ABC is changing things up in scheduling some of its serialized dramas.
Taking a page from the cable model, the network will air what ABC president Paul Lee called “a selected group” of dramas in two uninterrupted runs, one in the fall and one in the spring, bridged by limited series. The series that will follow the new scheduling pattern include Once Upon A Time, Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal and likely Revenge, with others TBD. So far, the network only has set up a bridge series for Once, new adventure reality series The Quest. Lee said such bridge series won’t necessarily be all unscripted.
Two cycles of 12 episodes would bring the total orders for the shows to 24, which is hard on a complex, serialized drama, but Lee indicated that number has not been set in stone. He said that the network is looking to further shake up the traditional broadcast scheduling model with “quality launches” throughout the season. Lee also said that new fall drama Betrayal is designed as a limited series, airing 12-13 episodes a season. The same applies to midseason drama Resurrection.
Source: Deadline
Taking a page from the cable model, the network will air what ABC president Paul Lee called “a selected group” of dramas in two uninterrupted runs, one in the fall and one in the spring, bridged by limited series. The series that will follow the new scheduling pattern include Once Upon A Time, Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal and likely Revenge, with others TBD. So far, the network only has set up a bridge series for Once, new adventure reality series The Quest. Lee said such bridge series won’t necessarily be all unscripted.
Two cycles of 12 episodes would bring the total orders for the shows to 24, which is hard on a complex, serialized drama, but Lee indicated that number has not been set in stone. He said that the network is looking to further shake up the traditional broadcast scheduling model with “quality launches” throughout the season. Lee also said that new fall drama Betrayal is designed as a limited series, airing 12-13 episodes a season. The same applies to midseason drama Resurrection.
Source: Deadline
So this means less interrupted schedules like this year...? Please say that is true!
ReplyDeleteI like the idea! One longer break sounds definitely less annoying than many shorter ones.
ReplyDeleteI think this will be good for shows.
ReplyDeletethis is a very smart move by ABC- so I'm guessing Killer Women, Resurrection, Mixology & Suburgatory and Mind Games will go into OUAT, Revenge, Grey's Anatomy and Scandal's spot respectively in the midseason then...
ReplyDeleteI hope this works and I think it's a good idea! Much better than the fucked up schedule that was this season.
ReplyDeleteSo straight through now 3 week breaks then a new episode? if so im down!
ReplyDeleteagreed, i dont know if you watched once upon a time but their was so many breaks it was unbearable
ReplyDeleteWow ABC really means business this year!!!
ReplyDeleteConsidering 13-episode shows usually work much better than 22-episode ones, I'm all in. It also consolidates the general tendency of making everything shorter, but possibly better, so no complaints here.
ReplyDeletesounds like a good idea to me, more episodes and less breaks.
ReplyDeleteDeadline already reported of a reality show that will take Once's spot during its break and there could be more of those.
ReplyDeleteIf it means a better seclude for Once Upon a Time, IE, NOT airing it during award shows and stupid four week breaks after airing one episode then I'm all in!
ReplyDeleteThis should mean the serialzed shows will air from begining to september through end of November.
ReplyDeleteThen reality or limited show airs In it's place from Begining of December through end of february,and then serialized show returns at begining of March and goes to end of May.
Yay! Just what I wanted (and predicted!) it's the endless short gaps that kill a shows ratings and hopefully OUAT can return strong for both 3.0 and 3.5 (this feels like cable!) and 24 episodes is better than 22! (37 including Wonderland) what a great year to be a OUAT fan!! :D
ReplyDeleteThat's what USA Network is doing with it's shows for example White Collar seasons have 16 episodes so first 10 airs in the summer and then the final 6 episodes airs January following year. Same Concept applies to Suits.Covert Affairs and Burn Notice
ReplyDeleteI am totally on board for this. I am surprised they are doing it for Grey's too. Honestly, I think it has more to do with the Olympics than anything, but we shall see. It doesn't make up for the fact that they didn't shift Mondays and Sundays and got Revenge and OUAT the hell out of Sundays, but it is something.
