ABC Summer 2009 Schedule

Okay, so far all we have is the ABC summer schedule set. I'm working on FOX and NBC, hoping to post it later today. CBS hasn't released their summer sked yet, but we'll also have that available when they do.

ABC SUMMER 2009
Monday, May 18
8:00 Dancing with the Stars (performance show finale)
9:00 The Bachelorette (2-hour season premiere)

Mondays, beginning May 25
8:00 The Bachelorette (2-hours)
10:00 Here Come the Newlyweds (new season, until July 13)

Mondays, beginning July 20
8:00 The Bachelorette
10:00 Dating in the Dark (series premiere)

Tuesdays, beginning May 26
8:00 Opportunity Knocks (airs 2 episodes May 26 and June 2)

Tuesdays, beginning June 23
8:00 The Superstars (series premiere)

Wednesdays, beginning May 27
8:00 Wipeout
9:00 The Goode Family (series premiere)
9:30 Surviving Suburbia (new night)

Wednesdays, beginning July 8
8:00 Wipeout
9:00 I Survived a Japanese Gameshow (season premiere)

Saturdays, beginning May 30
10:00 Pushing Daisies

Saturdays, beginning June 20
10:00 Eli Stone

Saturdays, beginning July 18
10:00 Dirty Sexy Money


NOTES: I'm guessing repeats will be filling the remaining hours. For instance, Sundays should be the same lineup in repeats. Thursdays should be repeats of Ugly Betty/Grey's Anatomy/Private Practice. Not sure what will be repeating on Tuesdays at 9pm, though. Also note, Wipeout already aired its season premiere during the Superbowl, so the new episodes on Wednesdays will be a continuation of season 2.

Take a look at shows descriptions for their new and returning summer series:
THE BACHELORETTE – SPECIAL TWO-HOUR PREMIERE MONDAY, MAY 18 (9:00-11:00 p.m.), AND REGULAR TIME PERIOD PREMIERE MONDAY, MAY 25 (8:00-10:00 p.m.) – Jillian Harris, the intelligent, independent, passionate woman who fell just short of her goal – hoping that Jason Mesnick could be her best friend, soul mate and future husband on the just completed hit series of “The Bachelor” – will have her own opportunity to find true love, starring in the fifth edition of “The Bachelorette.” An instant fan favorite on “The Bachelor,” Jillian, 29, a restaurant interior designer, will get to choose from among a group of the country’s most eligible bachelors and is confident that she can find the love of her life on the series. Hosted by Chris Harrison, “The Bachelorette” is produced by Next Entertainment in association with Warner Horizon Television. Mike Fleiss and Martin Hilton are the executive producers.

HERE COME THE NEWLYWEDS – PREMIERES MONDAY, MAY 25 (10:00-11:00 p.m.) -- The one-hour romantic comedy alternative series returns for a second season with nine just-married couples competing for a life-changing cash prize to help kick-start their new lives together and realize their dreams. Hosted by comedian Pat Bullard, “Here Come the Newlyweds” is all about relationships, the differences between men and women and the universal issues that every couple must face. In this eight-episode series, each couple faces a variety of mental and physical challenges that will test the love and passion they have for one another, as well as their competitive spirit. At the end of each episode, the field will be narrowed as the newlyweds vote to send one couple home. The stakes get higher as the potential nest egg grows, until one couple ultimately wins the grand prize. The executive producers of “Here Come the Newlyweds” are Jay Blumenfield and Tony Marsh (“The Road to Stardom with Missy Elliott,” “Dane Cook’s Tourgasm”). The series is produced by The Jay and Tony Show in association with Warner Horizon Television.

WIPEOUT – PREMIERES WEDNESDAY, MAY 27 (8:00-9:00 p.m.) – Bigger, better, wilder than ever! ABC’s hit series “Wipeout,” the #1-rated summer series across all networks, returns for season two as wide-eyed and energized contestants compete in the world’s largest extreme obstacle course, providing the biggest spills and best wipeouts ever seen on television. The Qualifier boasts amazing new obstacles including: Plank in the Face, Hurtles and Gyro Sweeper. Brace yourself in the all new Wipeout Zone with the Catapult, Gears of Doom and more high stakes challenges. And the fan favorite obstacle -- the Big Balls -- will return but with a twist: “The Motivator” a massive anvil sneaks up on contestants propelling then onto the Big Balls if they dare to hesitate.Each week, 24 daring new contestants of all ages, shapes and sizes go head to head through four rounds of demanding but hilarious obstacle courses to win the title of “Wipeout Champion” and the $50,000 grand prize. In the end, only one contestant will win, while everyone else will Wipeout!“Wipeout” is hosted by John Henson (E! Entertainment’s “Talk Soup”) and John Anderson (ESPN’s “SportsCenter”). Jill Wagner is co-host. Executive producers are Matt Kunitz and Scott Larsen (“Fear Factor”). Shye Sutherland, Kevin Wehrenberg, Trice Barto and J. Rupert Thompson are co-executive producers. The series is produced by Endemol USA. David Goldberg is the Chairman of Endemol North America.

