The Case For Rearranging #TGIT on ABC Next Season
Yesterday was the third week of TGIT (aka Thank God It’s Thursday), which is ShondaLand’s three hour of slaying us every Thursday night on ABC. At this point, she’s co-owner of my eyebrows because she stays snatching it after she goes for my edges.
TGIT goes:
* Grey’s Anatomy – 8/7 ct
* Scandal – 9/8 ct
* How to Get Away With Murder – 10/9 ct
After three weeks of this, I wonder if they can rearrange these shows for next season (since it’s probably too late for this one). Right now, the order makes sense but I think for the 2015-2016 season, they should switch it up to:
* How to Get Away With Murder – 8/7 ct.
* Grey’s Anatomy – 9/8 ct,
* Scandal – 10/9 ct
Lemme ‘splain.
How to Get Away With Murder is the new kid on the block so it needs a lead-in so people can just keep watching ABC instead of having to remember to tune in to catch it. It needs to get its legs and some dedicated and loyal fans who will follow it where it goes. Having it after Scandal, which has those in droves, makes sense. The same people who would watch the Gladiators are the ones who will stan for Annaliese and her rag tag crew of law students.
However, HTGAWM is hella intense. It’s good but it requires focus. This is a Shondaland signature so that’s not new. Last night, when Scandal went off and it went straight into this show, I was really wishing for a 10 minute recess to gather my thoughts, go to the bathroom, go get more snacks. Something.
I be feeling like this girl:
IT’S TOO MURCH!
The amount of focus needed for Scandal livetweeting has my brain like “Wait. You want me to keep going like this for another hour right away? NOPE.” That is ultimately why I can’t do HTGAWM recaps. I use my Scandal livetweets as outline for when I write my recaps and since I ain’t got no strong attention span to maintain 1 more hour of extra focus for HTGAWM, my livetweet game be weak at that point.
I’ve watched Grey’s Anatomy a couple of times and I think out of the 3 shows, it is the one that gives the biggest breather. This is why I think it should be in the middle of them. We need TGIT to be a Grey’s sammich so we can recuperate.
And I think Scandal should be last because it is dessert. Everyone will wait for dessert. HTGAWM is that heavy appetizer that leads to a light entree (Grey’s) and then the sweet dessert (Scandal).
Right now, this order is exhausting. Two incredibly intense shows back-to-back has folks’ heads spinning. I think they need to make this shift because by next fall, HTGAWM should have a loyal following that will adjust to the shift. It’s a riveting show but I don’t have the energy to watch it after Scandal.
Maybe even switch HTGAWM to Wednesdays.
Hear my cry, Shonda!
Update: I had not thought about the fact that HTGAWM is racier than the other 2 shows so it needs to be later until y’all brought that up (very good point). Damb. Ok. Iunno then. Alls I know is my blood pressure ain’t set up to handle both HTGAWM and Scandal back-to-back. I guess I’ll just start DVRing Viola an’ ’em and watching on Fridays.
Get these blogposts directly in your inbox! Sign up for my weekly LuvvLetter below:
It is time to write that book. Come into The Book Academy and learn how to go from IDEA to INK.
Related Posts
51 Comments
YES! This makes all kinds of sense!
Luvie, I LOVE YOUR SCANDAL RECAPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Here are my thoughts HTGAWM is picking up steam and just got the okay for the entire season. It premiere had way more than scandal and it set DVR records. I think it will be the lead in for Scandal next season. As much as I love it, the show is not giving us that fast pace we got used to AND Viola is serving it up.
Greys will and should end–never watched it so not attached to it. Scandal has 1 or 2 more seasons depending on it finding its base again! All I know is that Viola and her crew are very intriguing and I just saw my first episode last night.
Keep up your good work!!!!!
I’m completely on board with this! I write recaps of HTGAWM and it’s exhausting to a) jump right in after Scandal finishes and b) stay up until 11 watching it then trying to get my recap ready by morning. I’m not a fan of Grey’s anyway.
