Scoop: ABC defends moving 'Ugly Betty' to Friday

Ugly Betty fans are pretty peeved.

ABC’s announcement this morning that it’s banishing moving the once-mighty comedy to Fridays next season to make room for its buzzy new drama Flash Forward on Thursdays at 8 p.m. has elicited a chorus of “WTFs?!” from the show’s rabid followers. But Alphabet president Stephen McPherson insists shifting the show to the TV graveyard known as Friday should not be interpreted as a sign Betty is on her last legs.

“I love the show [and] America [Ferrera] is one of our biggest stars,” says McPherson. “[But] you look at [Betty‘s declining ratings on] Thursday night and we think we have a big opportunity with Flash Forward. You have to make some bold moves sometimes. To me, I’d love to see [Betty] have a great run on Friday night the way Ghost Whisperer has [for CBS].”

In other ABC scheduling news, McPherson confirmed the demise of Cupid, The Unusuals, According to Jim, Samantha Who?, and In the Motherhood. To track the status of all your favorite bubble shows, bookmark my Fall TV Cheat Sheet. To see ABC’s complete fall schedule, head to the Hollywood Insider blog. And for up-to-the-minute renewal-cancellation-pickup scuttlebutt throughout

upfront week, stay close to both my blog (the one you’re reading now!)

and Twitter feed.

• ABC cancels Samantha Who?: ABC cancels Samantha Who?
• Katherine Heigl gunning for another Emmy: Katherine Heigl gunning for another Emmy
• Lost‘s Juliet mystery solved?: Lost‘s Juliet mystery solved?
• ABC renews Castle, Better Off Ted: ABC renews Castle, Better Off Ted
• Burning Prison Break finale Qs answered: Burning Prison Break finale Qs answered
• Fox renews Dollhouse: Fox renews Dollhouse