ABC Holiday Programming 2026

ABC Holidays  Thanksgiving Christmas New Year 

        ABC is ready to deck the halls and bring in the new year as well.  The network's holiday programming starts with an interesting choice of  airing the classic special Mickey's Christmas Carol  which will be airing Wednesday, November 25 at 8pm ET.    That's a special that hasn't aired much on the network, has aired few times on sister network, Freeform.  

             Per tradition, ABC will be airing their annual broadcasts of  Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music, and Santa Claus is Comin' to Town.   There will be special episodes of Scrubs ,Abbott Elementary, Press Your Luck, America's Funniest Home Videos, Celebrity Family Feud, and  What Would you Do?: Holiday Edition.  

          Music themed specials of  Dancing with the Holidays,  CMA Country Christmas, The Wonderful World of Disney: Holiday Spectacular, iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2026. The 2026 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.    

          Of course, New Years' Eve has  "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest.  

            Movies include : "The Santa Clause" ,  "Home Alone",  "Die Hard" and "Father of the Bride".   They will be airing the broadcast premieres of " The Fantastic Four: Four Steps" and "Mufasa: The Lion King". 

     Full details, all times ET/PT unless otherwise noted.

    Wednesday, November 25 

8-8:30pm The Wonderful World of Disney Presents: Mickey's Christmas Carol 

Thursday, November 26 (Thanksgiving) 

8-11pm The Wonderful World of Disney Presents: Mary Poppins 

Sunday, November 29

7-11pm The Wonderful World of Disney Presents: The Sound of Music 

Monday, November 30 

8-10pm  The Wonderful World of Disney : Holiday Spectacular 

10-11pm  Santa Claus is Comin' to Town 

Tuesday, December 1 

8-9pm Dancing with the Holidays 

9-10:01pm CMA Country Christmas 

Thursday, December 3 

8-9pm  Celebrity Family Feud 

Sunday, December 6 

7-8:02pm  America's Funniest Home Videos : Festive Flops, Santa's Knee, and Holiday Hijinks 

8:02-11pm Die Hard 

Tuesday, December 8 

8-11pm  2026 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony 

Wednesday, December 9

8-8:31pm Scrubs  "My Wonderful Life"  (Season Finale) 

8:31-9:02pm  Abbot Elementary "Parents" (Midseason Finale) 

Thursday, December 10 

8-9pm Press Your Luck : Holiday Extravaganza IV 

Sunday, December 13  

8:33-11pm  The Fantastic Four : First Steps (World Premiere) 

Thursday, December 17 

8-10pm  iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2026 

Sunday, December 20 

8:33-11pm  Father of the Bride (35th Anniversary) 

Wednesday, December 23 

9-11pm The Wonderful World of Disney presents: The Santa Clause 

Thursday, December 24 

8-10:15pm The Wonderful World of Disney Presents : Home Alone 

Friday, December 25 

10am/9am ct/ 5am MT/ 5am PT : Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade 

Sunday, December 27 

7-8pm  AKC National Championship Dog Show Special 

8:32-11pm The Wonderful World of Disney Presents: Mufasa : The Lion King  (World Premiere) 

Wednesday, December 30 

9-11pm The Year : 2026 

Thursday, December 31 

8pm-4am  Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2027 

Full Press Release after the jump 

ABC Sets Fall Premiere Dates 2026

ABC  FallTVLook 2026 

 ABC is in fall mode for the gear up to the season. Their premiere dates start with the first Monday Night Football game of the season on September 14.   They continue the early start to the season with the return of  Dancing with the Stars  and R.J Decker  on September 15. 

     A couple weeks later they bring back America's Funniest Home Videos and The Wonderful World of Disney  on September 27.  Scrubs and Shark Tank will have two-episode debuts on September 30. The rest of the Wednesday line up with Abbott Elementary and Millionaire will start the following week- October 7.  ABC has committed a change to its fall line up.  Celebrity Jeopardy! has been pushed to 2027.  Who Wants to be  a Millionaire will take its place.   

            Celebrity Wheel of Fortune returns on October 2.  Their Thursday line up starts on October 15 with 911, 911: Nashville , and Grey's Anatomy.    ABC other big shows such as  High Potential , The Rookie, Will Trent and two new series: The Rookie North and a Grey's Anatomy spinoff will be coming at Midseason. 

Here's the fall premiere dates all times ET/PT unless otherwise noted 

Saturday, August 29 

7:30/4:30pm PT  Saturday Night College Football 

Monday, September 14 

8pm ET/ 5pm PT  Monday Night Football (also on ESPN) 

Tuesday, September 15 

8pm Dancing with the Stars 

10pm  R.J Decker 

Friday, September 25 

9pm 20/20 

Sunday, September 27 

7pm America's Funniest Home Videos 

8pm The Wonderful  World  of Disney 

Wednesday, September 30

8pm Scrubs  (2 episodes) 

9pm Shark Tank 

Friday, October 2 

8pm Celebrity Wheel of Fortune 

Wednesday, October 7 

8:30pm Abbott Elementary 

9pm Who Wants to Be a Millionaire 

10pm Shark Tank (regular Time) 

Thursday, October 15 

8pm 911 

9pm 911: Nashville 

10pm Grey's Anatomy 

Full Press Release after the jump 

FALL TV 2026: ABC

FallTVLook 2026   ABC  Upfronts 

ABC also has decided to be consistent as the network didn't cancel one scripted program this season.  They will be moving  High Potential to midseason.  Also of  note, there will be no Bachelor based series in the fall line up either.   For the fall line up, they will be including revival of Scrubs meaning Shifting Gears comes in the midseason.   R,J Decker will be taking the fall slot. The Rookie returns in midseason with a new spin-off series, The Rookie North. 

