Most Surprising (Possible) Renewal: Aside from something obvious like Inhumans, which has been dead for many moons, I’d be surprised to see more For the People. It’s not generated any type of buzz, it’s already given back what gains it made during the initial Roseanne halo, and Shonda Rhimes is no longer at ABC, so they don’t need to renew something like For the People to appease her. Especially with fellow Rhimes-produced project Station 19 doing enough to earn a ratings-based renewal and having the direct connection to Grey’s in its back pocket.
Show That Likely Won’t Be Renewed But Should Be: Honestly, there’s nothing on the wrong side of the ABC bubble that has a super compelling renewal case. I do wonder how something like Kevin (Probably) Saves the World would’ve done at an earlier time, but other than that, I think everything that looks shaky hasn’t shown enough for ABC to give a reach renewal. I do expect something non-obvious to slip through to next season, though, since ABC has never been afraid to take a chance on an underperformer even as they cancel more shows than anyone else.
Possible Scheduling Disaster: ABC has a lot of little messes that could happen – trying to launch a procedural on Wednesdays, using Roseanne on a veteran, jumbling scripted and unscripted on Sundays. I think Friday is pretty much guaranteed to be a first-run mess, though, if SHIELD and Designated Survivor‘s anemic performances this season are a sign of things to come. Even if they share a slot, or if one or both meet their makers, ABC doesn’t have much in the way of options on Friday, be it bottom feeder comedies that skew too young (and wouldn’t be much of an improvement over Once Upon a Time), new procedurals, etc.
Possible Biggest Surprise: I would be surprised if The Good Doctor moved. It’s a boon for the affiliates, I don’t think ABC would either move or shorten Dancing with the Stars in the fall after a short season this spring, and there’s no other night for it to move that would make sense or best serve the show. With its reality franchises and dual comedy blocs, ABC’s schedule is structurally set to the point where deviating even a little would have a major ripple effect and I don’t think this is the season where they rejigger everything.
Safest Bet: If renewed, Station 19 won’t be budging from its post-Grey’s slot. I think ABC will try to nurture it during the fall like they did Scandal way back when, only this time that should include a premiere crossover given the ties between it and Grey’s and how they need more mid-tier dramas. Plus, getting Station 19 to succeed should help with their desire to become more procedural and produce content that’s more repeatable and easier to sell internationally.
Project I’m Rooting For: Grand Hotel. Broadcast television needs more soaps, as well as series fronted by Latinx characters, and I’m not ready for ABC to head down the same CBS-chasing rabbit hole that consumed NBC. At the very least, I hope it and False Profits find some type of life elsewhere if ABC doesn’t want them.
