How is ABC taking chances this fall season?
On Tuesday, ABC delivered precisely the kind of fall scheduling announcement that gives joy to critics: high risk moves, crazy ideas, loads of new shows to talk about and the renewal of acclaimed, low-rated series. It might not dazzle the Nielsen people, but it beats the “we’re steady and focused” boredom of everybody else. The alphabet net brought back “Better Off Ted,” by far the funniest sitcom of last season (just ask the eight people who watched), created an entire comedy night on Wednesday with four freshman sitcoms, joined the other networks in reinvigorating Thursdays and threw steady out the window by green-lighting 10 scripted series and one new reality series (from Mark Burnett). That certainly makes NBC’s “Hey, we brought back ‘Law & Order’ for its 47th year” seem kind of dull, no? NBC, which announced its fall season and new shows earlier in May, made most of its news on Tuesday by canceling “My Name Is Earl” (which could still be picked up by Fox, whose studio makes the s
