ABC upfront, take one

Between the number of shows picked up months ago, the minimum of new shows on the schedule (most of ABC's shows in development haven't shot pilots yet) and all the leaked news about stuff like the "Scrubs" move, not a big Wow factor to the ABC schedule announcement. Thoughts and breakdown coming right up...

I'll have the full fall schedule at the end, but the highlights, such as they are:

• "Scrubs," as we all knew, is moving to ABC, but won't be on the schedule until sometime in mid-season.
• "Boston Legal" comes back for a final season (looks like only 13 episodes); Steve MacPherson didn't say anything about cast changes.
• "Boston Legal" returning was part of the deal to pick up the "Life on Mars" remake (pictured above), since David E. Kelley was attached to produce at one point; he reportedly gave up his stake in the show in exchange for his other show coming back. The "October Road" producers will be running "Life on Mars" now; it gets the network's best timeslot (sort of; expectations are obviously much higher) after "Grey's Anatomy."
  
• Only other new show on the fall schedule is an Ashton Kutcher-produced game show, "Opportunity Knocks."
• "Eli Stone" comes back but doesn't get the traditional Monday at 10 timeslot that ABC generally gives to low-rated dramas it unexpectedly renewed. That goes to "Boston Legal," while "Eli Stone" goes to Tuesdays at 10.
• The Wednesday lineup -- "Pushing Daisies," "Private Practice," "Dirty Sexy Money" -- not seen since the strike, returns intact.
  
• "Lost" back at midseason, with an extra episode to make up for one of the ones lost by the strike.
• "According to Jim," somehow still not dead. Why?!?!??!?!!?!?!?!
  

Fall schedule, night by night:
DAY TIME SERIES

MONDAY: 8:00 p.m. �Dancing with the Stars�
9:30 p.m. �Samantha Who?�
10:00 p.m. �Boston Legal�

TUESDAY: 8:00 p.m. �Opportunity Knocks�
9:00 p.m. �Dancing with the Stars the Results Show�
10:00 p.m. �Eli Stone�

WEDNESDAY: 8:00 p.m. �Pushing Daisies�
9:00 p.m. �Private Practice�
10:00 p.m. �Dirty Sexy Money�

THURSDAY: 8:00 p.m. �Ugly Betty�
9:00 p.m. �Grey�s Anatomy�
10:00 p.m. �Life on Mars�

FRIDAY: 8:00 p.m. �Wife Swap�
9:00 p.m. �Supernanny�
10:00 p.m. �20/20�

SATURDAY: 8:00 p.m. �Saturday Night College Football�

SUNDAY: 7:00 p.m. �America�s Funniest Home Videos�
8:00 p.m. �Extreme Makeover: Home Edition�
9:00 p.m. �Desperate Housewives�
10:00 p.m. �Brothers & Sisters�

Fire away with any questions.