Network Upfronts — ABC

This week is network Upfronts — a time when the networks unveil their schedule for the fall, including what shows are returning, what new shows have been added, and where everything will run in the fall. As these presentations are made, I'll be offering my thoughts on each network's offering.

Ah, ABC. The network has some strong shows and some strong points, but it's been in the middle of the pack for a while. If ABC wants to break out, it needs more than the aging "Grey's Anatomy" and a few reality shows to prop it up. It certainly hopes that eight new shows — that's right, eight — debuting in the fall will help.

Best Pickup: When ABC launched it's schedule last May, it touted "Nashville" as it's best new show. Critics agreed, and most figured a high class, country version of "Glee" season one would be born. It hasn't worked out quite like that, but ABC has seen the promise of the show, its potential, and has given it another shot. And, as a bonus, "Nashville" will get to keep building an audience in its original time slot.

Best Scheduling Move: The comedy "Super Fun Night" featuring Rebel Wilson seems like a fun, wacky show to pair with "Modern Family" on Wednesdays at 9 p.m. Over the last couple years ABC has tried to put other family-themed shows behind "Modern Family" and they've failed to find an audience, this might be something that keeps the fun going.

Oddest Scheduling Move: ABC has no returning shows on Tuesday nights. It's hard for new shows to find an audience and connect with an audience, so it's odd that a network would program four new shows on one night. Odder still, the shows don't seem to have any connection. It moves from "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.," a superhero themed action drama, to a pair of comedies and then on to another high concept drama in "Lucky Seven." Where's the flow or continuity? The same could be said of putting the "Once Upon A Time" spin off on Thursday nights, where it doesn't flow with "Grey's Anatomy" and "Scandal."

Most Promising New Show: "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." looks like a slam dunk. It's a spin-off of "The Avengers," it has a strong cast, and it looks like something a little different. Superhero stories are hot right now and ABC has a big one here.

Least Promising New Show: So many to choose from here. I don't get either of the comedies on Tuesday nights — one set in the 1980s and one that looks DOA — but I'm going to go with "Betrayal" here. The show sounds like a poor man's "Revenge" on the network that airs "Revenge." Also, "Betrayal" will launch on Sunday nights in the fall against the NFL and premium cable shows on HBO and Showtime. That's rough. Worse yet, it airs following "Revenge," a show that it appears to be emulating during a time when its ratings have declined. Not sure I get what ABC is doing there...