Will ABC finally find something to go well with Once Upon A Time and Revenge?
SHILO: Not this season, though I do think they’re closer to figuring out the night. Betrayal is a long shot to finding an audience and might suffer the same fate that 666 Park Avenue did in looking on-brand but not connecting, while Resurrection seems too quiet, contemplative, and incompatible with Revenge for a breakout to happen. The latter should draw pretty strong reviews and a small but loyal audience; I just don’t know how mass appealing a concept it is and whether or not people want to watch something as potentially sad as it following the escapism of Revenge.
If ABC keeps the Once/Revenge pairing for next season, they need to either shift both back an hour and try something family friendly at 8:00 or put their loudest drama at 10:00, the one most likely to gain attention and stand up with the offerings on cable. Should both dramas make it to next season, though, ABC might opt to separate them and put something splashy and broad appealing at 9:00, a slot that would have been perfect for Devious Maids. Had, of course, the network opted to pick it up.
CRAIG: That last thing you suggested is in sync with what I think they should have – a good drama to put in the middle of Once and Revenge. Sure, being at 10PM with possible cable competition might hurt Revenge, but there’s also the thought that the show has a consistent, loyal audience that won’t go anywhere.
Right now, though, I think the only thing that would work with these two would be a transplanted show like Nashville or Scandal, and I really don’t see ABC moving them from their really good nights. Maybe someday.
I do think Resurrection looks cool, but I think it, too, will be lost in the mix, with people going elsewhere at 10. We shall see.
