It's going to be an absurdly busy summer of original programming on ABC. I mean, you may not be excited about any of that original programming, but it's sure going to be filling a lot of primetime real estate.
On Monday, ABC announced a summer 2014 schedule that includes four new shows, plus eight returning series. There are scripted dramas, competitive reality shows, docudramas, things from Canada and more.
ABC's summer programming will already have started on April 24, when “Black Box” takes over the Thursday 10 p.m. slot currently occupied by the truncated third season of “Scandal.”
Two other summer offerings will get a slight head-start, premiering during the last week of the official Nielsen 2013-2014.
“The Bachelorette” will premiere on Monday, May 19 from 9:30-11 p.m. after the first part of the “Dancing with the Stars” finale. “The Bachelorette” will have its regular 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. time period premiere on May 26 and on Monday, June 2 the second season of “Mistresses” will take over the Monday 10 p.m. hour. [The six-part “Bachelor” spinoff “Bachelor in Paradise” — think “Bachelor Pad” only in a different location — will premiere on Monday, August 4 and will air in the 8 to 10 spot.]
Also sneaking out early is the drama “Motive,” a Canadian hit and a semi-solid performer for ABC last summer. “Motive” will premiere on Wednesday, May 21 at 10 p.m. ABC won't be airing anything else on Wednesdays this summer.
Actually, let's just go night-by-night, eh? [I'll do a list below.]
We've got Mondays covered, so original summer Tuesday programming will begin on May 27 with “Extreme Weight Loss” airing from 8 to 10. “NY Med” will return on June 24 in the 10 p.m. hour.
Thursdays will be a big more active. “Black Box” will keep the night warm through June 19 when the odd fantasy-reality hybrid “The Quest,” which finds contestants completing quests in a mythical real with the use of animatronics, prosthetics and real-time motion capture, takes over the 8 p.m. hour. “Rookie Blue” will return for yet another season of Canadian-accented police procedure and soapy romance on Thursday, July 17. Then, on July 24, ABC will premiere the period drama “The Astronaut Wives Club” from executive producers Stephanie Savage and Josh Schwartz, featuring an ensemble led by JoAnna Garcia Swisher, Odette Annable, Zoe Boyle and Desmond Harrington.
Sundays will also be busy with “Wipeout” getting a two-hour premiere on June 22 from 7 to 9, leading into the singing competition “Rising Star,” which will feature some live-voting component and presumably largely disenfranchise West Coast viewers. “Wipeout” will take its regular 8 p.m. hour the following week, while “Rising Star” will air from 9 to 11.
Oh and “Bet On Your Baby” will air on Saturdays at 8 p.m. starting on May 31.
So that's four new shows — “The Quest” (June 19) “Rising Star” (June 22), “The Astronauts Wives Club” (July 24) and “Bachelor in Paradise” (August 4) — plus the returns of “The Bachelorette” (May 19), “Motive” (May 21), “Extreme Weight Loss” (May 27), “Bet On Your Baby” (May 31), “Mistresses” (June 2), “Wipeout” (June 22), “NY Med” (June 24) and “Rookie Blue” (July 17).
Whew.
Anything there exciting you? Seriously?!?