Here's the fall line up . all times are ET/PT, unless otherwise noted, there's no new series so no blue highlighting 

Monday 

8pm/5pt  Monday Night Football 

Tuesday 

8pm Dancing with the Stars 

10pm R.J Decker 

Wednesday 

8pm Scrubs 

8:30pm Abbott Elementary 

9pm  Celebrity Jeopardy! 

10pm Shark Tank 

Thursday 

8pm 9-1-1

9pm 9-1-1 Nashville 

10pm  Grey's Anatomy 

Friday 

8pm Celebrity Wheel of Fortune 

9pm  20/20 (two hours) 

Saturday 

7:30pm/4:30pt College Football 

Sunday 

7pm America's Funniest Home Videos 

8pm  The Wonderful World of Disney 

Press release after the jump 

Fall TV Look 2026: What's New, What's Renewed, What's Ended?

Fall TV Look 2026  ABC CBS CW FOX NBC 

This post was last updated on May8  at 2:00 pm MT

'

  The decisions are being made about the fates of many different TV series. This is our annual list that will be updated frequently as news about different broadcast networks shows comes in and what their status is for the next season. This list primarily focuses on scripted series as those tend to get their announcements done in due time before the May upfronts. Though other non-scripted series due end up in the list eg: 60 Minutes, since they are centerpieces of a network's line up. I will include a list of unscripted series too, but in some cases they are either renewed at various times. summer series also aren't part of the main lists as that is out of the main seasonal part of the year.

ABC 

Renewed 

9-1-1 

9-1-1 : Nashville 

Abbott Elementary

Grey's Anatomy 

High Potential

R.J Decker 

The Rookie

Scrubs 

Shifting Gears

Will Trent 

Canceled 

New Series 

CBS

Renewed 

Boston Blue

CIA

Elsbeth 

Fire Country 

Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage 

Ghosts

Marshals

Matlock 

NCIS 

NCIS: Origins 

NCIS: Sydney 

Sheriff Country

Survivor 

The Amazing Race 

Tracker 

Canceled 

DMV

The Neighborhood 

Watson 

New Series 

NCIS: New York 

Cupertino

Einstein 

Eternally Yours 

FOX 

Renewed 

American Dad 

Animal Control 

Best Medicine 

Bob's Burgers  (renewed for 4 seasons in 2025)

Doc  

Family Guy  (renewed for 4 seasons in 2025) 

Krapoplis (renewed through season 5, currently on season 3)

Memory of a Killer 

Murder in a Small Town 

Universal Basic Guys (renewed through season 3, currently on season 2) 

Canceled 

Going Dutch 

The Great North

To Be Determined 

Grimsburg 

New Series 

NBC 

Renewed 

Chicago Fire 

Chicago Med 

Chicago P.D 

The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins 

Happy's Place 

Law & Order 

Law & Order : SVU 

Saint Denis Medical 

Canceled 

Brilliant Minds 

Stumble 

To Be Determined 

The Hunting Party 

New Series

Line of Fire 

The Rockford Files 

Newlyweds

Sunset PI 

The CW 

Renewed 

Canceled 

All American 

To Be Determined 

New Series 

ABC Holiday Programming 2025

ABC Christmas  New Year Holiday 

         ABC is ready for the end of the year with their Christmas and New Year programming.  ABC will airing returning favorites and the NBA on Christmas Day.  ABC also has a new installment to their "Prep and Landing" specials with "Prep & Landing: The Snowball Protocol".    

Here's there full line up , kicking off with a Thanksgiving night airing of "Mary Poppins".   all times are ET/PT, unless otherwise noted. 

 Thursday, November 27

8-11pm   The Wonderful World of Disney Presents: Mary Poppins 

Sunday, November 30 

8:01-8:30pm  Disney Prep & Landing 

8:30-9pm  Disney Prep & Landing : Naughty vs. Nice 

9-9:30pm  Disney Prep & Landing : The Snowball Protocol 

9:31-10pm Olaf's Frozen Adventure 

10-11pm  Santa Claus is Comin' to Town 

Monday, December 1 

8-10pm The Wonderful World of Disney: Holiday Spectacular 

Tuesday, December 2 

8-9:01pm Dancing the the Holidays 

9:01-10:02pm CMA Country Christmas 

10:02-11pm  What Would You Do? Holiday Edition 

Thursday, December 4 

8-9pm   Celebrity Family Feud: The Housemaid vs. the Housewives All Stars Holiday Special 

9-10pm The Great Christmas Light Fight : The Holiday Express (Season Premiere) 

10-11pm The Great Christmas Light Fight : Santa's Making his List (new episode) 

