ABC Announces Spring Premieres, Return of 'Commander'

[Sean Mota]

ABC Announces Spring Premieres, Return of 'Commander'

By Christopher Lisotta
ABC has set premiere dates for two new reality series and two debuting dramas as well as given a firm date for the return of the presidential drama "Commander in Chief." ABC previously announced that "Commander," which has been declining in the ratings, will be off for the month of March to make room for the new comedy "Sons & Daughters." But the drama will return to Tuesdays at 9 p.m. (ET) starting April 18.

On Monday, Mar. 6, reality series "Supernanny" returns at 9 p.m. followed by the premiere of medical reality series "Miracle Workers" at 10 p.m., replacing "The Bachelor," which will have completed its latest run. Getting a "Desperate Housewives" sendoff, the new relationship drama "What About Brian" will premiere in the "Grey's Anatomy" 10 p.m. time period Sunday, April 2, before moving to its regular time period Monday, April 3, at 10 p.m., replacing "Miracle Workers."

On Thursday, Mar. 18, the Simon Cowell-produced "American Inventor" debuts with a two-hour premiere at 8 p.m. before settling into its 9 p.m. time period Mar. 23. At 8 p.m. starting on Mar. 23 ABC will run four consecutive weeks of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" specials focusing on families impacted by last year's hurricane season.

To make room for the debuting crime drama "The Evidence" on Wednesdays at 10 p.m., the sci-fi drama "Invasion" will be benched starting Mar. 22, with a return sometime in April.

 

[Sean Mota]

source

ABC will be performing some scheduling gymnastics to get the remainder of its large midseason slate on the air, with four new series joining the previously slated "Sons & Daughters" on the network in March and April.

Left out of the mix, however, is "Alias," which was originally scheduled to return in March for its final episodes but is now a schedule orphan. First up among the new shows is the unscripted series "Miracle Workers," which debuts at 10 p.m. ET Monday, March 6, a week after "The Bachelor: Paris" concludes its season. A feel-good show in the vein of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," the series follows a team of doctors and nurses who will help people overcome overwhelming medical issues.

OAS_AD('InStory300x250');http://jack.zap2it.com/RealMedia/ad..._300x250.gif/34353739643063333433393739346630​

"Miracle Workers" will air for four weeks before giving way to the drama "What About Brian," which stars "7th Heaven" alum Barry Watson as a single guy in his 30s whose friends are all married or about to be. Complicating matters, he has a massive crush on his best friend's (Matthew Davis, "Legally Blonde") fiancee (Sarah Lancaster, "Everwood").
"Brian" will premiere on Sunday, April 2, where it will have the advantage of "Desperate Housewives" as a lead-in, before moving to its Monday home the following night. ABC will also return "Supernanny" to Mondays at 9 p.m. March 6.
Thursday, March 16 will bring the two-hour debut of "American Inventor," a series executive produced by "American Idol's" Simon Cowell. The show will give would-be Edisons a chance to show off their ideas to viewers and a panel of judges, with the winner getting a chance to bring his or her invention to consumers.
The show will settle in at 9 p.m. Thursdays on March 23. Also that night, a series of four "Home Edition" specials featuring the show's team helping disaster victims on the Gulf Coast will debut in the 8 p.m. hour. With "Primetime" remaining at 10, "Alias" has no place to go for the remainder of its final season. An ABC rep couldn't be reached Wednesday to discuss where the show might land.
ABC's final midseason entry is "The Evidence," a crime procedural from "ER" executive producer John Wells that debuts at 10 p.m. Wednesday, March 22 ("Invasion" will go on hiatus and return in April to finish its season). The show follows two San Francisco detectives (Orlando Jones and Rob Estes) who reconstruct crimes based on the evidence collected at the scene. ABC previously announced that "Sons & Daughters" will take "Commander In Chief's" Tuesday spot for six weeks starting March 7. "Chief" will return April 18.