ABC's 'Deep End' to Premiere Jan. 21

If fans of ABC's mind-bending sci-fi series 'FlashForward' sometimes feel like the show's labyrinthine plot is having an affect on their sanity, there's bad news, because the network is about to send viewers completely off 'The Deep End.'

According to the Hollywood Reporter, ABC has scheduled the premiere of their new drama 'The Deep End' for Thursday, January 21, in the time slot normally belonging to 'FlashForward.' That's because the network also recently announced that the struggling time-travel mystery has had its second half debut pushed back to March, leaving a gap in the lineup.If fans of ABC's mind-bending sci-fi series 'FlashForward' sometimes feel like the show's labyrinthine plot is having an affect on their sanity, there's bad news, because the network is about to send viewers completely off 'The Deep End.'

According to the Hollywood Reporter, ABC has scheduled the premiere of their new drama 'The Deep End' for Thursday, January 21, in the time slot normally belonging to 'FlashForward.' That's because the network also recently announced that the struggling time-travel mystery has had its second half debut pushed back to March, leaving a gap in the lineup.

So what can fans look forward to watching in 'FlashFoward''s place? Well, there's no mystery here, because 'Deep End' is about as mainstream as television gets: a lawyer drama. In this case, the series follows the adventures and misadventures of a group of law students chosen to battle for a prestigious position in a prominent law firm.

While the network has assured viewers that the delay in 'FlashForward''s return is simply a practical matter -- they want to avoid going up against NBC's coverage of the Winter Olympics -- the move certainly can't be seen as a vote of confidence, especially coming on the heels of ABC's decision to temporarily halt production on the show last month in order to fine-tune the storyline. And it's no surprise; ratings have been in a nosedive since the show's much ballyhooed debut, with overall viewership dropping from a high of 12.47 million for the premiere down to just 7.07 million for last week's episode. About the only bright spot right now is the fact that the show is still posting strong DVR numbers, but even that has people wondering if the show is no longer a priority for fans who prefer to watch something else live instead.

But the answers to those questions, like so many other 'FlashForward' mysteries, will now have to wait until March to be answered. In the meantime, though, here's a sneak peek of what you can expect to see when 'The Deep End' premiere next month -- a little "flash forward" to your own future television experience.