WEDNESDAY
SHILO: 8:00 The Goldbergs; 8:30 Speechless; 9:00 Modern Family; 9:30 Libby & Malcolm; 10:00 Designated Survivor
CRAIG: 8:00 The Goldbergs; 8:30 Speechless; 9:00 Modern Family; 9:30 American Housewife; 10:00 Designated Survivor
SHILO: Where Modern Family is likely coming down the homestretch of its impressive run, I think it’s important for ABC to get another comedy sampled at 9:30, particularly with Designated Survivor doing solid business at 10:00. I decided to go with Libby & Malcolm, a blended family comedy that follows two political pundits of opposite viewpoints who work together on the same show. While it’s definitely a risk to put something political on in a time when everyone’s tired of politics and wants escapism, and while it’s been shown that broadcast audiences don’t support shows that feature a TV behind the scenes element or family comedies with a split workplace element (think Up All Night), I don’t think ABC is going to pass up having Emmy winners Felicity Huffman and Courtney B. Vance on their network or expanding their relationship with show creator Kenya Barris (Black-ish). Not only does this bring an interesting new wrinkle to ABC’s inclusivity initiative, as it’ll be the only interracial relationship in their comedy roster, it’s a show that would target the high-income viewers of Modern Family while providing a solid bridge between the comedy lineup and political drama Designated Survivor.
CRAIG: Call me crazy: I’m keeping Wednesdays familiar, moving American Housewife to follow out of Modern Family. It’s not daring, and it doesn’t help any new show, but hey, it’s a concept and a suggestion that is mine. I do think Libby & Malcolm sounds interesting, though I also worry that people fighting about politics has already ruined Facebook; do we really want to see it on a weekly “comedy?” However, Kenya Barris did a brilliant Black-ish episode about the recent election, so if anyone not named Norman Lear can pull it off, it’s him.