ReplyDeleteAgreed
ReplyDeleteIt is also certain that at least one fall show will fall. The 4 comedies, particularly, look prone to fail somehow. Suburgatory will probably be back in January, if not for November Sweeps
ReplyDeleteOn another note, they should also stick with the 4 comedies they have on the wednesday block right now (unless one flops and is replaced). No airing new stuff between comedies only to air new stuff in the spring that you have decided you will cancel anyway... nobody possibly gains from that
ReplyDeleteI think it's a fantastic idea! I think it will make the shows so much better. Those breaks could really drive you nuts! -Revolution did this (but in 10 and 10) and so far I think it's way better to view it this way.
ReplyDeleteYes, FINALLY some good news. I hate their current schedule with lots of interruption and repeated episodes.
ReplyDeleteGrey's has been doing 24 episodes for many years, now. So that is normal for them.
ReplyDeleteLike 2 seasons in one, I wonder if the shows knowing their schedule up front will design the last episodes before the longer breaks as cliffhanger endings like seasons usually end? That could be fun and torture
ReplyDeleteSo basically it's what Revolution did, only the ABC shows will have a mini show inbetween unlike Revolution which had nothing in between to tide fans over.
ReplyDeleteSounds like ABC are taking a leaf out of NBC's playbook from Revolution - and it didn't really work for them...... but hopefully a shorter gap than Revolution's 17 weeks will make this work much better
ReplyDeletei thought they pretty much did that anyways? 12 episodes from Sept through to Dec then the rest of the season from Jan-May
ReplyDeleteGood idea! We get more content instead of reruns.
ReplyDeleteRevolution returned with high enough ratings and dropped because of the quality, not the hiatus.
ReplyDeleteMoving Once and Revenge to Mondays and airing them against female skewing the Voice would have been a bad idea...
ReplyDeleteI suppose this will work for established shows already, though I think I would prefer them filming all episodes and having a longer break in between seasons then 12 episode cycles. But this is better then their usual airing schedule at least.
ReplyDeleteI prefer it the way it it. This way, there are going to be a 4 month break in the summer, and then a 3 month break in the spring. I can't handle two breaks!
ReplyDeleteHallelujah.
ReplyDeleteIt works for cable, shows like Pretty Little Liars airs this way and it is extremely successful.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Revolution returned on par on what it did before the hiatus, people left because they weren't interested in what they saw after it.
No no I mean 11 episodes of Show A, a 13-episode limited series Show B, and then the final 11 episodes of Show A. 35 episodes would be impossible!
ReplyDeleteI have my doubts how true that holds after season 2 to be honest. It has somehow moved away from that concept IMO. But with that logic Wonderland shouldn't be on Thursday either. I do think that families watch television during the week though... Not just on sunday! I do concede that 8pm is probably better now, it could be flopped with the comedies. But I think ABC would overall be better with this schedule.
ReplyDeleteAh I see what you mean now. Yeah that definitely sounds like a great way to do it.
ReplyDeletetwenty four episodes of Once Upon A Time in two uninterupted blocks? HELL YES!!
ReplyDeleteThis might actually be my favorite "move" from the entire upfronts so far!
ReplyDeleteWell said!!
ReplyDeleteYou can't have two shows at Sunday at 8PM and Wonderland doesn't have a child in its main cast.
ReplyDeleteSo shows with childs in the main cast will air at 8 Sundays? Castle, Body of Proof, Modern Family, Parenthood, Two and a Half Men, Brothers and Sisters, etc etc etc say hi!
ReplyDeletePlease CBS do it with Person of Interest. If you say that OUAT had interrupted schedule - you didn't watch POI.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I am concerned (a bit) about ratings. Revolution had this huge break durign winter and now it's ratings are getting worse and worse...
the best any network has made! No interruptions and more episodes! What could be better?
ReplyDeleteActually Jan through May would have more breaks in between, I believe its gonna be Sept-Dec and Mar-May 12 straight weeks of uninterrupted episodes...with only 2 mons of Hiatus
ReplyDeleteI would be shocked if CBS did this Person of Interest.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Revolution's rating woes were a trend that started before the break, you should not blame it on the break
Signed on
ReplyDeleteGreys were having a 2 episodes and a break trough the first half of this season, tha was so frustrating...
