TVSquad

A few days ago, ABC announced that Lost would premiere on January 21 from 8 to 11 p.m. and that it would take the Wednesday at 9 p.m. timeslot starting the following week. That news left the Private Practice fans wondering what would happen to their show come January 28 because the Wednesday at 9 p.m. timeslot has been PP's for over a year.

Answers have arrived and they'll affect not only the Private Practice fans but also Life on Mars's viewers.

According to The Hollywood Reporter (THR), ABC plans to move Practice on Thursdays at 10 p.m. and Life on Mars on Wednesdays at 10 p.m. The network has yet to announce if this will be a trial or be permanent.

As the THR reporter mentions, it makes sense to have Practice air after Grey's Anatomy on Thursdays since both are medical shows from creator Shonda Rhimes and because Practice is Grey's spin off. The network is also planning to have a multi-episode crossover for Grey's and Practice during February sweeps. Therefore, the scheduling change could help viewers keep up with the storyline as shows will air back to back instead of two different nights.

I haven't watched Life on Mars since it premiered (I can't watch everything!) but, based on what I know of the show, moving it after Lost may be a good move, too, as both shows share some sci fi elements.

If ABC wants to make this schedule change work, its marketing department will need to come up with original ways to advertise their show pairings: Sci Fi Wednesdays, Medical Thursdays, etc. Or they should at least advertise their 10 p.m. shows during the 9 p.m. ones. For example, they could have an advertisement during Grey's asking fans if they know what Addison Montgomery (a character who used to be on Grey's) is up to and urging fans to stay tune after Grey's Anatomy to get their Addison fix. Yeah, I know, I'm lame at marketing but you get my drift about the network having to properly advertise this scheduling change?

I can hear some of you wondering what will happen of Dirty Sexy Money come January since the show is currently airing in that Wednesday at 10 p.m. timeslot that will be given to Life on Mars. ABC has yet to announce what it'll do with DSM but, in case you didn't know, the network only ordered 13 episodes of DSM so far this season. Episode 2.10 is set to air on December 17. The three remaining episodes could air during the holidays or the first three weeks of January, meaning that Dirty Sexy Money could be off the schedule starting January 28, when Life on Mars would take over the timeslot. Then again, maybe ABC will order more DSM scripts and move the show to the Monday at 10 p.m. timeslot since Boston Legal is ending in December.

Update: You can take a look at ABC's new winter schedule HERE. TheFutonCritic.com confirms the new timeslots for Private Practice and Life on Mars, while letting us know that Scrubs will take the 8 p.m. timeslot on Wednesdays.