachelor” is giving Matt James the spotlight. He was to be among the suitors for Clare Crawley on this summer’s “The Bachelorette” when the production shutdown hit.