ABC Tweaks Midseason Schedule Ahead of Announcement

Remember that leaked ABC midseason schedule I had on Televisionary a few days ago? Well, it now appears that much have that will be changed, given ABC's eleventh hour decision not to renew sophomore series Pushing Daisies, Dirty Sexy Money, and Eli Stone. (Eli Stone, according to that schedule, was meant to air on Tuesdays at 10 pm in the spring.)

So what can we expect when ABC officially announces their lineup later today?

For one, According to Jim will be double-pumped in the 8 pm timeslot on Tuesdays, followed by back-to-back episodes of Scrubs at 9 pm. (Really? Double episodes of comedies, rather than another drama? Sigh.) The two comedies will kick off with new episodes on January 6th.

Private Practice will move to Thursdays at 10 pm ET/PT beginning January 8th, where it will air behind Grey's Anatomy. It's the perfect spot for the ratings-starved medical drama, especially given that ABC is planning a Grey's/Private Practice multiple-episode crossover during February sweeps.

And Life on Mars, which got picked up for another four episodes, will get the plum post-Lost timeslot on Thursdays at 10 pm, rather than the previously mentioned freshman police drama The Unusuals. Life on Mars won't offer any fresh installments until it takes over that timeslot on January 28th.

As for what series will now take over the Tuesdays at 10 pm and Wednesdays at 8 pm slots, that remains to be seen. (I'm hoping ABC rethinks Border Security: USA.) But look for The Unusuals to get one of those timeslots (my guess: Tuesdays at 10 pm) and likely the earlier slot on Wednesdays will go to The Goode Family... or Cupid, should they decide to launch earlier than March. But we'll find out for certain later today...

Stay tuned.