Sunday December 7 

7-8:01pm  America's Funniest Home Videos: Holiday Hoots, Santa Shenanigans and Festive Funnies

9-11pm he Wonderful World of Disney Presents: The Santa Clause 

Tuesday, December 9 

8-10pm Kevin Costner Presents: The First Christmas 

Wednesday, December 10

8-8:30pm Shifting Gears (midseason finale) 

8:30-9:02pm Abbot Elementary  (midseason finale) 

9:02-10:02pm Shark Tank 

Thursday, December 11

8-9pm Celebrity Wheel of Fortune 

9-10pm The Great Christmas Light Fight : Christmas Vacation (new episode) 

10-11pm  The Great Christmas Light Fight : Holiday Igoomination 

Wednesday, December 17 

8-10pm iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2025 

Thursday, December 18 

9-10pm  The Great Christmas Light Fight (new episode) 

10-11pm  The Great Christmas Light Fight (Season Finale) 

Sunday , December 21 

7-11pm The Wonderful World of Disney Presents “The Sound of Music”

Wednesday, December 24

8-10:30pm The Wonderful World of Disney Presents “Home Alone” 

Thursday, December 25 

10am ET/ 9am CT/ 5am MT/ 5am PT - 40th Anniversary Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day  Parade 

12PM/9PT  NBA Christmas Special : Cleveland Cavaliers at New York Knicks

2:30pm/11:30pt  San Antonio Spurs at Oklahoma City Thunder

5PM /2pt Dallas Mavericks at Golden State Warriors

7:30pm Inside the NBA 

8pm  Houston Rockets at Los Angeles Lakers.

10:30pm ET Minnesota Timberwolves at Denver Nuggets.

Wednesday, December 31 

Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2025

Thursday, January 1 

8-11pm  2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

Full press release after the jump 

ABC Announces 2025 Fall Premiere Dates

ABC   Fall TV Look 2025 

update :    7/29: abc has moved the premiere date for the Thursday line up , one week earlier to October 9

        ABC wants to give you the fall feelings in the summer heat. The network has set its fall schedule's premiere dates.  The new series "9-1-1: Nashville" premieres on Thursday, October 16 at 9pm, before it, is the parent series "9-1-1" AT 8pm, and following is "Grey's Anatomy" at 10pm. (Moved to October 9, all times stayed the same) 

             "High Potential" returns  for season 2 on Tuesday, September 16 at 10pm, after "Dancing with Stars".   

             "The "Golden Bachelor" returns on Wednesday, September 24 at 8pm in a 2 hour long premiere. "Shark Tank" finishes up that night at 10pm.  "The Golden Bachelor" moves to regular time slot on Wednesday, October 1, with returning comedies "Shifting Gears" and "Abbott Elementary". 

            "Celebrity Wheel of Fortune" is back  on Friday, September 26, followed by  ABC News'  "20/20". 

             Long running Sunday night series "America's Funniest Home Videos"  returns on Sunday, September 28 with a lead to the broadcast premiere of  "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3".  

         "Monday Night Football" is back on Monday, September 8 with Minnesota taking on Chicago in a NFC North battle.  

Here are the all the times in ET/PT , unless otherwise noted. 

Saturday, August 23 

7:30pm /4:30pt  College Football (North Carolina Central Eagles at Southern University Eagles) 

Monday, September 8 

8pm/5pt Monday Night Football (Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears) 

Tuesday, September 16

8pm Dancing with the Stars (simulcast on Disney+)  

10pm High Potential 

Wednesday, September 24 

8pm The Golden Bachelor (Two Hour Premiere) 

10:01pm Shark Tank 

Friday, September 26 

8pm Celebrity Wheel of Fortune 

9:01pm 20/20 

Sunday, September 28 

7pm  America's Funniest Home videos

8:01pm  The Wonderful World of Disney 

Wednesday, October 1 

8pm Shifting Gears

8:30pm Abbott Elementary

9:02pm The Golden Bachelor (regular slot) 

Thursday, October 9

8pm 9-1-1

9pm 9-1-1: Nashville (new series) 

10pm Grey's Anatomy 

Full Press Release after the jump

Fall TV 2025: ABC

ABC FallTVLook2025 Upfronts 

         If there is a theme this season, it's mostly how simple and consistent the networks are being with programming.  ABC has mostly  kept their line up from last year intact.  They have one new series in the fall line up "9-1-1: Nashville" which will be airing after the parent show "9-1-1" on Thursday nights at 9/8c.  

        "Shark Tank" is leaving its longtime Friday slot and moving to Wednesday nights at 10/9c.   "Celebrity Wheel of Fortune" will now take the Fridays 8/7c slot. 

        The rest of the line up stays the same.   Monday Night Football will be airing on ABC once again.  "Dancing with the Stars" is on Tuesdays with sophomore series  "High Potential" following it.   

         Tim Allen's  "Shifting Gears" leads Wednesdays with the only other comedy series in the fall line up "Abbott Elementary"   "The Golden Bachelor" takes the spot between the comedies and "Shark Tank" 

         "American Idol" , "Celebrity Jeopardy!" , "The Rookie",  and "Will Trent" return at midseason. 

