TV Feature: What Will Happen to Your Favorite 2013 Network TV Shows

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ABC

ABC still continues to impress in terms of quality programming and surprise hits despite notable failures like “Zero Hour” and “Red Widow.” And yet they’ve given few signs of what they’re going to do in advance of next week’s announcements. In fact, we know less officially about ABC than any other network. CBS, FOX, and The CW are essentially decided already. Not so for ABC. It’s not surprising. At this point last year, they had yet to renew anything officially as well. Like last year, I don’t expect many changes.

Another factor in common with last year is that ABC seems likely to say goodbye to a critically-liked comedy with a loyal fanbase that I expect to end up on cable. USA has been in talks to take “Happy Endings” off ABC’s hands and they’ll gladly let them do so. The show that ABC never really supported, moved numerous times and put in different timeslots, is not going to be on the network’s fall schedule.

Happy Endings
Happy Endings
Photo credit: ABC

Once again, getting ahead of myself. There are some clear, obvious, duh renewals — “Modern Family,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Once Upon a Time,” “Nashville,” “The Middle,” “Scandal,” and “Revenge.” I’d be stunned if any of those missed the cut.

On the other side of the bubble, “Red Widow” and “Happy Endings” are merely waiting for the news to be official and “Don’t Trust the B——,” “Last Resort,” “Zero Hour,” “Private Practice,” and “666 Park Avenue” were already given their walking papers. Expect “Family Tools” to be shuttered soon as well.

That leaves six shows in some state of bubble-dom, most of them comedies. It may come down to a decision as to how many nights of comedy the network wants to schedule. “The Middle” & “Modern Family” aren’t going anywhere and I expect “Suburgatory” to be given another chance to find a larger audience with them on Wednesday nights. “How to Live with Your Parents” has done surprisingly well and should likely fill out that quartet at least for the Fall. I also expect the network to leave Fridays as is — “Last Man Standing” is nearly certain, “Malibu Country” less so but I don’t see them trying a new program there when they could better employ marketing a new pilot in a different spot. New comedies are likely to be paired on Tuesdays, possibly with a moved “Suburgatory” or “The Neighbors,” which, and there’s no real reason for this other than that I think “Parents” makes a better fit, I’m predicting will just miss the cut.

It leaves only one show — “Body of Proof.” It’s never found an audience. I predicted it would be canceled last year. I’ll make the same call this year. Eventually I’ll be right.

Predicted ABC Renewals:

“The Bachelor”
“Castle”
“Dancing With the Stars”
“Grey’s Anatomy”
“How to Live with Your Parents”
“Last Man Standing”
“Malibu Country”
“The Middle”
“Modern Family”
“Nashville”
“Once Upon a Time”
“Revenge”
“Scandal”
“Suburgatory”

Predicted ABC Cancellations:

“Body of Proof”
“Happy Endings”
“The Neighbors”
“Red Widow”

Predicted Move:

Rather than try and start yet another hit on Sunday nights why not move “Castle” into that block with “Once Upon a Time” and “Revenge” and use “Dancing with the Stars” to launch a new show on Monday nights, especially with a relatively weak “Revolution” and new show on CBS to compete against? I think “Castle” or possibly “Scandal” will move so the network doesn’t have to worry about using Sundays to launch another new show.

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