LOS
ANGELES - ABC Co-Chairmen Stu Bloomberg and Lloyd Braun announced plans Friday
to stagger the premiere dates for three new midseason series, "My Job," "My Wife
and Kids" and the untitled Joan Cusack Project, to reporters at the Television
Critics Association Winter Press Tour in Pasadena, CA. The staggered launch of
the new shows will allow ABC to air new episodes of favorite shows without interruption.
The setup is similar to what the network did with "NYPD Blue" last season when,
after a late launch, the series ran new episodes without repeats for the duration
of the season.
"By staggering the premieres of our mid-season shows, we'll be able to commit
100 percent of our promotional efforts to every launch," said Bloomberg. "And
we'll also be able to ensure that several of our regular series -- such as 'Gideon's
Crossing,' 'NYPD Blue,' 'Once and Again' and 'The Geena Davis Show' -- will be
able to complete their season runs without repeat episodes."
"My
Wife and Kids," a new half-hour comedy starring Damon Wayans and Tisha Campbell-Martin,
premieres Tuesday Mar. 13 at 8 p.m., replacing the reality game show "The Mole"
when it ends its run.
Dennis Leary's ("The Ref" ) new comedy "The Job" will premiere Wednesday, Mar.
14 in "Spin City's" timeslot while that show is on hiatus. "City" will then return
with all new episodes for the remainder of the season.
The still-untitled Joan Cusack Project is slated to debut Tuesday Mar. 27 at 9:30
p.m., also for six weeks. The half-hour comedy, starring two-time Oscar-nominated
actress Joan Cusack ("In & Out" ) and Kyle Chandler ("Early Edition"), will
replace "The Geena Davis Show" during its six-week hiatus.
ABC also announced "The Beast," an new hour-long series about a TV news network
starring Jason Gedrick, Frank Langella and Elizabeth Mitchell, will air Monday
nights at 8 p.m., following the culmination of "Gideon's Crossing" this spring.
The exact date is still being determined.
In addition, the reality-based "Making the Band" will return to ABC's schedule
in the spring. O-Town, the band depicted in the series, is releasing its first
album in January, featuring the single "Liquid Dreams" -- which recently topped
Billboard's "Hot Shot Debut New Releases" list.
LOS
ANGELES - ABC Co-Chairmen Stu Bloomberg and Lloyd Braun announced plans Friday
to stagger the premiere dates for three new midseason series, "My Job," "My Wife
and Kids" and the untitled Joan Cusack Project, to reporters at the Television
Critics Association Winter Press Tour in Pasadena, CA. The staggered launch of
the new shows will allow ABC to air new episodes of favorite shows without interruption.
The setup is similar to what the network did with "NYPD Blue" last season when,
after a late launch, the series ran new episodes without repeats for the duration
of the season.
"By staggering the premieres of our mid-season shows, we'll be able to commit
100 percent of our promotional efforts to every launch," said Bloomberg. "And
we'll also be able to ensure that several of our regular series -- such as 'Gideon's
Crossing,' 'NYPD Blue,' 'Once and Again' and 'The Geena Davis Show' -- will be
able to complete their season runs without repeat episodes." 
"My
Wife and Kids," a new half-hour comedy starring Damon Wayans and Tisha Campbell-Martin,
premieres Tuesday Mar. 13 at 8 p.m., replacing the reality game show "The Mole"
when it ends its run.
The still-untitled Joan Cusack Project is slated to debut Tuesday Mar. 27 at 9:30
p.m., also for six weeks. The half-hour comedy, starring two-time Oscar-nominated
actress Joan Cusack ("In & Out" ) and Kyle Chandler ("Early Edition"), will
replace "The Geena Davis Show" during its six-week hiatus.
ABC also announced "The Beast," an new hour-long series about a TV news network
starring Jason Gedrick, Frank Langella and Elizabeth Mitchell, will air Monday
nights at 8 p.m., following the culmination of "Gideon's Crossing" this spring.
The exact date is still being determined.