The ABC Television Network unveiled its 2017-2018 Tuesday (May 16). As expected, American Idol is now an Disney reality show, and will be premiering mid-season. Wow.
Also notable: There are two spin-offs of franchises we cover here: The Bachelor Winter Games, which appears to have some weird Winter Olympics tie-in, and Dancing with the Stars Junior (ugh). DWTS original flavor will premiere it’s fall cycle in September. The Jr. version is set to premiere Spring 2018. Will it be replacing a cycle of DWTS OG? Hm. A Jr. version could air fewer hours, therefore making room for American Idol which is set to air at least 40 hours.
UPDATE: Host Tom Bergeron clears the air. Dancing with the Stars Junior is a separate spinoff DWTS OG will air in fall 2017 and Fall 2018. Spring 2017 will be the Junior version. Like I said above, perhaps fewer hours to accommodate American Idol.
@DWTSGossip @jane9668 @KristynBurtt Season 26 will be “regular strength” DWTS. The Junior edition is a separate spin-off similar to the approach taken with “Bachelor” franchise
— Tom Bergeron (@Tom_Bergeron) May 16, 2017
— Tom Bergeron (@Tom_Bergeron) May 16, 2017
Also, ABC will be broadcasting a live musical production of Disney’s The Little Mermaid. The Mouse House is finally mounting a live musical!
Channing Dungey, president, ABC Entertainment, will unveil the network’s new lineup to the advertising and media communities this afternoon at Lincoln Center’s David Geffen Hall in New York City.
Fall premiere dates will be announced at a later time. Please note that shows picked up but not listed on the schedule below will debut later in the 2017-18 season.
ABC’s fall primetime schedule is as follows (all times listed are Eastern/Pacific). New shows are in bold:
DAY TIME SERIES
MONDAY: 8:00 p.m. “Dancing with the Stars”
10:00 p.m. “The Good Doctor”
TUESDAY: 8:00 p.m. “The Middle”
8:30 p.m. “Fresh Off the Boat” (new time period)
9:00 p.m. “black-ish” (new day and time period)
9:30 p.m. “The Mayor”
10:00 p.m. “The Gospel of Kevin”
WEDNESDAY: 8:00 p.m. “The Goldbergs”
8:30 p.m. “Speechless”
9:00 p.m. “Modern Family”
9:30 p.m. “American Housewife” (new day and time period)
10:00 p.m. “Designated Survivor”
THURSDAY: 8:00 p.m. “Grey’s Anatomy”
9:00 p.m. “Scandal”
10:00 p.m. “How to Get Away with Murder”
FRIDAY: 8:00 p.m. “Once Upon a Time” (new day and time period)
9:00 p.m. “Marvel’s Inhumans”
10:00 p.m. “20/20”
SATURDAY: 8:00 p.m. “Saturday Night Football”
SUNDAY: 7:00 p.m. “America’s Funniest Home Videos”
8:00 p.m. “To Tell the Truth” (new day and time period)
9:00 p.m. “Shark Tank” (new day and time period)
10:00 p.m. “Ten Days in the Valley”
NEW FALL AND MIDSEASON SERIES:
ALTERNATIVE SERIES
AMERICAN IDOL
ABC is bringing back “American Idol.” The network, along with producers FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment, a division of CORE Media Group, will revive television’s most successful and recognized music competition series for the 2017-2018 season, bringing back the fan-favorite and making more dreams come true. A host and judges will be announced at a later time.
“American Idol”‘s profound effect on the music industry is far-reaching and continually growing, launching the careers of superstars Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Hudson, Katharine McPhee, Adam Lambert and Chris Daughtry, among many others. “American Idol” contestants have sold more than 60 million albums, resulting in more than 80 Platinum records and 95 Gold records. Its participants have generated more than 450 Billboard No. 1 hits and sold more than 260 million digital downloads.
“American Idol” is produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment, a division of CORE Media Group. Executive producers include FremantleMedia North America’s Trish Kinane and Jennifer Mullin. FremantleMedia International distributes the series worldwide.
THE BACHELOR WINTER GAMES
America’s favorite participants from past seasons of “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette,” from arch rivals to villains, will take competitive dating to a chilling new level. In an ode to the Winter Olympic Games and slated to premiere in February 2018, “The Bachelor Winter Games” will reunite the all-stars at a luxurious winter resort, where they will go head-to-head in winter-themed athletic challenges, including the toughest sport of all – love.
“The Bachelor Winter Games” is a production of Next Entertainment in association with Warner Horizon Unscripted Television. Mike Fleiss and Martin Hilton to executive produce.
DANCING WITH THE STARS JUNIOR
A fresh new take on an established favorite, “Dancing with the Stars Junior” will pair celebrity kids and kids of celebrities with professional junior ballroom dancers to perform choreographed routines, which will be judged by a panel of renowned ballroom experts, to be announced at a later date.
Slated to debut in Spring 2018, “Dancing with the Stars Junior” is produced by BBC Worldwide Productions
RETURNING SERIES
THE BACHELOR (Season 22)
ABC’s “The Bachelor,” a pop-culture sensation, will celebrate its 22nd season with more fireworks, surprises and drama than ever. Just as Nick ended his journey to find love with a proposal, the series has encouraged millions of viewers for over two decades to find their own fairytale romances while the original hit primetime romance reality series continues to offer unpredictable, sexy, emotional, over-the-top fun. The relaxed format rules guarantee more “OMG,” jaw-dropping moments. Bachelor Nation has made this romantic rollercoaster ride one of television’s top social-media and water-cooler shows, as one lucky man and 30 lucky women have the unique opportunity to find true love.
