LOS ANGELES — Most people forget about work when they get married and go on their honeymoon. Not Stephen McPherson, the new president of ABC Entertainment.

When your new job is trying to revive a beleaguered network that has fallen to No. 4 in the ratings, the honeymoon is subject to interruption. Which is how McPherson came to be answering reporters’ questions via satellite from Paris on Monday.

Television critics were gathered in a hotel ballroom in Los Angeles, with McPherson up on a big video screen, the Arc de Triumph and Champs Elysee in the background, discussing how he might restore some sizzle and success to the Alphabet Network in prime time.

"This network has to get back on track and create shows people even want to TiVo," McPherson joked.

But creating hit shows has been a big problem for ABC.

And the lack of stability — modest little hits "Hope & Faith" and "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" were the lone new series from last season to be renewed — means that ABC has more holes to fill than its competitors. So it will introduce eight new series this fall. Of course, the new boss is singing an optimistic tune.

"The schedule is something we’re excited by," said McPherson. "Certainly, it is a building block process. We need to find solid performers, improve time periods and start to get our momentum back."

In his previous work life as head of Touchstone Television — the production studio that, like ABC, is owned by Disney — McPherson was instrumental in developing such series as "Alias," "8 Simple Rules" and "According to Jim" for ABC. They’re not blockbusters, but each has been successful.

A little more of that might be real nice.

For instance, McPherson thinks ABC has to be true to its history. And that means a continued emphasis on the family audience with the Friday night TGIF lineup of comedies, which ABC revived last year. This fall, "8 Simple Rules" moves from Tuesdays to 8 p.m. Fridays to lead off TGIF. It will be followed by "Complete Savages."

Say what? That noisily rambunctious family sitcom stars Keith Carradine as the frequently exasperated father of five teenage boys.

" ’8 Simple Rules’ and ’Complete Savages’ help get us off to a strong start and are true to what that night has been over the years," McPherson said.

The family comedy mantra has also been followed on Tuesday nights, where Jim Belushi’s "According to Jim" has become an improbable hit. Improbable to critics, perhaps, but not to the audience that enjoys the show’s hang-loose escapist humor.

Hoping to bolster that night with the addition of other family comedies built around male stars, McPherson has shifted "My Wife and Kids" (with Damon Wayans) and "George Lopez" to Tuesdays to lead off the night before Belushi takes over at 9, followed by guy-centric newcomer "Rodney." The latter stars stand-up comic Rodney Carrington as a down-to-earth family man with a habit of quitting crummy jobs to pursue his dream of, yep, being a stand-up joker.

"Drama has been a tougher business for us," said McPherson. "It’s no secret we haven’t had a drama break out in several years." Even "Alias," Jennifer Garner’s cool, ultra-stylish spy thriller, has never been more than a fervent cult hit beloved by critics over the past three seasons.

Now ABC will delay "Alias" until the middle of the season and move the potentially witty, irreverent new prime-time soap opera "Desperate Housewives" into the 9 p.m. Sunday time period. It will feature a fine ensemble cast that includes Felicity Huffman and Teri Hatcher.

Meanwhile, talented "Alias" creator J.J. Abrams has concocted the new 8 p.m. Wednesday drama "Lost," which follows the lives of a diverse group of airline crash survivors trying to live on a remote tropical island. McPherson praised Abrams for "bringing an interesting look to what otherwise could be just another island show."

Right now at least, with ABC the No. 4 network, McPherson is adopting a programming philosophy of patience. "It is an incredibly cluttered (TV landscape) out there. Given the position where we are, I think we can afford to be a little patient," McPherson said. "Being patient with shows that are working is what’s needed. It’s what made ’Everybody Loves Raymond’ a hit. It’s what made ’Seinfeld’ a hit."

Heck, Steve, you find a new ’Raymond’ or ’Seinfeld’ for ABC and the honeymoon might last a long, long time.