ReplyDeleteAll of those shows involve fairytales too? Good to know, lol!
ReplyDeleteActually, what could be better, IMO, was a move out of Sundays for both shows, especially for Revenge! The break is still way way better than what they had this year though!
ReplyDeleteI didn't realize you were sticking with fantasy shows. It just seems a mute point to me to use the child character argument. Anyway, I get your point, but I disagree. I dislike Sundays for serialized shows on ABC. Reality would fit better in there, that is my opinion.
ReplyDeleteI remember. But I think that had to do with special events this year I think, no? Maybe I am wrong. Anyway, apparently it won't happen next year ;)
ReplyDelete100% agree! :D
ReplyDeleteThe show usually ends the season on Mother's Day, so you should expect it to end a week earlier.
ReplyDeleteDidn't they try this with the third season of Lost? I seem to recall that not working out well for them.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if we know why it dropped (I think it had dropped off a bit before?), if it's really the hiatus, but it picked up a lot of DVDR numbers, so it might just be Revolution fans are also Castle and/or Hawaii Five-O fans and they put Revolution on the back burner, as their shows (especially Castle) spiced up a little bit and some people of course just quit, because they simply don't like it for one reason or another.
ReplyDeletePersonally I thought episodes 11-13 were good (had better story and production value) and then they dropped back to story of the week format, being average episodes, but yesterday's was pretty good, So I'm thinking that this is just the way Revolution is going to work with it's arcs...
I'd rather watch it this way, then the way I had to watch Once and POI!
Sounds like a great idea! Good opportunity to try out new shows during the gap between the two batches
ReplyDeleteoh right okay, thanks for replying
ReplyDeleteit didn't pick up in DVR numbers after the hiatus. Before the hiatus it had at least 1.8 increase or more and after, 1.5 at most. It probably went up in percentages due to having a lower live+same day ratings but not in the actual ratings.
ReplyDeleteIt's one of the shows where it's hard to say how many that watch it live are fans due to its massive lead-in. Some could watch out of habit due to it being after the Voice and some could be fans but also be fans of XFactor/AI and DVR instead of watch live on Wednesday.
Great idea! I hope this works out! :D
ReplyDeleteI think this is an awesome idea, and I think if they do enough advertising while the shows are in the off cycle, it will prove to be successful. This is how Pretty Little Liars does things and I actually prefer it. 12 Summer episodes, their Halloween episode to keep fans held over, and then the remaining 11-12 episodes in January. Love it. Hope ABC does in fact implement this because the OUAT hiatuses nearly killed my interest in the show...they were SO ridiculous this year! Grey's had some in the beginning but that was due to presidential stuff so I let that slide. Once those were out of the way, their hiatuses weren't as bad. Or at least it didn't feel like it.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with that, I was hoping there could be a Scandal/Revenge pairing as the former has become a great hit and both shows are actually quite compatible, but I'm confident this strategy might benefit both OUAT and Revenge next fall
ReplyDeleteI believe (and HOPE) that is part of this plan....
ReplyDeleteThis could do miracles for all shows involved.
ReplyDeleteat last networks are starting to listen and getting with the program!
ReplyDeleteThis is one of my least favourite things for other shows. Completely screwed up the watchability of BSG, W13, SG1 and others.
ReplyDeleteNo no no! Because we will be stuck with the same crap in between as we have in the summer. The only show this may help is revenge simply because some at the show felt it would be easier to write for 12 episodes than 22 or 24. Not happy about this at all.
ReplyDeleteIf it's good for OUAT, it's good for me.
ReplyDeleteFOX is doing the same with Glee this year and I think it's much better. I'd rather have 12 straight weeks of new episodes, then a big (probably cliffhanged) break and then another 12 episodes than an alternating 4 episodes-2 weeks break system.
ReplyDeleteThese are serialized shows so its much better to watch them without too many breaks in the schedule. Also a 12 episode arch will be much tighter for the writers that way we do not have as many fillers.
