Now ABC's Schedule
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the lineup tho for ABC's fall schedule. The times listed are central:
Billy
May 15, 2001, 1:14PM
ABC announces fall schedule
By BOB BETCHER
Scripps Howard News Service
ABC, in announcing its fall schedule Tuesday, said it will trim back Who
Wants to be a Millionaire to two nights a week from the current four, bounce
Barbara Walters' 20/20 newsmagazine off the schedule for several months, and
place NYPD Blue on the lineup sooner than previous years.
Millionaire will air only twice, at 7 p.m. Mondays (opposite NBC's Weakest
Link) and 8 p.m. Thursday.
Newswoman Walters had the rug pulled out from under her when she learned
that 20/20 will move from Fridays to Wednesdays this fall (airing for about
two months), then will be placed on hiatus until January to make room for
Once and Again. 20/20 is slated to return to Fridays in January, the network
said.
This year, NYPD Blue returns early, in November and on Wednesday night,
instead of January as it did last season.
ABC announced its lineup to advertisers at the New Amsterdam Theater in New
York. The network notified its affiliated stations of the schedule earlier
in the day.
Dharma & Greg, which wasn't considered a sure pickup by ABC, will be
broadcast an hour earlier this fall, at 7 p.m.
The schedule includes three new dramas and two new comedies.
New programs on Tuesday include Bob Patterson, an 8 p.m. comedy starring
Jason Alexander (Seinfeld) as a motivational speaker, and Philly, at 9 p.m.,
a Steven Bochco (NYPD Blue) creation focusing on the life of a defense
attorney.
On Wednesday, The Dad (7:30 p.m.) joins the schedule as a family sitcom
starring Jim Belushi.
ABC will try its luck on two new dramas, Thieves (8 p.m. Friday), a romantic
series featuring John Stamos, and Alias (8 p.m. Sunday), spotlighting the
life of a female special agent, starring J. J. Abrams.
On the West Coast, the Monday edition of Millionaire will follow Monday
Night Football.
ABC also announced it will put off the debut of The Runner, a
much-talked-about new reality series, until January. In the show, a "runner"
(contestant) must accomplish eight simple tasks across the U.S. over 28 days
without being "tagged" by any viewer who has registered as a show "agent."
ABC PRIMETIME SCHEDULE FOR 2001-2002
SUNDAY
6 p.m. Wonderful World of Disney
8 p.m., Alias
9 p.m., The Practice
MONDAY
7 p.m. Who Wants to Be a Millionaire
8 p.m. Monday Night Football
TUESDAY
7 p.m. Dharma & Greg
7:30 p.m. What About Joan
8 p.m. Bob Patterson
8:30 p.m. Spin City
9 p.m., Philly
WEDNESDAY
7 p.m. My Wife and Kids
7:30 p.m. The Dad
8 p.m. The Drew Carey Show
8:30 p.m. The Job
9 p.m., 20/20/NYPD Blue
THURSDAY
7 p.m. Whose Line Is It Anyway?
8 p.m. Who Wants to Be a Millionaire
9 p.m. PrimeTime Live
FRIDAY
7 p.m. The Mole
8 p.m., Thieves
9 p.m. Once and Again
SATURDAY
7 p.m., ABC Saturday Movie
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