Both ABC, WB make big moves

Powered by hits like "Desperate Housewives," "Lost" and "Grey's Anatomy," ABC went from also-ran to contender this season in the ratings wars.

But the network isn't resting on its laurels — it announced an ambitious fall schedule featuring five new series, six returning shows moving to new time slots, changes on five nights — and seven midseason series.

ABC Entertainment president Steve McPherson is hoping to build on his momentum. But it's a bit risky, what with moving successful shows like "Lost," "Alias" and "According to Jim" around the schedule. And he's taking some risks with new shows about aliens, a female president and a revival of a '70s series.

"Our responsibility next season and beyond is to continue that forward movement," he said.

ABC's new shows are:

Commander-in-Chief (Tuesdays, 8 p.m.), a drama that stars Geena Davis as the first female president of the United States.

Invasion (Wednesdays, 9 p.m.), a science-fiction drama about an alien invasion of Earth. But the aliens are already among us. From executive producers Shaun Cassidy ("The Agency") and Tommy Shlamme ("West Wing").

The Night Stalker (Thursdays, 8 p.m.), a revival of the early '70s series about a crime reporter who investigates strange, supernatural happenings. Stuart Townsend steps into the role originally played by Darren McGavin in a show that promises to be darker than the original — Kolchak's wife was murdered. From former producers of "The X-Files."

Freddie (Wednesdays, 7:30 p.m.), a sitcom that stars Freddie Prinze Jr. as a young single guy who lives in a house full of women — his mother, sister-in-law, niece and grandmother live with him. From the producers of "Drew Carey" and "George Lopez."

Hot Properties (Fridays, 8:30 p.m.), a sitcom that revolves around the lives and loves of four very different women (Gail O'Grady, Nicole Sullivan, Sofia Vergara and Audra Blaser) who work in a Manhattan real-estate office. From a former "Frasier" producer, this show has ambitions of being the new "Designing Women"/"Sex and the City."

Midseason shows are far from being afterthoughts at ABC. The network has already announced what it will air on Mondays beginning in January (after "Monday Night Football" wraps up its season) in a slate that includes seven new shows and three returning series.

The midseason shows are: