ABC Announces 14 Early Pickups for the 2007-08 Season

March 21, 2007 — -- If it's reality TV you like…will the next bachelor be a prince from Norway? Who will be the next celebrity to turn in her red carpet pumps for dancing shoes? What family will be given a new glimpse of hope on "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition"?

Or if it's drama you like…will Marin finally get together with Jack in Elmo? Who will be the most desperate housewife of them all? Will Meredith stay with Derek, or will Izzie finally get over Dennis and start dating O'Malley in Seattle's Grace hospital?

If you're curious about any of these shows, check out what's coming up on the ABC network this fall. There's something in it for everyone.

ABC Television Network today announced 14 early pickups for the 2007-'08 season for new breakout series "Brothers & Sisters," "Ugly Betty" and "Men in Trees," as well as returning hits "The Bachelor," "Boston Legal," "Dancing with the Stars," "Desperate Housewives," "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," "Grey's Anatomy," "Jimmy Kimmel Live" and "Lost." The announcement was made by ABC Entertainment President Stephen McPherson at the March development meeting in Los Angeles. These series join previously announced "America's Funniest Home Videos," "Supernanny" and "Wife Swap," which have also been renewed for the 2007-08 season.

"We have had a strong year, with two of the season's breakout hits, 'Ugly Betty' and 'Brothers & Sisters,' and the solid performance of 'Men in Trees,'" said McPherson. "We are pleased that viewers have invested in these new favorites along with our other returning series. These shows provide us with a substantial foundation to make '07-'08 our best schedule yet."

In this compelling drama about the Walker family, we meet a collection of intertwined and somewhat damaged adult siblings who embrace one another unconditionally while striving to reflect the perceived perfection of their role model parents. In the days ahead, they will navigate waves of temptation, deception and grief.

"Brothers & Sisters" leads its CBS drama competition ("Without a Trace"/"Cold Case") in Sunday's 10 o'clock hour this season among adults (18-34/18-49), and dominates its time period with each of the key women demos. The freshman drama stands as the No. 2 new series on any network in its hour this season with Adults 18-49, behind only ABC's high-rated debut of "October Road" (3/15/07).

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Calista Flockhart as Kitty, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Patricia Wettig as Holly, Balthazar Getty as Thomas, Dave Annable as Justin, Matthew Rhys as Kevin, John Pyper-Ferguson as Joe, Sarah Jane Morris as Julia, Emily VanCamp as Rebecca Harper and Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige.

Ken Olin, Jon Robin Baitz and Greg Berlanti are executive producers. The series is produced by ABC Television Studio.

The award winning drama from ABC Television Studio, based on the Columbian telenovela "Yo Soy Betty La Fea," has become an international phenomenon. If you took a moment to get to know Betty Suarez, you'd see how sweet, intelligent and hard-working she is. But few people do, because in the world of high fashion, Betty is the oversized peg in the petite round hole.

The freshman "Ugly Betty" has established itself a competitive second to CBS' time period veteran, "Survivor," in Total Viewers, while ranking No. 1 with its core audience of Women 18-34. It has substantially improved the time period, representing ABC's top scripted series in the hour in 12 years.

The series stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Kevin Sussman as Walter, Rebecca Romijn as Alexis Meade and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.

Academy Award nominee and Emmy Award winner Salma Hayek is executive producer, along with Silvio Horta, Ben Silverman, Jose Tamez, James Hayman and Marco Pennette.