Here's the full line up , all times ET/PT unless otherwise noted, new series highlighted in blue  

Monday 

8pm/5pt Monday Night Football 

Tuesday

8pm Dancing with the Stars 

10pm High Potential 

Wednesday 

8pm Shifting Gears 

8:30pm Abbott Elementary 

9pm The Golden Bachelor 

10pm Shark Tank 

Thursday 

8pm 9-1-1

9pm 9 -1-1 :Nashville

10pm Grey's Anatomy 

Friday 

8pm Celebrity Wheel of Fortune 

9pm 20/20 (2 hrs) 

Saturdays 

7:30/4:30pt  College Football 

Sundays 

7pm  America's Funniest Home Videos

8pm The Wonderful World of Disney 

Full Press Release after the jump 

Fall TV Look 2025: What's New, What's Renewed, What's Ended?

Fall TV Look 2025 ABC CBS CW FOX NBC

This post was last updated on June 6  6:30pm MT 

        The decisions are being made about the fates of many different TV series.  This is our annual list that will be updated frequently as news about different broadcast networks shows comes in and what their status is for the next season.  This list primarily focuses on scripted series as those tend to get their announcements done in due time  before the May upfronts.  Though other non-scripted series due end up in the list  eg: 60 Minutes, since they are centerpieces of a network's line up. I will include a list of unscripted series too, but in some cases they are either renewed at various times. summer series also aren't part of the main lists as that is out of the main seasonal part of the year. 

ABC 

Renewed 

9-1-1

Abbott Elementary

America's Funniest Home Videos 

American Idol 

Celebrity Jeopardy!

Celebrity Wheel of Fortune

Grey's Anatomy 

High Potential

The Rookie

Shark Tank 

Shifting Gears

Who Wants to be a Millionaire?

Will Trent

 

Canceled

The Conners 

New Series 

911: Nashville 

To Be Determined

Doctor Odyssey 

CBS 

Renewed 

Elsbeth 

FBI (renewed through season 9; currently on season 7) 

Fire Country 

Georgie and Mandy's First Marriage

Ghosts (2 seasons) 

Hollywood Squares 

Matlock

NCIS 

NCIS: Origins

NCIS: Sydney 

The Neighborhood (renewed for a final season) 

Tracker 

Watson 

Canceled

Blue Bloods

The Equalizer 

FBI: International 

FBI:  Most Wanted

Poppa's House

The Summit 

SWAT 

New Series 

America's Culinary Cup 

Boston Blue 

CIA

DMV 

Harlan Coben's Final Twist 

The Road 

Sheriff Country 

Y:Marshalls (Working Title) 

CW 

Renewed 

Sullivan's Crossing

Canceled

Joan  (Limited Series) 

Superman & Louis

New Series 

To Be Determined 

All American 

Children Ruin Everything (Ending in Canada, Season 4b comes in June) 

Family Law (Season 4 un aired yet) 

Good Cop/Bad Cop 

Sight Unseen (renewed in Canada) 

Son of a Critch (renewed in Canada) 

Wild Cards (renewed in Canada)

FOX

Renewed 

Animal Control

Bob's Burgers  (4 seasons)

Doc

Family Guy  (4 seasons)

Going Dutch 

Grimsburg 

Krapoplis (renewed through Season 5; currently on season 2) 

MasterChef 

Murder in a Small Town

The Simpsons  (4 seasons) 

Universal Basic Guys (renewed through season 3) 

Canceled

9-1-1: Lone Star

Alert: Missing Persons Unit 

The Cleaning Lady 

Rescue: Hi-Surf 

New Series 

99 To Beat 

American Dad (moving from TBS back to FOX) (4 seasons) 

Best Medicine

The Faithful (limited Series)

Memory of a Killer

To Be Determined 

Accused

The Great North 

NBC

Renewed 

Brilliant Minds

Chicago Fire 

Chicago Med 

Chicago PD

Happy's Place 

The Hunting Party

Law & Order 

Law & Order SVU

St. Denis Medical

Canceled

Found 

The Irrational  

Lopez vs. Lopez 

Night Court 

Suits LA

New Series 

The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins 

On Brand with Jimmy Fallon 

Surviving Earth 

To Be Determined 

Grosse Pointe Garden Society 

Midseason 2025 TV: ABC

Winter  ABC   Midseason 

                ABC's 2025 midseason premiere dates have been set.   An interesting thing is that ABC's line up gets a boost from sibling streaming service, Hulu.  Only Murders in the Budling will be airing on Thursdays in January.  Unscripted series The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives and Perfect Wife: The Mysterious Disappearance of Sherri Papini  will also have some broadcasts. 

            ABC aired the first season of   Only Murders in the Budling last season due the strikes, this time they will be airing season 2.   Meanwhile, new programming slate is light but there.   After only airing only one comedy in the fall season, they will be airing a new series with Tim Allen and Kat Dennings called Shifting Gears. That's it for the new series on the scripted side. 

            Will Trent and The Rookie return to the line up airing before after this season's new series  High Potential on Tuesdays.  The Bachelor is back in January 27, airing Mondays at 8pm ET with The Secret Life of Mormon Wives at 10. 

