ABC Renews 14 For 2007-08 Season

14 Series See New Seasons

Sunday, March 25, 2007 1:47 PM | By Errol Lewis

(SoapOperaNetwork.com) — The ABC Television Network seems to have faith in its current crop of television shows as it becomes the first network to renew the majority of its series for the 2007-08 television season.

On Wednesday, ABC announced that it has ordered second seasons for critical darlings “Brothers & Sisters,” “MEN IN TREES” and “Ugly Betty,” along with returning shows “The Bachelor,” Boston Legal,” “Dancing with the Stars,” “Desperate Housewives,” “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Jimmy Kimmel Live” and “Lost.” They join the already renewed “America’s Funniest Home Video’s,” “Supernanny” and “Wife Swap.”

“We have had a strong year, with two of the season’s breakout hits, ‘Ugly Betty’ and ‘Brothers & Sisters,’ and the solid performance of ‘MEN IN TREES,'” said Stephen McPherson, President, ABC Entertainment during the networks March Development Meeting in Los Angeles, CA. “We are pleased that viewers have invested in these new favorites along with our returning series. These shows provide us with a substantial foundation to make 07-08 our best schedule yet.”

In addition to its returning series, ABC is developing 29 potential series for next season. The 13 drama potentials include such shows as “Mr. and Mrs. Smith,” the television spin-off of the popular 2005 film starring Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, and the “Grey’s Anatomy” spin-off starring Kate Walsh’s character, Addison Montgomery-Shepherd, who decides to move to Santa Monica, CA to work at the prestigious Oceanside Wellness Group.

Of the 16 comedy hopefuls, the “Untitled Sachs & Judah Project” starring Scott Wolf, “The News” starring Jay Harrington and “Nice Girls Don’t Get the Corner Office” starring Jane Curtain, are among some of the more highly anticipated new comedies vying for a spot on ABC.

The ABC Television Network will announce its 2007-08 Fall Schedule to Advertisers and members of the press at Lincoln Center in New York City in May.

Pictured: Calista Flockhart courtesy Bob D’Amico/ABC