ABC has just unveiled its Fall 2025 primetime lineup, and it’s already being hailed as one of the network’s boldest and most unpredictable schedules in years. Packed with powerhouse dramas, star-studded new shows, and long-awaited returns, ABC’s upcoming season looks like it’s aiming straight for the top spot in the TV ratings race.
After several years of rebuilding its primetime identity, ABC’s new schedule finally feels like a confident mix of legacy hits and daring newcomers — a move that’s already generating massive buzz across the entertainment industry.
So what exactly should you expect this fall? Let’s break down the biggest premieres, the surprise returns, and the shows everyone will be talking about.
📺 Monday Nights: The Return of Heart, Hustle, and Scandal
Monday nights on ABC are going to hit hard — emotionally and dramatically. The network is keeping its long-running favorite “The Good Doctor” on the schedule, entering what insiders hint might be its final season. Following it will be the highly anticipated new legal drama “Second Verdict,” starring Emmy winner Viola Davis as a defense attorney forced back into the courtroom after a personal tragedy.
Industry critics are already calling Second Verdict “the next big ABC obsession,” with comparisons to How to Get Away With Murder surfacing even before its premiere.
The 10 p.m. slot will feature “The Rookie”, returning with its seventh season. Nathan Fillion teased “major shakeups” and “a darker tone” for the upcoming episodes, hinting that one beloved character might not make it through the premiere.
🔥 Tuesday Nights: A Mix of Crime and Comedy
ABC’s Tuesday lineup is all about balance — pairing intense procedural drama with laugh-out-loud humor. “Will Trent” remains a key anchor for the night, after becoming a surprise ratings hit in 2024. The new season promises a more serialized mystery arc and a deeper exploration of Will’s past.
But it’s the 9 p.m. slot that’s getting the most attention — “The Rookie: Feds” is returning, despite rumors of cancellation earlier this year. Niecy Nash-Betts confirmed her comeback in a recent Instagram post, captioning it: “You can’t stop Simone Clark — she’s just getting started.”
Rounding out the night, ABC introduces a fresh single-camera comedy called “Family Plan”, starring Modern Family alum Eric Stonestreet. The show centers on a divorced dad navigating co-parenting chaos after his ex-wife marries his boss. Early test screenings suggest it could be ABC’s next breakout comedy.
💔 Wednesday Nights: Drama, Laughter, and Legacy
ABC’s Wednesday night block continues to celebrate its reputation as the “heart of family TV.” Abbott Elementary remains the centerpiece, kicking off its fifth season with a new school year and bigger stakes for Quinta Brunson’s beloved cast.
Following that, the network introduces its newest dramedy “Love, Next Door”, starring Grey’s Anatomy alum Sarah Drew and 9-1-1: Lone Star’s Ronen Rubinstein. The story follows two neighbors who unexpectedly fall in love while trying to sell their homes — only to realize they’ve been keeping major secrets from each other.
At 10 p.m., ABC is bringing back “Grey’s Anatomy”, now entering its record-breaking 22nd season. Showrunner Meg Marinis promised “major returns” and a “heart-wrenching two-part premiere” that longtime fans “won’t be ready for.” Rumors suggest that Ellen Pompeo could make another surprise guest appearance before the end of the season.
💣 Thursday Nights: Shondaland Strikes Again
You can’t talk about ABC Thursdays without mentioning Shonda Rhimes — and she’s back in full force. The evening kicks off with 9-1-1, now thriving after its move from Fox to ABC, which continues to pull in massive audiences with high-stakes rescues and emotional storylines.
At 9 p.m., a brand-new Shondaland thriller “The Price of Silence” premieres, starring Euphoria’s Colman Domingo as a powerful political fixer entangled in a murder scandal that could destroy Washington. The network is reportedly betting big on the series, already hinting at a multi-season arc.
And to close the night, the legal juggernaut “Station 19” returns for what ABC is teasing as its “most explosive season yet.” After a jaw-dropping finale last year, fans can expect shocking departures and possibly even a crossover with Grey’s Anatomy.
💥 Friday Nights: Nostalgia Meets New Energy
Friday is where ABC gets playful. The night starts with the revival of the beloved sitcom “Home Economics”, back by popular demand after a surprise fan campaign revived it from cancellation. Following it is “The Goldbergs: The Next Generation”, a new spinoff following the 2000s-era Goldberg kids navigating adulthood in the age of early social media.
At 9 p.m., ABC’s reboot of “Castle” (yes, you read that right!) takes the stage, with a completely new cast led by Outlander star Richard Rankin as a crime novelist turned consultant for the NYPD. Fans are calling it “the boldest reboot gamble of the year.”
🌟 Sunday Nights: Epic Stories and Emotional Finales
Sundays will be all about prestige television. ABC is rolling out its new limited series “Empire Falls,” a sprawling adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel starring Julianne Moore, Jeff Bridges, and Sterling K. Brown.
Then comes the emotional return of “The Good Lawyer,” the Good Doctor spinoff that fans thought was gone for good. Kennedy McMann reprises her role as Joni DeGroot, with showrunners teasing “a new case that will challenge everything she believes in.”
And closing out the week is a fan-favorite: “American Idol”, back for Season 23 with Katy Perry returning for one last season.
🚀 ABC’s 2025 Strategy: A Network Reborn
Analysts say ABC’s Fall 2025 schedule proves the network is ready to compete head-to-head with streaming giants. The balance of returning juggernauts and daring originals gives the lineup both comfort and risk — a combination that could pay off in ratings gold.
An ABC spokesperson summed it up best:
“This fall isn’t just about bringing shows back. It’s about reminding viewers why ABC has always been the home of powerful storytelling.”
With this kind of lineup, ABC is poised for a massive comeback — and if the trailers dropping next week are any indication, 2025 might just be its biggest year in over a decade.
