Today ABC showed signs of confidence for two of its new fall dramas. Instead of giving its full vote with full season orders (or “back nine” episodes), the Alphabet network ordered two additional scripts for political thriller Last Resort and the sexy, seductive, and intriguing 666 Park Avenue. That bumps their initial order of 13 episodes to 15. We’ll take it! And just for the record, earlier this month ABC ordered three more scripts for the wacky alien comedy The Neighbors.

Elsewhere, FOX must really like The Mindy Project because shortly after granting it the back nine, today the network ordered two more episodes of the Mindy Kaling comedy bringing its grand total to 24 episodes. Also, The Mob Doctor is safe for now. After airing four episodes with rather dismal ratings (the most recent ep attracted 3.4 million viewers and a 0.9 demo rating), FOX has decided to let the medical drama return from a short hiatus on November 5 and let its 13-episode order play out. This was the show most thought would be the first to go (Made in Jersey and Animal Practice beat it to the punch), so we’ll see if it can even last that long.

[Via Deadline 1, 2, 3; EW]

In addition to Homeland, there are other returning series (and a new one!) that you should be equally excited to watch tonight. ABC’s got quite a Sunday lineup that now includes the enchanting Once Upon A Time (8PM), the irresistible Revenge (9PM), and the darkly mysterious 666 Park Avenue (10PM).

The network signed off on these intriguing character portraits for the three dramas. In the Once gallery you’ll find your favorite fairytale characters dressed up and ready for magic in Storybrooke. In addition to sultry character stills, the Revenge collection includes a family portrait of sorts that features the main cast all in black expect for queen Victoria Grayson (what does it mean?!). The 666 Park Ave. residents took the more traditional route for their poses for their debut.

Jump after the break to view the galleries. (Click here for more…)

Here we are, the most exciting time of year. Summer is coming to a close, school is back in session, new shows premiere and your favorites return to the magical box in your living room. The 2012 fall TV season technically doesn’t start until later this month, but some of the networks are premiering new shows sooner rather than later. Whip out your calendar; it’s prime time to mark it up.

ABC is following CBS with a rather traditional fall rollout, however they are saving a handful of shows for October and November starts. After Shark Tank, What Would You Do?, and 20/20 begin on Friday, September 24, the majority of ABC’s fall shows will premiere during official start week–that is Monday, September 24 through Sunday, September 30. October will see the premieres of Nashville and returning shows Suburgatory, Happy Endings, and Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23. In early November the Tim Allen starrer Last Man Standing returns to the schedule with Reba McEntire’s Malibu Country.

Buzzy ABC dramas to look out for include new country/pop musical Nashville (starring Connie Britton and Hayden Panettiere), Shawn Ryan’s politically charged Last Resort (starring Andre Braugher and Scott Speedman), and the mysterious 666 Park Avenue (starring Terry O’Quinn, Vanessa Williams, Rachael Taylor, and Dave Annable).

None of the network’s fall comedies particularly stand out yet, but be on the look out for midseason entrants How To Live With Your Parents (For The Rest Of Your Life) (starring Sarah Chalke and Brad Garrett) and Family Tools (starring Kyle Bornheimer and J.K. Simmons). Other mid-season starters include Zero Hour and Red Widow.

Jump after the break to view the full schedule.

Click here to get reacquainted with the new programming.

Look in the gallery below to view key art, aka TV posters!

(Click here for more…)

Earlier this month it was reported that Avengers director Joss Whedon would return to write and direct the sequel and develop a live action series for Marvel Television at ABC. Today more information regarding the latter announcement was divulged. The ABC drama will be called S.H.I.E.L.D. (which stands for Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division) and is based on the league of Marvel superheroes headed by Nick Fury (who is played by Samuel L. Jackson in the movies). S.H.I.E.L.D. will be written by Whedon, his brother Jed, and Jed’s wife Maurissa Tancharoen; these three previously collaborated on Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog and FOX’s Dollhouse. They will executive produce with Jeffrey Bell and Marvel TV’s Jeph Loeb. According to Deadline the show has officially been greenlit and production is already underway. Whedon plans on directing at least the pilot.

