Breaking the sitcom/drama programming mold in primetime is always a bold move, but the reality series "Making the Band" (Fridays, 8:30-9 p.m. ET; first episode, 9-10 p.m., beginning tonight) is just the risk ABC should take to rejuvenate its ailing "T.G.I.F." lineup.
    "Band" is cut from the same cloth as MTV's successful "The Real World" (Bunim-Murray Productions produced both), only crossed with the music industry: It follows the creation of a real-life pop group from auditions onward. 
    Given the fact that MTV has seen nine seasons of increasing ratings and buzz surrounding "World," it is surprising that it has taken this long to copy. Reality soaps could be the biggest trend to hit primetime since the game show: CBS has two ready for the summer, and Fox will add one next fall.
     ABC definitely has faith in "Band," adding nine more episodes to its original request for 13 before the series even aired. That kind of confidence is always a good sign, but the truth of the matter is that behind ABC's "Millionaire" mania, bullets are being sweat over weak spots the game show is masking all over the schedule.
     Kid-skewing "T.G.I.F." continues its steady deterioration despite little competition for teen viewers, dropping as low as a 6.0 average rating in households between 8 and 10 p.m.
    "Band" is aimed at Generation Y and women 18-49, but the latter will be a tough sell considering most are already hooked on the NBC drama "Providence."
    The series follows fresh-faced hunks who want to follow in the footsteps of popular "boy bands" like Backstreet Boys and N'Sync. Bunim-Murray teamed with MTV Productions and boy-band magnate Lou Pearlman for this project, which has cameras observe the finalists as they undergo training at a boot camp-esque facility in Orlando. Hence the name of the band in the making, O-Town.
      One of the interesting things about "Band" is how it counters one of the problems MTV occasionally faces in "Real World": The cast members usually do absolutely nothing but hang out at the house where they're living for free rent. "Band" gets a jolt of energy by focusing on a group of talented guys working hard to make it in the music business. That said, the reality-soap genre has so many potential applications. CNBC could follow a company new to the stock exchange; ESPN should plant cameras on one sports team and follow its ups and downs.
    But back at ABC, "Band" could possibly be a sleeper hit, doing for its genre what "Millionaire" did for primetime game shows. It's not as if the teens abandoning "T.G.I.F." in droves are being served better by any other network; most Friday series skew older.
    Still, with a frail lead-in like "Boy Meets World" (its seasonal household Nielsens over last year have dropped more than one rating point), "Band" is going to have to do the heavy lifting by itself.
    At least ABC will support the premiere with a special 8 p.m. showing of "Millionaire."
     The future of "T.G.I.F."--which was badly damaged by the addition of "The Hughleys," a sophomore series that would have died an earlier death had "Home Improvement" not been its lead-in last year--basically rests on "Band." If it fails, ABC might as well revamp the night and cancel "Boy" and "Hughleys." But if "Band" takes off, the network may finally have something worth building around besides "Millionaire."

-Andrew Wallenstein covers TV programming for Media Life.

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