Newcomer Notorious Breaks Up ABC’s Shonda Rhimes Thursday Block

NEW YORK: Scandal is being held for midseason at ABC, with freshman drama Notorious taking over its slot and breaking up the Shonda Rhimes Thursday programming block.

Mondays this fall will see the new drama Conviction, which stars Hayley Atwell (Marvel’s Agent Carter), getting a lead-in from Dancing with the Stars.

On Tuesdays, NBC is expanding its comedy slate. The Middle moves to a new date and time, in the 8 p.m. slot, followed by newcomer American Housewife. Fresh Off the Boat and The Real O’Neals both get new slots, at 9 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., respectively. Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. moves to the 10 p.m. hour.

The Goldbergs leads off Wednesday nights in its new 8 p.m. slot, followed by Speechless, starring Minnie Driver (About a Boy, Good Will Hunting). Modern Family and black-ish return, leading into the new Kiefer Sutherland-led series Designated Survivor.

Thursday nights, which used to be all Shondaland shows, now see Grey’s Anatomy as a lead-in to the new drama Notorious, which stars Piper Perabo (Covert Affairs). How to Get Away with Murder continues to close out the night in the 10 p.m. slot.

Fridays see the return of Last Man Standing, Dr. Ken and Shark Tank, while Saturdays are dedicated to football. Sundays again feature Once Upon a Time, Secrets and Lies and Quantico.

Newcomers for midseason include the dramas Still Star-Crossed, a period drama from Shondaland, and Time After Time, from executive producer/writer Kevin Williamson (The Vampire Diaries, Scream franchise, Dawson’s Creek). Comedy additions include Downward Dog, based on a web series about a struggling millennial, told from the point of view of her lonely and philosophical dog, and Imaginary Mary, a live-action/CGI hybrid that stars Jenna Elfman (Dharma & Greg, Friends with Benefits).

Shondaland’s The Catch was renewed for season two. American Crime is coming back for a third season, and ABC has added to its lineup of limited series events with When We Rise, which chronicles the real-life personal and political struggles, setbacks and triumphs of a diverse family of LGBT men and women who helped pioneer one of the last legs of the U.S. Civil Rights movement. The network also lined up a Dirty Dancing event special, an untitled David Blaine special and Ali: The Champion (working title), honoring the athlete.

“Our new shows reflect the inclusive and empowering storytelling that defines the ABC brand,” said Channing Dungey, president of ABC Entertainment. “We will continue to raise the bar for our audience, investing in great storytellers and reflecting the authentic faces and voices of the world around us.”