I am – Hercules!!
Fans of the shittiest dramedies on network TV are tonight mourning the departure of ABC Studios/ABC Entertainment chief Stephen McPherson, who is leaving his roles after overseeing the creation of endless horrible “Desperate Housewives” and “Lost” homages.
If memory serves, McPherson was promoted about ten minutes after Lloyd Braun, the ABC exec who greenlit “Lost,” was fired.
ABC Family head Paul Lee is in talks about taking over the network’s entertainment efforts, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
As James Hibberd points out, ABC was tied last season for last place with NBC among the Big Four. “Modern Family” proved a big winner, but the horrible and low-rated “V” was the only freshman ABC hourlong last season to garner a second season (if only a midseason order).
ABC dramedy hits “Housewives,” “Brothers & Sisters,” “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Private Practice” all saw massive drops in audience last season.
McPherson is the fellow who cancelled "Pushing Daisies" and brought "Scrubs" over from NBC.
Shows greenlit uduring McPherson’s tenure as ABC entertainment chief include “Ugly Betty,” “Brothers & Sisters,” "Grey's Anatomy," “Private Practice,” “Big Shots,” “Castle,” “Dirty Sexy Money,” "Eli Stone," “Samantha Who?” “Miss/Guided,” “Cavemen,” “Carpoolers,” “Freddy,” “Big Day,” “Hot Properties,” “Crumbs,” “Hank,” “The Middle,” “Cougar Town,” "Surviving Suburbia," "In The Motherhood," “Help Me Help You,” “In Case of Emergency,” “In Justice,” “Six Degrees,” “The Forgotten,” “Invasion,” “Night Stalker,” “Day Break,” “Eastwick,” “FlashForward,” “Defying Gravity,” “V,” “The Nine,” “Miracle Workers,” “What About Brian,” “The Evidence,” "The Unusuals," "Opportunity Knocks," “The Deep End,” “American Inventor,” "True Beauty," "“How To Get The Guy,” “One Ocean View,” “Men in Trees,” “The Great American Dream Vote,” “The Ex-Wives Club,” “Women’s Murder Club,” “The Next Best Thing,” "True Beauty," “High School Musical: Get In The Picture,” “Wanna Bet?” “Traveller,” “Oprah’s Big Give,” “Dance Machine,” “Here Come The Newlyweds,” “Fat March,” “Shark Tank,” “Dance War,” “True Beauty,” “Just For Laughs,” “Fast Cars & Superstars,” “National Bingo Night,” “Set For Life,” “Shaq’s Big Challenge,” “I Survived A Japanese Game Show,” “I-Caught,” “Scoundrels,” “The Gates,” “October Road,” “Life On Mars” and “Happy Town.”
He also greenlit “Wipeout,” "Sons & Daughters" “Modern Family,” and “Better Off Ted.”
I can’t say I watch at lot of ABC Family, but I'm hopeful Lee moves ABC in ANY OTHER DIRECTION. Like maybe hiring creative, talented people as showrunners and sticking with them.
Find all of Hibberd’s story on the matter here.
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