The Avengers are preparing to assemble on TV; which members of S.H.I.E.L.D. do you think Whedon and friends will decide to introduce on the small screen?

[Via Deadline]

What a day! Arrested Development keeps its head down and powers through and Disney and Marvel announce that The Avengers helmer and geek god Joss Whedon will return to write and direct the anticipated sequel tentatively titled The Avengers 2. The superhero summer blockbuster hasn’t even hit Blu-ray yet, and we still have to get through Iron Man 3, Thor: The Dark World, Captain America: The Winter Solider, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Ant-Man, but just knowing that the mastermind behind arguably the greatest superhero movie of all time is going to do it again. And if that wasn’t enough, Whedon also plans to develop a live action drama series set in the Marvel universe for ABC (it may or may not star members of the elite Avengers team).

After Disney CEO Bob Iger spilled the beans during the company’s earnings call, Marvel released the following statement nicely summing it all up: “Joss Whedon has signed an exclusive deal with Marvel Studios for film and television through the end of June 2015. As part of that deal, Whedon will write and direct Marvel’s The Avengers 2 as well as help develop a new live action series for Marvel Television at ABC. He will also contribute creatively to the next phase of Marvel’s cinematic universe.”

That last bit is interesting, isn’t it? Will Whedon be free to dip his toe in Phase Two waters? Whatever comes of that, rest assured knowing that the man behind Firefly isn’t going anywhere anytime soon Marvel fans. And for you Whedon fans, perhaps his recent shift in luck will amount to a TV series lasting more than a few seasons (Buffy and Angel notwithstanding).

Update: Save the date; The Avengers 2 (that’s a tentative title) releases May 1, 2015. Now cry because that’s so far from now. And then later recover because you know that new installments from the other Marvel franchises are on the way.

[Via Deadline 1, 2]

The second season of ABC’s Once Upon A Time is already proving to be more magical than the first. At the show’s Comic Con panel attendees got a glimpse into what’s in store for the citizens of Storybrooke. In a brief teaser for the upcoming season, little Henry warns that “bad things are still happening in Storybrooke” and proof follows: Captain Hook from Peter Pan fame breaks into Mr. Gold’s pawn shop to retrieve what is his. Now that the citizens of the mysterious Maine town remember their past lives in fairytale land perhaps Mr. Gold should upgrade his security. The season 2 preview is embedded above.

During the panel which consisted of executive producers Eddie Kitsis and Adam Horowitz and many of the show’s stars, it was shared that season 2 will reveal the identity of Henry’s father, Dr. Whale’s fairytale character, and the fate of Rumpelstiltskin’s son Bae. Also, “the show this year is not going to change from the one you loved last year,” Kitsis reassured fans. We will still be shifting back and forth from fairytale land and Storybrooke even though magic has been introduced into the latter locale. He also made it a point to say that even though the Storybrooke residents remember their true fairytale identities, their Storybrooke memories do not fade away.

Two more videos were screened at the panel. One is a clip that contains all of season 1′s title sequences plus a few new ones coming soon in season 2 (spoiler: Mulan, Sleeping Beauty, and Jack (from Jack and the Beanstalk) will be introduced). The third video is a parody of online dating services called Singlebrooke that features Once‘s main characters discussing what they look for in the perfect mate; funny stuff. Check these out after the break. (Click here for more…)

ABC continued the Upfronts run today and unveiled 10 new series coming to the network next season; four comedies and six dramas. Four newbies will premiere this fall, and the others will sit on the bench until midseason. Jump after the break to get more information about all of the new shows including synopses, cast and creator/executive producer listings, and clips.

