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ABC today announced premiere dates for its midseason slate, marking the return of the network’s scripted series following the strike. ABC is making a number of scheduling changes this year.
They are led by The Good Doctor’s move from its long-standing Monday 10pm time slot to a Tuesday 10pm slot. The popular medical drama has been ABC’s Monday 10 p.m. host since its release six years ago. The reason for the shift is that a drama tends to provide better engagement compared to an unscripted entry.
“The Good Doctor” followed one of ABC’s tentpole reality series, “Dancing With the Stars” or “The Bachelor,” on Mondays. The network is now introducing another unscripted program on Monday, a 20/20 limited true crime series about love crimes behind “The Bachelor.”
ABC’s Tuesday lineup gets shaken up with the arrival of “The Good Doctor,” with “The Rookie” moving from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Will Trent moving from 10 p.m. to 8 p.m. Placing two of ABC’s most-watched series, “The Rookie” and “The Good Doctor,” back-to-back should create an impressive block of programming.
Another new addition, that of Fox’s 9-1-1, which moved to ABC after last season, brings a change to Thursday’s lineup. After three seasons in the 8 p.m. pole position, first responder drama Station 19 moves to 10 p.m., switching from a “Grey’s Anatomy” opening credits to opening credits. Instead, another first responder show, 9-1-1, takes over the 8 p.m. hour.
There are minor changes on Wednesday: Not Dead Yet will move to the 8:30 p.m. hammock slot between The Conners and Abbott Elementary after The Goldbergs ends. Judge Steve Harvey, which aired at 8pm this evening, will now follow the comedy block at 10pm. (ABC has not yet announced what will air at 9:30 p.m.)
Here is ABC’s midseason lineup:
MONDAY
8 p.m. – The Bachelor
10:01 p.m. – 8:20 p.m
WEDNESDAY
8 p.m. – The Conners
8:30 p.m. – Not dead yet
9 p.m. – Abbott Elementary
10pm – Judge Steve Harvey
SUNDAY
8 p.m. – American Idol
10pm – What would you do?
TUESDAY
8pm – Will Trent
9 p.m. – The newbie
10 p.m. – The Good Doctor
THURSDAY
8pm – 9-1-1
9 p.m. – Grey’s Anatomy
10 p.m. – Station 19