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CHICAGO (thefutoncritic.com) -- ABC is planning a Wednesday makeover as the network announced today is has pulled its freshman drama "Karen Sisco" from the schedule effective immediately. Production will continue however on the show's 13-episode order and the network plans to relaunch the series in a new time period come March 2004.
"We love this show, but it has become increasingly obvious that it�s not working on Wednesday nights," ABC Entertainment president Susan Lyne Lyne said in a press release about the news. "Rather than give up, we�re going to complete production on the remaining episodes and aggressively relaunch the series this March in a new time period. We�re hopeful that this course of action will result in the show becoming as popular with viewers as it is with critics and ABC executives."
The Alphabet network had previously announced it would pre-empt "Sisco" on November 19 in favor of the two-hour season finale of "The Bachelor." A special new episode of "Extreme Makeover" will now fill the Wednesday, 10:00/9:00c hour on November 26.
Then on December 3, "Makeover" spin-off "The Home Edition" will get a one-episode preview in the time slot while "America's Funniest Home Videos" will air a special holiday episode on December 24. Viewers can then look for the second seasons of "The Bachelorette" and "Celebrity Mole" to take over the night come January 14. To review, here's a complete list of changes to ABC's upcoming Wednesday schedule:
Wednesday, November 19
9:00/8:00c - "The Bachelor" (Two-Hour Season Finale)
Wednesday, November 26
9:00/8:00c - "Trista and Ryan's Wedding"
10:00/9:00c - "Extreme Makeover" (New Episode - Special Night & Time)
Wednesday, December 3
9:00/8:00c - "Trista and Ryan's Wedding"
10:00/9:00c - "Extreme Makeover: The Home Edition" (Series Premiere)
Wednesday, December 10
9:00/8:00c - "Trista and Ryan's Wedding" (Two Hours)
Wednesday, December 17
9:00/8:00c - "Barbara Walters Presents the 10 Most Fascinating People of 2003"
10:00/9:00c - (To Be Announced)
Wednesday, December 24
9:00/8:00c - (To Be Announced)
10:00/9:00c - "America's Funniest Home Videos" (New Episode - Special Night & Time)
Wednesday, December 31
9:00/8:00c - (To Be Announced)
10:00/9:00c - (To Be Announced)
Wednesday, January 7
9:00/8:00c - (To Be Announced)
10:00/9:00c - (To Be Announced)
Wednesdays beginning January 14
9:00/8:00c - "The Bachelorette" (Season Premiere)
10:00/9:00c - "Celebrity Mole Yucatan" (Season Premiere)
Finally, ABC has also pushed back the debut of "Stephen King's Kingdom Hospital" and given the series a new time slot. Originally set to bow Thursday, February 5 at 9:00/8:00c, the drama will now kick off with a two-hour premiere on Wednesday, March 3 at 9:00/8:00c. The series will then settle into its regular Wednesday, 10:00/9:00c home on March 10. Presumably, the next edition of "The Bachelor" will kick off that same night at 9:00/8:00c.
The shift of "Kingdom" to Wednesdays is undoubtedly tied to ABC's full season pickup of "Makeover" which will now run a full season in the Thursday, 9:00/8:00c time slot.
As for "Sisco," the drama averaged a less than spectacular 7.7 million viewers for its seven-week run. Once production has completed on the series, ABC will have six episodes remaining to relaunch the show.
This article was updated with additional information on November 15.
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