LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- "We're actually bringing a lot of innovation to scheduling and development this year," ABC Entertainment Group President Paul Lee told reporters during the network's pre-upfront conference call.
The plan is for serialized dramas like "Grey's Anatomy," "Once Upon a Time" and "Scandal" to open the fall with 12-episode runs, take a break for one of the Alphabet's limited series and then ultimately return in the spring for the remainder of their seasons (Lee wouldn't specify 22 or 24 episodes total).
Case in point: the new fantasy-themed reality series "The Quest" will fill the Sunday, 8:00/7:00c hour between the "Once Upon a Time" blocks. Lee wouldn't specify what would spell "Grey's Anatomy" and "Scandal."
Meanwhile, newcomers "Betrayal" and "Resurrection" will be billed as "limited" series in the sense that they aren't designed for the traditional 22-episode season. "The intention is to do a limited series by bringing it back," Lee said. "We'll do 12 or 13 episodes this season and maybe 12 or 13 [next] season." "Betrayal" then will open Sunday nights at 10:00/9:00c in the fall with "Resurrection" taking over in January.
And finally, Lee signaled that despite "Dancing with the Stars" being cut to one night (Mondays at 8:00/7:00c for two hours) they're still committed to two cycles next season.
As for its recently canceled "Body of Proof," Lee said - also being the head of producer ABC Studios - he's love to find it a new home on cable. "I think it's a great show and I'm a huge fan of Dana Delany."
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