ABC sets up Thursday and Wednesday comedy blocks

'Scrubs' joins 'Better Off Ted' on Wednesdays, while 'Samantha Who?' and 'In the Motherhood' go to Thursdays

By Daniel Fienberg Monday, Jan 26, 2009 12:58 PM

Christina Applegate of 'Samantha Who?'

Credit: ABC

ABC has established hour-long comedy blocks on Wednesdays and Thursday, announcing premiere dates for "In the Motherhood" and "Better Off Ted."

Each new show will be paired with an established comedy, as ABC has also moved "Scrubs" and "Samantha Who?" to new slots.

"Better Off Ted," a workplace comedy starring Jay Harrington, Portia de Rossi, Andrea Anders and Jonathan Slavin, will premiere on Wednesday, March 18 at 8:30 p.m. ET, following "Scrubs," which will be transplanted to Wednesday in the 8 p.m. time slot.

Meanwhile, on Thursdays, "Ugly Betty" will take a break, opening up the Thursday night 8 p.m. hour for "In the Motherhood" and the Emmy nominated "Samantha Who." ABC's new Thursday comedy block will premiere on March 26 and "Ugly Betty" will return when the two shows complete their runs.

"In the Motherhood" stars Megan Mullally and Cheryl Hines and looks at a group of friends dealing with the trials and tribulations of motherhood.

The "Samantha Who?" move follows last week's announcement that this new installment of "The Bachelor" will air in two-hour blocks for the duration of its run, leading into "True Beauty."

Daniel Fienberg
Executive Editor

A long-time member of the TCA Board and a longer-time blogger of "American Idol," Dan Fienberg writes about TV, except for when he writes about movies or sometimes writes about the Red Sox. But never music. He would sound stupid talking about music.