ABC today unveiled premiere dates for its mideason lineup, which features the return of the network’s scripted series post-strike. The announcement includes a slew of scheduling changes.
They are led by The Good Doctor‘s move from its longtime Monday 10 PM slot to Tuesdays 10 PM. The popular medical drama had been ABC’s Monday 10 PM anchor since its launch. The rationale for the relocation is that another drama vs. unscripted lead-in tends to provide better retention for a drama series.
That is not a hard and fast rule. NBC has regularly used The Voice as a launch pad for new drama series, most recently The Irrational and Found, which both have delivered respectable numbers this fall behind the singing competition on Monday and Tuesday, respectively.
For the past six seasons, The Good Doctor also has done well following a tentpole ABC reality series on Mondays, Dancing With the Stars or The Bachelor. The network is now putting another unscripted program, a 20/20 true crime limited series about love crimes behind The Bachelor on Monday.
ABC’s Tuesday lineup is getting scrambled upon The Good Doctor‘s arrival, with The Rookie sliding from 8 PM to 9 PM and Will Trent moving from 10 PM to 8 PM. Putting two of ABC’s most watched series, The Rookie and The Good Doctor, back-to-back should create a formidable block of programming for the network.
Another arrival, that of Fox’s 9-1-1, which moved to ABC after last season, is bringing a change to the Thursday lineup. After three and a half seasons in the pole 8 PM position, first responder drama Station 19 is moving to 10 PM, switching from a Grey’s Anatomy lead-in to lead-out. Another first responder show, 9-1-1, is taking over the 8 PM hour.
The scheduling tweak signals a new dynamic between Grey’s Anatomy and Station 19, with the spinoff being less reliant on the mothership series, with fewer crossovers between them. (There will be only one this season.)
There are minor changes on Wednesday, with Not Dead Yet moving into the hammock 8:30 PM slot between The Conners and Abbott Elementary following the end of The Goldbergs. Judge Steve Harvey, which has aired on the night at 8 PM, will now follow the comedy block at 10 PM. (ABC is yet to announce what will air at 9:30 PM.)
Here is the current ABC’s midseason lineup:
MONDAY
8 PM — The Bachelor
10:01 PM — 20/20
WEDNESDAY
8 PM — The Conners
8:30 PM — Not Dead Yet
9 PM — Abbott Elementary
10 PM — Judge Steve Harvey
SUNDAY
8 PM — American Idol
10 PM — What Would You Do?
TUESDAY
8 PM — Will Trent
9 PM — The Rookie
10 PM — The Good Doctor
THURSDAY
8 PM — 9-1-1
9 PM — Grey’s Anatomy
10 PM — Station 19
