ABC WAGERS FALL SEASON ON MORE `MILLIONAIRE'.Byline: David Kronke Television Writer ABC ABC in full American Broadcasting Co. Major U.S. television network. It began when the expanding national radio network NBC split into the separate Red and Blue networks in 1928. , relying on the endurance of ``Who Wants to Be a Millionaire'' and some heavy star power to maintain its hold of the No. 1 position next fall, announced its 2000-01 schedule Tuesday in New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of . New series starring Oscar winner Geena Davis Virginia Elizabeth "Geena" Davis (born January 21 1956) is an Academy Award and Golden Globe-winning and Emmy-nominated American actress and former fashion model. Biography Early life , Emmy winner Andre Braugher and film actor Gabriel Byrne For the Irish radio and television presenter, see . Gabriel Byrne (born 12 May, 1950) is an Irish actor. Born in Dublin Ireland, the first of six children born to devoutly Roman Catholic parents, Byrne was educated by the Irish Christian Brothers. highlight ABC's new series, and ``Millionaire'' expands to four days a week. Once again, ``NYPD NYPD New York City Police Department (since 1845; New York City, NY, USA) NYPD New York Play Development Blue'' will be held until January, with ``Once and Again'' again reclaiming its time slot Continuously repeating interval of time or a time period in which two devices are able to interconnect. in the fall. As expected, the critically acclaimed ``Sports Night'' was jettisoned, but HBO Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) A form of oxygen therapy in which the patient breathes oxygen in a pressurized chamber. Mentioned in: Ozone Therapy is expected to resurrect it. Here's a breakdown of the network's strengths and weaknesses, and how the new programming should enhance its schedule. Strong points: ABC is No. 1, with the seemingly tireless juggernaut ``Who Wants to Be a Millionaire'' blasting holes in NBC's impenetrable Tuesdays and Thursdays and CBS' once-dominant Sunday. It's earning the network around $400 million in profits all by itself, its success means ABC doesn't have to develop much other costly programming, and it has helped bolster a few other shows, as well, such as Emmy winner ``The Practice'' and ``Dharma dharma (där`mə). In Hinduism, dharma is the doctrine of the religious and moral rights and duties of each individual; it generally refers to religious duty, but may also mean social order, right conduct, or simply virtue. & Greg.'' Holding back ``NYPD Blue'' until January in order to give ``Once and Again'' time to find an audience raised eyebrows and infuriated in·fu·ri·ate tr.v. in·fu·ri·at·ed, in·fu·ri·at·ing, in·fu·ri·ates To make furious; enrage. adj. Archaic Furious. those with the cop show, but didn't hurt it ratings-wise, so ABC's pulling the same stunt again. Weak points: But ``Millionaire'' doesn't help all series - in fact, it seemed to be a particularly unpalatable lead-in for the critically acclaimed but quickly canceled ``Wonderland.'' And erase ``Millionaire'' from the picture, and ABC could drop to as low as No. 3; the game show won't remain a ratings juggernaut forever. Stripping ``Millionaire'' across a week's schedule can't be terribly rewarding if programmers enjoy feeling creative, too. ``Once and Again,'' despite tons of hype, was really only a nominal success - and it was the only new show to survive the season. Except for, well, you know. New this fall: ``Geena'' (tentative title), starring Geena Davis as a happy, successful career woman who gains an instant family when she marries a widower (Peter Horton Peter Horton (born August 20, 1953) is an American actor and director. He is perhaps best known for his role as Prof. Gary Shepherd on the popular television series thirtysomething. He left the series in 1991 to pursue an interest in directing. ) with two kids, settles in Tuesdays after ``Dharma & Greg.'' Andre Braugher stars as a compassionate yet intimidating doctor (think ``The West Wing's'' Josiah Bartlet For the signatory of the Declaration of Independence, see . Dr. Josiah Edward "Jed" Bartlet is a fictional character played by Martin Sheen on the television serial drama The West Wing. in a hospital) in the new Wednesday offering ``Gideon's Crossing,'' from Oscar-nominated screenwriter Paul Attanasio. Friday's revamped comedy lineup includes ``Madigan Men,'' starring Gabriel Byrne as a recently divorced New York architect who relies on his son for dating advice, and ``People Who Fear People,'' a paranoid sitcom about two brothers convinced, with good reason, that the world's out to get them (a variation, it seems, of NBC's new ``The Steven Weber Show''). Scheduling changes: ``Millionaire'' adds Wednesday to its dominion. ``Two Guys and a Girl'' and ``Norm'' get bumped to Fridays, where less is expected of them. As previously announced, Charlie Sheen replaces Michael J. Fox in ``Spin City.'' Midseason replacements: Denis Denis, king of Portugal: see Diniz. Leary almost made the fall schedule with ``Leary,'' in which the acerbic comic/actor plays a burned-out Big Apple cop. Damon Wayans examines modern families in ``My Wife and Kids.'' ``The Joan Cusack Show'' stars the quirky, Oscar-nominated actress in a romantic comedy about a woman fretting over her happy relationship. Prognosis: Naysayers be damned: ``Millionaire'' shows little sign of waning the way everyone expected (hoped?). ABC has proven that as long as it has ``Millionaire,'' it can not only get by but absolutely thrive with some middling programming. This schedule suggests ABC wants programming worthy of its strong lead-ins and lead-outs. Here's the fall prime-time lineup for ABC: SUNDAY 7 p.m.: ``The Wonderful World of Disney'' 9 p.m.: ``Who Wants to Be a Millionaire'' 10 p.m.: ``The Practice'' MONDAY 6 p.m.: ``Monday Night Football'' 10 p.m.: ``20/20'' TUESDAY 8 p.m.: ``Who Wants to Be a Millionaire'' 9 p.m.: ``Dharma & Greg'' 9:30 p.m.: ``Geena'' (new show) 10 p.m.: ``Once and Again''/``NYPD Blue''* WEDNESDAY 8 p.m.: ``Who Wants to Be a Millionaire'' (new edition) 9 p.m. ``The Drew Carey Show'' 9:30 p.m.: ``Spin City'' 10 p.m.: ``Gideon's Crossing'' THURSDAY 8 p.m.: ``Whose Line Is It Anyway?'' 8:30 p.m.: ``Whose Line Is It Anyway?'' 9 p.m.: ``Who Wants to Be a Millionaire'' 10 p.m.: ``Primetime Thursday'' FRIDAY 8 p.m. ``Two Guys and a Girl'' 8:30 p.m. ``People Who Fear People'' 9 p.m. ``Norm'' 9:30 p.m. ``Madigan Men'' 10 p.m. ``20/20'' SATURDAY 8 p.m. ``ABC Big Picture Show'' * ``Once and Again'' airs Tuesdays at 10 p.m. until the end of ``Monday Night Football “MNF” redirects here. For other uses, see MNF (disambiguation). Monday Night Football (MNF) is a live television broadcast of the National Football League. .'' The show then moves to Mondays at 10 p.m., with ``NYPD Blue'' taking the vacated Tuesday slot. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: ``Madigan Men'' stars Gabriel Byrne, center, as a recently divorced architect who gets dating advice from his son. |
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