ABC's got nothing to laugh at

More from the upfronts this week, here’s the scoop on ABC’s Fall Line-up. Their strategy seems to be a repeat of last year’s “throw everything we’ve got and see what sticks”. Worked well last year , as the only carry-over from last season are “Ugly Betty” and “Brothers & Sisters”. Not one comedy or serial drama (“The Nine”, “Daybreak”, and comedy is taking a back seat to reality shows and hour long dramas, which is understandable given I can’t remember the last time the words “ABC” and “hit comedy” showed up in the same sentence. It may have been 1987. Some have described the new schedule as smelling of ABC's desperation to capitalize on its hits ("Grey's Anatomy", "Ugly Betty", "Dancing With The Stars") and their goal is to be the "chick magnet" network.

The show I'm looking forward to and the best buzz I’ve heard is for Bryan Fuller’s “Pushing Daisies”, described as “a forensic fairytale about a young man with a very special gift”. Bryan Fuller’s had a hand in several of my favourite shows, as executive producer or co-exec on “Heroes”, “Dead Like Me”, and “Wonderfalls”. It centres around Ned, who figures out he’s able to bring the dead back to life with his touch. He uses the ability for his own gains until his childhood sweetheart, Chuck, back from the dead (not in a zombie sort of way) and keeps her alive. Chuck challenges Ned to use his abilities to help others, and things go pretty well for Ned and Chuck, except for the fact that if Ned ever touches her again, she'll go back to being dead, this time for good. Kind of a whimsical “Dead Like Me” mixed with a mythical touch of Orpheus. This one is my pick for best new show, which means it's doomed.

The other strong show, based on cast alone, is the drama “Big Shots”, about the lives of four professional men and the friendship they share. The four principal actors are: Michael Vartan ("Alias"), Dylan McDermott ("The Practice"), Christopher Titus ("Titus" – man that was a dark and funny show), Joshua Malina ("The West Wing" and “Sports Night”).

ABC picked up that sitcom "Cavemen" about cavemen living in modern Atlanta, based on the series of ads from Geico Insurance. “ Cavemen is a unique buddy comedy that offers a clever twist on stereotypes and turns race relations on their head” which translates into “we can make an offensive show, and no one will protest it because, hey, no cavemen advocacy groups”. You know when the last time cavemen were popular? "Encino Man", the movie with Brendan Fraser as a thawed out dude of a caveman, and inflicted Paulie Shore into the world.

They dropped “George Lopez”, the long running sitcom that as far as I can recall is the only Latino comedy on the air and, while not a hit, has been a solid performer. To put it mildly, George is muy pissed at being unceremoniously dropped in favour of cavemen hi jinks.

From ex-Kid In The Hall Bruce McCulloch comes the sitcom “Carpoolers”, about a group of four men who share a ride to work each day and navigate the mess of their own lives. Judging from Bruce's post-Kids output, I'm not betting the farm on this one.

The quick hit summary:

New Series Include "Big Shots," "Carpoolers," "Cashmere Mafia," "Cavemen," "Dirty Sexy Money," "Eli Stone," "Miss/Guided," "Private Practice," "Pushing Daisies," "Sam I Am" and "Women's Murder Club"

New Alternative Series "Oprah's Big Give" Slated to Debut

Returning Series Include Previously Announced "Brothers & Sisters," "Men In Trees," "Ugly Betty," "Grey's Anatomy," "Lost," "Desperate Housewives," "Boston Legal," "Jimmy Kimmel Live," "Dancing with the Stars," "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," "The Bachelor," "Supernanny," "America's Funniest Home Videos" and "Wife Swap"

"October Road" and "Notes from the Underbelly" are also to Return for Second Seasons