Miss/Guided by Bob D'Amico/ABC
Replicating a familiar Dancing routine, Miss/Guided, a new ABC comedy, is set to debut March 18 (10:30/ET), right after Dancing with the Stars. The series, which follows a so-called ugly duckling (Judy Greer) who becomes a guidance counselor at her alma mater, will move to Thursdays at 8 pm/ET thereafter.The post-Dancing debut may be an attempt by ABC to recreate the premiere success of another female-driven comedy, Samantha Who?, which piggybacked Dancing for its premiere in October. Together the shows kicked ratings butt, with 19.3 million viewers (ages 18-29) on Oct. 15. Samantha debuted with 14.3 mil. Behind the scenes, Miss will be guided by exec producer Mark Hudis (That '70s Show), who will be joined by Ashton Kutcher and Jason Goldberg, among others — so chances for the series to stand on its own two dancing feet are looking pretty good. — Anna Dimond
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Chris Parnell in 30 Rock by Virginia Sherwood/NBC Photo
Saturday Night Live vet Chris Parnell, so winning and hilarious in his recurring gig as 30 Rock's Dr. Spaceman (pronounced "spuh-CHEH-man"), has boarded ABC's midseason comedy Miss/Guided, playing a rival guidance counselor of series lead Judy Greer's.... Also per the Reporter, Veronica Mars sheriff Michael Muhney and Broadway beefcake Cheyenne Jackson have joined the cast of the Lifetime drama pilot Family Practice, playing the youngest and the hardest-partying sons, respectively, of the series' Kennedyesque clan.
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Miss/Guided courtesy ABC
Rob Thomas has ankled his position as show-runner/executive producer for Miss/Guided — ABC's new comedy starring Judy Greer as a guidance counselor at her high-school alma mater — due to creative differences, sources tell the Hollywood Reporter. Thomas upped with the show upon the definitive cancellation of his Veronica Mars, but when the direction veered toward making M/G a broader sitcom, he bid it adieu and segued into a development deal with ABC Studios. Replacing Thomas is writer-producer Mark Hudis, who has a certain something in common with M/G exec producer Ashton Kutcher. No, not trucker hats: That '70s Show.
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Question: I am eagerly awaiting the fall season, and I was just wondering which network you think has the most ambitious lineup. I think ABC is the most ambitious, especially creatively, although I already have an ABC bias, having been a fan of Grey's Anatomy, Lost, Ugly Betty, Desperate Housewives, Invasion, Alias and Eyes. I am looking forward to Pushing Daisies, Dirty Sexy Money, Miss/Guided and maybe Private Practice. Anyway, it's nice to see a network separate itself from the pack by striving for creativity and quality.
Answer: I don't want to show my hand on the full fall lineup just yet, but I will say that if you like what ABC has been serving you, I think you'll be mostly pleased by the new stuff, especially Pushing Daisies, which is heads and shoulders above anything else on the fall lineup in terms of creativity and execution. Otherwise, shows like Dirty Sexy Money and Hot Shots feel very much like the ABC you already know and love, maybe too much so. ABC seems to hav ...
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Judy Greer in Miss/Guided by Bob D'Amico/ABC
Rob Thomas is inching closer to lining up his first post-Veronica Mars gig.Sources confirm that Thomas — who has proven quite the hot commodity since Mars' unofficial cancellation earlier this month — is in advanced negotiations to take the reins of ABC's new midseason comedy Miss/Guided. This comes just weeks after CBS approached Thomas to come on board its new musical-drama hybrid Viva Laughlin as showrunner, an offer he ultimately refused. Contacted via e-mail, Thomas declined to comment on the Miss/Guided talks, but he did say this of the show's leading lady: "I heart Judy Greer — in a big way." That makes two of us. Confession time: My unhealthy Judy Greer crush started during Arrested Development (she was George Bluth Sr.'s hysterically loopy breast-baring assistant Kitty), intensified on Love Monkey (she was Tom Cavanagh's BFF) and is threatening to boil over with Miss Guided, a show I was wildly anticipating even before Thomas threw his hat into the ring. Chec...
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Upfronts week — the near-euphoric annual event where television enthusiasts such as you and I anticipate the new and returning fare heading our way — is upon us. Though some scheduling news has started to leak out — NBC has renewed Medium and fan-fave bubble show Friday Night Lights but is possibly crossing Jordan off its list — the official presentation of each network's fall schedule begins Monday with the Peacock showcasing its feathers, and concludes Thursday when the CW answers such questions as, "What will fill Gilmore Girls' void?"This here blog, my friends, is one to bookmark, as it will serve as a veritable clearinghouse for any and all news coming out of the upfronts. Each morning we will hurry to the fore the latest unveiling of network lineups, then throughout the day supplement it with expert insight from the likes of Matt Roush, Stephen Battaglio and Michael Ausiello.With the fun about to start, I leave you with these burning questions, which will, ...
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