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ABC ensembles have feel of ‘Cashmere’

BEVERLY HILLS — ABC, which hit ratings gold with “Desperate Housewives” and “Grey’s Anatomy,” is moving way upscale with its new class of light comedy-drama ensembles.

There’s “Big Shots,” about four wealthy CEO guy pals; “Cashmere Mafia,” about a quartet of powerful women; and “Dirty Sexy Money,” about a lawyer for a filthy-rich family.

So ABC Entertainment president Stephen McPherson found himself Wednesday defending against critics’ charges that his shows are too flush with cash.

“There’s more of that kind of fantasy,” he said, “and to some extent some of that is making fun of those people.” But he denies “there’s any kind of rule or movement right now to just put rich people on television.”

“We’ve got to continue to find the next thing, and not regurgitate stuff that we already have,” he said. “For us, you saw movement a little bit more toward escapism, (and) we’re going to stay in that vein. I don’t think you’re going to see a lot of dark cop dramas or really serious, downtrodden material.”

Though ABC finished the season in third place, it attracts more buzz than competitors for its scripted series, led by “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Housewives” and “Lost.”

Next season, “Housewives” will parachute in a new family and story line: Dana Delany and Nathan Fillion will play a couple who move back to Wisteria Lane and provide a mystery arc for the show.

Unlike the ill-fated Applewhites of two seasons back, Delany’s character is one of the “original” “Housewives,” who was close friends with Susan (Teri Hatcher) before moving away, and considers Bree and Lynette — whom she doesn’t know — to be the outsiders.

Meanwhile, “Grey’s Anatomy” will move away from the “really difficult, emotional stuff going on for kind of a multitude of characters” that some fans felt bogged down the show last season, McPherson said, though he expressed no complaints.

And the decision to set an end date for “Lost,” after three shortened but repeat-free seasons starting next February, “allowed (producers) to craft that story in 48 episodes exactly the way they want,” McPherson said.

Among a few “Lost” announcements due at the Comic-Con convention in San Diego today: Harold Perrineau, who plays Walt, will return to the cast.

McPherson calls this reality-filled summer’s performance “disappointing” and promises some “affordable” scripted series next summer.