With the writers strike behind us, the networks are rushing to produce original content in time for May sweeps. ABC announced their new schedule beginning in April. Here’s the scoop, according to Variety:

ABC’s signature skeins will be back in April with original, post-writers strike episodes, the net said Wednesday.

Alphabet’s key Thursday night sked will return on April 24, with “Lost” moving to 10 p.m. to make room for the return of “Grey’s Anatomy” at 9 p.m. (“Ugly Betty” is back at 8). All three shows will run five more originals, keeping the night stocked with firstrun episodes through the May sweeps. (In the case of “Lost,” the five come in addition to the current run of eight originals that began at the end of January.)

“Desperate Housewives” returns with seven new hours starting Sunday, April 13 at 9 p.m., with five weeks of originals, followed by a two-hour finale.

“Housewives” companion “Brothers & Sisters” is back on April 20 at 10 p.m. with four more segs.

Also returning: “Boston Legal” is back Tuesdays at 10 p.m. starting April 8 with six more episodes. ABC’s only frosh skein returning in the spring, “Samantha Who?,” is back on Monday, April 7, at 9:30 p.m. with six originals.

As previously announced, freshman dramas “Pushing Daisies,” “Private Practice” and “Dirty Sexy Money” won’t be back until fall.

I’m still a little bummed about losing three Lost episodes, but I guess 5 is better than none.

[Variety]

I promise I’m not just milking this one for content. With all the flip-flopping and rumors flying, it’s been difficult to tell exactly what’s going on with this strike. Well the word is out; 92.5 percent of the writers have voted to accept the terms of the agreement that was hammered out over the past week and end the strike. Hopefully all that time off hasn’t killed their creativity. How much would it suck if all our favorite shows came back and were just totally lame?

[E! Online]

With the Writers Strike pretty much at an end, the question on most peoples’ minds is, “When the hell can I have TV again?!” The New York Times has a pretty comprehensive list of shows and how they’ll be affected in the long run. Most notably, Lost will finish its season with 13 episodes instead of the 16 they originally wanted. Executive Producer Carlton Cuse says the writers will, “accelerate the storytelling” so that they’ll still hit the ending they wanted for the season.

“It’s a little bit like driving cross country to Boston. If the goal is to get there two days earlier, we will have to take more interstates and fewer rural byways.”

Also, 24 probably won’t be back until early 2009. Sorry Jack Bauer fans.

[New York Times and USA Today]

Freakin’ finally! According to ex Disney exec Michael Eisner, media companies have struck a deal with the Writers Guild of America that will bring the strike to an end.

“A deal has been made, and they’ll be back to work very soon,” Eisner said, adding, “I know a deal’s been made. I know it’s over.”

Hopefully now they can get crankin’ on Lost so that we don’t get left hanging after the 8th episode.

[CNBC]

You know the fate of television is in trouble when they decide they have to resurrect one of the dumbest shows in history to try to attract viewers. January 6th, 2008 brings the re-premier of American Gladiators, the physical competition show that pits amateur athletes against each other and against a group of steroid junkies “gladiators” with such awesome names as “Justice,” “Militia,” and “Hellga.” You can’t make this crap up. (more…)