Unlike earlier schedule announcements by CBS, NBC and Fox, there is one surprising programming move on ABC’s fall 2025 primetime line-up. Shark Tank, which returns for season 17, is moving into the Wednesday 10 p.m. ET hour. It follows new seasons of comedies Shifting Gears and Abbott Elementary from 8-9 p.m. ET and The Golden Bachelor at 9 p.m. ET. But mirroring NBC and Fox, which is not necessarily a positive, there is only one new ABC series, 9-1-1: Nashville, which is scheduled out of parent 9-1-1 and into granddaddy medical drama Grey’s Anatomy on Thursday.
From Ryan Murphy, 911: Nashville, is described as a “high-octane procedural about heroic first responders, as well as their family saga of power and glamour set in one of America’s most diverse and dynamic cities.” It stars Chris O’Donnell, Jessica Capshaw, LeAnn Rimes and Kimberly Williams-Paisley.
Otherwise, the password for ABC, which is unhappily familiar, is “safe.” Monday is ESPN’s Monday Night Football. Veteran Dancing with the Stars returns on Tuesday into the sophomore High Potential at 10 p.m. (which proves there is room for new hit shows on broadcast television). Stepping into the Friday 8 p.m. ET hour in place of Shark Tank is Celebrity Wheel of Fortune, which leads into perennial investigative newsmagazine 20/20 from 9-11 p.m. Saturday is College Football (translation: time period filler). And Sunday is stalwart America’s Funniest Home Videos at 7 p.m. ET into three hours of films under The Wonderful World of Disney umbrella. Titles will include Avatar: The Way of Water, Elemental, Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol 3 and Wakanda Forever.
No new ABC series have been announced for midseason. And new seasons of returning American Idol, Celebrity Jeopardy!, The Rookie and Will Trent will debut in 2026. Fall premiere dates will be announced at a later date, as well as additional midseason announcements and renewals.
The bottom-line: Another day, another lackluster primetime broadcast schedule for next fall. Football on Monday, of course, is a given for ABC. But a better option on Tuesday would have been the return of the scripted drama trio that worked well this midseason: Will Trent, High Potential and The Rookie. Dancing with the Stars could have moved to Sunday, which a) would have been a big move, and b) would be a more competitive option opposite football on NBC than a lackluster film package under the Disney banner. And, let’s face it, Grey’s Anatomy has to eventually be shown the door. Is anyone really still watching it?
As the broadcast networks continue to fight for an audience, the way to do it is with creativity and strategic moves. Other than CBS, which has crafted a primetime line-up tailored to its core audience (age 50+), the programming pickings look slim elsewhere. Unfortunately, ABC is no exception.
