Sunday, November 27, 2005

Network Holiday Programming: The WB; Week 10 Ratings

The WB will kick off their holiday programming with a special movie, Felicity: An American Girl Adventure. Note, this has nothing to do with the series that aired on The WB some years back, at least I don't think.
A World Premiere Movie Based on the Popular American Girls Doll Series -- This heartwarming family drama centers around the life of spunky, strong-willed Felicity Merriman (Shailene Woodley), a ten-year-old girl growing up in colonial Williamsburg. Oscar winner Marcia Gay Harden and Smallville's John Schneider also star. Airs Tuesday, November 29 at 8 p.m. and encores Sunday, December 4 at 8 p.m.

Grandma Got Run-Over By a Reindeer:
An Animated Christmas Special Based On The Hit Holiday Song -- Based on the hit song that became a worldwide holiday phenomenon, this goofy and heartwarming adventure features young Jake Spankenheimer on the quest of a lifetime to track his missing grandma down on Christmas Eve and prove that Santa Claus is indeed real. Michele Lee (Knots Landing) provides the voice of Jake's greedy Cousin Mel and recording artist Elmo Shropshire provides the narration. Airs Sunday, December 11 at 7:30 pm. ET/PT.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas:
The Animated Holiday Classic Returns to The WB -- The Grinch plots to ruin Christmas for the holiday-loving Whos of Whoville. But while he's stealing their presents and roast beast, he learns a most unexpected lesson about the holiday. Airs Wednesday, December 14 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

A Scooby Doo Christmas:
When the Scooby Gang stumbles upon the quaint town of Winter Hollow, they quickly discover that strangers are not welcome and Christmas is not discussed due to a ghostly headless snowman that appears every Yuletide to destroy people's houses, along with their holiday joy. To Shaggy and Scooby's dismay, Fred, Daphne and Velma decide to spend a chilling Christmas Eve at the local inn to solve the mystery of the snowman and bring the spirit of Christmas back to Winter Hollow. Airs Friday, December 16 at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT.

Samantha: An American Girld Holiday:
A Holiday Special Based on the Most Popular American Girl Doll --"Samantha: An American Girl Holiday" stars Mia Farrow, Anna Sophia Robb, Kelsey Lewis, Jordan Bridges and Rebecca Mader. The movie focuses on 9-year-old Samantha Parkington™, an orphan who lives with her wealthy grandmother in Mount Bedford, New York in 1904. Samantha is one of the three original American Girl® characters, as well as the most popular doll in the collection. Airs Sunday, December 18 at 5:30 p.m. ET/PT

The Wizard of Oz:
The Beloved Family Classic Based On The Novel By L. Frank Baum -- When a tornado sweeps Dorothy Gale (Judy Garland) away from her Kansas home and off to the magical land of Oz, located "somewhere over the rainbow," she is befriended by a Scarecrow (Ray Bolger), a Tin Man (Jack Haley) and a Cowardly Lion (Bert Lahr), who help her avoid the Wicked Witch of the West (Margaret Hamilton) as they travel down the yellow brick road to see the Wizard (Frank Morgan), whom they believe can help Dorothy return home. The film was directed by Victor Fleming and King Vidor and written by L. Frank Baum, Noel Langley, Florence Ryerson and Edgar Allan Woolf with original music by Harold Arlen and lyrics by E.Y. Harburg. Airs Sunday, December 18 at 7:30 p.m. ET/PT.

The WB has not released yet if their series programming will have holiday episodes. So you'll have to check back with us if shows like Twins and Reba will have a holiday episode. And as of now, UPN has no holiday programming and they also have not released if their series will have holiday episodes. So stay tuned!

Now to the ratings game. I do not have the final numbers for Wednesday and on (thanks to the holiday weekend), so I can't show you how the networks did the first four days, but I can still break down the sitcoms that aired this week.

Monday Sitcoms
  • The King of Queens (CBS) - 10.98 million tuned in and a 3.7 A18-49 rating.
  • How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - Solid, but slightly down from lead-in. 10.29 million and 3.6 A18-49 rating.
  • Two and a Half Men (CBS) - Up from last week's 15.17 million to 15.74 million. And a sitcom leading 5.2 A18-49 rating for the week.
  • Out of Practice (CBS) - Has been much better lately, 13.26 tuned in. Pretty good retention from lead-in. And a 4.3 A18-49 rating. I hope the hiatus in January and February won't hurt this sitcom.
  • One on One (UPN), All of Us (UPN), Girlfriends (UPN), Half and Half (UPN) - Consistent again, between 3.3-3.9 million.