            A new version of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition premieres on January 2 and lead into blocks of "Only Murders" for four weeks. When that ends, they will fill the line up with  Scamanda  and Perfect Wife to fill Thursdays. 911, Doctor Odyssey, and Grey's Anatomy return on March 6.  American Idol and The $100,000 Pyramid debut their seasons on Sunday, March 9. 

        The Conners final season is planned for March, but no date has been set as of yet. 

Here's the details schedule, all times ET/PT  new series highlighted in Blue, subject to change 

      Thursday, January 2 

8pm Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (Series Premiere) 

9pm Only Murders in the Building (Broadcast season two premiere- two hours) 

Sunday, January 5 

7pm AFV (Midseason Return) 

8pm The Wonderful World of Disney 

Tuesday, January 7 

8pm Will Trent (Season Three Premiere) 

9pm High Potential (midseason return) 

10pm The Rookie (Season Seven Premiere) 

Wednesday, January 8 

8pm Shifting Gears (Series Premiere) 

8:30pm Abbott Elementary (Midseason return) 

9:02pm Celebrity Jeopardy (Season 3 Premiere) 

10:02pm  What Would you Do? (Midseason Return) 

Friday, January 17 

8pm Shark Tank (Midseason Return) 

Saturday, January 25 

8pm  NBA Countdown presented by Papa Johns 

8:30pm  Los Angeles Lakers at Golden State Warriors 

Monday, January 27 

8pm  The Bachelor 

10:01pm The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives (Broadcast Series Premiere) 

Thursday, January 30 

9pm Scamanda (Series Premiere) 

10pm  Perfect Wife: The Mysterious Disappearance of Sherri Papini (Broadcast Series Premiere) 

Thursday, March 6
8pm. 9-1-1 (Midseason Return)
9pm Doctor Odyssey (Midseason Return)
10pm Grey's Anatomy (Midseason Return)

Sunday, March 9
8pm American Idol (Season Eight Premiere - two hours)
10pm The $100,000 Pyramid (Season Eight Premiere)

Full Press Release after the jump 

ABC Holiday programming 2024

ABC Christmas New Year 

            

        ABC is ready for the festive time  with a mixture of classics and new stuff.  ABC will present a new 1-hour Christmas episode "Abbott Elementary" , also movie presentations of "The Sound of Music" , "Home Alone" and "The Santa Clause". Holiday-themed episodes of game shows including "Press Your Luck " and "Celebrity Family Feud" and of "Shark Tank" make their way under ABC's tree of programming.   "The Great Christmas Light Fight" also returns. (Also renewed for season 13 in 2025). 

         ABC News will have a special for the 60th anniversary of "Mary Poppins" with the "Untold Story of Mary Poppins", and a presentation of "Mary Poppins" the next evening. 

         There are specials of "CMA Country Christmas" , "The Wonderful World of Disney: Holiday Spectacular " , "The Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade", "The iHeart Radio Jingle Ball", "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest" and "Rock& Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony" that round out the line up. 

             ABC will air 13 hours of NBA basketball on Christmas Day. 

Here's the full line up all times ET/PT * Unless otherwise noted 

Wednesday, November 27 

9-11pm  The Untold Story of Mary Poppins: A Special Edition of 20/20 

Thursday, November 28 

8-11pm  The Wonderful World of Disney Presents: Mary Poppins

Sunday, December 1 

7-8:01pm  AFV's Wreck the Halls: 35 Years of Holiday Hijinks 

8:01-10pm  The Wonderful World of Disney : Holiday Spectacular 

Monday, December 2 

8-9pm  Celebrity Wheel of Fortune 

9-10pm Press Your Luck 

Tuesday, December 3 

8-9pm  CMA Country Christmas 

9-10pm  Santa Claus is Comin' to Town 

Wednesday, December 4

8-8:31pm Abbott Elementary - Winter Show 

8:31-9:02pm  Abbott Elementary- Winter Break 

9:02-10:02pm  Celebrity Family Feud

Thursday, December 5 

8-9pm The Great Christmas Light Fight

9-10pm The Great Christmas Light Fight

Sunday, December 8 

8:31-11pm  The Wonderful World of Disney Presents : The Lion King (2019) 

Tuesday, December 10

8-8:30pm  Olaf's Frozen Adventure 

8:30-9pm  Toy Story That Time Forgot 

9-9:30pm Disney Prep & Landing

9:30-10pm Disney Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice 

Thursday, December 12 

8-9pm The Great Christmas Light Fight

9-10pm The Great Christmas Light Fight

Friday, December 13

8-9:01pm  Shark Tank 

Sunday, December 15 

7-11pm The Wonderful World of Disney Presents “The Sound of Music

Wednesday, December 18 

8-10pm  iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2024 

Thursday, December 19 

8-9pm The Great Christmas Light Fight  (season finale) 

9-10pm The Great Christmas Light Fight (season finale)

Saturday, December 22 

8-10pm  The Wonderful World of Disney Presents: The Santa Clause 

Tuesday, December 24 

8-10pm  The Wonderful World of Disney Presents “Home Alone”

Wednesday, December 25 

10:00pm .-12:00pm ET / 9:00-11:00 am CT / 5:00-7:00 am MT/PT – “Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade”

