LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com)

It's been quite a year at ABC. Mired deep in fourth in most key measures last year at this time, the network has posted what it describes as the largest season-to-season audience growth for any major network in the coveted adult 18-49 demographic in at least 25 years. However, not content to continue along the same path, ABC has shaken up its schedule from top to bottom for next season.

Coming off a year that saw ABC land fresh breakout hits from "Desperate Housewives" to "Lost" to "Grey's Anatomy," the network is prepared to launch three new dramas and two new comedies this fall, with even more new programming on tap for midseason. In addition, the network is shifting around many of its most popular and established shows, looking for footholds on new nights and in new time periods, with only Sunday night (and the Saturday movie) remaining stable.

"Through strong development and strategic marketing, we were able to make valuable strides this season. Our responsibility next season and beyond is to continue that forward movement," says ABC Entertainment President Stephen McPherson. "We're grateful to all of the people at ABC, as well as those in the creative community who are contributing to our promising first steps."

Viewers may need to seek out such favorites as "Boston Legal" (now on Tuesday) and "Alias" (running the lead leg on what ABC hopes will be a vital Thursday), but ABC has set up familiar buffers for most of its new offerings. On the comedy side, ABC's fresh fall will include "Freddie" and "Hot Properties," while "Commander-in-Chief," "Invasion" and "The Night Stalker" are the new dramas. ABC's week will kick off on Mondays with "Wife Swap" leading into the network's final season of "Monday Night Football." When the pigskin action comes to its close, "The Bachelor" will return in the 8 p.m. ET time period, followed by the Heather Graham comedy "Emily's Reasons Why Not," and the returning single-camera comedy "Jake in Progress." The John Stamos comedy was one of ABC's most surprising renewal. The night will conclude with "What About Brian," a J.J. Abrams-created dramedy starring Barry Watson and the only one of three pilots from the "Lost" creator to make ABC's roster.

"According to Jim" and "Rodney" move up an hour to kick-start ABC's Tuesday. Instead of more comedy, though, ABC will shift gears with Geena Davis in the female president drama "Commander-in-Chief" at 9 p.m. and "Boston Legal" in its new 10 p.m. home.

On Wednesday, ABC is moving the desert island smash "Lost" down to 9 p.m., starting the night with new comedies, returning bubble show "George Lopez" and "Freddie," which aims to make a sitcom star out of Freddie Prinze Jr. "Lost" will take the middle of the night, providing a compatible lead-in of "Invasion," an alien-based drama that McPherson describes simply as "spectacular."

For the third year in a row, "Alias" finds itself in a new home, joining the tight battle on Thursday night at 8 p.m. The action show, which will have to deal with star Jennifer Garner's reported pregnancy, will set up "The Night Stalker," an update of the 1970s supernatural series, which had a strong cult fanbase. The night will close with "Primetime Live."

After several seasons of attempting to rejuvenate TGIF comedies on Friday night, ABC is turning over the evening's first hour to the not-so-funny reality series "Supernanny." Returning comedy "Hope & Faith" is one of the few shows in ABC's entire schedule to remain in its home from last year, setting up the real estate half-hour "Hot Properties." The 10 p.m. hour goes to "20/20."

ABC is remaining true to the movie-of-the-week on Saturday.

The network will also hold on to the Sunday lineup that has gone from struggling to unstoppable in recent months. From "America's Home Videos" to "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" to returning hits "Desperate Housewives" and "Grey's Anatomy" (now ordered for a full season of 22 episodes), ABC can count on closing its week strong.

Including the Monday post-football shows, ABC has already ordered a whopping seven shows, with three comedies, three dramas and one alternative program.

Just saw something about Alias being scheduled against The O.C. and Smallville .... ? :huh:

Yes it is. :ermm:

Well, Smallville is a cert as The WB announced their schedule yesterday, and whilst FOX won't announce until Friday, I doubt The OC will change as it has been enjoying a good run.

