The Hollywood Reporter and other sources are reporting that ABC will juggle its primetime schedule in January.

Moves include "Life on Mars" to a new slot on Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET Wednesdays, following the season premiere of "Lost" on January 21.  Filling the Thursday 10 p.m. slot following "Grey's Anatomy" will be that show’s spin-off, "Private Practice". It is not yet known if this schedule change is temporary, or permanent.

The schedule move bodes well for both "Life On Mars" and "Private Practice", as it will provide stronger lead-in audiences for both shows by pairing them with shows that appeal to their respective target audiences.

As previously noted by this reviewer, the pairing of “Grey's Anatomy” and “Life On Mars” made no sense, and the poor ratings have proven that point.

What was ABC thinking when it originally slotted this edgy, sci-fi retro cop show immediately after the chick-friendly doctor drama? And opposite another Americanized Brit import, the sci-fi paranormal Eleventh Hour, not to mention the long-time ratings winner ER? Did they not want this show to succeed? Perhaps this move to Wednesday nights following “Lost” will be the ratings juice “Life On Mars” needs. 

“Life On Mars”, which currently airs on ABC on Thursdays at 10 pm ET., stars Jason O'Mara, Harvey Keitel, Michael Imperioli, Gretchen Mol, and Lisa Bonet. The series follows Detective Sam Tyler, a modern-day NYPD detective who mysteriously finds himself in 1973 following a car accident. The show is proving to be a funky, well-written drama that juxtaposes commentary on current events with a faithful-to-the-genre 1970’s cop-show feel.