Hosted by Chris Harrison, “The Bachelor” is a production of Next Entertainment in association with Warner Horizon Unscripted Television. Mike Fleiss, Martin Hilton, Elan Gale, Bennett Graebner and Nicole Woods are the executive producers.
THE BACHELORETTE (Season 14)
The season 14 pickup of “The Bachelorette” comes in advance of the 13th season premiere, on MONDAY, MAY 22 (9:00-11:00 p.m. EDT), where fan-favorite Rachel Lindsay will continue her journey to find her happy ending.
Editors’ note: “The Bachelorette” will return to its regular time slot on Monday, May 29 (8:00-10:01 p.m. EDT).
Hosted by Chris Harrison, “The Bachelorette” is a production of Next Entertainment in association with Warner Horizon Unscripted Television. Mike Fleiss, Martin Hilton, Elan Gale, Bennett Graebner and Nicole Woods are the executive producers.
DANCING WITH THE STARS (Season 25)
“Dancing with the Stars,” which enters its landmark 25th season this fall, is the hit series in which celebrities perform choreographed dance routines that are judged by a panel of renowned ballroom experts. “Dancing with the Stars” is produced by BBC Worldwide Productions. Ashley Edens-Shaffer and Joe Sungkur are executive producers. Phil Heyes directs.
SHARK TANK (Season 9)
“Shark Tank,” the critically acclaimed and multi Emmy Award-winning reality show that has reinvigorated entrepreneurship in America and recently amassed an amazing $100M in deals in the Tank, will feature a blockbuster lineup of guest Sharks when the business-themed show returns for its ninth season. The guest Sharks are serial entrepreneur, investor and philanthropist Richard Branson, Spanx owner Sara Blakely, Skinnygirl founder Bethenny Frankel, iconic Smartwater and Vitaminwater brand-builder Rohan Oza, and legendary baseball player and businessman Alex Rodriguez. They will appear individually alongside four other Sharks in various episodes during the 2017-2018 season.
The Sharks are billionaire Mark Cuban, “Queen of QVC” Lori Greiner, technology innovator Robert Herjavec, fashion and branding expert Daymond John, and venture capitalist Kevin O’Leary.
Mark Burnett, Clay Newbill, Yun Lingner and Phil Gurin are the executive producers of “Shark Tank,” which is based on the Japanese “Dragons’ Den” format, created by Nippon Television Network Corporation. The series is produced by MGM Television in association with Sony Pictures Television.
SPECIALS
THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF DISNEY: THE LITTLE MERMAID LIVE!
In a two-hour special event, ABC will take the iconic “The Little Mermaid” animated feature film and intertwine it with show stopping LIVE musical performances via cutting-edge technology for an explosive evening honoring one of Walt Disney’s most celebrated classics. Fans of “The Little Mermaid” and Alan Menken and Howard Ashman’s Oscar-winning songs will enjoy this never-before-seen live action/animation hybrid television experience featuring a soon-to-be announced roster of some of their favorite celebrity artists, whose performances will weave seamlessly throughout the original animated film.
“The Wonderful World of Disney: The Little Mermaid Live!” is set to premiere on Tuesday, October 3. The special is produced by Done + Dusted with Hamish Hamilton, Ian Stewart, David Jammy, Katy Mullan, and Richard Kraft, of Kraft-Engel Productions, serving as executive producers.
ROLLING STONE 50
For half a century, Rolling Stone has remained an iconic and important voice in American music, culture and politics. Now, the people who have told their stories through the Rolling Stone lens are coming together to reflect on the last 50 years. “Rolling Stone 50” will pay homage to the brand’s influence and impact through a curated journey of its most seminal moments. Live from New York City, the three-hour special television event, set to debut Wednesday, February 7, 2018, will showcase live performances, short films, iconic on-stage moments, never-before-seen musical pairings, and celebrities that have shaped pop culture, music and politics.
The special is a production of Done + Dusted and Wenner Media. Jann Wenner and Gus Wenner of Wenner Media and Ian Stewart, David Jammy and Katy Mullan of Done + Dusted serve as executive producers.
New Series: ‘Alex, Inc.,’ ‘The Crossing,’ ‘Deception,’ ‘For The People,’ ‘The Good Doctor,’ ‘The Gospel of Kevin,’ ‘The Mayor’ and ‘Splitting Up Together’
Returning series: ‘America’s Funniest Home Videos,’ ‘American Housewife,’ ‘The Bachelor,’ ‘The Bachelorette,’ ‘black-ish,’ ‘Dancing with the Stars,’ ‘Designated Survivor,’ ‘Fresh Off the Boat,’ ‘The Goldbergs,’ ‘Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,’ ‘Modern Family,’ ‘Once Upon a Time,’ ‘Quantico,’ ‘Shark Tank,’ ‘Speechless’ and ‘To Tell the Truth’
New and Returning Shows Join Previously Announced: ‘American Idol,’ ‘Marvel’s Inhumans,’ ‘The Middle,’ ‘Ten Days in The Valley’ and the TGIT Lineup
