ABC has announced its 2025 midseason lineup, a mix of familiar faces, fresh starts, and what looks to be a few head-scratchers. Whether these offerings will resonate with viewers is another matter entirely. Let’s break down the key announcements, shall we?
Nostalgia gets a warm welcome with the return of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” on Thursday, January 2, 2025. Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin of “The Home Edit” take the reins as hosts, bringing their organizational expertise to the heartwarming mission of renovating homes for deserving families. While replicating the emotional resonance of the original is a tall order, the series offers feel-good viewing in a world that often needs it.
Drama enthusiasts can look forward to the return of “Will Trent,” “High Potential,” and “The Rookie” on Tuesday, January 7, 2025. These reliable procedural staples should satisfy viewers seeking crime-solving and courtroom tension, even if they don’t exactly reinvent the wheel.
Wednesdays offer a bit more of a mixed bag. Tim Allen and Kat Dennings pair up for the new sitcom “Shifting Gears,” premiering Wednesday, January 8, 2025. This unlikely duo presents a comedic wildcard, and it will be interesting to see how their chemistry ignites (or doesn’t). Following “Shifting Gears” is the highly anticipated “Abbott Elementary” and “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” crossover. This clash of comedic styles could be either brilliantly funny or spectacularly mismatched – we’ll have to tune in to find out.
Music fans, rejoice! Carrie Underwood joins the “American Idol” judges’ panel when the singing competition returns Sunday, March 9, 2025. Her presence could inject some much-needed energy into the aging format, or it could simply be business as usual.
Elsewhere, “The Bachelor” continues its quest for love (or at least Instagram followers) starting Monday, January 27, 2025, leading into the broadcast premiere of Hulu’s “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.” The true-crime curious should also keep an eye out for the broadcast premiere of the documentary “Perfect Wife: The Mysterious Disappearance of Sherri Papini.”
ABC’s reliable Thursday night lineup of “9-1-1,” “Doctor Odyssey,” and “Grey’s Anatomy” resumes March 6, 2025, offering viewers a dependable dose of medical emergencies, first responder heroics, and compelling character arcs. “The $100,000 Pyramid” also returns for its eighth season, demonstrating the enduring appeal of classic game shows. Meanwhile, “The Conners” prepares for its final bow with six episodes airing in March 2025. “Celebrity Wheel of Fortune” and “Press Your Luck” will also be back, with premiere dates to be announced.
“Celebrity Wheel of Fortune” and “Press Your Luck” will spin back into action at dates yet to be announced. So, there you have it: a midseason slate with potential, peril, and the inevitable programming filler.
Midseason premieres begin Thursday, January 2, 2025, on ABC.