Also posted after the break is ABC’s 2012-13 programming schedule. Notable changes to the schedule include comedies Happy Endings and Don’t Trust the B in Apartment 23 moving to Tuesdays; in November the Tim Allen comedy Last Man Standing will premiere on Friday where it will serve as a lead-in to Reba McEntire’s new half-hour sitcom Malibu Country (hello TGIF); and Revenge is relocating to Sunday (taking over Desperate Housewives‘ recently relinquished 9PM slot) where it will be sandwiched between returning fantasy series Once Upon A Time and the new supernatural drama 666 Park Avenue.

Here are a few highlights from ABC’s Upfront presentation led by the network’s president Paul Lee. He is confident that Happy Endings “can open a comedy block at 9PM on Tuesday,” which certainly bodes well for fans of the hilarious comedy. On Sunday night’s epic lineup that includes Once, Revenge, and 666: “It’s battle between good and evil from 8PM all the way to 11PM.” Looking to the future, Lee confirmed that series based on the Marvel Avenger The Hulk is in the works for the 2013-14 TV season; reports claim that filmmaker Guillermo del Toro is attached. Also an all-star edition of Dancing with the Stars is coming in the fall. Last, Lee was determined to shine a light on what ABC hopes to share with its viewers when the 2012-13 season rolls around this September. “Why just watch when you can feel?” he exclaimed. “It sums up the added DNA that this brand brings as far as the emotional connection to viewers.” (Click here for more…)

Tis the season when the TV season comes to a close and the press goes wild with speculation about which shows will be coming back next fall and which ones will be brutally murdered never to be seen again. If you’re looking for rampant speculation you won’t find it here; this post will inform you about the already determined futures of your favorite TV shows that air on the big four networks. As the Upfronts loom ahead (the time when the networks reveal their schedules for next season), the current slate of TV shows look fate in the eye and a decision is made to keep them or cut them.

Unless otherwise stated, the following shows have been renewed for full 20-something episode seasons and will return in the fall or midseason.

CBS

Renewed: 2 Broke Girls, Blue Bloods, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CSI: NY, Criminal Minds, Hawaii Five-0, How I Met Your Mother, Mike & Molly, NCIS, NCIS: Los Angeles, Person of Interest, Rules of Engagement (13 episodes), Survivor, The Amazing Race, The Big Bang Theory, The Good Wife, The Mentalist, Two and a Half Men

Cancelled: A Gifted Man, CSI: Miami, How To Be A Gentleman, NYC 22 Rob, Unforgettable

NBC

Renewed: 30 Rock (13 episodes), Betty White’s Off Their Rockers, Celebrity Apprentice, Community (13 episodes), Grimm, Fashion Star, Law & Order: SVU, Parenthood, Parks and Recreation, Rock Center with Brian Williams, Smash (15-18 episodes), The Biggest Loser, The Office, The Voice, Up All Night, Whitney

Cancelled: Are You There, Chelsea?, Awake, Bent, Best Friends Forever, Chuck, Fear Factor, Free Agents, Harry’s Law, Playboy Club, Prime Suspect, The Firm

FOX

Renewed: American Dad, American Idol, Bob’s Burgers, Bones, Family Guy, Fringe (13 episodes), Glee, Hell’s Kitchen, Kitchen Nightmares, New Girl, Raising Hope, The Cleveland Show, The Simpsons, The X Factor, Touch

Cancelled: Alcatraz, Allen Gregory, Breaking In, House, I Hate My Teenage Daughter, Napoleon Dynamite, Terra Nova, The Finder

ABC

Renewed: America’s Funniest Home Videos, Body of Proof, Castle, Cougar Town (moving to TBS), Dancing with the Stars, Don’t Trust The B in Apartment 23, Grey’s Anatomy, Happy Endings, Last Man Standing, Modern Family, Once Upon A Time, Private Practice (13 episodes), Revenge, Scandal, Shark Tank, Suburgatory, The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, The Middle

Cancelled: Charlie’s Angels, Desperate Housewives, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, GCB, Man Up!, Missing, Pan Am, The River, Work It

The CW

Renewed: 90210, America’s Next Top Model, Gossip Girl, Hart of Dixie, Nikita, Supernatural, The Vampire Diaries

Cancelled: H8R, One Tree Hill, Remodeled, Ringer, The Secret Circle

Revenge, GCB, Missing, The Chew, Suburgatory, and Shark Tank get the treatment. See the rest in the gallery below. Click here to view ABC’s fake promos from the past.

