ABC sets summer schedule: Rowling, 'Diamonds,' 'Impact'

By Nellie Andreeva

ABC and ABC News have announced a slew of summer specials and limited series, including the return of “CMA Music Festival: Country's Night to Rock” and “2009 Scripps National Spelling Bee," along with the ABC News specials “Earth 2100,” “J.K. Rowling: A Year in the Life,” a one-hour special on oil, “Oil with Charles Gibson,” and “Un-Broke: Everything You Need to Know about Money.” 

In addition, ABC will air the limited series “Diamonds” and “Impact,” and ABC News will air the "Primetime” limited series “Primetime: Family Secrets,” “Primetime: The Outsiders,” “Primetime: Crime,” and “Primetime: What Would You Do?”  “20/20” will continue to air in its regular time period, Fridays at 10:00 p.m.

-- “Diamonds,” which will air Sunday May 24 and Tuesday May 26, delves into the dark secrets of the international diamond trade. It stars Judy Davis as a U.S. Senator whose daughter is killed in a massacre at an African diamond mine.

-- “The 2009 Scripps National Spelling Bee,” hosted by Tom Bergeron, will air May 28. Preliminary championship rounds will air live earlier in the day on ESPN and ESPN360.com.

-- “Unbroke: Everything You Need to Know About Money” (May 29), features “Good Morning America” financial contributor Mellody Hobson teaming up with stars Will Smith, Samuel L. Jackson, Seth Green, the Jonas Brothers and the E*Trade babies to talk about credit cards, mortgages, the stock market indexes, investing, 401(k) plans and more.

-- “Earth 2100” (June 2): An ABC News special hosted by Bob Woodruff that takes viewers on a journey through what the next century could have in store and shows what can be done to avoid disaster.

-- “Impact” (June 21, June 28): David James Elliott stars in the mini about a small band of international astronauts, scientists, and soldiers banding together to save Earth from the approaching Moon.

-- “Primetime: Family Secrets” will air June 23 - July 21, while “Primetime: Crime” will run June 24 - September 9.

-- “Oil with Charles Gibson” (July 15): ABC News Anchor Charles Gibson investigates how the oil business works, who's making money and how average Americans are at the mercy of the biggest industry in the world.

-- “J.K. Rowlings: A Year in the Life” (July 16): chronicles the life of author J.K. Rowling during the year before the 7th “Harry Potter” book was published.

-- “Primetime: The Outsiders” (July 28 - Sept. 8) is a limited series that takes viewers into the lives of people who live in worlds unfamiliar to the rest of society.

-- “CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock” will air Aug. 31.

Also returning this summer is “Primetime: What Would You Do?”

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