TV Upfronts: Armchair Programmer Series - ABC

Part 3 of this year's Armchair Programmer Series will focus on ABC. It's easy to take shots at NBC, but in all reality ABC didn't have a stellar season either since it didn't have a "hit" like it did last year with Once Upon a Time and Revenge, and even those shows aren't bringing in the viewers like they used to. When the dust settles, the Alphabet could look very different than it does now.

Officially Renewed ABC Shows
None to date

Officially/Effectively Cancelled/Finished ABC Shows
666 Park Avenue
Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23
Last Resort
Private Practice (final season)
Zero Hour

Possibly Renewed ABC Shows
20/20
The Bachelor
Body of Proof
Castle
Dancing with the Stars
Grey's Anatomy
How to Live with Your Parents for the Rest of Your Life
Last Man Standing
Malibu Country
Modern Family
Nashville
Once Upon a Time
Primetime
Revenge
Scandal
Shark Tank
Suburgatory
The Middle
Wife Swap

Possibly Cancelled ABC Shows
Family Tools
Happy Endings
The Neighbors
Red Widow

Comedy Pilots
Adopted
Back in the Game
Bad Management
Divorce: A Love Story
Goldbergs, The
King John
Middle Age Rage
Mixology
Pulling
Spy
Super Fun Night
Trophy Wife

Drama Pilots
Betrayal
Big Thunder
Doubt
Forever
Gothica
Influence
Killer Women
Lucky 7
Murder in Manhattan
Once Upon a Time in Wonderland
Reckless
S.H.I.E.L.D.
Westside

Once again, it's hard to predict which pilots will be picked up but we can look at a network's history, identity, and needs to fill in the blanks. ABC has capitalized on family-based comedies and struck out on yuppie sitcoms like Happy Endings. With that in mind I see the following comedies getting picked up: Adopted, Back in the Game, The Goldbergs, Pulling, Spy, and Super Fun Night. On the drama side, ABC's struck it rich with female-led dramas, so I can see Betrayal, Gothica, Killer Women, Murder in Manhattan, and Westside getting picked up alongside S.H.I.E.L.D. I could also see the Once spin-off getting a series order in spite of the fact that it's way too soon for it to happen.

Possible ABS Shows for 2013-2014
20/20
Adopted
The Bachelor
Back in the Game
Betrayal
Body of Proof
Castle
Dancing with the Stars
Goldbergs, The
Gothica
Grey's Anatomy
How to Live with Your Parents for the Rest of Your Life
Killer Women 
Last Man Standing
Malibu CountryThe Middle
Modern Family
Murder in Manhattan
Nashville
Once Upon a Time
Once Upon a Time in Wonderland
Primetime
Pulling
Revenge
Scandal
Shark Tank
Spy
Suburgatory
Super Fun Night
Wife Swap
Westside

Possible ABC Schedule for 2013-2014
Sundays
8-9p: Once Upon a Time
9-10p: Revenge
10-11p: Gothica

Honestly, I was more confident about this line-up a few weeks ago before it became evident that Revenge was tanking in the ratings. I could easily see it moved to a new night in 2013, but for now I'm keeping the Sunday night anchors in place and leading into Gothica. Yes, this approach didn't work before but there's a chance that Gothica is a better complement than 666 Park Avenue was.

Mondays
8-10p: Dancing with the Stars
10-11p: Castle

I've been predicting Castle's move for years now, and ABC has yet to give another show a DWTS lead-in. Now that I have it staying put, it's going to be the year the ABC ships it to Sundays. I can just see it now.

Tuesdays
8-9p: Shark Tank
9-10p: Dancing with the Stars
10-11p: Scandal

One of the few success stories ABC can tout is how Scandal became a hit unto itself, and it should be strong enough to leave the shadow of the Shonda Rhimes mothership and take over for its predecessor (i.e. Private Practice). As for doubling down on reality TV to start the night... why not? Shark Tank's strong on Fridays, but I'm sure it could still do well on Tuesdays and could help the ailing DWTS.

Wednesdays
8-8:30p: The Middle
8:30-9p: Suburgatory
9-9:30p: Modern Family
9:30-10p: The Goldbergs
10-11p: Westside

ABC Wednesdays has become the new NBC Thursdays, and the trick now is finding the right combination of family sit-coms. The Middle's a reliable lead-off hitter with Modern Family holding down the heart of the line-up, but what to do with Suburgatory and what will go in the 9:30 spot? As much as I'd like Suburgatory to get another vote of confidence and follow Modern Family, ABC needs to find another hit and its most reliable show could help with that. From the jump, The Goldbergs has been touted as an 80's era Wonder Years and could be a natural fit on Wednesdays, and if not I'd love to see Maggie Lawson's show get a chance to shine.

Thursdays
8-9p: S.H.I.E.L.D.
9-10p: Grey's Anatomy
10-11p: Betrayal

It's no secret that Thursdays at 8 has been a black hole for ABC, so why not use Disney's biggest franchise to help prop up the night? It's seems almost too much of a no-brainer to place S.H.I.E.L.D. here, which is why I'm somewhat hesitant to do so because there's no guarantees so why waste one of the most buzzed about shows on one of the worst timeslots when Mickey can jump start a new night? In the end, I see The Avengers spin-off starting off Thursdays, but I won't be shocked if it doesn't either.

Fridays
8-8:30p: Last Man Standing
8:30-9p: Malibu Country
9-10p: Nashville
10-11p: 20/20

ABC tried to bring back TGIF, and it wasn't a smash success but it was OK by today's standards, so I can see a scenario where both Last Man Standing and Malibu Country come back. Also, Nashville wasn't a massive hit either and could pair up nicely with a more traditional set of shows leading into it. Maybe it'll be too country/red state-ish but that could work out in the end.

Mid-Season: Anything that wasn't listed in the original schedule. Duh-doy.

As always, please note that these are just predictions and should not be taken as fact... unless I'm right. Next up, CBS.