[Via ABC]

A marriage destroyed [Queen Victoria & Conrad Greyson]. An empire threatened [Greyson Global]. A family torn apart [the Greysons]. An alliance forged [Emily & Nolan]. A friendship tested [Emily & Jack]. A fiancé with blood on his hands [Hello, Danny]. And she’s just getting started. When everything you love is stolen from you, someone has to pay.

This promo for Revenge aired during last night’s Oscars telecast. It might have been the highlight of the evening. The infectious soap returns this week on Wednesday, February 29 at 10PM on ABC.

Go behind the scenes with the creators and cast of ABC’s The River before tuning into tonight’s series premiere. Creator Oren Peli, executive producers Michael Green and Zack Estrin, and stars Joe Anderson, Leslie Hope, Bruce Greenwood, and Paul Blackthorne do a fine job at hyping the show and gearing audiences for an “intense” and “scary” journey along the Amazon River in search of Greenwood’s character Emmett Cole. Peli says the network allowed him “to go as scary as [he wanted]” so you have been warned. Mash play and introduce yourself to the ensemble cast, the pedigree, and the intriguing story behind The River. Lost fans, with faint whispers and booming intangible mystical monsters lurking in the night, you should feel right at home. For the rest of you, let this extended trailer be a litmus test. If you are fully engaged the premiere is a must-see; if you are shrieking in terror throughout fiddling with the volume perhaps this isn’t quite your cup of tea. But even if you do fall into that latter category, give the pilot a shot and allow your imagination to run free…and terrified.

The River premieres tonight at 9PM on ABC.

MONDAY

Smash – NBC — 10PM

I’m sure you’ve seen ads everyone for NBC’s upcoming musical drama Smash starring Katherine McPhee of American Idol fame. The question remains: is this show worth checking out? With a talented ensemble cast including Debra Messing (Will & Grace), Jack Davenport (FlashForward), Anjelica Huston, and Megan Hilty (of Broadway fame in 9 to 5: The Musical), exciting musical numbers, and a compelling plot that’s expected to captivate viewers quickly, Smash is definitely a new series you don’t want to miss out on giving a try. It’s easy to compare this show to FOX’s Glee since both of them include characters bursting out into song multiple times per episode, but you should know that it will be immediately apparent that the two don’t share all that much in common. For one this show tells a grander story of two aspiring artists vying for the lead role in a Broadway musical; Rachel Berry has time before she makes it that far. This story will encourage competition, backstabbing, and everything else that comes with a dramatic rise to stardom. From the commercials you should have an idea that Smash will try its best to weave a character-driven story with an extraordinary cast consisting of real-life singers and talented veteran actors. That should be enough to get you started on the pilot and from there we’ll see where it takes us. My prediction? NBC has a Smash hit and home-run with this one.

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TUESDAY

The River – ABC – 9PM (two-hour premiere)

Lots and lots of hype is surrounding The River, ABC’s fright fest from the creator of Paranormal Activity Oren Peli. Is all of it justifiable? I scream with a resounding yes. As you know I was fortunate enough to screen the pilot at Comic Con and I must say this show is not for the faint hearted. This show is genuinely scary and the strong pilot will make you forcibly jump out of your seat, I can promise you that. The eight episode first season will play like a miniseries, taking you on an adventure through the Amazon River in search of wildlife expert and TV personality Dr. Emmett Cole (played wonderfully by Bruce Greenwood). The rescue team consists of Cole’s wife played by Leslie Hope (24) and son Joe Anderson (Across The Universe). Paul Blackthorne (24) leads a camera crew that documents all the craziness that goes down during the mission. Though The River will frighten you at the same time it will grip you and keep you engaged from the start. The Amazonian backdrop and the various plot devices utilized to their advantages (including shaky cam, docu-style taping and elements of supernatural surprise and edge-of-your-seat it’s too quiet…SCARES) will hook you in the first hour and it’ll be hard to drop this show from your weekly schedule. The mystery of Cole’s disappearance will keep you guessing at who in the ensemble cast may be part of a larger conspiracy. The stars have aligned leading up to the premiere of this show; the cast is great, the plot is intriguing, the pedigree is there with Peli and executive prouder Steven Spielberg. And if FX’s American Horror Story proved anything, it’s that US audiences are drawn to TV experiences like they’ve never witnessed before. I can say without hesitation that The River is excitedly different from anything produced for the small screen sitting in your room.

