Thursday, May 12, 2011

SitcomsOnline.com 2011-12 Upfront Preview: The CW; Classic Animated Series Network PBJ Launches in Summer

The CW continues to struggle, with only one real hit in Vampire Diaries and a declining series in America's Next Top Model, they will need to find some hits. They also need to solve the two big breaks within the season when everything is in repeats and the network is out of business it seems.
Here is the SitcomsOnline.com The CW 2011-12 preview:

New Series Already Picked-Up: None.
Already Renewed Returning Series: 90210, America's Next Top Model, Gossip Girl, Supernatural, and The Vampire Diaries.
Likely Returning Series: One Tree Hill and Nikita.
Likey To Be Canceled or Already Canceled: Life UneXpected, Shedding for the Wedding, Hellcats and Smallville.
Likely New Series: The Secret Circle (drama), Hart of Dixie (drama), Heavenly (drama) and Awakening (mid-season drama).

OUR FALL 2011 PREDICTION:

Mondays
8:00PM
90210
9:00PM Gossip Girl

Tuesdays
8:00PM
One Tree Hill
9:00PM Heavenly (NEW!)

Wednesdays
8:00PM
America's Next Top Model
9:00PM Hart of Dixie (NEW!)

Thursdays
8:00PM
Vampire Diaries
9:00PM The Secret Circle (NEW!)

Fridays
8:00PM
Nikita
9:00PM Supernatural

Comments: The CW once again had a weak season and saw declines in America's Next Top Model and long repeat breaks hurt their dramas. And once again there are no comedies being developed once again. They could use a change and try to bring a more mass appeal series rather than go after just women 12-17 or 18-34. For Mondays, I would certainly change the night but I am predicting 90210 and Gossip Girl stay put in their timeslots. I would personally have Gossip Girl into a new series, like Josh Schwartz' Hart of Dixie. If they do that, good for them in taking a chance.
For Tuesdays, they will probably lead-off with veteran One Tree Hill at 8 again possibly into a new series like Heavenly. I would step away from that though and try something more different, perhaps move Supernatural to this night into a new series like the cop pilot Copper & Stone, but I just don't see The CW picking that up.
Wednesdays will of course have America's Next Top Model leading off the night followed possibly by another try of launching a drama, perhaps the pilot Hart of Dixie. As I mentioned, I'd rather have that with Gossip, and put something like 90210 here. Top Model hasn't produced any drama hits anyway, so what is the point in keep trying? Hellcats is not likely to return. Even reality series after Top Model hasn't worked. Maybe just encores at 8pm into new episodes at 9pm is the best way to go, as this way they have more shows available in the middle of the season.
For Thursday, that is The CW's biggest night and what I predict is what I would actually do, too. Highest rated drama The Vampire Diaries will continue to lead off the night at 8pm. They should and will likely go with the drama The Secret Circle. It comes from Kevin Williamson and he produces The Vampire Diaries as well. Natasha Henstridge is one of the stars in the series.
And finally on Fridays, with Smallville ending, something will be needed on Fridays. Perhaps Supernatural will be paired with Nikita, which has a good shot of returning.
For mid-season, they could pick-up another new series such as Awakenings, which seems like it would benefit by airing repeat free for 13 weeks. I wish they would hold either 90210 or One Tree Hill for mid-season as well, as they would need something fresh other than one new series.
I still don't get why 90210 is returning. But the bigger question is, how will The CW solve the two long breaks for each show? Will they end the season earlier, like in March? Or will they just continue what they do now and come back to lower ratings? This is why a sitcom hour at least would be good as they would repeat well. I'm not too big of a CW watcher, so not sure what they could do to cut down on repeats, but sound off on our link below.
Discuss your thoughts on our prediction and feel free to make suggestions of your own.

Remember, next Thursday (May 19) is the actual date when we will find out The CW's plans for the 2011-12 season. So, come on back next Thursday and we will let you know the details and you can see how much we were right (or wrong).
And as a reminder, stay tuned starting Sunday evening (through Thursday) for all the final schedules released by all the networks! We will put them up as soon as they are released by the networks, so this will be your home to see them first!


