ABC Showcases its Emmy Noms

In acknowledgment of its record number of nominations, ABC will air special episodes of its Emmy-nominated series “According to Jim,” “Boston Legal,” “Brothers & Sisters,” “Desperate Housewives,” “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Ugly Betty” the week of August 20. In addition, there will be special sneak peeks of returning fall series during the episodes.

Following are the episodes and airdates:

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 22
8:00-9:00 p.m. “According to Jim” – Back to back episodes “Dino-Mite” & “Coach Jim”
“Dino-Mite” – Dana and Cheryl hesitantly entrust Ryan and Jim to watch the kids and baby Tanner while they have a girls’ night out. But Jim sneaks the brood into the museum after hours to see the dinosaur exhibit, and their shenanigans result in the destruction of the Tyrannosaurus Rex display.
“Dino-Mite” is written by Hayes Jackson and directed by James Widdoes.

“Coach Jim” -- Jim coaches his daughters’ wimpy, non-competitive basketball team and turns them into tough, aggressive winners.
“Coach Jim” is written by Sylvia Green and directed by James Widdoes.

“According to Jim” stars Jim Belushi as Jim, Courtney Thorne-Smith as Cheryl, Kimberly Williams-Paisley as Dana, Larry Joe Campbell as Andy, Taylor Atelian as Ruby, Billi Bruno as Gracie and Conner Rayburn as Kyle.

“According to Jim” was nominated for Outstanding Cinematography for a Multi-Camera Series.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 23
8:00-9:00 p.m. “Ugly Betty” – “Pilot”

“Pilot” -- If you took a moment to get to know Betty Suarez, you’d see how sweet, intelligent and hard-working she is. But few people do, because in the world of high fashion, Betty is the oversized peg in the petite round hole and image is everything. Styles come and go, and the only constants are the superthin beauties who wear them. How can an ordinary girl – a slightly plump plain-Jane from Queens – possibly fit in? “Ugly Betty,” a groundbreaking new comedy series based on the Colombian telenovela, “Yo Soy Betty La Fea” that became a worldwide phenomenon.

“Ugly Betty” stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Recurring guest stars are Michael Urie as Marc and Kevin Sussman as Walter.

“Pilot” was written by Silvio Horta and directed by Richard Shepard.

“Ugly Betty” was nominated for Outstanding Comedy Series; Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, America Ferrera; Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, Vanessa Williams; Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series, Salma Hayak and Judith Light; Outstanding Art Direction for a Single-Camera Series; Outstanding Costumes for a Series; and Outstanding Hairstyling for a Series and Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series.

9:00-10:00 p.m. “Grey’s Anatomy” – “From a Whisper to a Scream”

“From a Whisper to a Scream” – A traumatic car accident fills the ER, Cristina has a crisis of conscience about her deceptive teamwork with Burke, and Izzie pushes the boundaries of her probation.

“Grey’s Anatomy” stars Ellen Pompeo as Meredith Grey, Patrick Dempsey as Derek Shepherd, Sandra Oh as Cristina Yang, Isaiah Washington as Preston Burke, Katherine Heigl as Isobel “Izzie” Stevens, Justin Chambers as Alex Karev, T.R. Knight as George O’Malley, Chandra Wilson as Miranda Bailey, James Pickens, Jr. as Richard Webber, Kate Walsh as Addison Shepherd, Sara Ramirez as Callie Torres and Eric Dane as Mark Sloan.

“From a Whisper to a Scream” was written by Kip Koenig and directed by Julie Ann Robinson.

“Grey’s Anatomy” was nominated for Outstanding Drama Series; Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, T.R. Knight; Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, Katherine Heigl, Chandra Wilson and Sandra Oh; Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series, Kate Burton and Elizabeth Reaser; and Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup for a Series, Miniseries, Movie or a Special.

10:00-11:00 p.m. “Boston Legal” – “Son of the Defender”

“Son of the Defender” – A man with a decades-long grudge against Denny Crane and his late attorney father takes the firm hostage, forcing staff at Crane, Poole & Schmidt to “re-try” a murder case in which a young Denny ensured the defendant’s acquittal. Scenes from a 50-year-old television episode, “The Defender,” originally aired on “Studio One” – featuring a young William Shatner – are incorporated into the episode to show what transpired during the original case that led to the modern day hostage taking. Meanwhile, Alan Shore’s attempt to defend an accused prostitute lands him in jail for contempt of court.