Tuesday Sitcoms
  • My Name is Earl (NBC) - Up from previous week to 12.22 million.
  • The Office (NBC) - 8.09 million tuned in, over 4 million drop from lead-in. Concerning for NBC.

Wednesday Sitcoms
  • Still Standing (CBS) -With ABC and FOX airing a special and a movie, this was the only sitcom in the half hour. It should have done better, but it didn't.
  • Yes, Dear (CBS) - Same as above.
Thursday Sitcoms
  • Joey (NBC) - Yes, I know it is Thanksgiving Day, but Joey had its lowest ratings ever probably. Why did NBC air an original on Thanksgiving? Do they think this show is like Friends? People want to watch Charlie Brown on Thanksgiving, not Joey-- and they did, as ABC beat NBC in this half hour.
  • Will & Grace (NBC) - Not what it once used to be. I know it was Thanksgiving Day, but still, the rating was below a 4.
  • Everybody Hates Chris (UPN) - I don't have final numbers, but UPN was dead last in the 8 p.m hour.
  • Love, Inc. (UPN), Eve (UPN), Cuts (UPN) - 9 p.m. hour average was only a 1.2. Yes, I know it is Thanksgiving and sweeps, but UPN should have aired a special instead.

Friday Sitcoms
  • What I Like About You (The WB) - A repeat, but dead last in its slot.
  • Reba (The WB) - A repeat at 8:30 improved on its lead-in.
  • Hope & Faith (ABC) - ABC should have aired a repeat or a special since no one wants to watch sitcoms on the holiday weekend, as NBC found out last night.
  • Hot Properties (ABC) - See above.
  • Twins (The WB) - A repeat that was dead last in its slot.
Summing it up. My Name is Earl, Out of Practice, How I Met Your Mother, Two and a Half Men, and The King of Queens were the only impressive sitcoms this week--maybe because they aired pre-Thanksgiving. Everything else was pre-empted or in reruns or did terrible on holiday airings (Joey, Will & Grace, Hope & Faith, Hot Properties).


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Friday, February 27

Happy's Place - "No" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
When Bobbie alerts Isabella to an easy way for the tavern to make some extra cash, she's shocked when Isabella tells her no; Gabby becomes obsessed with a bar game that Takoda brought in.

Stumble - "Hildebünch" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Now that they've qualified for Daytona, Courteney must raise the money to get there and recruit new cheerleaders to give them a shot at winning; in order to do so, she must make a deal with the Buttonmeister himself, Augustus Schlimpf.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of February 23)

Friday, February 27

  • Nick Jonas (Jonas) - Nick is a musical guest on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
  • Sam Rockwell (F Is for Family) - Sam appears on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
  • Guy Torry (Good News) - Guy is a guest on a repeat of Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Michael B. Jordan (The Assistants) - Michael and director Ryan Coogler talk Oscar nomination with ABC News' Chris Connelly on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
  • Eva Marcille (Born Again Virign/Tyler Perry's House of Payne) - Eva talks about Lifetime's Pushed Off a Plane and Survived on Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
  • Courteney Cox (Shining Vale/Cougar Town/Friends/Family Ties) - Courteney talks about Scream 7 on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
  • Tony Danza (Taxi/Who's the Boss?/Hudson Street/The Tony Danza Show) - It's a cooking flashback with Tony in the kitchen on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
  • Tracy Morgan (The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins/Crutch/The Last O.G./30 Rock/The Tracy Morgan Show) - It's a little bit extra with from Drew's interview with the hilarious Tracy on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
  • Dorian Missick (Zoe Ever After) - Dorian talks about Prime's 56 Days on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.


New on DVD and Blu-ray

Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray) Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - The Complete First Season (DVD) St. Denis Medical - Season One (Blu-ray) Happy's Place - Season One (Blu-ray) Two and a Half Men - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)