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[Images via IGN 1, 2]

This is an “evolving post.” This means that I will be coming back to it throughout the fall TV season and updating it accordingly when news breaks concerning the fate of new programming. Get it? Got it? Good.

*Bolded shows denote the latest updates

CBS

Pickups: 2 Broke Girls, Unforgettable, Person of Interest

Cancellations: How to Be a Gentleman

Other: A Gifted Man (received 3 additional scripts on 11/15, season will contain 16 episodes total)

NBC

Pickups: Up All Night (episode count increase to 24 on 11/21), Whitney, Grimm

Cancellations: The Playboy Club, Free Agents, Prime Suspect

Still waiting on:  (received additional 6 scripts on 10/12)

Sophomore status: Harry’s Law (received full season order on 11/15)

FOX

Pickups: New Girl, Terra Nova (before the season started FOX committed to do 13 episodes), The X Factor

Cancellations: Allen Gregory

Still waiting on: Napoleon Dynamite, Alcatraz

ABC

Pickups: Suburgatory, Revenge, Last Man Standing, Once Upon a Time

Cancellations: Charlie’s Angels, Work It

Still waiting on: Pan Am* (received 5 additional scripts on 11/3, 1 additional script on 11/29), Man Up! (pulled from schedule on 12/8, 8 of 13 episodes produced have aired)

*ABC released this statement: “Pan Am will wrap production on its first season in early January after completion of its 14th episode. A decision about about a second season will be made in May.”

*At the 2012 TCA winter press tour ABC said regarding Pan Am: “We have new and original shows right through February.”

Sophomore status: Happy Endings received full season order on 11/3, season will contain 22 episodes total; Body of Proof received full season order on 11/18, season will contain 20 episodes total

The CW

Pickups: Ringer, The Secret Circle, Hart Of Dixie

Cancellations: H8R

The River follows the story of wildlife expert and TV personality Emmet Cole. Emmet set course around the world with his wife, Tess, and son, Lincoln, while filming what would become one of the most popular shows in television. After he goes missing deep in the Amazon, his family, friends and crew set out on a mysterious and deadly journey to find him. Famed explorer Dr. Emmet Cole (Bruce Greenwood) went looking for magic deep in the uncharted Amazon and never returned.

On the heels of FX’s American Horror Story, ABC is preparing an intense and scary series called The River. It was born out of Oren Peli, the man best known for developing the Paranormal Activity franchise. Peli ripped a page out of his Paranormal playbook and used stationary security cameras and the mobile “shaky cam” film style to follow an ensemble cast, including 24‘s Leslie Hope and Paul Blackthorne and Bruce Greenwood in The River.

At the TCA panel today, executive producer Michael Green shared some insight into how the eight-episode first season arc will play out. “We know all the pitfalls [of a serialized show] and do not want to fall into them. Each episode is a stand-alone horror film. We looked more to X-Files than to shows like Lost. We’re going make each one of them a little jewel.” Intriguing, yes? Though the pilot reveals that the rescue team/camera crew are being haunted by a supernatural spirit, Green promises that there’s more in store for them. “It’s the Amazon, there’s more than ghosts to be scared of,” he said. “There’s an endless number of things that can hurt you.” Will the threat of death be lurking around every corner for the cast of characters we’ll come to know over the season?  Green presses, “We won’t remove people needlessly just for the gag. My philosophy in TV is to treat every script like it’s your last because chances are it will be.”

