Analysis: ABC's Fall 2013 Television Schedule

ABC has more than a few holes to fill in its schedule and is taking some chances in the fall to remedy those problems. For instance, an all-new line-up will be introduced on Tuesday and is anchored by Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (pictured above), which hopes to capitalize on the big screen success of The Avengers, which featured the covert group. The alphabet network should make a strong or decent showing for six of the seven nights, but when Dancing with the Stars and College Football end in late fall, trouble could be brewing, at least until DWTS returns in the spring.

Monday evenings are strong, with the older skewing, but still popular, DWTS and Castle. On Wednesday, Modern Family and The Middle should continue to attract the coveted 18-49 demographic in solid numbers, but it has been challenging to establish compatible comedies for both series. The stability of Grey's Anatomy and the popularity of Scandal have been a boost for Thursday, which could turn into an even stronger night with the addiction of Once Upon A Time in Wonderland, a spin-off of Once Upon A Time. Fridays are anchored by the modest hit Last Man Standing and the demo friendly Shark Tank. Finally, Sunday evenings may be a problem. While veteran America's Funniest Home Videos continues to be popular (and no doubt profitable), Once Upon A Time has seen a decline in ratings, but is still doing well. Likewise, Revenge has fallen a bit and that resulted in the departure of creator and executive producer Mike Kelley. Perhaps new blood behind the scenes will boost ratings on this important night.

Overall, I suspect ABC has a good chance of remaining competitive in the fall, but will need at least one new series to resonate on Tuesday, as well as continued stability of its veteran series and a resurgence on Sunday evenings. I will be sampling the aforementioned Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D and Once Upon A Time in Wonderland.


Check out ABC's Fall 2013 schedule below:

Monday
8:00 p.m. “Dancing With the Stars”
10:00 p.m. “Castle”

Tuesday
8:00 p.m. “MARVEL’S AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D.”
9:00 p.m. “THE GOLDBERGS”
9:30 p.m. “TROPHY WIFE”
10:00 p.m. “LUCKY 7”

Wednesday
8:00 p.m. “The Middle”
8:30 p.m. “BACK IN THE GAME”
9:00 p.m. “Modern Family”
9:30 p.m. “SUPER FIN NIGHT”
10:00 p.m. “Nashville"

Thursday
8:00 p.m. “ONCE UPON A TIME IN WONDERLAND”
9:00 p.m. “Grey’s Anatomy”
10:00 p.m. “Scandal”

Friday
8:00 p.m. “Last Man Standing”
8:30 p.m. “The Neighbors” (new day)
9:00 p.m. “Shark Tank”
10:00 p.m. “20/20”

Saturday
8:00 p.m. “Saturday Night College Football”

Sunday
7:00 p.m. “America’s Funniest Home Videos”
8:00 p.m. “Once Upon a Time”
9:00 p.m. “Revenge”
10:00 p.m. “BETRAYAL”

New Series

COMEDY
“Back in the Game”
A stubborn single mother has to move back home with her prickly and widowed father, a former minor league baseball player. James Caan, Ben Koldyke and Maggie Lawson star.

“The Goldbergs”
An overbearing, emotional shopaholic with a big mouth and no sense of boundaries is the focus of this 1980s set half-hour. The cast includes Wendi McLendon-Covey and George Segal

“Mixology” (midseason)
Set in a Manhattan bar, the adventures of singles in search of love over the course of one night is chronicled. Sarah Bolger (“Once Upon a Time”) stars. Ryan Seacrest is an executive producer.

“Super Fun Night”
After her younger sister gets married, a young woman decides to reinvent her social life by having “super fun” adventures with her two best female friends every Friday night. Rebel Wilson “(Bridesmaids”) stars.

“Trophy Wife”
A reformed party girl who marries a man twenty years her senior has two put up with two judgmental ex-wives and three manipulative stepchildren. Malin Akerman, Bradley Whitford, Marcia Gay Harden and Natalie Morales star.

DRAMA

“Betrayal”
Based on the Dutch series “Overspel,” a beautiful but unhappily married female photographer begins a torrid love affair with a high-powered attorney. The twist: her lover is defending a murder suspect who is being prosecuted by her husband. James Cromwell (“American Horror Story: Asylum”) and Henry Thomas (“E.T.”) star.

“Killer Women” (midseason)
Based on the Argentine series “Mujeres Asesina,” the only woman in the all-male and notorious Texas Rangers is the focus. Tricia Helfer (“Battlestar Galactica”), Marc Blucas (“Necessary Roughness”) and Michael Trucco (“Battlestar Galactica”) star. Sofia Vergara is an executive producer.

“Lucky 7”
Based on BBC series “The Syndicate,” seven employees working at a service station in Queens, New York see their lives completely change after they win the lottery. Isiah Whitlock, Jr. stars. Steven Spielberg is an executive producer.

“Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”
From Joss Whedon (“Avengers”) and based on Marvel Comic Book’s peacekeeping organization called S.H.I.E.L.D., a worldwide law enforcement organization polices the new, the strange and the unknown. The cast includes Ming-Na (“ER”) and Clark Gregg (reprising his “Avengers” role).

“Mind Games”
Two brothers — a bipolar genius in human psychology and a slick ex-con — head a unique agency designed to solve problems using the real science of human motivation and manipulation. Steve Zahn and Christian Slater lead the cast.

"Once Upon a Time in Wonderland”
Spun-off from Sunday drama “Once Upon a Time,” the young and beautiful Alice (Sophie Lowe) tells of a tale of a strange new land that exists on the other side of a rabbit hole in Victorian England. Included is an invisible cat, a hookah smoking caterpillar and playing-cards that talk. John Lithgow is the irrepressible White Rabbit.

“Resurrection” (midseason)
The lives of the people of Arcadia, Missouri are forever changed when their deceased loved ones return. The cast includes Omar Epps (“House”) and Frances Fisher (“Titanic”).

REALITY
“The Quest” (midseason)
Described as fantasy meets reality, twelve contestants go on the journey of a lifetime in a unique competition where players will engage in epic challenges.