What is your website for recaps for HTGAWM
You write recaps? Link please!
Umm…April I’m gonna need that link. I need a re-cap.
Please give the link for HTGAWM recap. Thanks.
Wait!?? You write a recap of HTGAWM? Yes, what is that link cuz I can’t keep up with the show. I tried and I tried. I’m about 5 secs away from calling it boring and tuning out completely. Maybe a recap is what I need. 🙂
Thanks be to God! someone is writing HTGAWM recaps! Luvvie is just tooo swamped with Scandal recaps! and besides this recap is gonna be bananas!!!
poor Jake, Luvie gotta plan his funeral too… bummer.
YUP! this was my thinking as well. i have fallen asleep during every episode of HTGAWM so far. thus is the life of working full time and going to grad school as well. for some reason I could power through Scandal last season but I have to rewatch HTGAWM every Friday night.
Same dilemma here, Kelly!
I have the same problem! I’m too tired after Scandal, so I DVR HTGAWM. I haven’t even watched last week’s episode yet.
I don’t watch any of these shows but I live for the Scandal rec-cap lol. I used to watch Grey’s but Grey herself annoys the living hell out of me so I can’t watch because of her. I thought this was the last season for Grey’s Anyway?
I thought I was the only one feeling this way. I’m exhausted when HTGAWM goes off and not in a good way. I’m all for the switch around. I think Grey’s has another season in them although I still mourn McDreamy.
Oh wow! I didn’t think about this lineup before now. I thought it should’ve been:
Grey’s
HTGAWM
Scandal
I watch all three and there is a little drama worth watching on Greys but I’ll admit it’s definitely not like it used to be. I thought Grey’s would be the appetizer, Murder would be the main meal and then Scandal would be the dessert but I think your lineup would work too. I can definitely understand because I’ve been a little confused myself trying to keep up with Scandal then trying to wrap my brain around HTGAWM just minutes after Scandal goes off. By the end of the night, my head is BANGING lol.
I definitely understand your sentiment.
I agree with you. Grey’s is better at 8! I like your line up better. Scandal feels better at 10….
You read my mine Luvvie!!!! When the new lineup was announced I was like this isn’t going to work. I have tried to get into HTGAWM but after Scandal I am done. So I haven’t really been able to get into the new show. Also watching Scandal an early is just odd to me.
Never gonna happen. They got too much sexy times happening on #HTGAWM to ever be on at 8pm.
Y’all might want to start drinking coffee or hot chocolate instead of wine to get through Scandal and HTGAWM. That’s grown folks tv and 8 pm is still family hour.
This. Also, DVR is your friend.
I totally agree! I always have to re-watch HTGAWM Friday because on Thursday my brain hurts after Scandal and I cant connect the dots on HTGAWM!
I think this is the final season of Scandal. It is a lot on my blood pressure to have the two shows back to back. I concur.
Who told you this is the final season of Scandal? That isn’t true.
I think it is a wonderful idea; practical too. I am retired and last year I spent the time after Scandal unwinding and dancing at Brooklyn Bowl or some such place.
This year by the time How To Get Away with Murder finishes, I’m exhausted. I just wanna sleep and save all other activity until Friday. Now it could be that because I’m a year older, I don’t have the physical energy for dancing after Shondras’ Thursday line-up. But I like your explanation better.
I fully support your idea of the sandwich.
I feel you on this, but the only issue is time of day. Grey’s can be on the earliest because it doesn’t have as much sex as it used to have back in the day.
Murder is trying to be extra gritty and sexy, and sensors won’t let them show that stuff in the early evening.
Yes mam….I was brain dead half way through it last night. I said nope….tomorrow. But then I feel bad cause all the fun and shenanigans already happened and I’m just sitting here all by myself. Please let them change it!!
although I wholeheartedly agree with you Luvvie(officialLuvBug) I believe that HTGAWM is murch too murch for an 800 audience. #hessuchagoodkisser
I agree bc right now I can’t even watch Htgwm on the same day. I Dvr it and watch it the next day bc its just too much to ask of my brain at one time.
