FALL 2013: WILL ABC RESURRECT 'BODY OF PROOF'?

Is ABC considering bringing Body of Proof back from the dead?

Could be.

The network's new fall dramas have been struggling to find an audience. Lucky 7 has already been canceled, Betrayal is not long for this world, and Once Upon a Time in Wonderland has been a major letdown. Meanwhile, Marvel's Agents of SHIELD is the only drama to be picked up for a full season, and even that show is tanking every week.

Talks of reviving the Dana Delany medical drama began at the start of the fall season, after it was written off at the conclusion of the third season. If ABC goes through with the move, Body of Proof will resume with its fourth season. The big question, however, is who would return to the drama? Some actors have already moved on with other commitments and projects, and most likely the show would have a reduced budget that couldn't accommodate all of its previous cast. 

While the return is only at the talking stages, we definitely know that if Dana Delany doesn't return, viewers won't return to Body of Proof. Might as well just re-name it D.O.A.

FALL 2013: WILL FLATLINING 'BETRAYAL' END UP ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK?

ABC is having a rough start to the fall season thus far. Last week, the alphabet network cancelled the boring, un-Lucky 7 after only two episodes. The drama featuring a group of gas station workers betting together and hitting the jackpot lost almost half of its audience for the second episode. Lottery plots usually don't work on television. Seven years ago, NBC tried the model with Windfall. The forgotten about series only lasted 13 episodes. So what can CBS, FOX, and The CW learn from this experiment? Don't do lottery-themed shows. Period.

Now ABC is hitting a snag with another show, Betrayal. The freshman drama just aired its second episode last night and it barely registered with anyone...just barely 4 million viewers. The serial drama focuses on photographer Sara Hanley and corporate lawyer Jack McAllister. The two are unhappily married to other people and the attraction to each other is too much for them to handle, so they have an affair. Cue a boring murder trial and Sara finds her mistress (Can a man be a mistress?) defending the murder case against her legal eagle, prosecuting husband. Let the snooze fest continue.

While Scandal brought the network powerhouse ratings, repeating the adulterous affair model in a semi-political setting is certainly not. Betrayal immediately makes you want to root for the other side of the unhappily cheating couple. Let the revelation occur and close the chapter on this unmoving drama. If the show continues its ratings nose dive, there may not be a revelation as we predict that the network will shortly remove this dud from its Sunday night lineup. 

The 10 pm Sunday time slot has been a difficult spot for ABC to fill in the past couple of years. Last year, supernatural-drama 666 Park Avenue was just a mess of a show that had trouble finding its footing. It was replaced mid-season by the intriguing yet poorly rated Red Widow. In 2011, the network aired Pan-Am and GCB in the same time slot. Both dramas generated a lot of buzz and fanfare but were ratings duds in the long-run. If ABC removes Betrayal from its lineup, it would have better luck with encore programming (a.k.a. reruns) than with another new show. Whatever the network decides, it needs to act fast! Sunday night staples Once Upon a Time and Revenge have declined in viewership this season, and with the return of cable stronghold The Walking Dead quickly approaching, ABC needs to pump some life into its lineup.

Stay Tuned is adding Betrayal to its Deathwatch list.

FALL 2013: COMING TO TV TONIGHT (9/29)! SO LONG 'BREAKING BAD'...

Well the last Sunday in September has arrived and for many fans, this is THE night for premieres and goodbyes. Breaking Bad rides off into the sunset while Homeland begins another season of thrilling suspense.

New and Returning Premieres

Once Upon a Time starts off its third season right where it left viewers last spring. The core gang is aboard Hook's ship traveling to Neverland. Their mission to rescue a kidnapped Henry is interrupted however by several vicious mermaids (Is one them a red-head that lives under the sea?) and a malicious Peter Pan. This isn't the Neverland that we have always read about. 8 pm on ABC.

The Amazing Race returns for another 'round the world contest. It's 23rd season kicks off in arid Iquique, Chile (Shout out to Chile...woot woot!). 8 pm on CBS.

Long-running animated comedy The Simpsons begins its silver anniversary season (that's 25 y'all) with a Homeland-esque parody when Lisa believes Homer has been turned after returning from a nuclear plant operators convention. SNL vet Kristen Wiig guest voices as a Claire Danes-like character. 8 pm on FOX.

Bob's Burgers premieres its fourth season with a camping trip for Bob and family. Unfortunately for Bob, something he eats doesn't agree with him. Cue hilarity. 8:30 pm on FOX.

The third season of Revenge has been promised to be a return to its original premise. No more Initiative, no more complicated storylines. Right off the bat, Emily is shot. But don't fret, it's a flashforward to build up the mystery of why Ems was shot on a boat. Victoria's long-lost son makes his first appearance and get ready for Conrad to collapse...literally. 9 pm on ABC.

The Good Wife returns for a fifth season with Alicia doing double duty. First she must prevent the execution of a convicted murderer, then she must continue her plan to exit the firm with Cary. We think the latter will be much harder than freeing a murderer. 9 pm on CBS.

Family Guy begins a 12th season with typically Peter Griffin silliness. Peter becomes convinced that a restaurant placemat is actually a treasure map, and creates a scavanger hunt through Quahog. Hilarity ensues. 9 pm on FOX.

The ninth season of American Dad begins in the midst of prom season. Steve and Snot use the CIA's cloning machine to create two dates for the high school dance. More hilarity ensues. 9:30 pm on FOX.

While viewers may be losing Breaking Bad after tonight's series finale, at least they have the return of Showtime's Homeland. The drama begins its third season with recently shaved Brody still at large, Carrie under fire by a Senate committee, Saul planning a pretty bad counterstrike, and Jessica dealing with the fallout. 9 pm on SHO.

New drama Betrayal lands the coveted post-Revenge time slot and based on the premise and pilot episode, it should fit right in. Sara has an affair with an attorney but unfortunately for her the sex isn't just clean cut. She learns that her husband, who is also an attorney, will be facing off against her sidepiece in a big murder case. We're tempted to watch this one just to see the big reveal. 10 pm on ABC.

The Mentalist returns for its sixth season in hot pursuit of Red John as Jane and Lisbon continue to narrow down the list of suspects. 10 pm on CBS.

Series Finales

After five seasons, the world finally says goodbye to Walter White and Breaking Bad. Tonight's final episode will run for 75 minutes followed by an hour-long Talking Bad wrap-up. Execs have been tight-lipped about the finale and all that was given was this phrase..."The story concludes." 9 pm on AMC.

So many shows, so little DVR space! Are you looking forward to a particular show tonight?