“Boston Legal” stars James Spader as Alan Shore, Julie Bowen as Denise Bauer, Mark Valley as Brad Chase, Rene Auberjonois as Paul Lewiston, Constance Zimmer as Claire Simms and Gary Anthony Williams as Clarence/Clarice Bell, with Candice Bergen as Shirley Schmidt and William Shatner as Denny Crane.

“Son of the Defender” was written by Phoef Sutton & David E. Kelley and directed by Bill D’Elia.

“Boston Legal” was nominated for Outstanding Drama Series; Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, James Spader; Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, William Shatner; Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series, Christian Clemenson; Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series and Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 26
7:00-8:00 p.m. “America’s Funniest Home Videos” – “1713”

“Episode No. 1713” – “AFHV” blasts off with a celebration of nincompoops, exercise routines and one poorly aimed rocket. Clips include a bodybuilder doing a flip off the stage during his performance, a man swinging on a rope over a lake and into a rock, a boy falling off a treadmill and a rocket landing on a parked car. Hosted by Tom Bergeron.

Note: “America’s Funniest Home Videos” was not nominated but “Dancing with the Stars,” also hosted by Tom Bergeron, was nominated for Outstanding Multi-Camera Picture Editing for a Series; Outstanding Hairstyling for a Series and Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic, Multi-Camera) for VMC Programming.

8:00-9:00 p.m. “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” – “Tipton-Smith Family”

“Tipton-Smith Family” -- The Tipton-Smith family of Waleska, GA, who endured the double tragedy of losing their home and eldest son, will have a new home built by Ty and the gang after their house burned to the ground last year.

“Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” was nominated for Outstanding Reality Program and Outstanding Picture Editing for Reality Programming.

9:00-10:00 p.m. “Desperate Housewives” – “Bang”

“Bang” – Everyone’s lives on Wisteria Lane are forever changed when a hostage situation occurs at a local supermarket.

“Desperate Housewives” stars Teri Hatcher as Susan Mayer, Felicity Huffman as Lynette Scavo, Marcia Cross as Bree Van De Kamp, Eva Longoria as Gabrielle Solis, Nicollette Sheridan as Edie Britt, Brenda Strong as Mary Alice Young, James Denton as Mike Delfino, Doug Savant as Tom Scavo, Ricardo Antonio Chavira as Carlos Solis, Kyle MacLachlan as Orson Hodge, Andrea Bowen as Julie Mayer, Shawn Pyfrom as Andrew Van De Kamp, Joy Lauren as Danielle Van De Kamp, Josh Henderson as Austin Britt, Rachel Fox as Kayla Huntington and Brent and Shane Kinsman as Porter and Preston Scavo.

“Bang” was directed by Larry Shaw and written by Joe Keenan.

“Desperate Housewives” was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, Felicity Huffman; Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series, Dixie Carter and Laurie Metcalf; and Outstanding Costume for a Series and Outstanding Hairstyling for a Series.

10:00-11:00 p.m. “Brothers & Sisters” – “Mistakes Were Made,” Part 2

“Mistakes Were Made,” Part 2 – Sarah, Tommy and Kevin hit the road in search of William's lost treasure and discover his most shocking secret, and Justin returns from the hospital and makes a startling revelation about his enlistment. Meanwhile, Kitty forms an unorthodox alliance with a Senator.

“Brothers & Sisters” stars Calista Flockhart as Kitty, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Patricia Wettig as Holly, Balthazar Getty as Thomas, Dave Annable as Justin, Matthew Rhys as Kevin, John Pyper-Ferguson as Joe and Sarah Jane Morris as Julia.

“Mistakes Were Made,” Part 2 was written by Marc Guggenheim and Greg Berlanti and directed by Ken Olin.

“Brothers & Sisters” was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, Sally Field; and Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, Rachel Griffiths.