12pm ET /9am PT :  NBA : Spurs vs Knicks 

2:30pmET/11:30am PT : Timberwolves at Mavericks 

5pm/2pt  76ers at Celtics 

7:30pm  NBA Countdown Presented by Papa Johns

8pm Lakers vs. Warriors 

10:30pm  Nuggets vs. Suns 

Thursday, December 26 

9-11pm The Year : 2024

Sunday, December 29

7-9pm The Wonderful World of Disney Presents “Frozen"

9-11pm  The Wonderful World of Disney Presents “Frozen II"

Tuesday, December 31 

“Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2025”

Wednesday, January 1, 2025 

8-11pm 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

Full Press Release after the Jump

Afterschool Sessions: The Last of the Curlews

The Flashback  ABC  

           This time on Afterschool Sessions: We look an ABC After School Special  but not just any one, we are looking at the very first one. The Last of the Curlews. This special first aired on October 4, 1972 and begins the long run of the ABC After School Special series.  "The Last of the Curlews" is based off the book of the same name by Fred Bodsworth.  This special is also animated and that was done by Hanna-Barbera. For those that have read the past posts you'll find this won't be the only time either.  

        It starts in fall with where a father and his son named Mark are on hunting trip.  There's a narrator , voiced by Lee Vines. The father and son hunters aren't the most important part of this special, they really aren't even main characters, they are a supporting role for the story itself. The special is presented as if it was a nature documentary in animation.  

It's rabbit season, son/ Copyright Hanna-Barbera 

        The story is told only by the narrator as he explains about a bird called the Eskimo Curlew.  This bird is a lonely bird who only really to have a mate and some offspring.  He resists as long as he can the trip that birds make in  the autumn but eventually has to go.  The bird finds himself eventually teamed up with some  golden plover birds who seem to like him and they even let him lead them on the track to Venezuela. 

Hey I'm the last of my kind/ Copyright Hanna-Barbera

        The special really has the animation do most of the work, beyond the narrator.  As the story wants you to understand the bird as a character.  The bird is presented to give the humans a way to understand and connect to him. He's lonely seeking out someone of his own kind to be with and continues to hope for that. There's a sense of warmth in this special, but also unease. Nothing in here is sugar coated either. The story tells of how the Curlews used to be plentiful and the were over hunted to near extinction. Death is not avoided in this special as we saw a hunter kill a buck earlier -not the hunter father and son , more on them later- and on the trip many of the plovers die by nature's hand. 

            The original story was published  in 1954, again written by Canadian reporter, Fred Bodsworth.  The book itself presents the journey of the curlew the same way giving it some human characterization to better connect with the audience.  The curlew is a real or was, that's the hard part. The story in the special is true where the bird was over hunted to near death in the late 19th century.  The last confirmed sightings of the bird were in the 1962 where a photo of it comes from.  And 1963 where they found a body.  Possibly, but unconfirmed reports of any after that.  Currently, its status is critically endangered, which the one step before any type of extinction.  Also, hence the title. 

         

            The special does end up showing a lady curlew and she doesn't become more part of the story until the last third of it where she and him actually meet up. It shows their struggles as their journey back up north. Yeah, we do pass through the seasons in this.  Sadly, there's not a happy story in this as the female curlew ends up getting shot by a farmer on their way back.  Eventually, the boy finds the bird as sees that she has died, with the male curlew flying off and the narration saying soon there will be none. 

Curlew love...the rarest love/ Copyright Hanna-Barbera

          Going back to the hunter and son.  There's a careful writing here the special doesn't present the father as overzealous, mean, or wanting to kill for killing. He tells his son that they hunt responsibly, don't do things illegally, shoot things they aren't supposed to, and that it's fine because nature does it too. It doesn't go hunting is evil and bad and should be banned.   I like that it has the nuance it wants to bring its [young] audience. It shows that there was hunting that was done wrongly and un reigned in caused an essential extinction.  Mark, the boy, also seems a little apprehensive of the whole idea, and he finds the bird too.   Also have to mention that that Wikipedia description, as of this writing, is wrong the hunter and son they really don't debate killing a curlew, the only times they bring up the bird is when the boy sees it and points out that it's flying alone and thinks that it might be alone, and the dad [wrongly] thinking that it's sick and/or old or a straggler. They never mention the idea of shooting it.  They didn't even end up killing a curlew that was a farmer.  

He was way too happy here/ Copyright Hanna-Barbera

        In the way its presented it's done well to bring in facts, but also present a fictional journey of a bird using realism.  The story has warmth to it with happy moments ,but there is always background feeling of unease and a sense of danger. How it mentions why the curlew is alone, and deaths of animals is to show that there a sense of death being present in the background and impactful. 

         It's well animated with the backgrounds being watercolor.  It also does mostly realistic drawn animals, something different for Hanna-Barbera. The music is well scored and I think the most memorable will probably be  Once on Golden Wings song , I'm not sure what the real name is but it's a very somber and fittingly played. As mentioned earlier, there's a very strong nature doc feel to present a story where we get gulfed and see birds in realistic motion and actions. The animation makes it feel almost like an illustrated book.   This one sets an interesting tone for what ABC After School Specials would be, which varied. This one was somewhat educational but not heavily blatant, it has a social message , and yet it doesn't over explain or over force itself to be something to its viewers.  It's a good special with the impact it brings and a well done story with a somber note that makes one think. 

