ABC is hoping lightning strikes twice with former "Home Improvement" star Tim Allen, whose new series "Last Man Standing" will anchor a second night of comedy on a schedule unveiled Tuesday morning in advance of the network's upfront presentation."Standing" will be teamed with another manly themed half-hour, "Man Up." In addition, two comedies will join the existing Wednesday comedy block, with midseason ensemble half-hour "Happy Endings" getting the coveted post-"Modern Family" slot at 9:30, while "Suburgatory" takes the slot after "The Middle" at 8:30 p.m.
"We think the winds are really blowing behind comedy right now," said ABC Entertainment president Paul Lee in a press conference Tuesday morning.
While much of the new schedule is heavy on escapist fare, Lee described "Standing" as a "grounded" comedy that will appeal to both men and women. In "Improvement," Allen delivered ABC one of its biggest hits of the 1990s.
While the results edition of "Dancing With the Stars" will continue to occupy the 9 p.m. time slot on Tuesdays, it will make way for a pair of new comedies at the close of its cycle, "Apartment 23" and "Work It."
Four new dramas will also be on tap for the fall, with retro-styled "Pan Am" replacing "Brothers and Sisters" at 10 p.m. on Sunday. The Sony Pictures Television series isn't the only new hour on the night, with "Once Upon A Time" coming in at 8 p.m.
"Time" replaces reality staple "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," which is moving to Friday at 8 p.m.
"When you look at that audience, it's a classic audience for family viewing," said Lee of "Makeover" viewing. "We think it's the perfect place to move Friday back to family-viewing nights."
"Charlie's Angels" steps in at Thursday at 8 p.m. while "Revenge" comes in Wednesday at 10 p.m.
Four new dramas will also be on tap for the fall, with retro-styled "Pan Am" replacing "Brothers and Sisters" at 10 p.m. on Sunday. The Sony Pictures Television series isn't the only new hour on the night, with "Once Upon A Time" coming in at 8 p.m.
"Charlie's Angels" steps in at Thursday at 8 p.m. while "Revenge" comes in Wednesday at 10 p.m.
Still awaiting midseason berths are dramas "Good Christian Belles," "The River," "Missing" and "Scandal."
"We are just as ambitious for our midseason launches as we are for our fall," said Lee, citing the influence of his days in cable, at ABC Family, as the reason he believes in year-round scheduling.
Lee plans on using big-event programming throughout the season including the Oscars and NBA Finals as launch pads for new series, though he said no plans are set as for which midseason shows will be scheduled.
Lee also plans to stagger launches throughout the fall rather than concentrate too many of series in the traditional premiere week to avoid the clutter of new programs vying for attention in fall.
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