• by Ken Liebeskind , May 15, 2002

ABC, the third place network, reached for the stars at its upfront presentation in New York yesterday. Claiming it will own the 8:00 to 9:00 p.m. hour every weeknight with a happy hour of comedy shows, the network expressed confidence in its fall lineup, which launches seven new shows, while retaining 15 current ones.

The network is "returning to the inclusive programming that was dominant in the past," an ABC spokesman told MediaDailyNews. Family comedy will be the dominant theme, reminiscent of past winners like Roseanne and Home Improvement. "We lost the way, emulating other networks by being urban and edgy," the spokesman admitted. "Our new family comedy lineup is more inclusive."

Susan Lyne, the network's new President of Entertainment, introduced the new lineup at the upfront presentation. Almost all of the shows stars were there, too, walking across the stage after Lyne described the shows and showed brief clips.

Perhaps the biggest star was John Ritter (Three's Company), who will lead a new sitcom, 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter (Tues. 8:00 p.m.). The series will feature Ritter, two teenage daughters and a son, in what might be considered the ultimate family comedy. Other new family fare includes Life with Bonnie (Tues., 9:00 p.m.), about a mom who's also a TV talk show host and Less Than Perfect (Tues., 9:30 p.m.) about a young woman who gets a job on a TV news show.

The network is also introducing Meds, a medical drama reminiscent of MASH; Push Nevada, a reality show created by Ben Affleck; That Was Then, a drama about a 30 year old man who becomes 16 again; and Dinotopia, a family drama about a world where man and dinosaurs live together. Dinotopia started as a miniseries this month and received high ratings.

While ABC is launching seven new shows this fall, it is retaining many more. Lyne expressed confidence in The Drew Carey Show, The Bachelor II, NYPD Blue and other shows.

The network's cornerstone is Monday Night Football, which will return for its 33rd season with John Madden as a new anchor. Madden spoke at the upfront, exuding confidence in a big season. ABC will broadcast the Super Bowl on Jan. 26 and follow it with a new late night talk show starring comedian Jimmy Kimmel. Kimmel also spoke at the upfront, joking about being a replacement for David Letterman, whom ABC tried to lure to the network, possibly to replace Ted Koppel's Nightline. Koppel was at the presentation, too, discussing news from the Middle East, where he has been reporting from recently. A good deal of the presentation was devoted to ABC News, with Koppel, Barbara Walters and others on hand to promote the news lineup, which includes Primetime Thursday and 20/20 as well as Nightline.

Kimmel's talk show is one of ABC's mid season additions. Others will be Dragnet, a modern day version of the classic cop show, created by Dick Wolf, producer of Law & Order. Dragnet will run on Mondays at 9:00 p.m. following MNF, followed by Miracles, another new drama about modern day miracles.

Lloyd Braun, chairman of ABC's Entertainment Television Group, concluded the presentation, calling the new lineup "not an overnight fix." Speaking to an audience of media buyers and agency executives, he said, "We need your patience and support." His comment tempered the exuberance the network expressed in its new lineup, which hasn't been proven yet.