ReplyDeleteThe Walking Dead uses this formula too and its the biggest show currently so I think this idea withh definitely benefit all of these shows.
This season Revenge and Once were doing great in the ratings up until the three straight episodes where they went up against the Golden Globes, Grammys and NFC. This way they can avoid the Olympics and award season ceremonies.
This sounds like a very good idea!!!
IMO one big break is better than 3 or 4 small during the season. But this big break shouldn't be longer than 6-8 weeks (for example mid december to mid february). I wouldn't like it, if they do 3-4 months breaks. That sucks...by the time the second half of the season is starting, you've almost forgot the first part and have to rewatch:((...
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a good plan, will have to see how it plays out come fall.
ReplyDeleteI think it will be mid-december until early-march, which is almost what you wanted. february is bad because the olympics will be there so it is best for the shows to avoid them
ReplyDeleteGreat news! I have lost so much interest in some shows because of all the stopping and starting. OUAT and supernatural (shows where you need to concentrate on the big storylines mainly) have become non interesting to me now because I can't keep track of what happened last time and just as you get into the show it stops. Lets hope they do this for all the big dramas :)
ReplyDeleteWell, that would be also o.k.... they just shouldn't take the break until end of April (as SyFy did recently with Warehouse 13/ season 4.5 - that was waay too long!)
ReplyDeleteDon't worry, they won't do that for sure. The season finishes mid May, so shows won't run with originals until later than May except for a handful of exceptions (apparently Glee will do it a bit next year). Coming back at the end of April to run 12 episodes would mean running way too deep into the summer
ReplyDeleteI don't mind the idea of having uninterrupted seasons, but there is NO reason to have such a long winter break. It's plain lazy. These people are paid lots of money to work. A three to four month hiatus is no excuse for what should only be a 2 week break. Christmas and New Year's are only 2 days. Again, no reason for having these insane breaks. Also, the random mini breaks between Jan.-May is just a slap in the face. I do hope my venting is corrected and ABC puts my foot in my mouth and makes this work.
ReplyDeleteFINALLY. I've been saying for ages that this is what needs to be done, especially with serialized shows. Two (or at most three) large blocks of episodes in a season, one or two big breaks in the middle. Instead, networks seem to favor the haphazard "two weeks on, three weeks off, three weeks on, two weeks off" scheduling that ultimately makes viewers completely unable to figure out if the show is on at any given week, and kills the ratings.
ReplyDeleteI reckon, ABC family does a similar thing with Pretty little Liars and the always have a big Mid-season Finale and then Season Finale.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a great idea! I like the cable model for scheduling. Plus, this idea makes sure viewers get new content more often, since the hiatus is filled with a bridging limited series. Is a limited series basically a long miniseries, meaning it'll end after one shortened season?
ReplyDeleteI don't know, I actually like having to wait for twists to resolve two/three weeks later. Gives me something to look forward to and I like trying to figure out what's going to happen next. And I love suspense
ReplyDeleteNo way in hell would I survive a 11-13 week break of a show. No way in hell. I'd rather the 2 weeks break every episode.
ReplyDeleteWell to be honest my original idea was moving the current Sunday lineup to tuesdays, the current tuesday lineup to mondays and the current monday lineup to sundays. I was just simplyfing it a bit Something like:
ReplyDeleteSundays
The Bachelor/ Reality Filler/ DWTS
The Bachelor/ Reality Filler/ DWTS
Betrayal
Monday
Shield
Lucky 7
Castle
Tuesday
Comedies
OUAT
Revenge
I'm really interested in seeing how this works out. On one hand I would like to see two mini seasons and have the pace picked up and concise like scandal did its first season and the first half of the second season. But I don't want to see it like the second half of scandals season where it was basically 'how can we extend 13 episodes into 22, with having the first 13 written already'.
ReplyDeleteIn the other hand I don't want to have it be like the second half of season 2 of scandal where it was season 2.5 with a vague/similar vibe yet very different than the first half
Yes! 24 episodes for Revenge, sweet!
ReplyDeleteI'm liking this, it's like having cable series in networks, with two seasons of 12 episodes. It might work out great! Really, really liking it :D