Another day of network announcements. Another yawn.  At this morning’s ABC news conference at the upfronts in New York, most of the news of the fall additions ("Opportunity Knocks,” “Life on Mars")and cancellations ("Men in Trees” and “October Road") had already been reported - or at least heavily rumored.

Even the renewals (such as “Boston Legal” and “Eli Stone") were considered done deals, along with the pick-up of “Scrubs” from NBC.

About the biggest surprise is the renewal of “According to Jim” which is the thing-that-will-not-leave.

In announcing its plans for the coming TV season ABC Entertainment President Stephen McPherson says NBC never gave “Scrubs” the exposure that it deserved. It was moved through 17 different time periods and seldom promoted.  The entire cast will be back when the show debuts on ABC in early 2009.

With 17 projects in development for 2009, ABC plans to add only one new drama in the fall. “Life on Mars,” is based on a British drama about a cop who is knocked unconscious and wakes in the 1970s (where he is so out of touch that he might as well be on Mars).

Normally, these adaptations don’t work but this update will be in the hands of producer David E. Kelley so one has hope. The new show stars Jason O’Mara as the modern-day police detective who, after a car crash, mysteriously finds himself in 1972, where he still works as a detective.

ABC also announced this morning that it is picking up a reality show produced by former TV star Ashton Kutcher ("That ‘70s Show"). His “Opportunity Knocks” is a mobile game show in which a production crew shows up at a home and tests a family’s trivial knowledge about itself. Family members will be asked questions about things that have happened in their own lives.

Among the other shows ABC canceled are “Women’s Murder Club,” “October Road,” “Oprah’s Big Give,” “Notes From the Underbelly” and Miss Guided.”

John Simm (right) and Philip Glenister (left) are on the BBC show “Life on Mars.’’ Photo from BBC America