ABC Opts for Lighter Shows in Fall Lineup : Television: ‘thirtysomething,’ ‘China Beach’ are casualties of network wars as ABC tries to overtake top-ranked NBC.

ABC took on a new look Tuesday, bouncing the honored series “thirtysomething” and “China Beach” from its fall schedule as it brought on eight new shows in its bid to overtake top-ranked NBC in the ratings race.

Just as the cancellation of ABC’s low-rated “Twin Peaks” became obvious months ago, the likelihood of the Emmy Award-winning “thirtysomething” and “China Beach” returning in the fall also had been strongly in doubt, despite publicity campaigns by the series and their viewers.

Epitomizing its new, lighter tone--as opposed to its past image of encouraging experimentation--ABC is bringing on four new comedies, three dramas and a half-hour reality show, “FBI: The Untold Stories.” The network also renewed another reality show that debuted May 2, “American Detective.”

In a mild surprise, Steven Bochco’s new drama series, “Civil Wars,” with Mariel Hemingway and Peter Onorati as divorce lawyers, failed to make the fall lineup. ABC said that the show will air later in the season, along with another Bochco series, “Capitol Critters,” an animated show about animals in the White House basement.

ABC shows of the past season that are absent from the fall lineup include “Married People,” “Cop Rock,” “Going Places,” “Under Cover,” “Davis Rules,” “Eddie Dodd,” “STAT,” “My Life and Times,” “Equal Justice,” “Father Dowling Mysteries” and “Head of the Class.”

The Jamie Lee Curtis-Richard Lewis sitcom “Anything but Love” won renewal as part of an all-comedy Wednesday ABC lineup. Starting the night off will be “Dinosaurs,” which premiered April 26.

And although James Earl Jones’ drama “Gabriel’s Fire”--in which he played a private investigator--is gone, it will be back in a new form with a new title. The revised show is called “Bird and Katt,” with Jones’ investigator joining forces with a retired police officer played by Richard Crenna.

ABC has enlisted such stars as Patrick Duffy, Suzanne Somers, Marsha Mason and Teri Garr to enliven its new comedies as the network seemingly emphasizes a more conservative, comfortable approach in what are trying financial times for the Big Three networks.

Its new comedies are:

* “Grownups,” with Mason starring in a tale of the “fortunes and struggles of three sisters.” The show was developed by producer-director-writer Jim Brooks (“The Simpsons,” “The Mary Tyler Moore Show”) in the first of a three-series deal he has with the network..

* “Good and Evil,” revolving around “the antics of two sisters--one evil, the other good.” The stars are Garr and Margaret Whitton. And the show comes from another top TV creator, Susan Harris (“Soap,” “The Golden Girls,” “Empty Nest”).

* “Step by Step,” with Duffy (of “Dallas” and Somers (of “Three’s Company”) as “a divorced man and a widowed mom (each with three kids), whose whirlwind romance ends in marriage and instant household chaos.” It comes from yet another top TV production firm, Miller-Boyett, which turns out such ABC hits as “Full House,” “Family Matters” and “Perfect Strangers.”

* “Home Improvement,” in which comedian Tim Allen plays “the host of a home improvement TV show, who’s all thumbs around his own house.”

In addition to “Bird and Katt,” ABC’s new dramas are:

* “Homefront,” a drama “set in 1945 that follows the lives and loves of returning GIs (from World War II) and the people they left behind in a dramatically changing America.” The cast includes David Newman, Kyle Chandler, Jessica Steen and Wendy Phillips.

* “The Commish,” about “an ordinary-appearing” big-city police chief (Michael Chiklis) “whose unorthodox style . . . endears him to his men and his community.” Theresa Saldana co-stars as his wife.

While dropping “thirtysomething” and “China Beach” from the fall lineup, ABC is retaining the quality drama “Life Goes On,” which deals with a family that has a son with Down’s syndrome. “Life Goes On” will continue to lead off ABC’s Sunday lineup, where it has increased the network’s audience against CBS’ “60 Minutes.”

“Full House,” which has turned into a ratings powerhouse on Fridays, will be switched to lead off Tuesdays, where it will be followed by “Home Improvement,” “Roseanne,” “Coach” and “Homefront” (in the former “thirtysomething” slot).

ABC will try to seize control of Wednesdays--which is up for grabs in the Big Three competition--with six consecutive comedies: “Dinosaurs,” “The Wonder Years,” “Doogie Howser, M.D.,” “Anything but Love,” “Grownups” and “Good and Evil.”

On Thursdays, ABC will try to cash in on the hot reality trend by using two of its three prime-time hours for fact-based shows. They are “FBI: The Untold Stories,” “American Detective” and “PrimeTime Live.”

The network will try to hold on to its comedy stranglehold of Fridays by moving “Family Matters” into the leadoff spot, followed by “Step by Step,” “Perfect Strangers” and “Baby Talk.”

And two of the network’s longest-running sitcoms, “Who’s the Boss?” and “Growing Pains,” have been paired and switched to open Saturdays as ABC tries to make inroads on that night.

Other shows planned by ABC for later in the 1991-92 season include:

* “Immediate Family,” a comedy with Billy Connolly (“Head of the Class”) as a Scottish immigrant who enters into a marriage of convenience with a divorced mother of three to avoid deportation.

* “Room for Two,” a comedy with Linda Lavin (“Alice”) as a morning TV personality who is often in conflict with her daughter--the producer.

* “Saturdays,” a romantic anthology series “about the people who work in and pass through Saturday’s restaurant.”

Here’s is ABC’s night-by-night schedule for the fall:

Sunday: “Life Goes On,” “America’s Funniest Home Videos,” “America’s Funniest People,” “Sunday Night Movie.”

Monday: “MacGyver,” “Monday Night Football.”

Tuesday: “Full House,” “Home Improvement,” “Roseanne,” “Coach,” “Homefront.”

Wednesday: “Dinosaurs,” “The Wonder Years,” “Doogie Howser, M.D.,” “Anything but Love,” “Grownups,” “Good and Evil.”

Thursday: “Bird and Katt,” “FBI: The Untold Stories,” “American Detective,” “PrimeTime Live.”

Friday: “Family Matters,” “Step By Step,” “Perfect Strangers,” “Baby Talk,” “20/20.”

Saturday: “Who’s the Boss?,” “Growing Pains,” “The Young Riders,” “The Commish.”