        That's it for now, tune in next time when we  wonder why the birds just took that route.  

ABC Announces 2024 Fall Premiere Dates

ABC   FallTVLook 2024

     

     ABC has set its fall premiere dates. It kicks off with the return of  "Monday Night Football" which will be air September 9 at 7:30pm ET.  Airing on various Mondays through the NFL season. 

        

        On September 17, Dancing with the Stars returns at 8pm ET, followed by  new crime drama, High Potential, premiering at 10pm ET.   The Golden Bachelorette premieres September 18 at 8pm ET.  New season of "20/20" starts on September 20 at 9pm ET. 

        New drama,  Doctor Odyssey makes its entrance on September 26 at 9pm ET, following the new season of "9-1-1" at 8pm ET, and rounding out the night the return of Grey's Anatomy at 10pm ET. 

        America's Funniest Home Videos returns for season 35 on September 29 at 7pm ET,  with the "The Wonderful World of Disney" with the television premiere of live-action "The Little Mermaid" at 8pm ET 

         October 7, the game shows return with Celebrity Wheel of Fortune and Press Your Luck. 

          Abbot Elementary returns October 9 at 9:30pm ET, and documentary series from ABC News Scamanda airs at 10pm ET.  Shark Tank is back October 18 at 8pm ET. 

    Here's the premiere dates all times ET/PT , unless otherwise noted, new series highlighted in blue 

Saturday, August 24 

7:30pm/4:30pt   College Football 

 Tuesday, September 17 

8pm Dancing with the Stars  (also live on Disney Plus) 

10pm High Potential 

Wednesday, September 188:

8pm The Golden Bachelorette 

Friday, September 20 

9:01pm  20/20 (2 hours) 

Thursday, September 26 

8pm 9-1-1 

9pm Doctor Odyssey 

10pm Grey's Anatomy 

Sunday, September 29 

7pm  America's Funniest Home Videos

8:01pm The Wonderful World of Disney 

Monday, October 7 

8pm Celebrity Wheel of Fortune 

9pm Press Your Luck 

Wednesday, October 9 

9:30pm Abbott Elementary 

10:02pm  Scamanda

Friday, October 18

8pm Shark Tank

Full Press Release with details after the jump 

 

        

Fall TV 2024: ABC

ABC FallTVLook2024 Upfronts 

 ABC is being interesting in their fall line up. Grey's Anatomy, which hits season 21, will be moving on down to the 10pm ET, whilst a new series  Doctor Odyssey takes up the slot before.  The Thursday night line up  starts with 9-1-1.  This also means Thursdays moves from a night with 2/3 Shonda Rhimes made shows to a night 2/3 Ryan Murphy night. 

        The Conners isn't part of the fall line up, its final season will air in the midseason. The Rookie and Will Trent  will also be in midseason.   Comedy on ABC is only one half hour in the fall that's Abbott Elementary , Wednesdays at 9:30pm ET. 

        The new crime procedural High Potential is getting the post Dancing with the Stars slot on Tuesdays.  Following in CBS' footsteps, they will be having 90 minute episodes of an unscripted show on Wednesdays with The Golden Bachelorette .   Wednesdays will finish out with a new drama Scamanda.   

       Monday Nights haven't been fully planned out , it will be mostly Monday Night Football, but less games than  in the 2023 season.  ABC also has decided to keep Dancing With the Stars on the network instead going back to Disney Plus. 

         Sunday is down to ABC just airing the long running America's Funniest Home Videos and movies from Disney.  

Here's the fall line up, all times ET/PT unless otherwise noted, new series are highlighted in blue 

Monday 

8pm Monday Night Football/ TBA Programming 

Tuesday 

8pm Dancing with the Stars 

10pm High Potential 

Wednesday 

8pm  The Golden Bachelorette 

9:30pm Abbott Elementary 

10pm Scamanda 

Thursday 

8pm 9-1-1 

9pm  Doctor Odyssey 

10pm  Grey's Anatomy 

Friday

8pm Shark Tank 

9pm 20/20 ( 2 hours) 

Saturday

7:30pm/4:30pt  College Football 

Sunday 

7pm  America's Funniest Home Videos

8pm The Wonderful World of Disney 

full press release after the jump

Fall TV Look 2024: What's New, What's Renewed, What's Ended?

Fall TV Look 2024 ABC CBS CW FOX NBC

Updated: May 23,2024 at 3:40 pm MT 

    

    It's our annual list of network TV moves either shows being renewed or canceled /ending. Also what's new? For disclosure, we are going to count reboot or one of those shows that are returning after ending as new , just to keep this list consistent.

Also to be determined is our list for shows that haven't been officially given a status.  Most scripted shows get final decisions by May. Unscripted shows flow on their own time.

ABC

Renewed

9-1-1
Abbott Elementary 

America's Funniest Home Videos

American Idol 

The Bachelor 

The Conners  (renewed for a final season) 

Celebrity Family Feud

Celebrity Jeopardy! 

