WEDNESDAY
CRAIG: 8:00 The Goldbergs; 8:30 black-ish; 9:00 Modern Family; 9:30 The Real O’Neals; 10:00 Original Sin
SHILO: 8:00 The Middle; 8:30 The Goldbergs; 9:00 Modern Family; 9:30 The Real O’Neals; 10:00 Blood & Oil
ACTUAL SCHEDULE: 8:00 The Middle; 8:30 The Goldbergs; 9:00 Modern Family; 9:30 black-ish; 10:00 Nashville
CRAIG: I guess the saying is “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” but this lineup is BORING. Surprised Nashville is staying at 10 on Wednesday, and surprised that the Modern Family lead-in isn’t used on something new, taking Black-ish out of Empire’s way at the same time. Oh well.
SHILO: Why is ABC keeping Wednesdays exactly the same? I get the argument about how they performed well this past season and didn’t want to rock the boat, but there are two pieces here that should’ve been in the conversation regarding changing time slots. Keeping black-ish against Empire is just asking for a sophomore slump for the former, given that the premiere of the latter negatively impacted its ratings; Empire is only going to get bigger in the early stages of season two and while black-ish should be able to hold on given its lead-in, it’s about an inch away from being smothered in the crib. But the more egregious non-move is Nashville, given how wide open Wednesdays at 10:00 is, how mediocrely it performs in same day ratings, and how it’s wasting one of ABC’s bigger drama launchpads. Nashville was begging to be moved to Sundays to air after Blood & Oil, a move that would’ve allowed it a graceful exit off the broadcast stage, and yet, ABC seems content with low 1’s in the demo following its strongest Wednesday lineup in the Modern Family era.
Next: T.G.I. Thursday… and Friday!
1 Comment
Agree with most of what you guys are saying here. Quantico should be on Tuesdays, and Nashville on Sundays. Though I disagree about the Tuesday comedies working better at 9—both are seemingly very family-friendly that could benefit from airing at an earlier hour.
The Muppets was kind of like the Cristela of this year’s bunch—a pilot presentation pitched to ABC that tested through the roof, though there was little hype about them in development season amongst the public. I think everyone expects The Muppets to do good based on their brand, while also helping out Fresh Off The Boat. If that is indeed the case, and Fresh Off The Boat can hold decently mid-season, I think we are finally into the second ABC Comedy Wednesday era.
The Muppets is a mockumentary, as is Modern Family. If it’s as good as we all think it will be, or rates high at least, ABC has the next Modern Family-rated comedy on their hands. We saw the same exact thing happen to The Goldbergs this year, which now looks to be a suitable Middle replacement when it becomes time. And down the line, I foresee Blackish and Fresh Off The Boat being those much-needed second tier comedies, a la Suburgatory or Season 2 Cougar Town.
I think The Middle has two seasons left, and Modern Family three (maybe four if they really want to stretch out those storylines) before ABC can retire them. Here’s my reasoning: it always helps to have a couple of your first-run comedies in syndication. Whether or not tat syndication money is going to you or not, it still may help in first-run ratings. We know The Goldbergs is getting to syndication in two seasons, which can help retire The Middle. Modern Family will wait out another year or two for Blackish or Fresh Off The Boat (I have to imagine at least one will make it).