Having screened the pilot at Comic Con, I can say that the first episode is very cinematic and, indeed, genuinely frightening. A critic at the TCAs brought up the point that the way in which the “found footage” shaky cam style of shooting is eerily similar to the way Peli does it on the big screen. In fact, after watching the pilot I thought to myself the The River could work stupendously in theatres due to its cinematic nature. Green commented that “We didn’t try to be overly cute about it. In a way it makes it feel more improvisational, a lot scarier.” I wholeheartedly agree. ABC boss Paul Lee revealed that if The River were to live on past its short season order, the producers and writers have a wild imagination that’s prepared to further explore the mystery and intrigue behind Emmet Cole’s disappearance.

If you’ve seen commercials or print advertisements for this show, you should know that filmmaker Steven Spielberg is being pimped as one of The River‘s executive producers. But does he actually have any impact on the creative direction of the supernatural fright fest? Exec producer Zack Estrin says yes. “[Spielberg’s] influence with stories, his influence when he watches the cuts is amazing. I mean, he’s off doing a movie — or two — and the fact he finds time to watch these cuts and give us notes and be just incredibly supportive is great for us. To have someone like him at our hip and giving us guidance that’s not superficial but indeed foundational is pretty great.” In other words, his presence is felt behind the scenes, and hopefully the audience will notice it too.

“For as many episodes as we are blessed to have, we have real stuff to go off of,” added Estrin in regards to the show in general. ”We wanted you to be not just scared, but worried for the people. I think that’s what will make the difference between a great horror movie and a great horror series.”

The River premieres February 7 on ABC.

[Via EW; THR 1, 2; Deadline]

Another day, another big network talks programming at the TCAs. Today it was ABC bossman Paul Lee and he opened the panel like this: “Good morning. So, what did you think of Work It?” Ha! Lee didn’t spend much time talking about the “controversial” new sitcom that has critics and regular TV viewers alike baffled at the sight of it on ABC’s midseason schedule. For one thing he admitted that he doesn’t get why people protested the show leading up to last week’s premiere. His words: “I don’t find it to be offensive, I didn’t get it.” When asked why he picked up the wacky workplace comedy in the first place he responded, “I thought that there was room for ambitious, sticky shows like Revenge and Scandal and smart shows like Suburgatory. And I thought that there was room for a very, very, very silly show like Work It.” Sorry, Lee, it’s not working…creatively at least. The soft premiere was still good enough for Lee to comment that the ratings were “right in the middle” of expectations. Hmpf.

What else? Lee set premiere dates for two ambitious new shows. Drama Scandal from Shonda Rhimes (Grey’s Anatomy) premieres Thursday, April 5 at 10PM after Grey’s and comedy Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23 starts Wednesday, April 11 at 9:30PM following Modern Family (Happy Endings‘ second season run will have concluded). His strategy here is simple and will likely prove effective. “We are using our number one drama to push the launch of Scandal, and we are using our number one comedy to push the launch of Don’t Trust The B—-,” Lee said.

Cougar Town fans, your show is coming back in the spring, but it’s season three premiere date still hasn’t been solidified. “The reality is I think Cougar Town is having one of its best [seasons],” Lee said. “We haven’t yet landed on where it’s going to go, but it’s tentatively in there for March. I think when we launch it, we’ll bring a big strong message that we love that show.” Lee went on to share a “dream” of his, one that involves ABC promoting a night of “young irreverent comedies” including Cougar Town, Happy Endings, and Apartment 23. Sounds tantalizing, doesn’t it? Update (1/17): Work It has been cancelled and Cougar Town will replace it starting February 14.

Also mentioned was upcoming drama set in the South GCB (formally Good Christian Belles, and before that Good Christian Bitches). Lee shared his thoughts on the use of the term “bitches” in not one but two of his midseason shows. Specifically about GCB: “We think it reflected the irreverence of the show, but we can’t use [bitch] in broadcast titles. What I’m hoping for is that it piques people’s interest. I would love people to go, there’s something edgy here.” And as for Apartment 23? “[It has] so much attitude…we felt it reflected the irreverence and the outrage of the show.”

