There’s a shake-up at Shondaland: Scandal has been pushed to midseason, likely to accommodate leading lady Kerry Washington’s pregnancy.
While Grey’s Anatomy and How to Get Away with Murder will stay intact at 8 p.m. ET and 10 p.m. ET, respectively, new drama Notorious will fill the Scandal vacancy at 9 p.m. ET. Along with Scandal, The Catch, The Bachelor, and American Crime are also slated for midseason.
“We did have to make some adjustments to Scandal for a variety of reasons that had to do with the production schedule,” new ABC chief Channing Dungey told reporters, also noting that Shondaland will have to expand outside of Thursday nights at some point since Rhimes will have five series on the air eventually. While Still Star-Crossed was always intended for midseason because of the scope of the series, The Catch was held because ABC wanted consistency in the spring schedule.
Also on the move is Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., which is being pushed back to 10 p.m. ET on Tuesdays to make room for a two-hour comedy block that includes The Middle (moving from Wednesday), Fresh Off the Boat, The Real O’Neals, and new comedy American Housewife.
With a comedy opening on Wednesday, The Goldbergs moves up to 8 p.m. ET, to be followed by new series Speechless. Kiefer Sutherland drama Designated Survivor fills in the 10 p.m. ET hour previously home to Nashville.
And though Marvel’s Agent Carter was canceled, Hayley Atwell still has a home on ABC, specifically on Monday nights, where her new drama Conviction nabs the post Dancing with the Stars time slot at 10 p.m. (where Castle just finished its run).
Freshman series being held for midseason: Shondaland drama Still Star-Crossed, Kevin Williamson’s Time After Time, Allison Tolman comedy Downward Dog, and Jenna Elfman’s Imaginary Mary.
ABC FALL 2016-17 SCHEDULE
(New programs in UPPER CASE; all times ET)
MONDAY
8-10 P.M. — Dancing with the Stars
10-11 P.M. — CONVICTION
TUESDAY
8-8:30 P.M. — The Middle
8:30-9 P.M — AMERICAN HOUSEWIFE
9-9:30 P.M. — Fresh Off the Boat
9:30-10 P.M. — The Real O’Neals
10-11 P.M. — Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
WEDNESDAY
8-8:30 P.M. — The Goldbergs
8:30-9 P.M — SPEECHLESS
9-9:30 P.M. — Modern Family
9:30-10 P.M. — black-ish
10-11 P.M. — DESIGNATED SURVIVOR
THURSDAY
8-9 P.M. — Grey’s Anatomy
9-10 P.M. — NOTORIOUS
10-11 P.M. — How to Get Away with Murder
FRIDAY
8-8:30 P.M. — Last Man Standing
8:30-9 P.M — Dr. Ken
9-10 P.M. — Shark Tank
10-11 P.M. — 20/20
SATURDAY
8-10 P.M. — Saturday Night Football
SUNDAY
7-8:00 P.M. — America’s Funniest Home Videos
8-9 P.M. — Once Upon a Time
9-10 P.M. — Secrets and Lies
10-11 P.M. — Quantico