ABC Entertainment President Channing Dungey, who became the network’s top boss in February, right in the middle of pilot season, said she’s been thankful for the opportunity to give writers the freedom and support to bring passionate stories to life.

“That to me is the exciting part of what I do, and what we do,” she told reporters Thursday during the Television Critics Association summer press tour in Beverly Hills.

“We have this season more top 20 shows than any other broadcast network,” Dungey said.

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On that note, Channing announced Kyra Sedgwick as the new star of upcoming drama/thriller Ten Days in the Valley, which was originally shopped around with Demi Moore as the leading lady.

From Rookie Blue co-creator Tassie Cameron, 10 episodes, each representing 10 days, will follow Jane Sadler (Sedgwick), a television producer of a controversial police show, and a single mother in the middle of a divorce whose life is turned upside when down her young daughter disappears in the middle of the night.

“We think Kyra with all her incredible talent is the perfect person to bring this role to life,” Dungey said.

The series also tackles, from a fictional perspective, police relationships with the black community.

“We’re in the business of storytelling and entertainment, and there are going to be shows that parallel events in the real world very closely,” Dungey said. ABC has a “responsibility to make sure we’re being honest about what we’re doing, but not glorifying violence or being gratuitous.”

Dungey said ABC is also “very proud that we reflect America authentically in all its diversity,” and this shines through in ABC’s Speechless, starring Minnie Driver as a mother who will do anything for her husband Jimmy (John Ross Bowie), and her kids Ray (Mason Cook), Dylan (Kyla Kenedy) and JJ (Micah Fowler), her eldest son with a disability.

It’s not a show about a family with special needs, but rather a comedy about a family, where one member happens to have special needs. That’s an important distinction, Dungey said.

Executive Producer Scott Silveri drew from his own experience growing up with a special needs brother to create a series that feels “universal, relatable, smart and funny.”

ABC also plans to start with a wider pool of candidates to bring more diversity to The Bachelor and The Bachelorette.

“I would very much like to see some changes,” Dungey said.

She also said ABC has had “terrific conversations” with Marvel on the right next superhero project.

And as for a future Star Wars series?

“I think it would be wonderful,” Dungey said, “if we could find a way to extend that brand into our programming.”

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