Nick@Nite Renews Original Series 'Hi-Jinks' For Second Season; ABC Schedules Two Sitcoms for Monday Nights This Mid-Season

Wednesday, November 16, 2005

Nick@Nite Renews Original Series 'Hi-Jinks' For Second Season; ABC Schedules Two Sitcoms for Monday Nights This Mid-Season

Nick@Nite has greenlit a second season of the hit hidden-camera series, Hi-Jinks. The next thirteen episodes of the series - in which parents play good-natured pranks on kids - will continue to be hosted by Leila Sbitani and will go into production immediately to air in 2006. The second season of Hi-Jinks will be produced by Stone & Company Entertainment.
In its first six weeks, it averaged a 0.5 among Nick@Nite's target audience of adults 18-49, up +25% from last year. The series delivered 532,000 A18-49 viewers, lifting +36% over last year, and it averaged over 2.2 million total viewers, up +36% versus year ago. The series has been watched by over 37 million people, including premiere and repeat telecasts. To read their full press release, click here.

Meanwhile, ABC has announced that their post-Monday Night Football schedule will be slightly different than what was planned back in May. Originally, it was The Bachelor at 8 p.m., then new sitcom Emily's Reasons Why Not at 9 p.m. and second season sitcom Jake in Progress at 9:30 p.m., followed by an all-new drama from mastermind J.J. Abrams titled What About Brian. Now instead, Wife Swap will remain at 8 p.m., the two sitcoms are unchanged, and The Bachelor will now be 10 p.m. instead. There is no word yet when the drama What About Brian will be scheduled. They did announce though that the new Monday line-up will begin Monday, January 9.
So why is Wife Swap sticking at 8 p.m.? Wife Swap has greatly improved the time period for ABC, boosting the its delivery by 2.8 million viewers (7.6 million vs. 4.8 million) and by 81% in Adults 18-49 (2.8/8 vs. 1.6/5). Wife Swap is ABC’s highest-rated program to be teamed with Monday Night Football in 4 years – since 2001.

I had a chance to watch the pilot of the 9 p.m. sitcom Emily's Reasons Why Not starring Heather Graham this past summer and it is pretty good. I'm not that big of a fan of one camera sitcoms, but this is good and will likely do well.

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Saturday, June 7

The Conners - "It's Gonna Be a Great Day" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Darlene celebrates her promotion, hoping it will allow her to spend more time with Ben; Jackie stumbles upon an opportunity to sue the pharmaceutical company responsible for Roseanne's addiction, which sparks a family debate.

The Conners - "Fame, Flying Fists and Cold Feet" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
The Conners get a taste of fame when their family restaurant is featured in a reality TV show, which inspires Becky to become an influencer; Jackie and Dan meet with a lawyer; Darlene connects with someone at The Lobo Lounge.

The Conners - "Applications, Accusations and a Man-Bag" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Jackie decides to rejoin the police force despite everyone's concerns; Darlene grows more skeptical about Mark's secretive behavior; Dan and Becky wade through uncomfortable conversations about Roseanne's addiction issues and death.

The Conners - "Danny Boy, the Interview, the New Hire, and the Hanging Chad" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Dan sidesteps vulnerable emotions surrounding Roseanne's death ahead of an upcoming deposition; Becky prepares for a job interview; Harris impulsively hires a new server at the Lunch Box.

The Conners - "Exercise Bands, Money Plans, and Faraway Lands" (ABC, 10:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Ahead of the deposition, Dan gets support from Jackie, Becky and Darlene; Mark is presented with an opportunity which leads to a major life decision; Becky and Tyler consider the next step in their relationship.

The Conners - "The Truck Stops Here" (ABC, 10:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Jackie prepares for a series of physical tests in an effort to rejoin the police force; Darlene confronts the insecurities in her marriage with Ben; Dan's deposition stirs up feelings; final farewells are made in true Conner family fashion.

Mind Your Business - "The Parent Trap" (Bounce TV, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Jordan enlists family members to help plan a romantic night when she thinks she overhears her parents talking about getting a divorce; Aaliyah and Mia become roommates.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of June 1)

Friday, June 6

Paul Rudd (The Shrink Next Door/Living with Yourself/Wild Oats) - Watch Paul on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Ike Barinholtz (The Studio/The Afterparty/Bless the Harts/The Mindy Project/Eastbound & Down) - Ike appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
David Oyelowo (Government Cheese), Bokeem Woodbine (Government Cheese/Battery Park) and Simone Missick (Government Cheese) - David, Bokeem and Simone are guests on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
Whitney Cummings (Whitney) - Whitney appears on Real Time with Bill Maher at 10pm on HBO.
Sarita Choudhury (And Just Like That...) - Sarita talks about And Just Like That... on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
Mark Hamill (The Texas Wheelers) - Mark chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Brianne Howey (Dollface) - Brianne chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Steve Guttenberg (No Soap, Radio/Billy) - Steve talks about Kidnapped by a Killer: The Heather Robinson Story on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
Andrew Rannells (Girls/The New Normal) - Andrew talks about I Don't Understand You on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am and on CBS Mornings Plus in the 9am hour.
Lena Waithe (Master of None) and Phylicia Rashad (The Cosby Show/Cosby) - Lena and Phylicia talk about The Chi on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
Mark Hamill (The Texas Wheelers) - NBC's Today catches up with Mark in the 9am hour.
Natasha Rothwell (How to Die Alone/Insecure) - Natasha talks about The White Lotus on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.