Breaking News - ABC Adds "Body of Proof," "Off the Map" to Roster | TheFutonCritic.com

LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- ABC has added two dramas to its 2010-11 roster, the Dana Delany-led "Body of Proof" and the Shonda Rhimes-produced "Off the Map."

The pair join a freshman class which includes comedies "Better Together," "Happy Endings" and "Mr. Sunshine" as well as fellow dramas "187 Detroit," "Generation Y," "No Ordinary Family" and "The Whole Truth."

Here's how the Alphabet describes their latest additions:

BODY OF PROOF - When a brilliant and driven neurosurgeon's career is cut short, she turns her unrivaled medical skills toward solving murders. Every body has a story to tell and Dr. Megan Hunt will find out what it is. Dr. Megan Hunt (Dana Delany, DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES) was a top neurosurgeon until a car accident ended her career as a surgeon. Now that she can no longer help the living, Dr. Hunt is Philadelphia's most notorious medical examiner. Although she's amazing at her job, Dr. Hunt's reputation of being difficult precedes her wherever she goes. She's never encountered a boundary that she wouldn't cross. Her powerful boss tries to protect her as long as she doesn't step too hard on the wrong toes. Although he grudgingly acknowledges her skill, seasoned police detective Bud Morris (John Carroll Lynch, K-VILLE) is not as enthralled with her methods. Luckily, Dr. Hunt does have a few fans. Her junior medical examiners rely on her expert advice and her investigative partner, Medical Investigator Peter Dunlap (Nicholas Bishop, PAST LIFE), accepts her unorthodox behavior. Maybe that's because he's the only one who knows that Dr. Hunt's challenging personality is partly rooted in guilt. Before she gave up neurosurgery, Dr. Hunt accidentally killed her last patient. Add in a touch of bitterness from a hostile divorce that awarded her ex sole custody of their teenage daughter and you have one sad social life. You see, when it comes to understanding the dead, Dr. Hunt is amazing. But when it comes to her relationships with the living, she has a lot of work to do. From executive producers Matt Gross and Christopher Murphey comes a fascinating new procedural built on a strong and compelling female lead. Each week, as Dr. Hunt and her colleagues close a new case, she will come a tiny step closer to letting other people into her life.

Geoffrey Arend, Jeri Ryan, Sonja Sohn and Windell Middlebrooks also star. Nelson McCormick directed the pilot.

OFF THE MAP - Why would a gifted surgeon with a brilliant career, beautiful family and bright future give it all up to go to a barely staffed, under-stocked clinic in a small South American town? Escape, of course. In this ensemble drama, five doctors who have lost their way will go to the ends of the earth to try to remember the reasons why they wanted to become doctors in the first place. Because sometimes in order to find yourself... you have to get lost. Welcome to "la ciudad de las estrellas" (the city of stars), a tiny town in the South American jungle. That's exactly where idealistic young Dr. Lily Brenner (Caroline Dhavernas, WONDERFALLS) just landed, along with her fellow-doctors Mina Minard (Mamie Gummer, THE GOOD WIFE) and Manny Diaz (Enrique Murciano, WITHOUT A TRACE). All of these young ex-pats are running away from personal demons, but they aren't the only ones with emotional baggage. Take the legendary and enigmatic Ben Keeton (Martin Henderson, HOUSE), who was the youngest Chief of Surgery at UCLA. He walked away from it all to found the clinic. Together with his right-hand doctor and sometimes thorn in his side Otis Cole (Jason George, ELI STONE), he'll teach these newcomers how to save lives in the most challenging environment they've ever worked in. With more patients than they can handle and very little traditional medicine available, these doctors have to perform medical miracles using any means necessary. And as their lives become intimately intertwined, secrets will be revealed and relationships born. With the pressure always mounting, these doctors will need to let off some steam. Luckily, there's a spectacular hidden beach nearby. Leave it to Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers (Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice) to bring you an uplifting medical procedural like nothing you've ever seen before. Featuring a hot, young ensemble cast, Off the Map from creator Jenna Bans (Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice) explores how far you have to go to truly heal.

Jose Julian and Valerie Cruz also star. Daniel Minahan directed the pilot.

  [may 2010]  

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