What’s the fate of bubble show Pan Am? Lee says, “When it opened, it really brought an audience. There’s such a feeling of goodwill toward that show. We have new and original shows right through February.” Ratings check next month, and depending on the show’s pulse Lee will renew it or can it. Like he did Charlie’s Angels: “I don’t think we breathed life into that franchise but I think it was a strong attempt.”

[Via Deadline; THR; EW; TVLine]

ABC’s fairy tale series Once Upon a Time returns this Sunday night at 8PM on ABC. Can’t wait until then to get your Snow White and Prince Charming fix? Head over to Hulu to watch the first eight minutes (another Lost reference!) of the new episode “Desperate Souls.” The logline: Regina and Mr. Gold play dirty politics and take opposite sides when Emma runs for a coveted Storybrooke public office against Sidney (Giancarlo Esposito). Meanwhile, back in the fairytale world that was, Rumplestiltskin tries to track down the ultimate power source in order to help his son avert the horrors of a meaningless war.

In addition, ABC has released a bunch of new cast photos that are simply stunning. They include looks at fairy tale-world and real-world versions of Snow White/Mary Margaret, the Evil Queen/Regina, Rumplestiltskin/Mr. Gold, as well as shots of John Doe, little Henry, and Archie. Scrub through them all in the gallery below. And in the gallery below that you’ll find stills from the episode!

[Via TVLine; IGN]

Shortly after NBC announced its 2012 midseason schedule, ABC followed and did the same. The alphabet network’s schedule, however, isn’t entirely complete. First let’s start with what’s there. Crossing-dressing comedy Work It will replace Man Up! in the Tuesday 8:30PM slot to be paired with Tim Allen’s new sitcom Last Man Standing. A game of musical chairs will be played in the Tuesday 9PM-10PM slot. In January Celebrity Wife Swap returns and will occupy that hour until Oren Peli’s thriller The River premieres in February. That will have a limited 8-episode run and end in late March. That same month Dancing with the Stars comes back and the results show will take over the hour. With Charlie’s Angels dead and gone, Winter Wipeout will have no trouble fitting in on Thursdays at 8PM and another reality show Shark Tank will move Fridays at 8PM. Wipeout‘s spell won’t last long; in March Missing, a new drama starring Ashley Judd, will take over. And finally there’s GCB, formally known as Good Christian Bitches and Good Christian Belles. The soap will air in Pam Am‘s current position at Sundays at 10PM. What this means for Pan Am‘s future is still unknown. And now we can discuss what’s missing: the buzzy Don’t Trust The  B**** In Apt. 23, Shonda Rhimes’ Scandal, and Cougar Town (it’s being reported that the Courtney Cox comedy is being reduced from 22 to 15 episodes this season). ABC likely won’t wait long to schedule this shows with spring premiere dates, so make sure check back here soon.

Jump after the break to see the premiere dates, and click here to preview all the new shows. (Click here for more…)

The imaginative new show from Lost scribes Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis premieres tonight at 8PM on ABC. Once Upon a Time takes place in Storybrooke, Maine, a magical place that appears normal at first glance but when examined a bit more closely it actually is home to a myriad of fairytale characters who lead ordinary lives and have forgotten their true identities. Emma Swan (House‘s Jennifer Morrison) is the show’s protagonist, and her son Henry (Jared Gilmore) is the one who draws her to the mysterious Storybrooke in an attempt to find answers and ultimately lift the Evil Queen’s (Lana Parilla) amnesic cruse. Sounds like fun to me. Once also stars Ginnifer Goodwin as Snow White, Joshua Dallas as Prince Charming, and Robert Carlyle as Rumpelstiltskin. Lost fans, pay close attention during tonight’s pilot; Horowitz and Kitsis have made it known that the episode contains numerous references to their old show. For example, the giant clock in Storybrooke is frozen in time at precisely 8:15. See what else you can find. Character stills and pictures from the pilot hang in the galleries below.