You know what, I have to agree!! I watched them both and as soon as Scandal was over, I had to get up and grab my life out the couch where it had left my body when Jake tried to come for Papa Pope. I was waiting for Papa Pope to say something like “boy, you better watch yo’ mouth when you talkin’ to grown folks”….As soon as my life seem to be re-entering my body, the officer lover boy lied about the Professors husband. DONE.com. I don’t even smoke anymore, but I may have to keep a pack of cigs sitting out on the deck because I honestly felt like I needed a cigarette and a ol’ negro spiritual/rocking chair on the porch combination after watching both back to back! ABC is on FIRE!! Love it.
There is just WAAAY too much going on with HTGAWM for it to be on at 8. My 11 year old doesn’t go to bed until 9 and I would die if she caught any glimpses of that show! And yes, it is waaaay too intense! I couldn’t sleep last night because it had my adrenaline pumping!
Totally agree that Scandal and Murder need to be separated. I would put them on separate days. I’d go with Murder on Tuesday at 10, or Wednesday at 10 if Nashville gets canceled. I’d definitely keep Scandal in its slot on Thursday, because it is like dessert — you’ve almost made it through the week, it’s like a little reward. Grey’s can just go away. Every time I tried to watch I’d turn it on and Sandra Oh would be sobbing about something, and I couldn’t care less for Ellen Pompeo’s character.
I agree and applaud this! I don’t livetweet, but I like to read the tweets and I had no #TAHM at all!!! I was so frustrated and exhausted when HTGAWM went off, I was relieved to see the news! I hope they hear your cry and Shondaland shows mercy!
I’m a loyal fan of all Shondaland shows. And it started with Grey’s. One of the major points for Grey’s are those 2-3 episode story arcs. Story wise it is not as intense as scandal and htgawm.
My bet? Next season there will be another Shondaland show which will debut on Thursdays. Grey’s will probably be around for another year and move to possibly Wednesday. The new show will move into the Thursday night slot. Or htgawm will move to the late slot on another night because it’s too racy to move up to 7/8 pm.
Nooooooo I need it to stay the way it is. I used to watch Grey`s but for the past several years it’s been on my hell no I’m over it list. So the way it’s set up now I really feel like Shonda is trying to help out my family because I use that hour to do laundry and pack lunches. Scandal and How to Get Away With Murder require total focus and they own me. I can’t be worried about feeding my family-my shows are on! They hit me back to back with such intensity that……..oh wait, I went too far.
I am having the same problem .I fell asleep halfway through HTGAWM not because it was boring but I was so tired I usually watch it on friday evening . Love that show!
HTGAWM lost me the first night. My ADHD azz was so confused with all the flash backs that I immediately said aw hell naw! I agree that it’s good. But I am really happy to see that it’s just not “me!”
If they put Scandal on at 7pm, the show will PG-13’d to keep parent groups off their backs. Maybe, you should try taping HTGAWM and watching and recapping the next day? Just a suggestion.
I have to agree with you. I think Grey’s should be in the middle. At this point I’ve been watching it for so long that I wouldn’t mind going to the bathroom during the show. Sometimes it keeps my attention and other times it doesn’t. I have to catch up on this week’s HTGAWM and if it came on at 8 I’d be ready. My hot cup of tea and sweets with this show would be more delicious and even if it went right into Grey’s I’d still feel ok going on a potty break and missing the beginning cause you could catch right up on it.
Luvvie, I completely agree back-to-back Scandal and HTGAWM is a bit much. Since they must be at 9 or 10 pm maybe split the days? I have been sending Ms. Viola’s Annalise to DVR after the first week. It makes me sad because live-tweeting HTGAWM is so much fun. However, this is more of ABC’s call than Shonda’s although she can call some mighty shots and they’ve had a long and mutually productive relationship. I hope they hear your call!
HTGAWM is way better than Scandal. I love having it come on last. But then again, I mostly DVR both shows and watch on the weekends.
