In connection with the ABC’s TCA 2020 Winter Press Tour, the network made several programming announcements, and they were discussed during Karey Burke’s, (President ABC Entertainment) executive session with the press this morning.

These new shows include: The Bachelor: Listen to Your Heart, set to premiere Monday April 13th. The premise of this latest show from The Bachelor franchise has 20 single men and women that embark on an incredible journey to find love through music. Singing well-known songs, both individually and as couples, they will look to form attractions through the melodies, find and reveal their feelings and ultimately, fall in love. The eligible bachelors and bachelorettes will meet and explore their relationships while living together and going on Bachelor-style dates that focus on music. Once the couples commit to each other, it will be time to take their relationship to the next level. The harmony of the couples will be tested through musical challenges, including live performances judged by some of the biggest names in the music business. Ultimately, the couples whose performances reveal their love and devotion to one another will continue to be given a chance to further their relationships until only one couple is left standing.

When asked if Jed Wyatt, the aspiring musician from Nashville, who betrayed Hannah Brown on her season of The Bachlorette would be part of the cast, Burke said, “Anything can happen.  Tune in and find out.”

Then, there is a sequel in the works on thirtysomething from Marshall Herskovitz and Edward Zwick. The pilot is entitled thirtysomething (else). The pilot will follow an ensemble of new faces playing the grown-up, 30-something children of the original cast reprised by Ken Olin (Michael Steadman), Mel Harris (Hope Murdoch), Timothy Busfield (Elliot Weston) and Patty Wettig (Nancy Weston). Apparently, raising children (even grown children) never ends, but who could have known how hard it would be for them to raise their parents? During its original run from 1987-1991, “thirtysomething” quickly became a cultural phenomenon, garnering 13 Emmy Awards including Best Drama and two Golden Globe Awards. The series, which highlighted a tight-knit group of baby boomers and their struggles, celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2017.

In the primetime soap category, the network has greenlighted a pilot of The Brides from Berlanti Productions and the team behind CW’s Riverdale, this pilot will be a contemporary reimagining of ‘Dracula’ with a trio of female leads.”  The Brides was first developed for NBC, but this is a new spin on it for the ABC version. During her executive session, Burke says although the show focuses on the three women, the character of Dracula will be featured within it.

Other notable topics: The Oscars will once again have no host.  There is no final decision if Dancing with the Stars will return for another season, but Burke noted that the ballroom dance competition head a resurgence this past season, which bodes well. In terms of the follow-up to the Jeopardy: Greatest of them All championship currently airing, and if they would like to do more with the game show franchise, Burke noted that they will do whatever Alex Trebek is up for.  The  beloved host is battling pancreatic cancer.