Celebrity Wheel of Fortune 

Dancing with the Stars 

Grey's Anatomy 

The Rookie 

Shark Tank 

What Would You Do? 

Will Trent 

Canceled

Not Dead Yet 

Station 19 
The Good Doctor 

Reality/Summer shows (determined at their own times)
The Bachelor 

The Bachelor in Paradise 

The Bachelorette 

Celebrity Jeopardy! 

Celebrity Wheel of Fortune 

The Chase 

Claim to Fame 

Dancing with the Stars 

Generation Gap 

The Golden Bachelor 

The Great Christmas Light Fight 

Judge Steve Harvey 

Press your Luck 

The Prank Panel 
Shark Tank 

New Series

High Potential (moved to 2024-25 season) 

CBS

Renewed

48 Hours 

60 Minutes 

Elsbeth 

The Equalizer 

F.B.I  (renewed for 3 more seasons) 

F.B. I: International 

F.B. I: Most Wanted 

Fire Country 

Ghosts 

NCIS 

NCIS: Sydney 

The Neighborhood 

SWAT 

Tracker 

Canceled
Bob ❤️Abishola

Blue Bloods  

CSI: Vegas 

NCIS: Hawai'i 

So Help Me Todd 

Young Sheldon 

Reality/Summer shows (determined at their own times)
The Amazing Race

Big Brother 

Big Brother : Reindeer Games 

Buddy Game s

The Challenge: USA 

Lingo 

Raid the Cage

Secret Celebrity Renovation 

Superfan 

Survivor 

Though as Nails 

New Series

Matlock (moved from the 2023-24 season to the 2024-25 season) 

Poppa's House (move to the 2024-25 season) 

 

CW 

Renewed

Family Law 
Sullivan's Crossing 

Wild Cards

Canceled
Bump 

Fantastic Friends 
Superman & Lois 

Walker 





To Be Determined
All American 

All American: Homecoming 

Crime Nation 

Sight Unseen 

Reality/Summer shows (determined at their own times)

New Series

FOX 

Renewed

9-1-1: Lone Star (show moved to fall 24-25) 

Accused (2nd season was delayed to 2024-25 season) 

Alert: Missing Persons Unit 

Animal Control 

Bob's Burgers 

The Cleaning Lady 

Family Guy 

The Floor 

The  Great North 

Grimsburg

Hell's Kitchen 

Krapopolis 

The Masked Singer 

The Simpsons 

Special Forces: World's Toughest Test

Canceled

Housebroken 

Reality/Summer shows (determined at their own times)
America's Most Wanted 

I Can See Your Voice 

Kitchen Nightmares 

MasterChef 

MasterChef Junior 

Name that Tune 

Next Level Chef 

Snake Oil 

So You Think You Can Dance 

Stars on Mars 

TMZ Investigates 

We Are Family 

Smack Down - Moving to USA Network in September 

New Series

Doc 

Rescue: Hi-Surf 

Universal Basic Guys/ The Hoagie BROS 

NBC

Renewed

Chicago Fire 

Chicago Med

Chicago P.D 

Dateline NBC 

Found 

The Irrational 
Law & Order 

Law & Order: SVU 

Lopez vs. Lopez

Night Court

Canceled

Extended Family 
La Brea 

Magnum PI

Quantum Leap  

Transplant  (CTV, the home network in Canada has ended it) (NBC plans to air final season at some point) 





Leaving to Peacock 

Law & Order : Organized Crime  (renewed) 

Reality/Summer shows (determined at their own times)
AGT: Fantasy League 

American Ninja Warrior 
Deal of No Deal Island  -Renewed for new Season 

The Voice 

The Wall 

Weakest Link 

New Series

Dr. Wolf 

Happy's Place 

St. Denis Medical 

 

ABC sets Midseason premiere Dates

ABC  Midseason 2024  Network TV 

       ABC has released its midseason line up.  The network is blending in unscripted shows along with the return of scripted shows, post strike.   The midseason starts on Monday, January 22 with a two-hour premiere of  The Bachelor.  

        Comedy Wednesday nights are back on February 7, with The Conners, Not Dead Yet, and 1 hour of Abbott  Elementary.   Judge Steve Harvey returns to finish off the line up.  

        American Idol is back on February 18 with a two-hour premiere followed by  What Would You Do? which returns to ABC after a few years absence.  

      Tuesday, February 20 is the drama night with Will Trent, The Rookie, and The Good Doctor.  

  Moving from the FOX network to ABC it's 9-1-1 which will get Thursday Nights followed by the prerenal long holder shows of Grey's Anatomy and Station 19.  Returning March 14. 

    Here are the dates in detail; all times ET /PT  

Monday, January 22

8pm  The Bachelor (two hours) 

10:01pm 20/20"  (all-new limited true crime series, title TBA) 

Wednesday, February 7 

8pm The Conners

8:30pm  Not Dead Yet

9pm Abbott Elementary (one-hour premiere) 

Sunday, February 18

8pm American Idol (two hours) 

10pm What Would you Do? 

Tuesday, February 20 

8pm Will Trent 

9pm The Rookie 

10pm The Good Doctor 

Thursday, March 14

8pm 9-1-1

9pm Grey's Anatomy 

10pm Station 19 

Press Release after the Jump