Luken Communications, owner of Retro TV Network (RTV) and TUFF TV, has teamed up with Classic Media to create a new network, PBJ. PBJ will offer iconic characters and shows from the 1950s, '60s, '70s and '80s, 24 hours a day. PBJ is set to launch nationwide this summer with well-known titles from Classic Media's portfolio including The Archies, Mr. Magoo, The Lone Ranger, Gumby, Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids and more. Luken will make PBJ available to broadcasters, cable and satellite.
PBJ is bringing back the very enduring and extremely popular animated and live action shows from the past five decades, and now you can watch wake up with these shows all over again. So get out your peanut butter & jelly kids!
The RTV network first went on the air in July 2005 in Little Rock, Ark. RTV currently reaches over 77 million homes and features classic live action television programming from the 1950s through the 1980s such as The A-Team, Dragnet, McHale's Navy and The Rockford Files. TUFF TV launched in June 2009 and offers original programming targeted at men and their specific interests, hobbies and pursuits. Among the series they air are I Spy and Daniel Boone.
Stay tuned for further information as we get it!


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Monday, March 18

The Neighborhood - (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)

Bob Hearts Abishola - "Worth the Cooties" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
After Christina kicks Abishola and Dottie out for making light of her pre-pregnancy preparations, Christina bonds with Douglas and Abishola spends a fun day with Dottie. Also, when Bob, Goodwin and Kofo are stumped on a work issue, Bob insists they go out to lunch to loosen up.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of March 18)

Monday, March 18

  • Christina Applegate (Dead to Me/Up All Night/Samantha Who?/Jesse/Married with Children) - Watch Christina on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Carrie Preston (Crowded/Happyish/Emeril) - Carrie is a guest on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
  • Rachel Dratch (Grimsburg/Imaginary Mary/30 Rock) - Rachel appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Sasheer Zamata (Home Economics/Woke/Robbie) and John Hodgman (Up Here/Married) - Sasheer and John are guests on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg (Two and a Half Men/Jenny) - Jenny appears on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 3:30am on Bravo.
  • Lisa Ann Walter (Abbott Elementary/Emeril) - Lisa will be on ABC's Good Morning America some time between 7-9am.
  • Brett Gelman (Camping/Fleabag/Married/Go On) - Brett talks about The Terrifying Realm of the Possible: Nearly True Stories on CBS Mornings some time between 7-9am.
  • William Shatner ($h*! My Dad Says) - NBC's Today catches up with William in the 9am hour.


New on DVD/Blu-ray (November-March)

Leave it to Beaver - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) Father Knows Best - The Complete Series The Odd Couple - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) Three's Company - The Official 40th Anniversary Collection Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)

11/07 - South Park - The Complete Twenty-Sixth Season (Blu-ray) (DVD)
11/14 - Leave it to Beaver - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
12/05 - Father Knows Best - The Complete Series
12/05 - The Odd Couple - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
12/12 - The Dick Van Dyke Show - The Complete Series
12/12 - Looney Tunes Collector's Choice - Volume 2 (Blu-ray)
12/12 - That Girl - The Complete Series
12/15 - Letterkenny - Season 11
12/19 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Official Restored Complete Series
12/22 - Three's Company - The Official 40th Anniversary Collection (includes The Ropers and Three's a Crowd)
01/09 - South Park - Seasons 11-15 (Blu-ray)
01/16 - Ghosts (UK) - Season Five
02/13 - Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/27 - The Really Loud House - Season One
03/12 - Ghosts (UK) - The Complete Series
03/12 - Looney Tunes Collector's Choice - Volume 3 (Blu-ray)
03/12 - Rick and Morty - Season 7 (Blu-ray Steelbook) (Blu-ray) (DVD)

That Girl - The Complete Series The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Official Restored Complete Series

More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD Releases / DVD Reviews Archive / SitcomsOnline Digest


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