ABC will launch new action dramedy series Whiskey Cavalier on Oscar Sunday, February 24, ahead of the series premiere Wednesday, February 27. The full premiere episode will be telecast at 11:35 PM ET/10 PM PT. This is the first time ABC will premiere a drama series behind the Oscars and is believed to be the first time ABC has showcased a scripted drama following the awards telecast.

The plan for now is the Whiskey Cavalier pilot episode, which debuts after the Oscars, to be rebroadcast in the show’s regular premiere slot three nights later.

For years, Jimmy Kimmel hosted a live post-Oscar show on ABC when he did not host the ceremony. In 2017 and 2018, when Kimmel was Oscar emcee, ABC aired an aftershow hosted by Anthony Anderson in 2017, and previewed Alec Baldwin’s talk show last year.

ABC is the only of the Big 4 networks that does not carry the Super Bowl, often used by the networks to launch new series. For ABC, the Oscars is its equivalent of the Super Bowl as its highest-rated telecast of the season, so it is not surprising the network would start using it the same way.

It is unclear if ABC would bring back the Kimmel-hosted Oscar aftershow in the future.

Whiskey Cavalier follows the adventures of secret agents Will Chase (codename: “Whiskey Cavalier”), played by Scott Foley, and Frankie Trowbridge, played by Lauren Cohan, as they lead an inter-agency team of flawed, funny and heroic spies who periodically save the world.

Ana Ortiz also stars as Susan Sampson, Tyler James Williams as Edgar Standish and Vir Das as Jai Datta.

Whiskey Cavalier is a Warner Bros Television production from writer/executive producer David Hemingson and executive producers Bill Lawrence and Jeff Ingold (Doozer Productions). Peter Atencio serves as executive producer and is director on the pilot, and Foley is producer.

ABC’s Oscar Sunday, February 24 schedule follows below.

EASTERN STANDARD TIME

1-2 PM – “Countdown To Oscars, Live! Part 1”

2-4 PM – “Countdown To Oscars, Live! Part 2”

6:30-8 PM – “Oscars Opening Ceremony: Live From the Red Carpet”

8-11 PM – “The Oscars”

11:35 PM-12:3 AM – “Whiskey Cavalier” Sneak Peek

PACIFIC STANDARD TIME

10-1 AM – “Countdown To Oscars, Live! Part 1”

11 AM-1 PM – “Countdown To Oscars, Live! Part 2”

3:30-5 PM – “Oscars Opening Ceremony: Live From the Red Carpet”

5-8 PM – “The Oscars”

10-11:04 PM – “Whiskey Cavalier” Sneak Peek