07/22 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
08/26 - The Huckleberry Hound Show - The Complete Original Series (Blu-ray)
09/30 - Touché Turtle and Dum Dum - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
10/07 - Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - The Complete First Season (DVD)
10/14 - Curb Your Enthusiasm - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (DVD)
10/28 - St. Denis Medical - Season One (Blu-ray) (DVD)
11/04 - Happy's Place - Season One (Blu-ray) (DVD)
11/11 - Rick and Morty - Season 8 (Blu-ray) (DVD)
11/11 - SpongeBob SquarePants - The Complete Fifteenth Season (DVD)
11/11 - Two and a Half Men - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
12/02 - Tom and Jerry - The Golden Era Anthology (1940-1958) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
12/16 - Lippy the Lion and Hardy Har Har - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
12/16 - Wally Gator - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
01/20 - The Woody Woodpecker and Friends Golden Age Collection (Blu-ray)
01/27 - The New Fred and Barney Show - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/11 - Tom and Jerry - The Complete CinemaScope Collection (Blu-ray)
03/24 - Looney Tunes Collector's Vault - Volume 2 (Blu-ray)

More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD and Blu-ray Releases / TV Shows on DVD, Blu-ray and Prime Video / DVD Reviews Archive


Recent SitcomsOnline.com News Blog Posts

02/27 - The Comeback Returns for Final Season on March 22; Animal Control Renewed for Season 5; Remembering Lauren Chapin of Father Knows Best and Robert Carradine of Lizzie McGuire
02/26 - AspireTV Gets First Ever Original Sitcom; Sullivan's Crossing Returns for Season 4 in April on The CW
02/25 - Scrubs Returns Tonight, Sneak Peek at Title Sequence; Stranger Things: Tales From '85 Reveals Odessa A'zion as Nikki Baxter
02/24 - Netflix's Wednesday Season 3 Adds to Cast; Wonder Pets: In the City Returns March 20
02/23 - Celebrities for ABC's Celebrity Jeopardy! All-Stars; Hallmark's Mistletoe Murders Renewed for Season 3
02/22 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of February 23, 2026)
02/21 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Hulu Orders New Adult Animated Comedy From Creator of Bluey; Casting News for Upcoming CBS Comedy Regency
02/20 - ABC Wednesday Comedies Find Valentine's Magic; Netflix Announces Dang!
02/19 - The Golden Girls Coming to MeTV in March; Adult Swim Announces My Two Cars
02/18 - Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special Coming to Disney+; Fox Spring 2026 Schedule and Finale Dates
02/17 - New Animated Comedy from Big Mouth Creators Coming May 22; Scottish Comedy Returns to Hulu February 25
02/16 - Saturday Night Live Returns Following the Olympics on February 28; Fox Pays Tribute to James Van Der Beek on Wednesday
02/15 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of February 16, 2026)
02/14 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Trailer Released for Scrubs Reboot; Tubi to Add 100 Cartoon Series from Warner and Cartoon Network Library
02/13 - Remembering James Van Der Beek of Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23; The Way Home Returns for Final Season in April on Hallmark
02/12 - ABC's Scrubs Revival Trailer and Details; XO, Kitty Returns April 2 on Netflix
02/11 - The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins Gets Post Saturday Night Live Encore; Chris Fleming HBO Special
02/10 - Celebrity Jeopardy! All Stars Premiere Shifting by Two Weeks; Virgin River Season 7 Trailer
02/09 - Shoresy Returns with Season 5; HBO Max Acquires Schitt's Creek
02/08 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of February 9, 2026)
02/07 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Roku Adds New Channels for Bernie Mac, Blossom, and Cougar Town; Catchy Comedy Introduces Catchy Loves Lucy
02/06 - Rooster Premieres March 8 on HBO; MGM+ Comedy American Classic Trailer
02/05 - NBC Unveils Trailer and Guest Stars for The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins; Adult Swim's Anime Series Rooster Fighter Premieres March 14
02/04 - Netflix Renews A Man on the Inside for Season 3; Apple TV Premiere Date for Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed
02/03 - NBC Renews St. Denis Medical and Happy's Place for Season 3; Pilot Orders for Comedy Projects on NBC
02/02 - Remembering Demond Wilson of Sanford and Son, Catherine O'Hara of Schitt's Creek, Yvonne Lime of Father Knows Best, and TV Director Bruce Bilson
02/01 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of February 2, 2026)
01/31 - SitcomsOnline Digest: NBC Orders Pair of Comedy Pilots; Final Episode Airdate Announced for The Late Show
01/30 - Jury Duty Returns March 20 on Prime Video; Katt Williams 4th Netflix Special
01/29 - Season 4 of Ted Lasso Premieres This Summer; Shrinking Renewed for Season 4 as Season 3 Premieres
01/28 - Nikki Glaser's New Hulu Special Premieres April 24; HBO Announces Late-Night Series
01/27 - Trailer for The Muppet Show Special Event; New Evolution of The Handmaid's Tale Series