'Of Kings and Prophets' Bob D'Amico/ABC
The network finalizes its early 2016 lineup, including an early return for Emmy-winning 'American Crime.'
Just a week after Fox firmed up its plans for the rest of the broadcast TV season, ABC announced its full schedule Monday afternoon. And the network is staying the dramatic course with Tuesday's problematic 10 p.m. time slot.
In the wake of Wicked City's relatively swift cancellation, the network will fill the hour with pricey period drama Of Kings and Prophets — though not until March 8. After a special two-hour return for Agent Carter on Jan. 5, the time slot will continue to be home to (mostly) Shark Tank repeats. ABC has had a rough go of it at 10 o'clock on Tuesdays, despite finding dramatic success on Thursdays (with Scandal and now How to Get Away With Murder) and, more recently, with Quantico on Sundays.
The rest of ABC's lineup sees few shakeups. Bridge show Galavant returns to Sunday's 8 p.m. hour on Jan. 3, while anthology American Crime shifts to Wednesday's 10 p.m. slot during Nashville's winter hiatus. Hot drama The Family gets a TGIT preview at 9 p.m. on March 3, the network's highest-rated hour, before shifting to its regular Sunday slot later that week. Elsewhere on Thursdays, Shonda Rhimes' latest EP credit fills in the How to Get Away With Murder slot when The Catch premieres March 24.
Confident in Fresh Off the Boat's ratings endurance, ABC is also moving the comedy back to 8 p.m. after The Muppets' freshman run wraps. It will lead into midseason comedy The Real O'Neals, on March 8, after a two-episode sampling the week prior.
There's a lot of reality on tap for January and February while most fall scripted shows take a breather. Shark Tank spinoff Beyond the Tank will air on Thursdays after newcomer My Diet Is Better Than Yours. And The Bachelor will again sit in Dancing With the Stars' Monday roost.
Rookie comedy Uncle Buck and returning anthology Secrets & Lies have not yet been scheduled.
For the complete lineup, which includes return dates and a few finales for ABC standards, read the below calendar:
SUNDAY, JANUARY 3
8:00-9:00 p.m. “Galavant” (Season 2 Premiere)
MONDAY, JANUARY 4
8:00-10:00 p.m. “The Bachelor” (Season 20 Premiere)
TUESDAY, JANUARY 5
9:00-11:00 p.m. “Marvel’s Agent Carter” (Season 2 Premiere, 2 hours, regular time period 9-10 p.m.)
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6
10:00 p.m. “American Crime” (Season 2 Premiere)
THURSDAY, JANUARY 7
8:00-10:00 p.m. “My Diet Is Better Than Yours” (Series Premiere, 2 hours)
10:00 p.m. “Beyond The Tank” (Season Premiere)
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2
8:00 p.m. “The Muppets” (New Episodes)
8:30 p.m. “Fresh Off the Boat” (New Episodes)
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11
8:00 p.m. “Grey’s Anatomy” (New Episodes)
9:00 p.m. “Scandal” (New Episodes)
10:00 p.m. “How to Get Away with Murder” (New Episodes)
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2
8:30 p.m. “The Real O’Neals” (Sneak Preview)
9:30 p.m. “The Real O’Neals” (Sneak Preview)
THURSDAY, MARCH 3
9:00 p.m. “The Family” (Sneak Preview)
SUNDAY, MARCH 6
8:00 p.m. “Once Upon a Time” (New Episodes)
9:00 p.m. “The Family” (Time Period Premiere)
10:00 p.m. “Quantico” (New Episodes)
TUESDAY, MARCH 8
8:00 p.m. “Fresh Off the Boat” (New Time Period)
8:30 p.m. “The Real O’Neals” (Time Period Premiere)
9:00 p.m. “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D” (Series Return, New Episodes)
10:00 p.m. “Of Kings & Prophets” (Series Premiere)
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9
10:00 p.m. “American Crime” (Season Finale)
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16
10:00 p.m. “Nashville” (Series Return, New Episodes)
THURSDAY, MARCH 17
10:00 p.m. “How to Get Away with Murder” (Season Finale)
THURSDAY, MARCH 24
10:00 p.m. “The Catch” (Series Premiere)
