http://www.zap2it.com/tv/news/zap-abcpickups032107,0,7776858.story
ABC Makes Slew of Pickups
'Betty,' 'Grey's,' 'Lost' among 2007-08 commitments
Zap2It.com
March 21 2007
Two months before the upfronts, ABC has already nailed down most of its prime-time schedule for next season.
The network on Wednesday picked up a huge chunk of its current series for the 2007-08 season, locking in 11 shows for next year. The pickups include no-brainers like "Grey's Anatomy," "Desperate Housewives" and "Dancing with the Stars" and a trio of first-year shows -- "Ugly Betty," "Brothers & Sisters" and "Men in Trees."
"We have had a strong year, with two of the season's breakout hits, 'Ugly Betty' and 'Brothers & Sisters,' and the solid performance of 'Men in Trees,'" ABC Entertainment chief Stephen McPherson says. "We are pleased that viewers have invested in these new favorites along with our other returning series. These shows provide us with a substantial foundation to make '07-'08 our best schedule yet."
The other returnees for next year are "Lost," which despite its sharp ratings decline since its February return is still a top-20 show in adults 18-49; "Boston Legal," "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" and the seemingly unkillable reality show "The Bachelor." "Jimmy Kimmel Live" will also be back in late night.
The network had previously announced that three more unscripted shows -- "America's Funniest Home Videos," "Supernanny" and "Wife Swap" -- would return, giving ABC 14 hours of programming for the coming season (assuming twice-weekly runs for "Dancing").
Absent from the early pickup list are any of ABC's half-hour comedies, which is not a huge surprise given their lackluster performance this season. The network's most-watched half-hour this season is the already-cancelled "Help Me Help You," which, thanks mostly to a "Dancing with the Stars" lead-in, averaged 8.4 million viewers. After "Dancing" ended its fall run, the show took a nosedive in the ratings.
"Boston Legal" and "Men in Trees" had been considered as bubble shows, though the latter has done reasonably well since moving to Thursdays after "Grey's" in January. ABC has yet to make a decision on struggling second-year drama "What About Brian" and newcomer "October Road," which premiered only last week, albeit to strong ratings. "Six Degrees," which returns to the schedule on Friday, is probably also a longshot at this point.
The network will formally unveil its 2007-08 schedule at its upfront presentation in May.
