Amy Acker

’Happy Town’ finds a home on ABC

ABC has finally cleared a space on the schedule for its drama "Happy Town."

The series, a small-town mystery the network is comparing to "Twin Peaks," will premiere at 10 p.m. ET Wednesday, April 28. It will fill the spot currently held by "Ugly Betty," which will have completed its final season by then.

ABC has ordered eight episodes of "Happy Town," which means it will likely run into the early part of the summer.

"Happy Town" is the last of the six dramas ABC ordered last spring to get a premiere date. It takes place in the small town of Haplin, Minn., where a mysterious kidnapper resurfaces after several years, dredging up a whole bunch of secrets along with it.

The show’s cast includes Geoff Stults, Sam Neill, Amy Acker, Lauren German, Steven Weber, Robert Wisdom and Frances Conroy. Josh Appelbaum, Scott Rosenberg and Andre Nemec, the team who piloted "Life on Mars" for ABC last season, are executive producing.

The network has one comedy left on the bench for this season. "Romantically Challenged," which stars Alyssa Milano and Kyle Bornheimer, began production this week.