THE GOODE FAMILY – PREMIERES WEDNESDAY, MAY 27 (9:00-9:30 p.m.) – “The Goode Family” is a new animated series from Mike Judge (“King of the Hill,” “Beavis and Butt-head,” “Office Space”), John Altschuler and Dave Krinsky (“King of the Hill,” “Blades of Glory”). With standards always changing, no matter how hard you try to be good, it’s virtually impossible these days . . . especially for the Goode family. Meet Gerald and Helen Goode, a couple who live by the motto WWAGD (“What Would Al Gore Do?”). Gerald, a college administrator, and Helen, a community activist, are determined to obliterate their carbon footprint on the planet: They’re zealous vegans, they drive a hybrid, and they recycle everything possible. Even the family dog, Che, is vegan. In the words of Helen, all the Goodes want to do is buy organic apples and call minorities by their right names. But despite their best efforts, something always goes haywire with their politically correct plans. “The Goode Family” is voiced by Mike Judge as Gerald, Nancy Carell as Helen, Dave Herman as Ubuntu, Linda Cardellini as Bliss, and Brian Doyle Murray as Charlie. John Altschuler, Mike Judge, Dave Krinsky, Michael Rotenberg, and Tom Lassally are executive producers of the series, which is produced by MRC and 3 Arts Entertainment.

THE SUPERSTARS – PREMIERES TUESDAY, JUNE 23 (8:00-9:00 p.m.) -- “The Superstars,” a fresh take on an old favorite, is based on ABC’s classic “Wide World of Sports” series, “The Superstars,” which pitted athletes from all different sports against each other to determine the best athlete in the world. Eight celebrities are paired with eight professional male and female athletes to compete against each other in varying sporting events. Each week a team will be eliminated until one team is ultimately crowned the winner. Competitors’ athletic prowess will be put to the test, with events including swimming, biking, running and kayaking, in addition to other head-to-head athletic challenges that will test strength, speed, stamina, agility, as well as an element of strategy. The 6 episode series will be shot entirely on location at the Atlantic Resort in the Bahamas.“The Superstars” is produced by Juma Entertainment and Blue Entertainment Sports Television (BEST). Robert Horowitz, president, Juma Entertainment, Lewis Fenton, head of production, Juma Entertainment, Dennis Spencer, executive vice president, BEST and Michael Principe, managing director, BEST, are the executive producers.

I SURVIVED A JAPANESE GAME SHOW – PREMIERES WEDNESDAY, JULY 8 (9:00-10:00 p.m.) – Going into its second season, “I Survived A Japanese Game Show” is an unscripted reality/game show -- actually a show within a show -- taking an eye-opening, behind-the-scenes look at 12 Americans who are whisked away to Japan to compete in the ultimate Japanese game show. The results are sure to be hilarious as this season will be even bigger and funnier than the last. The final winner will take home $250,000. Returning will be the witty Game Show Host Rome Kanda (“Pink Panther,” “Saturday Night Live”), who leads the contestants through all of the zany challenges; Mamasan, a house mother and resident pot stirrer; and Judge Bob, the rarely dynamic but always entertaining referee of the games.The executive producers are Arthur Smith and Kent Weed for A. Smith & Co. (“Kitchen Nightmares,” “Hell’s Kitchen”); and David Sidebotham, Karsten Bartholin and Tim Crescenti for Babyfoot APS Denmark. “I Survived A Japanese Game Show” is one of only four US shows nominated for a Rose D’Or Award, plus the series received a DGA nomination for Best Reality Competition Show.

DATING IN THE DARK – PREMIERES MONDAY, JULY 20 (10:00-11:00 p.m.) – “Dating In The Dark” is the unique alternative series that asks the age-old question, “Is Love Blind?” Each week, three single men and three single women, all looking for love, will move into a house together, but be totally sequestered from the opposite sex. While they will have no chance of seeing each other in the light, they will have the opportunity to date in a completely dark room. Looks will be taken out of the equation as the men and women get to know each other and form bonds in total darkness. After several days of dating in the darkroom, the participants will select the one member of the opposite sex that they want to see revealed in the light. For the first time, the participants will see who they have been dating, wooing, kissing, snuggling with and forming bonds with. And after they see each other in the light for the first time, they have to make the difficult decision...do they stay with the person they fell for in the dark, or leave them behind. Hosted by Rossi Moreale (“Can You Duet?,” “Temptation”).“Dating in the Dark” is produced by Endemol USA, a division of Endemol holding, along with Talpa Content, the format department of Dutch media entrepreneur John’s de Mol’s company. David Goldberg is the North America Chairman of Endemol USA. The series is executive-produced by Tom Shelley and the co-executive producer is Richard Devinki.


AUGUST NOTE: It's still rumored that ABC is planning a 10th anniversary 2-week run of Who Wants to be a Millionaire? in late August, which was the time the show premiered 10 years ago. Look out for possible a Sunday-Thursday run for 2 weeks, for possibly August 16-30 at either 8 or 9pm. But, I only see this happening if Regis agrees to return. If not, their only other option would be Meredith, who is also great as host, but as a hectic schedule.