ABC Entertainment Group President Paul Lee got off relatively easy during his semi-annual TCA Q&A with reporters, considering that the network finished fourth this year followed by low ratings for what was supposed to be summer’s new reality darling, “Rising Star.”

Instead, reporters focused more on the diversity of ABC’s upcoming line-up, which includes such shows as Shonda Rhimes’ latest, “How to Get Away with Murder,” starring Viola Davis; “Black-ish,” starring Anthony Anderson; “Cristela,” based on the comedy of Cristela Alonzo; “Selfie,” starring John Cho; and “Fresh off the Boat,” about an Asian family’s culture shock when they move to suburban Orlando from DC’s Chinatown.

“It is a mission statement to reflect America. We think that’s our job, and in a way that’s not so much diversity as authenticity if you’re reflecting America,” said Lee.

That said, Rhimes later refused to talk much about her role in bringing diverse casting to prime time.

“Do I think there are any lessons [for TV networks]? No, I don’t. I feel like the shows speak for themselves, hopefully,” she said.

This season ABC will continue a scheduling strategy it started in earnest last year, airing shows in a split season and putting a new piece of original programming between that run. So, ABC’s new show from Disney-owned Marvel, “Agent Carter,” will air during “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”’s midseason break, and its new musical, “Galavant,” will air during “Once Upon a Time”’s break. Secrets and Lies, starring Ryan Phillipe and Juliette Lewis, will air after “How to Get Away with Murder”’s run, according to Lee.

Scheduling shows that way allows ABC to double-down on promotion with both fall and spring premieres and finales of favorites, and it allows ABC to give producers more time to create, develop and produce episodes.

“The spring finale is something that really worked for us,” said Lee.

Of course, it’s press tour and reporters always have to complain about something. For Lee, it was the cancellation of “Trophy Wife,” another one of those shows critics adored but mainstream audiences ignored. Asked why ABC didn’t give the show more time or move it to a different time slot, such as behind blockbuster “Modern Family” on Wednesday nights, Lee said:

“We were always disappointed throughout the year not only for the originals with ‘Trophy’ but also where we repeated it, not to get a pulse where we put it. It was sad not to get an audience for that, but it was extremely gratifying to get an audience for ‘Goldbergs,’ said Lee.

Message: If you loved “Trophy Wife,” too bad. Try “The Goldbergs,” which did get renewed.

“I truly believe ‘Goldbergs’ is going to be an asset on this network for many, many years to come,” said Lee.

In other ABC-related announcements:

Salaam Coleman Smith, former president of Style, joined ABC Family as executive VP, strategy and programming. The network is still looking for a replacement for Chief Creative Officer Kate Juergens, who left earlier this summer.

John Ridley, Oscar-winning screenwriter of “12 Years a Slave” and executive producer of ABC’s upcoming “American Crime,” starring Felicity Huffman and Timothy Hutton, signed an overall TV deal with the company.

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