Bonus! Can’t wait a minute longer to watch? IMDb is streaming the episode right here, right now!

[Images via IGN]

The connective tissue tying together these two TV news bites: the pedigree behind the new respective projects come from a show you probably heard of…Lost.

First let’s see what’s up with the creator of the Island. J.J. Abrams has much on his plate already. This TV season he has three shows airing: Fringe (FOX), Person of Interest (CBS), and Alcatraz (FOX) premieres in midseason. He’s also working on the Star Trek movie sequel. But all of this isn’t enough for the mastermind behind some of the greatest shows produced for TV. He’s ready to dip his wand in a new Warner Bros. TV/Bad Robot project and it’s called Revolution. According to Deadline, the show is being described as “an epic adventure thriller.” Since it’s an Abrams project, don’t expect the plot to leak until the man behind the curtain allows that to happen. Abrams has teamed with Supernatural creator and executive producer Eric Kripke for Revolution; Kripke will pen the pilot script which recently got pilot production commitment from NBC. More as the story develops…

In other news, Lost showrunner Carlton Cuse has a new project up his sleeve too. His is titled Stronger and Deadline describes it as “a drama project with spiritual overtones.” Cuse’s partner in crime is author/pastor Rob Bell, and he will serve as co-writer and executive producer. Bell is leaving Michigan’s Mars Hill Bible Church (which he created) to develop the series which was recently sold to ABC. Deadline reports that the show “revolves around Tom Stronger, a musician and teacher, and his spiritual journey as he becomes a benefactor and guide to others.” Stronger won’t hide its autobiographical roots; Bell is in fact a former musician and he will likely incorporate his experiences into the script. Now don’t forget–like his former Lost cohort Cuse is keeping busy with multiple projects in consideration, too. Look out for his ABC civil war drama Point of Honor on the horizon.

[Via Deadline 1, 2]

Like the Alcatraz panel, The River‘s consisted of a pilot screening and an extremely brief session with the cast and crew. Producer Oren Peli (Paranormal Activity) led the panel discussion, but before I get into that, I want to give my initial impressions surrounding the spooky premiere episode. In my humble opinion, the pilot is a raging success. Why? One simple reason: it is extremely engaging. It manages to not only introduce viewers to the heap of main characters, but it also get them emotionally invested in their actions and purpose. And all the while the situation that these people are placed in is horrifying, mysterious, and intriguing all at once.

In a nutshell, The River is about a man who goes missing (Emmett Cole played by Bruce Greenwood) and the rescue mission led by his wife (24‘s Leslie Hope) and son (Joe Anderson) to find him. Peli borrows immensely from his Paranormal Activity style of shooting; lots of shaky-cam footage is used here. You see, before Emmett Cole went missing he was a well-know TV personality who hosted a nature show called The Undiscovered Country for nearly 20 years; a camera crew led by another 24 alum Paul Blackthorne is documenting and paying for the rescue mission. Another page ripped out of Paranormal: this show is set up to be a supernatural, genuinely scary series. In the first episode alone the Cole family has to deal with a ghostly demon of sorts that’ll make you jump off your couch more than once. I won’t say more beyond that, but you get the idea.

In the pilot, Peli has masterfully transferred his ability to spook viewers from the big screen to network TV. ABC assured Peli that he can “go as scary as [he] wants to go.” Peli said that he wants viewers to “experience real fear” while watching his new show. But don’t expect The River to be a gory bloodbath. Peli described the show as “less Saw and more Poltergeist” and you definitely get that sense after watching the pilot.

It seems obvious that this show will be highly serialized, and viewers will have to tune in each week to discover the mystery behind Cole’s disappearance. I won’t spoil anything, but there’s something that the crew finds shortly after they embark on the rescue mission that’ll likely pull you in for the ride. Shaky-cam, spooks and all, The River is primed to be a must-see TV event this midseason.

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