ABC unveiled their new schedule for the 2008 – 2009 season today. There are very few changes to the existing line-up and, as of now, are planning on taking on very few new TV series.
TV shows that will return in the fall are: 20/20, America’s Funniest Home Videos, Boston Legal, Brothers & Sisters, Dancing with the Stars, Desperate Housewives, Dirty Sexy Money, Eli Stone, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice, Pushing Daisies, Samantha Who?, Saturday Night College Football, Supernanny, Ugly Betty, and Wife Swap.
Returning midseason (January or so) are The Bachelor, Jimmy Kimmel Live, and Lost. As expected, Scrubs makes the jump to ABC for its eighth and final season. If CBS drops The New Adventures of Old Christine (looking unlikely), ABC may pick that up as well. According to Jim and ABC News’ Primetime: What Would You Do? will return as well but don’t currently have spots on the schedule.
The new shows include an as-yet-untitled Ashton Kutcher/Tyra Banks reality show, animated sitcom The Goode Family, a U.S. version of BBC’s Life on Mars, and reality show Opportunity Knocks.
Okay, on to the casualties. There are no big surprises in the list of shows that won’t be back next season but that doesn’t mean their fans will miss them any less. Shows not returning for another season include:
Big Shots – The drama was weak in the ratings from the start but ABC tried to keep it going. Production was interrupted by the writers strike and only 11 episodes were produced. The last one aired on January 24th.
Carpoolers – This offbeat sitcom was paired with Cavemen and was likely hurt by the lead-in. All 13 episodes have aired and the series finale was seen on March 4th.
Cashmere Mafia – This series competed indirectly with NBC’s Lipstick Jungle and lost. All seven episodes have seen the light of day and the series finale aired on February 20th.
Cavemen – Based on a concept from car insurance commercials, this sitcom became the butt of many jokes this season. A full season of 13 episodes were produced but only seven aired. You won’t see the rest on ABC.
Just for Laughs – A hidden camera and practical joke reality show. The series ran for two seasons and 32 episodes. The last one aired on April 8th.
Men in Trees – ABC bounced this one all over the schedule and put it on hiatus a couple times. Even devout followers had a hard time finding it. The network is currently airing Trees’ season of 19 episodes and the last episode is scheduled for June 11th.
Miss Guided – The offbeat sitcom sank in the ratings. Seven episodes were produced and all have aired. The series finale was broadcast on April 3rd.
Notes from the Underbelly – ABC gave the series a second season but its numbers didn’t earn it a third. Of the 22 episodes that have reportedly been produced, only 14 have aired. There are currently no plans for the remaining eight.
October Road – The show’s ratings weren’t great last season but ABC took a chance and renewed it. The ratings got worse for the second season. All 13 season two episodes have aired and the series finale was shown on March 10th.
Oprah’s Big Give – Though the series had decent ratings, the show won’t be back because Oprah Winfrey doesn’t want to do it. All eight episodes have aired with the finale running on April 20th.
Women’s Murder Club – Though the drama’s ratings weren’t bad, the demographic skewed older. All 13 episodes have already aired, with the exception of tonight’s series finale.
Here Come the Newlyweds and Dance War: Bruno VS Carrie Ann may return at some point next season. Initial casting a second season of Newlyweds has begun but the show hasn’t gotten a greenlight.
The network also hasn’t made its mind about several possible new shows for midseason, including the new version of Cupid which is still being developed. Stay tuned! 
More about:
According to Jim,
America's Funniest Home Videos,
Big Shots,
Brothers & Sisters,
Cashmere Mafia,
Cavemen,
Cupid,
Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann,
Dancing with the Stars,
Desperate Housewives,
Dirty Sexy Money,
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,
Grey's Anatomy,
Here Come the Newlyweds,
Jimmy Kimmel Live,
Just for Laughs,
Life on Mars (UK),
Lost,
Men in Trees,
Miss Guided,
Notes from the Underbelly,
October Road,
Oprah's Big Give,
Primetime,
Private Practice,
Pushing Daisies,
Samantha Who?,
Scrubs,
Supernanny,
The Bachelor & The Bachelorette,
The New Adventures of Old Christine,
Women's Murder Club
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I’m very very disappointed that October road isn’t coming back!!! I’m really getting tired of all the reality shows. I think you made a big mistake.
I am extremely annoyed. I tell you it was a very long winter, I got hooked on Men In Trees and was addicted. And then it was all over the place. Then I discovered Women’s Murder Club, took a liking to that as well… then there was that stupid strike FOREVER… like WTF?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There might of been two episodes before everybody decides “season finale”… well the heck did the season go?!!!! And I”m just the viewer… what about the poor people involved in the shows…not knowing if they’ll have a job past episode THREE?
I can’t believe abc cancelled October Road. Not only was it one of the best shows on tv, it was one of the only shows left that was about real people and real life!!!! I either cried or laughed every episode and my husband even got into it. I’m so mad right now. No more reality shows, no more doctor shows, no more mommy/house/nanny stuff please!!!! Lets get back to good old television! Not to mention abc cancelled my other fav “What about Brian” last season for a stupid cave man show! We all knew that show would flop!!! That’s why I started watching OR. No more ABC for me, my friends or half my family. WE CAN’T TRUST YOU!!!!!!
I can not believe how abc gets you addicted to a show like october road and then rips it out from underneth you. I was looking forward to the season opener. My husband was even into it and that is not him at all. Screw abc The CW should get the show because at least you know it will stay there with ol dumb ass farmer needs a wife..lol…ABC must really be brainwashed to think they can get rid of October road and leave some of the other stupid stuff on there they have…like wipe out…i am soooo mad right now to know they got rid of one of my favorite shows!!!!!
I am VERY VERY DISAPPOINTED! October Road is a great show! I really got into it and was anticipating the next season! We never got to find out a lot of things in the plot! This is a complete let down!!!
I loved October Road and i am very mad and upset that there will be no season 3…after all the show was left with many questions unanswered. This was a huge mistake to take it off the air!!!
I can not believe you canceled so many good shows that had good ratings despite the strike going on. Woman’s murder club was AMAZINGLY good love the storylines and the chemistry between the friends so belieaveable. Notes from the underbelly was a funny quircky show that we so need in this tv world now. Cashmere mafia was way better than lipstick jungle and that one is still on. COMMON ABC give us back our shows give the people what they want to watch. It was a horrible year with the strike so make it up by giving all these shows a shot again start from scratch in season 2 you’ll see ratings will be good. PLEASE don’t cancel our shows We are so sick of reality or ER or dumb shows that are nothing. ABC has good shows just don’t cancel them!!! PLEASE
I’D LIKE TO KNOW HOW YOU CAN DETERMINE A SHOW SUCCESS BY THE WAY THINGS WERE AIRED THIS LAST SEASON. YOU MOVED THINGS AROUND SO MUCH AND THEN WE HAD THE WRITERS STRIKE. OCTOBER ROAD IS RIGHT UP THERE WITH GREYS ANATOMY IN MY BOOK. I THINK YOU NEED TO GIVE IT MORE OF A CHANCE. I HAVE FRIEND’S THAT BOUGHT THE VIDEOS SO THEY COULD WATCH THE RETURN THIS FALL. PLEASE GET ALL THE ACTORS BACK AND GIVE IT A BETTER CHANCE THAN YOU HAVE. OCTOBER ROAD TOUCHES YOU HEART. ONE HOUR A WEEK WAS NOT ENOUGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I really can’t believe you cancelled Men In Trees and October Road and left on all those stupid reality shows. Especially the Nanny one and Wife Swap. Maybe if you hadn’t move MIT around so much it would have done better. As for October Road I don’t understand how you can put so much publicity in a show and then just cancel it after we get attached to all the actors and then leave it in such a mess when you do end it. ABC has been my favorite network in the past but maybe we should all start rethinking that. I do love Grey’s Anatomy, Desperate Housewives, and Brothers and Sisters, so please don’t cancel those or you won’t have much going for you.
RE: MEN IN TREES
WHAT????????? I HATE that this show has been canceled. I can’t believe that after all of the problems w/ the strike & everything else that the show is gone, After years of NOT getting hooked on shows for this very reason, I finally get hooked on one & now this. No more. I’ll stick to movies from now on.\
BAD, BAD, BAD decision.
october road was one of those shows about life and friends which had a genuine turth to it. people make mistakes and friends can be forgiven and i for one really enjoyed and will miss the cast and good characters. but i think its a mistake to cancel this show. should have gotten an eariler time slot more people would have watched.
October Road CANCELLED!!! I really enjoyed that show…I could relate to the characters and now I’m left with a lot of questions with how the show ended…this is sad. ABC should have given it another season at least…last seaon was so screwed up people didn’t know what day was what. Whishful thinking but I hope they change their mind and bring it back.
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