ABC Sets Summer Schedule With Growing Focus on Scripted

ABC Sets Summer Schedule With Growing Focus on Scripted - The Hollywood Reporter

April 08, 2015 26 minutes ago by Lesley Goldberg

ABC/Caitlin Cronenberg

The slate includes four dramas including the series debut of 'The Whispers.'

ABC is focusing more on scripted fare with its summer schedule.

The network on Wednesday released its summer lineup, consisting of seven unscripted series and four dramas — up one in the latter compared with last year.

Set to join summer staples The Bachelorette, Celebrity Wife Swap and Bachelor in Paradise are new unscripted series 500 Questions from Mark Burnett and hosted by CNN's Richard Quest; six-episode entry Celebrity Family Feud hosted by Steve Harvey; and the revived BattleBots.

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On the scripted side, the network will debut freshman entry The Whispers (formerly known as The Visitors) starring Revenge's Barry Sloane and AHS favorite Lily Rabe on Monday, June 1 at 10 p.m. That will be joined by the return of summer entry Mistresses and Canadian co-production Rookie Blue as ABC joins networks including CBS and NBC in making scripted series a priority in the traditionally low-rated warm months.

Missing from ABC's summer lineup is straight-to-series pickup Astronaut Wives Club, which was originally scheduled for summer 2014 before being moved to midseason, where it has yet to earn a slot on the network's schedule.

Here's ABC's summer lineup:

Monday, May 18
9:01-11:00 p.m. “The Bachelorette”

Wednesday, May 20
8:00-9:00 p.m. “500 Questions” (new series premiere)
10:00-11:00 p.m. “Celebrity Wife Swap”

Tuesday, May 26
9:00-11:00 p.m. “Extreme Weight Loss”

Monday, June 1
10:01-11:00 p.m. “The Whispers” (new series premiere)

Thursday, June 18
9:00-11:00 p.m. “Mistresses”

Sunday, June 21
8:00-9:00 p.m.                         “Celebrity Family Feud” (new series premiere)
9:00-10:01 p.m.                       “BattleBots” (new series premiere)

Thursday, June 25
10:00-11:00 p.m. “Rookie Blue”

Sunday, August 2
8:00-10:01 p.m. “Bachelor in Paradise” (special two-hour premiere)

Monday, August 3
8:00-10:01 p.m. “Bachelor in Paradise” (time period premiere)

Keep up with all the renewals, cancellations and new series orders with THR's handy Scorecard.

Email: Lesley.Goldberg@THR.com
Twitter: @Snoodit