Prediction: ABC Fall 2011

ABC is hard for me to really comment on. I haven't been a follower of ABC programs in a long time. I think ABC has become the Lifetime Network for broadcast television. Not that it is a bad thing, but ABC, to me, seems like it is geared more towards women. The opposite probably can be said for Fox programming being more like Spike TV. As I mentioned before in my predicitions, ABC, really ticked me off on how they handled the last two years of The Drew Carey Show, that after that I really gave up on the network. My wife loves ABC from Good Morning America to Dancing with the Stars and Extreme Makeover Home Edition and Weight Loss Edition (I think that was its name).  ABC has lost, in my opinion,  what made it great for families and that is the TGIF lineup. I know they brought it back, but with horrible, horrible sitcoms that was just another reason for them to abandon the concept again. So without me going on and on about how I loathe ABC here is my predictions for their fall lineup.

New Shows:

Last Man Standing: Tim Allen's return to the sitcom world after Home Improvement made him a star. The show is about how man is lost in the world of the woman. How fitting it is on ABC. Instead of sons, Allen's character has daughters and he works as an executive at a sporting goods company. It seems to me that they just changed a few things around from the idea for Home Improvement to make it seem different. I haven't seen any promos for the show yet. If I am wrong and it does go in a different direction than Home Improvement it may be the opportunity for men to sample ABC again. If I am right this won't make it a full season. I hope it does work out, I love Tim Allen and grew up watching Home Improvement. We'll just have to wait and see.

Man Up: It does seem like ABC wants to get guys watching their network. Apparently, the idea of making a sitcom based on the Geico Cavemen didn't win people over so they are trying to be more modern in trying to attract that male demographic. It is has a scent if not flavor of women on this program. The show is about guys who don't want to grow up, but yet need to "Man Up" I hate that phrase. Women will probably watch it just because they can say, "yeah, my guy is like that". Like Allen's new show, I don't know if these half-brained ideas are going to work to bring men back to the network.

Suburgatory: This show seems like a blend of many different shows along with a splash of Desperate Housewives dealing with the strange goings on in the local neighborhood. I hate to sound like I don't like everything these networks are offering, but I just have specific tastes. Also, I know that the viewing public knows that if the show doesn't seem to be interesting they won't watch it for fear of the timeslot getting changed or the show yanking it off the air after an episode or two without trying to build an audience (for any program). Rehash-rehash-rehash destined for the trash.

Revenge: This show has two movie ideas that seem blatant to me for the premise, which isn't a bad thing, I like both of the movies. The show has Taken and Edge of Darkness feel to it. A woman going after the people that destroyed her family. I probably won't get to watch this, but I think this show has potential if it played similar to how Alias in the first few seasons started with slowly getting to the build up. Once she finds the people it goes down hill. The writers have a lot to work towards if they don't want to blow it.

Charlie's Angels: Apparently, remakes are a good thing. I never grew up with the original show or watched much to know that it wasn't for me. Don't get me wrong I think it was and still is a clever idea of a group of kick-butt female crime fighters. Drew Barrymore is behind the show, since she was in the two remake movies. I think this one has a good chance of staying if they do try to modernize it even more than the two movies.

Once Upon a Time: Similar to Grimm on NBC this show seems to be taking a page from that Disney movie a few years back where fairy tale characters come to the real world and it has a bit of a mystery feel to it. I think this will get a strong start, but fantasy programs never really worked for ABC. I give it hope, but fear it will get eatten alive being on Sundays with football and Fox's animation lineup. However, this could be a good thing putting this on Sundays as the alternative to those for women.

Pan Am: I think Mad Men started the trend in making shows about the 60s. I don't know if people will "take flight" with what seems to be a limited premise of the life of flight attendents in this period of time. I could be wrong. I think that more than likely this will be a surprise hit for the network because I tend to be wrong on what other people like in television. What I tend to like gets cancelled, so maybe I should start liking Dancing with the Stars...nah! I need to snap back to reality.The only time I enjoy Dancing is when this happens (sign that the show is pure evil):

With Desperate Housewives ending this season, which to me I thought it was over a long time ago and I don't hear people talking about Grey's Anatomy as much as when it was first on, ABC has a way to go to rebuild themselves. They don't have the force of Lost to give them an edge. Even with the return of Allen and the premise of two of the new dramas, it won't bring me back to the network.

Next blog: FOX and CW