ABC moves new series to Thursday nights

LOS ANGELES -- ABC has given a big vote of confidence to its new series "Ugly Betty," moving the show away from the relative quiet of Friday night and into the competitive fray on Thursdays.

"Betty," an adaptation of the telenovela "Betty La Fea," is now scheduled to premiere at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, Sept. 28, where it will lead off a lineup that also includes the hit hospital drama "Grey's Anatomy" and another new series, "Six Degrees." ABC will move utility player "America's Funniest Home Videos" into the 8 p.m. Friday spot that was "Betty's" original home.

The move comes after the show received a wave of positive reaction from critics at last month's Television Critics Association press tour. "Ugly Betty," executive produced by Salma Hayek (who also has a cameo in the pilot), follows a bright but plain-looking young woman (America Ferrera) trying to make her mark at a glossy fashion magazine.

The scheduling change displaces two other new shows, the comedies "Big Day" and "Notes from the Underbelly." ABC hasn't given them new homes yet, but they could end up on either Tuesday or Wednesday nights after "Dancing with the Stars" finishes its run later in the fall. Returning sitcoms "According to Jim" and "George Lopez" are also likely to fill one of the "Dancing" hours.

More people watch television on Thursday than on Friday, giving "Ugly Betty" a bigger pond in which to swim. But the show will also face some heavy competition in CBS' "Survivor" and NBC's "My Name Is Earl" and "The Office." FOX is also going with new shows in the timeslot -- sitcoms "'Til Death" and "Happy Hour" -- while The CW will return one of its top shows, "Smallville."

In more immediate scheduling news, ABC has yanked the unscripted show "One Ocean View" from its Monday schedule, effective next week after two episodes drew weak ratings. It will be replaced by repeats of "Supernanny."