Ive noticed a lot of discussion about how now Alias is no longer going to folllow Lost... viewer figures may go down.... apparently it makes quite the good double bill over there, if you know what I mean

Hence lots of discussion about ( Calm down, Kate ! Deep breaths ! ) this possibly being the last season of Alias :fear:

:mandown:

No-one panic, just form an orderly queue to the Support Group. :lmao:

Apparently, it`s opposite American Idol now, so maybe this is a better time slot for next season ? :huh:

Pulls up a chair quickly *Hi!MynamesKateImaddictedto aliasanditcanneverfinishwhatwillidowithoutmichaelvartan*

Im worried about American Idol... they get fanatic about it over there I hear! :unsure:

:lmao: :lmao:

As far as I know, Alias is opposite American Idol now, and Lost will be opposite it next year ? :huh: :blink:

Yes, you're right. :)

But again, as FOX haven't announced just yet, we can only but wait until tomorrow to get final confirmations.

Actually scarp that, they've announced their schedule today, and American Idol will be in the same slot, but not until January.

Well, that`s promising news for Lost. :)

Us Tv Guide

This is next season`s US TV schedule . :rolleyes:

It`s on the TV Guide website, which sometimes do those annoying ` intercepts ` trying to get you to register with their website, but this page is safe ( so far ! ). :)

Well for a start. I want to live in the US if their schedules are like that....but Thursday night seems to have all the good programmes on.... Im still worried about Alias ;)

I was so worried earlier , I had to have a leftover Cadbury`s Creme Egg . :fear:

It`s a good excuse. :shifty:

A very good excuse indeed :fear: I dont have any left. They went long ago. :(

You have to stock-pile them, along with the rest of your emergency chocolate. :whistling:

My emergency stockpile is down to my last Aero now :tear:

I think that Thornton`s deliver now, if you get really desperate. :thumbsup:

Thorntons Chocs

Looking at the schedule, ALIAS on Thursday at 8 pm looks like a pretty good move. SURVIVOR is the only biggie and its audience can be a fickle. Maybe it will do alright.

Thursday is a big night because movies premiering on Friday are heavily advertised on Thursday.

I'm gonna play the view-one/tape-the-other game in order to check out the new NIGHT STALKER. I wonder how it's gonna do against CSI. <_<

Ah, I wondered why the US makes a fuss about Thursday TV - now it makes sense. I suppose all the movie adverts go to the shows with the largest ratings, then ?

:)

The new Night Stalker is from Frank Spotnitz who was heavily involved with The X-Files. Plus it's got Stuart Townsend in the lead so it's got some big names attached to it.

But pitting it up against CSI..... Sheesh...

Two of my favourite shows up against each other :(

And I'm not talking about The O.C. :lol:

Its ok Steve, you can freely discuss your love for Mischa and Rachel on here :lol:

:huh: I would if I knew who the hell they were :lol:

Laura's joined our support group now :thumbsup:

Anyone else? :lol:

There`s no hair-pulling, honest, and the wearing of hats made of tin-foil isn`t compulsory. :lmao:

( The tin-foil stops you getting spoilers in the form of telepathic transmissions ;) ).

Yes, join us :shifty: :lol:

Thats a good idea!!! Do you by any chance have any ideas to restrain me from looking at s5 ones?

Um......... :ponder:

Love the new smilie ! :thumbsup:

I dont know what to do either :shrug:

Its great isnt it! :yahoo:

I would suggest drinking so much that you can`t focus on the wordies on your PC monitor, but I don`t think that`s a permanent solution for health reasons !! :lol:

Hmmm. Yeah. I should really try and not do that. 22 possible episodes of S5. Thats a hell of a lot of spoilers. :unsure:

Perhaps you could take up a hobby to distract yourself - how about knitting ? :lmao:

12 and 1/2 weeks of avoiding spoilers for me... :blink:

Knitting...hmmm.... not such a good idea. People will end up with needles in them-- wait a sec...with me they already do... but yeah. Not knitting! :lol:

Writing is my hobby- Shame 80% of it is on Alias :ph43r:

Ok, what hobby can you take up? Abseiling? :unsure:

I think abseiling involves being out in actual sunlight. :fear: :lol:

I`m a grown-up - I can be good and not look at spoilers. :)

This week, I managed to stumble across spoilers for the finale of Desperate Houswives, and a spoiler for the penultimate ep. of 24 ; I wasn`t even looking for them ! I`d be so mad if I spoiled for the finale of Alias. :mad: