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! 
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 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 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… Read more »
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… Read more »
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’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.
My girlfriend and her friends are very mad about the cancilation of October Road, they got into the series and then they were left hanging in limbo with the plot, very very bad ABC.
Miss Guided was hysterical, much funnier than a lot of shows that are on TV. Give it a shot ABC. Seinfeld was almost cancelled after 7 episodes and look how that ended up. Given a good time slot, Miss Guided can be a very successful sitcom.
Everyone at work and all of my friends loved Men in Trees. However it was harder than heck to find and I often was e-mailing friends to tell them when I found the next show in the newspaper (at the last minute) so they would not miss it. I know you have to pay the actors on this show as opposed to reality shows or the Nanny where families actually pay to be analyzed. But most of us are sick to death of reality gigs and have families grown (or not yet started) so don’t give a goot about child… Read more »
SCREW ABC!! I CANT BELIEVE YOU CANCELLED MEN IN TREES THAT IS MY FAVORITE SHOW!! IT WAS EVEN BETTER TO ME THAN GREY’S AND I LOVE THAT SHOW. LOOSE THE STUPID REALITY SHOW AND BRING THE TREE HUGGERS BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WHAT!!! Men in Trees and October Road are awesome, looked forward to them (when they were on). ABC what do you expect when you don’t give GOOD shows proper airtime slots. Really, do we need more trash reality? As a mom of 2 toddlers I get enough reality, I want the drama and comedy of these shows. Like, who really was Sam’s dad? And you kept Desperate Housewives – can’t say they had a stellar season…..
Big Shots was my absolute favorite show last season! I also like Dirty Sexy Money but not as much as Big Shots. I was really surprised they had cancelled it. I can’t stand ‘Dancing with the Stars’ I am so sick of reality TV its unbelievable. Ugly Betty is a good show, glad to see that on the schedule. I’m not sure how you guys get your show ratings but I would take a second look at ‘Big Shots’ I think it’s got some potential
Big Shots and Womans Murder Club were great shows!!!! I just don’t get it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11 These guys are idiots! There is nothing but trash on Friday and Saturday’s why not just air these great shows then??????????????? I know lots of peolpe who would watch them!
Why did they cancel women’s murder club? I loved that show.. watched it every week… now i only have Grey’s to watch on ABC… this sucks
they should get kid nation from cbs