ABC Announces Summer Schedule

BURBANK: This summer, The Bachelorette returns to ABC, along with True Beauty, Wipeout, Dating in the Dark, Shaq VS and new scripted and alternative series.

The Bachelorette returns May 24, featuring Ali Fedotowsky, who left the last season of The Bachelor for career obligations. True Beauty, from executive producers Tyra Banks and Ashton Kutcher, returns May 31. The obstacle-course competition series Wipeout will launch with a two-hour sneak peek on June 1, ahead of the series premiere on June 22. Dating in the Dark, which watches as singles get to know each other while meeting in a pitch-black room, premieres August 9, followed by the new season of Shaq VS with Shaquille O’Neal on August 10.

There are three new scripted series joining the ABC lineup this summer: The Gates, Rookie Blue and Scoundrels. Premiering June 20, The Gates looks at the suburban bliss of a private mountain community, where a dark truth lurks. Also making its debut on June 20 is Scoundrels. The comedy/drama focuses on a family of small-time criminals who try to go straight after their father is sent to prison. On June 24, the new drama Rookie Blue will make its series premiere. The show follows five young cops who are right out of the academy.

New alternative series include Downfall, premiering June 29, and Bachelor Pad, premiering August 9. Downfall, from FremantleMedia North America, watches contestants quickly answer a series of trivia questions against the clock. Bachelor Pad features 20 former contestants from the hit Bachelor franchise all living under one roof. ABC News’ series joining the lineup are Boston Med, Primetime: Mind Games, Head Cases and Primetime: Crime.

“Our strategy is to use the strength of our May programming to launch a strong summer schedule bolstered by three new scripted series,” said Stephen McPherson, the president of ABC Entertainment Group. “We’ve got more than 210 hours of original programming this summer, including the return of our hits Wipeout and The Bachelorette. ABC will be a summer destination for viewers.”