John Shearer/WireImage.com It's official. Michael Vartan is coming back to your living room.
This is just one of the good reasons to celebrate this morning, as ABC announced its new fall schedule that is chock-full of TV faves: Tim Daly, Peter Krause, Lucy Liu, Dylan McDermott and Christina Applegate, just to name a few.
For moi personally, the giddiest fact this a.m. is that USA Today chose to single out Pushing Daisies—the magical new drama from Heroes and Wonderfalls producer Bryan Fuller and my personal new favorite for fall—for the photo of its article on ABC and also as a show that "probably will be among the most talked-about fall series." Well, I for one am already talkin'!
I have to scoot off to an interview with ABC boss Steve McPherson, but before I do, allow me to share a quick rundown of ABC's 11 pickups:
- Pushing Daisies: The aforementioned magical detective series, with Lee Pace (Wonderfalls) as a man who can bring back the dead with a single touch.
- Private Practice: You know what, starring you know who.
- Dirty, Sexy Money: Peter Krause stars as a lawyer for the most obnoxiously rich and famous family around. I loooved this pilot!
- Eli Stone: Greg Berlanti (producer of Everwood and Brothers & Sisters) continues his good-TV streak with this drama about a lawyer who learns he could be a prophet.
- Women's Murder Club: A drama about a group of novice crime solvers, based on a book by James Patterson.
- Cashmere Mafia: Lucy Liu stars in this business-world drama from Darren Star.
- Big Shots: A sudsy drama about high-powered men, including Michael Vartan and Dylan McDermott. (Likely for midseason.)
- Carpoolers: A comedy of four guys who commute to work each day.
- Cavemen: You've seen the Geico commercials, right? Well, they're living in Atlanta.
- Sam I Am: Christina Applegate wakes up from amnesia to learn she was an awful person.
- Miss/Guided: Judy Greer returns to her high school to be a guidance counselor.
As for returning series, October Road and Notes from the Underbelly have been renewed. Sadly, What About Brian has gone to the great cancellation pile in the sky (a fact I knew for sure yesterday when I saw Sarah Lancaster promoting her new NBC series, Chuck, and she told me, "It was time to move on"), along with George Lopez, Knights of Prosperity, In Case of Emergency, Six Degrees and According to Jim.
(If you have any questions for new or returning ABC, CBS, CW or Fox stars, please post them in the comments, or email me with the name of the network in the subject line. If you have no questions but already have strong opinions about ABC's new lineup, vote for your fave in our upfronts message board poll!)
And for a look at ABC's full fall schedule, read on!
ABC's Fall Schedule
Monday
8-9:30 p.m. Dancing with the Stars
9:30-10 p.m. Sam I Am
10-11 p.m. The Bachelor
Tuesday
8-8:30 p.m. Cavemen
8:30-9 p.m. Carpoolers
9-10 p.m. Dancing with the Stars
10-11 p.m. Boston Legal
Wednesday
8-9 p.m. Pushing Daisies
9-10 p.m. Private Practice
10-11 p.m. Dirty Sexy Money
Thursday
8-9 p.m. Ugly Betty
9-10 p.m. Grey's Anatomy
10-11 p.m. Big Shots
Friday
8-9 p.m. Men in Trees
9-10 p.m. Women's Murder Club
10-11 p.m. 20/20
Saturday
8 p.m. Saturday Night College Football
Sunday
7-8 p.m. America's Funniest Home Videos
8-9 p.m. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
9-10 p.m. Desperate Housewives
10-11 p.m. Brothers & Sisters