ABC Cancels Seven, Orders 12 New Shows

It was a bloodbath on Friday (the 13th) as ABC began announcing which shows survived their rookie season and those pilots that would get their own. After the dust settled, seven shows were cancelled and the network had seven new dramas and five new comedies in its stable of Fall shows.

“Brothers& Sisters” was probably the most high-profile cancellation, ending the show abruptly after five seasons. Deadlinereported executives discussed the possibility of a shortened sixth to finalize the drama, but high testing amongst new shows ultimately meant trying something fresh in the cushy post-”Desperate Housewives” slot. (By the way, drama on Wisteria Lane will continue until at least 2013.)

But also dumped unceremoniously was the dual-season show“V,” along with freshman series ”Detroit 1-8-7,” sitcom“Better With You,” Matthew Perry’s“Mr. Sunshine,” superhero show“No Ordinary Family,” and medical drama“Off the Map.”

However, midseason comedy“Happy Endings” received a renewal, meaning FOX will have to find a new actor to replace Damon Wayan Jr. in“The New Girl” and NBC will be on the lookout to replace Adam Pally in their new comedy“BFFs.” I need to see this apparently.

As for new shows, ABC will try out a revival of the’70s series with a modern“Charlie’s Angels” (read more about it here) and the fun, fairy tale-inspired“Once Upon a Time” with the adorable Ginnifer Goodwin and heaps of nostalgia. ”Pan Am,” a’60s throwback like NBC’s“The Playboy Club,” is a primetime soap about flight attendants and pilots working for Pan Am Airlines, before the political correctness when sex was used to sell tickets. Christina Ricci stars as a beatnik stewardess named Maggie.

“Good Christian Bitches,” a premise (title) that drew early, expected ire from the prudish Parents Television Council, has been renamed“Good Christian Belles” and picked up to series. Like“Housewives,” it’s a sexy soap about a woman’s second chance and, of course, the gossip that ensues. Leslie Bibb and Kristin Chenoweth star.

Meanwhile, suburbia is being mined for laughs in“Suburgatory,” the story of a misanthropic teenager uprooted from the city and moved to the‘burbs. It’s a mildly funny pilot, but can a show be sustained simply on pure contempt for soccer moms and annoying neighbors? It can withCheryl Hinesin the mix, along with Jeremy Sisto and Alan Tudyk.

The new Tim Allen comedy“Last Man Standing” is also preparing for its fall debut. It’s about a manly-man in today’s modern world, which just makes me sort of miss“Home Improvement.” This is rather close to another new ABC comedy called“Man Up” about a group of men coming to terms with their middle-age status. Dan Fogler, Teri Polo, and the lovely Amanda Detmer star.

“Apt 23,” another show that dropped the dreaded B-word (spare me), is moving forward. Krysten Ritter stars in what is essentially an unfunny“Friends” or“How I Met Your Mother” about a girl who moves into a NYC apartment complex. The only difference is that James Van Der Beek plays himself.  Yay?

But it’s not all suburban shows and gender-based comedies. ABC also ordered“Revenge,” the story of a young woman seeking vengeance for the destruction of her family, based onThe Count of Monte Cristo. ”Grey’s Anatomy” creator Shondra Rhimes’ new series,“Scandal,” centers on the beautiful Kerry Washington as a Washington D.C. PR crisis consultant. There’s also“Work It,” a cross-dressing comedy about two men who lose their jobs and return as“female” pharmaceutical reps.  Sounds wacky.  Last but not least,“The River,” a thriller adventure through the Amazon to find a missing (Lost?) traveler.

ABC rejected pilots for“Poe” about the gothic poet, a“Modern Family”-like comedy called“Smothered,” and another family comedy titled“Other People’s Kids.”

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