ABC to Launch 4 New Shows

ABC said Friday that it will add three new hourlong series and a new half-hour sitcom to its prime-time lineup over the next six weeks for limited trial runs.

“Equal Justice,” an ensemble drama set in a metropolitan district attorney’s office, will get a two-hour kickoff March 27 (9-11 p.m.). The series premieres in its regular time slot on Wednesday, March 28 (10-11 p.m.), bumping “China Beach” from the schedule. The award-winning Vietnam War drama will go on hiatus and return in late May.

“The Marshall Chronicles,” a comedy about the trials and tribulations of teen-age life, debuts Wednesday, April 4 (9:30-10 p.m.). “Anything But Love,” currently airing in that time period, will return later in the season.

David Lynch’s much-ballyhooed mystery-serial “Twin Peaks” will begin with a two-hour episode April 8 (9-11 p.m.). “Twin Peaks” will premiere in its regular time period Thursday, April 12 (9-10 p.m.). “The Young Riders,” currently airing Thursdays at 9 p.m., will move to Mondays at 9 p.m. on April 16 as ABC replaces its Monday-night movie slot with series.

The other Monday-night entry will be “Capital News,” a newspaper drama starring Lloyd Bridges. It will debut with a two-hour installment Monday, April 9 (9-11 p.m.), then will air Mondays at 10 p.m. beginning the next week.