Female president, aliens on ABC's fall schedule

Rebounding ABC, No. 3 and climbing in the ratings, on Tuesday introduced a fall lineup with two comedies, one starring Freddie Prinze, and three dramas, including one with Geena Davis playing the first female president.

The network canceled Blind Justice, a Steven Bochco production about a blind police detective; Eyes, a well-done spy series that couldn't catch an audience (I was really liking this show, ABC, you are IDIOTS for cancelling this one); and several flagging sitcoms including My Wife & Kids, Complete Savages, Less Than Perfect and 8 Simple Rules. Extreme Makeover also got the hook.

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, however, will return.

The John Stamos comedy Jake in Progress, watched by only a few when it moved to Thursdays at 7, will live to see another day (returning in January), as will According to Jim, Rodney, George Lopez and Hope & Faith. The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, Wife Swap and Supernanny also will return sometime during the 2005-2006 season.

As expected, Grey's Anatomy was renewed and will continue in its Sunday time slot. Boston Legal will move to Tuesday and Alias will get that Thursdays-at-7 death slot (watch your back, Jennifer Garner).

The network outlined 12 new series for the full season. The five new shows for fall include:

• Commander-in-Chief, a drama starring Geena Davis as the mother of three and a woman on the verge of assuming the office of president of the United States. Donald Sutherland and Kyle Secor also star.
"It's not a political story," said Stephen McPherson, ABC entertainment president. "It's the story of a woman, a wife, a family."
• Freddie, a comedy about a single guy providing a roof for four female relatives. Freddie Prinze stars.
• Hot Properties, a comedy about four real estate saleswomen and their personal predicaments. Audra Blaser, Gail O'Grady, Nicole Sullivan and Sofia Vergara star.
• Invasion, a drama from Shaun Cassidy (Cold Case) about alien invaders. William Fichtner and Eddie Cibrian star. Bellaire's Thomas Schlamme (Jack & Bobby; The West Wing) directs the pilot.
• The Night Stalker, a drama from Frank Spotnitz (The X-Files) that resurrects Detective Kolchak from the 1970s occult series. Stuart Townsend stars. Interesting.

ABC's fall prime-time schedule, announced by the network Tuesday:

Monday
7 p.m. — Wife Swap (The Bachelor after football season)
8 p.m. — Monday Night Football (Emily's Reasons Why Not after football)
8:30 p.m. — (Jake in Progress after football season)
9 p.m. — (What About Brian after football)

Tuesday
7 p.m. — According to Jim
7:30 p.m. — Rodney
8 p.m. — Commander-in-Chief
9 p.m. — Boston Legal

Wednesday
7 p.m. — George Lopez
7:30 p.m. — Freddie
8 p.m. — Lost
9 p.m. — Invasion

Thursday
7 p.m. — Alias
8 p.m. — The Night Stalker
9 p.m. — Primetime Live

Friday
7 p.m. — Supernanny
8 p.m. — Hope & Faith
8:30 p.m. — Hot Properties
9 p.m. — 20/20

Saturday
7 p.m. — ABC Movie of the Week

Sunday
6 p.m. — America's Funniest Home Videos
7 p.m. — Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
8 p.m. — Desperate Housewives
9 p.m. — Grey's Anatomy
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