I like that thinking Luvvie…but I concur with your realizing that those scenes…those sexy scenes of HTGAWM….can’t be at 8pm…kiddies still up…for some folks and you know there will be an outcry!lol! I’m more into Scandal & HTGAWM ….I give Grey’s the side glance so it’s a good lead in for me.
My idea for ALL of it is to move it to Friday! That’s far too much emotions for a Thursday night!!
Also, this promo poster looks like TLC’s Crazy Sexy Cool CD cover every time I see it
That’s funny that you bring this up because I was thinking the same thing but I just couldn’t put my finger on it to express it in the RIGHT way, but I noticed that I found myself having to wait till Friday to watch HTGAWM.. It was just TOO much intensity to see both Scandal and THAT show back to back. I stopped watching Grey’s years ago, but these two shows are my favorite for Thursdays. I chose to leave this comment because I am sure someone on the staff will read your blog and hear our thoughts, so I will NOT be surprised if the lineup has changed by next season.
Hol’ Up! All newcomers to Shondland, please remember were it NOT for Meredith, Yang, Bailey, McDreamy, Chief, and the rest of the oh so happily dysfunctional employees of Grey/Sloan Memorial Hospital; there would be NO Olitz for us to be slain by every week! Grey’s Anatomy was Mama Shondas first big break. For years, I (along with multitudes of others) have LIVED each week to get to GreyDay. The addition of (and heartbreak of losing) Private Practice was hard enough on my emotions.
Scandal and HTGAWM, hell TGIT would not be here if it were not for legions of faithful Grey’s fans consistently keeping Grey’s in the ratings. I’ve got YEARS invested in their lives and ya’ll whippersnappers wanna take it away cause ya’ll new to the party? Unt Unh, I suggest ya go to Netflix- start at the beginning, and understand how great Grey’s really is. If you don’t know what an O’Malley is, just Hursh! You don’t understand the greatness you’re seeing. #GetYoLife #ByeFelecia
Thank you Pepsie!!!
I’ve watched Grey’s for years and although it’s not fast paced and intense like Scandal and HTGAWM, it’s still a great show….I know what an O’Malley is 🙂
Thank you Pepsie!!!! I am a long time Grey’s watcher from the very beginning. I buy the season dvd every year. Would be devasted if it went away!! I was a long time ER fan, and Army Wives and those were taken away, and I was like “Thank God for McDreamy!!” Even with him gone I still love the show.
Yes, cuz Gladiators in chat rooms all across the globe need the hour after the show to finish talking noise, get their questions answered and fan/ wipe down/ calm down…alla that! HTGAWM can kick rocks for the first 15 minutes at least! LOL!
I watch HTGAWM but I must admit that I have probably missed some major plot developments because of the focus it requires. I agree with Luvvie that something has to be done (but as the PPs have pointed out) moving HTGAWM to an earlier time slot ain’t it. My life be in shambles after Scandal and I can’t eeem hoop and holler about because I gotta re-fill my glass for Annalise’s snatching… I just… me… I can’t.
I had not read this but YES we need a 10 minute intermission! Where do I sign the petition? Sweet Geebuz! I am going to invest in DVR for next week. My plan is to put it on pause after Scandal, take a shower, put on some lavender and eucalyptus oils to help me relax, relate & release, throw a sleep cap on and then hit play so I can be ready to pass out on the bed after Annalise gets to regulatin’. I think the DVR pause is where it’s at.
I’m extra late, but I can see ABC possibly moving one of the shows to another night before rearranging the line-up. Grey’s Anatomy used to come on on Sunday nights following Desperate Housewives. Once it got popular, it was moved to Thursdays. This was also before social media had a big impact on shows, so Idk if that will fly. If that was to happen, I see HTGAWM being the show that’s moved if it’s picked up for another season (Idk if this has happened already.)
THATS WHAT I DO. I WATCH HTGAWM ON FRIDAY…IT’S TO MURRRCH