Yet More Network Show Orders & Cuts (Cuts Include Arrested Development); TV Titles in the Works for Paramount on DVD

Friday, November 11, 2005

Yet More Network Show Orders & Cuts (Cuts Include Arrested Development); TV Titles in the Works for Paramount on DVD

We have so much news for you today! TGIF! I'll get the bad news out of the way first. The FOX sitcom Arrested Development has been cut from the full season order of 22 to only 13 episodes. That is not good news at all. And to make matters worse, FOX has pulled the show for the rest of November sweeps, replacing it with encores of the freshman drama Prison Break. The sitcom that follows Arrested, is also getting 'arrested' -- Kitchen Confidential is also being benched for the rest of sweeps and is not going to get picked up for the rest of the season. There is strong word that FOX will not bring Arrested Development back, so it is all but canceled now...but maybe not totally. There is still a shot it could move to cable next year, possibly on FX. The series is a critical hit, but viewers have not followed. Only 4 million viewers or so tuned into the last episode FOX aired.

Now to some good news! The ABC sitcom Freddie has been picked up for the rest of the season, meaning it will have 22 episodes this season. I was expecting "additional episodes" (more like 18), so this is sort of surprising, since Warner Bros. had a huge job paycut and is reducing costs. Freddie airs right before the mega-hit drama Lost, so that certainly helps. ABC has not announced any details yet on its other new sitcom Hot Properties, which is also a Warner Bros. property. I do expect at least "additional episodes" for this series. Tune in tonight for the famous "Oprah's friend" episode at 9:30 p.m. on ABC and also tune in this Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. for a special night & time airing on ABC!
Warner Bros. has also announced that its new mid-season sitcom for CBS has gone through a title change. Old Christine is now known as The New Adventures of Old Christine.

Now for some DVD news! We are very excited to announced some new titles and returning titles in the works for Paramount Home Entertainment! All of the following mix of sitcoms, dramas, westerns, and even an animated series will be released in early 2006 or so, starting in February: Wings Seasons 1 & 2, The Brady Bunch S5, I Love Lucy S6, JAG S1, The Sentinel S1, Star Trek: Animated, The Phil Silvers Show, Have Gun Will Travel S4, The Beverly Hillbillies, Touched by an Angel S3 Vol 1., NUMB3RS S1. I know for some of these shows TVShowsonDVD.com mentioned, like for NUMB3RS S1 and Touched by an Angel Season 3 Volume 1. Have Gun Will Travel is interesting because season three is not even out yet (it comes out in early January). The Beverly Hillbillies is interesting, too, since MPI will release two volumes of that show, so hopefully Paramount will continue off where they left off? These are the titles they have told me, I'm sure there will be more in early 2006. TVShowsonDVD.com will have more news on all of these for sure when they are officially announced.
A while back we had a Paramount week-long feature and mentioned four shows. Wings, Gomer Pyle, The Love Boat and Melrose Place. Gomer Pyle was penciled in for Jan. 31, and I'm not sure yet if that is still happening. Wings is slated for Feb. 7 with the first two seasons, as I stated above. And Melrose Place and The Love Boat will be in the second half of 2006 (July and August, as of now).

And finally fans of the drama Renegade can relax because Anchor Bay has announced "due to popular demand" they will continue releasing the show on DVD! BOTH Seasons 2 and 3 will be released in one box set on March 21. That's 44 episodes for you! Season 1 was released earlier this year and I think fans wanted to know when season two was coming when they canceled plans for a May 31, 2005 date. Now you'll get two seasons in one set!

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Friday, November 22

Happy's Place - "Happy's House" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Bobbie agrees to take Isabella to Happy's house in search of a connection to their late father, leading Bobbie to worry about what they may find; Gabby hopes to strike it rich by searching through Happy's penny collection looking for a rarity.

Lopez vs Lopez - "Lopez vs Orlando" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
When Rosie's spoiled nephew Orlando visits, Mayan sets out to expose Rosie's cultural gender bias; George wants to teach Chance the value of hard work, but, instead, helps him create a toxic work environment.

Bob Hearts Abishola - "Whacking the Mole" (The CW, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
After Abishola has a romantic dream about Bob, she tries to suppress her feelings for him and pays the price.

Bob Hearts Abishola - "Ralph Lauren and Fish" (The CW, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Bob and Abishola finally go on a proper date, which is interrupted by Dottie's medical emergency.

Bob Hearts Abishola - "Tough Like a Laundromat Washing Machine" (The CW, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Bob hires Abishola to take care of Dottie in his home while she recovers; Dottie has a hard time dealing with her limitations and takes it out on Abishola.

Bob Hearts Abishola - "Useless Potheads" (The CW, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
With Abishola only helping part-time, Bob, Douglas and Christina struggle to take care of Dottie.

Wizards Beyond Waverly Place - "Wiz-Taken Identity" (Disney Channel, 8:00PM ET/PT)
When Billie struggles with a spell, Roman says he could do it if he was a wizard: to prove him wrong, Billie uses a Power Glass to transfer her powers to Roman.

Wizards Beyond Waverly Place - " Ain't Gnome Party Like a Wizard Party" (Disney Channel, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Justin embraces mortality to live with his family; his new challenge arises when Alex introduces Billie, a wizard-in-training, seeking Justin's mentorship.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of November 18)

Friday, November 22

Kerry Washington (UnPrisoned) - Watch Kerry on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Jimmy O. Yang (Interior Chinatown/Space Force/Silicon Valley) - Jimmy is a guest on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Ariana Grande (Sam & Cat/Victorious) - Ariana appears on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Andy Richter (Andy Barker, P.I./Quintuplets/Andy Richter Controls the Universe), Thomas Lennon (The Odd Couple/Sean Saves the World/Reno 911!) and Aparna Nancherla (Lopez vs Lopez/Search Party/Corporate) - Andy, Thomas and Aparna are guests on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
Keke Palmer (Scream Queens/True Jackson, VP) - Keke talks about her new book Master of Me: The Secret to Controlling Your Narrative on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Andrew Rannells (Girls/The New Normal) - Drew is joined by the hilarious Andrew to celebrate all things Thanksgiving on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Rosie Perez (Human Resources/Search Party) - Rosie tells Sherri about her new Apple TV+ psychological thriller Before on Sherri, so check your local listings.
Candace Cameron Bure (Fuller House/Full House) - Candace will be on New York Living on WPIX in New York at 10:15am.