ABC has announced summer 2014 premiere dates for both its returning and new shows, along with dates for specials and other one-off events.
The previously-announced Bachelorette premieres on May 19 at 9:30pm, but the following week will settle into its regular two-hour timeslot at 8pm. Mistresses debuted last summer, and performed well enough to earn a sophomore season, so it’ll return on June 2 at 10pm, following The Bachelorette.
And while Bachelor Pad is no more, ABC is trying out a new spin-off called Bachelor in Paradise beginning on August 4, where former franchise contestants return for another attempt at finding their soul mates. During this six-episode series, we’ll watch them live together, with many twists and surprises along the way.
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Other reality/unscripted/game shows airing on ABC this summer include Bet On Your Baby, Extreme Weight Loss, Wipeout, The Quest, NY Med and Rising Star.
The latter is ABC’s attempt to create its own version of American Idol or The Voice (after last summer’s failed Duets). Speaking of these shows, the executive producers are Ken Warwick and Nicolle Yaron, who previously held the same position at Idol and The Voice, respectively.
The Voice‘s gimmicks are the red swivel chairs and the blind auditions. Rising Star‘s gimmick is that viewers will be able to vote and see the results in real time. As ABC says, “If the voting reaches a certain threshold, the performer moves on,” and everyone, including the singer, can see how the voting results are going throughout the performance. That immediacy in the results is what they’re hoping gets people to tune in live.
The Quest was originally supposed to air mid-season, but was bumped for The Taste and the remainder of Once Upon a Time in Wonderland. When it finally debuts on June 19, viewers will get to see contestants be transported into a fantasy world, using state of the art projections, animatronics, prosthetics, real-time motion capture and art direction. Producers from both The Lord of the Rings and The Amazing Race are serving as producers/showrunners, which is good news for those who are looking for a fun viewing experience.
Black Box‘s premiere date was already announced (taking over Scandal‘s timeslot), but The Astronaut Wives Club is another new show this summer. Premiering on July 24, this 10-episode limited event series will tell about the women who were critical in some of the biggest events in America’s history.
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Check out the entire list of ABC summer premiere dates and special events below:
Thursday, April 24
10-11pm: Black Box
Sunday, May 18
8-11pm: The 2014 Billboard Music Awards
Monday, May 19
9:30-11pm: The Bachelorette
Wednesday, May 21
10-11: Motive
Monday, May 26
8-10pm: The Bachelorette (regular timeslot premiere)
Tuesday, May 27
8-10pm: Extreme Weight Loss
Saturday, May 31
8-9pm: Bet On Your Baby
Monday, June 2
10:01-11pm: Mistresses
Thursday, June 5
8-8:30pm: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Game Night
Thursday, June 19
8-9pm: The Quest
Sunday, June 22
7-9pm: Wipeout
9-11pm: Rising Star
Tuesday, June 24
10-11pm: NY Med
Sunday, June 29
8-9pm: Wipeout (regular timeslot premiere)
Thursday, July 17
10-11pm: Rookie Blue
Thursday, July 24
9-10pm: The Astronaut Wives Club
Monday, August 4
8-10pm: Bachelor in Paradise
(Image courtesy of ABC)
Staff Writer, BuddyTV
Jeff Dodge, a graduate of Western Washington University, has been a TV news editor for many years and has had the chance to interview multiple reality show stars, including Randy Jackson, Nick Cannon, Heidi Klum, Mel B and John Cena.
