Pilot season was rough at ABC. Three drama series pilots with black leads were passed over.
So of course, with the Roseanne cancellation, a slot is open on the ABC fall schedule, but it would be replaced with another half-hour comedy of course, not a drama.
Per intel from Deadline‘s Nellie Andreeva, ABC execs met Tuesday to regroup the schedule, and one of the leading options is to bump up The Goldbergs spinoff, Schooled starring Tim Meadows and AJ Michalka from midseason to the fall. Schooled is currently the only show ABC has set for midseason. Regardless if Schooled is moved up or stays at midseason, there is still an open slot.
Aside from Schooled, ABC is also said to be considering Steps, which starred Ryan Michelle Bathe and Cameron Boyce. Andreeva says that it was passed on the first time because of its close similarity to Single Parents, a comedy that was picked up to series. Steps centers on four adults in three houses raising three kids after two divorces — together. The network is also considering an untitled workplace comedy starring Kat Demmings.
Andreeva’s report says that it is likely for ABC’s schedule to get retooled anyway. Among many other scheduling plans, the 1970s-set The Kids Are Alright was considered as a Roseanne companion and now will not have that lead-in. There is the possibility that ABC decides to hold another of the new comedies for midseason and bring up Grand Hotel, Whiskey Cavalier or The Fix up for the fall, as all of these shows are set for midseason. It is also a possibility that False Profits, the hour-long dramedy pilot starring Bellamy Young and Vanessa Williams, which was passed over for the fall but is still in contention, may have its chances upped due to Roseanne’s cancellation.
Ryan Michelle Bathe, who is married to This Is Us star Sterling K. Brown, is most known for her stints on Boston Legal and Army Wives. Boyce, is most known for his roles on the Disney Channel series Jessie and the Disney Channel’s TV movie franchise, Descendants.