FOX Pulls Bateman-Bateman Arrested Development Reunion Episode From Schedule; Other TV Notes

Friday, January 06, 2006

FOX Pulls Bateman-Bateman Arrested Development Reunion Episode From Schedule; Other TV Notes

Next week's episode of Arrested Development, which was going to feature a reunion of Justine and Jason Bateman, has apparently been pulled from the schedule by FOX. They are airing a rerun of "House" instead according to the FOX.com website. No word on if or when the four remaining episodes will air. The show could be moving to Showtime or ABC next season. Discuss the fate of Arrested Development on our message board.

Speaking of "House," it will begin airing on the USA Network starting tonight at 11PM ET/PT (right after "Monk"). They are starting with the pilot episode and will go in order from there. It will air every week on Fridays at 11PM ET/PT.

George Lopez is executive producing a pilot for ABC starring Lisa, Christina, and Tanya Vidal. It will be based on the Vidal's real-life and centered on the three sisters and their racially mixed families.

Drake Bell, the star of Nickeloden's popular sitcom "Drake & Josh," is recovering from injuries, including a broken jaw and severe cuts, he suffered in a car accident. The series debuted on Nickelodeon in January 2004 and regularly draws 3 million viewers a week. Drake Bell's other sitcom appearances include Seinfeld, Caroline in the City, The Drew Carey Show, and Home Improvement.

ABC's telecast of the Rose Bowl game between Texas and USC drew an average of 35.6 million viewers on Wednesday night. It drew 21.7 of U.S. households. It was the most-viewed bowl game since 1987, and the highest rated pro (non Super Bowl) or college game on ABC in the same period. Whoa Nelly, what a game!

The annual WPIX New Year’s “Honeymooners” marathon once again proved to be among the most popular programs of the New Year’s holiday on New York Television. “The Honeymooners” marathon, which was seen from 12:30 am until 5 pm New Year’s Day on WPIX Channel 11 (The WB11), Tribune Broadcasting’s WB Television Network Affiliate, peaked with a whopping 359,000 viewers for the episode, “Brother Ralph,” which was seen from 12:30 pm to 1:00 pm on January 1. “Brother Ralph,” wherein Jackie Gleason’s Ralph Kramden is laid-off from his job as bus driver, forcing Audrey Meadows’ Alice to find work, won its time period handily, more than 100,000 viewers ahead of its nearest competitor according to Nielsen Station Index (NSI) overnight Local People Meter (LPM) ratings. It was a remarkable performance for a ,TV program which is 50 years old. In “Brother Ralph,” Alice can find a job only by pretending to be the only single woman in an office staffed completely by men, a turn of events that prompts significant jealousy by husband Ralph.

Debmar-Mercury distribution company has acquired the domestic television distribution rights for ALF. They are looking to off-license it, so we could see ALF reruns return to cable and local syndication in the future.

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Thursday, March 12

Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - "A Big Birthday and Tequila Shots" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Mandy struggles to celebrate Georgie’s 21st birthday after hitting a rough patch in her career.

Ghosts - "St. Hetty’s Day 2: The Help" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
A St. Patrick’s Day staffing emergency gives Hetty the chance to step into an unlikely role at the restaurant as she regains her once-a-year ability to be seen and heard by the living. Meanwhile, Kyle returns to watch over the ghosts and finds himself caught in an amusing supernatural dynamic.

Animal Control - "Squirrels and Fat Cats" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Frank uncovers Emily and Shred's secret romance during a break-in at city supply; Victoria and Patel confront his daughter's school bully.

Going Dutch - "Tinker, Tailor, Colonel, Spy" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Rick takes a sabbatical from the CIA and returns to the base, hoping to rekindle his strained relationship with Capt. Maggie; paranoia runs high when a mole is suspected to be operating inside the base.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of March 9)

Thursday, March 12

Will Forte (The Four Seasons/HouseBroken/MacGruber/The Last Man on Earth/The Cleveland Show) - Catch Will on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Minnie Driver (Emily in Paris/Speechless/About a Boy) - Minnie is a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Wanda Sykes (The Upshaws/The New Adventures of Old Christine/Wanda at Large) - Wanda appears on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Robert Smigel (Let's Be Real) - Robert stops by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Kristin Chenoweth (Stumble/Trial & Error/Kristin) - Kristin is a guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Jennifer Tilly (Out of Practice) - Andy Cohen interviews Jennifer on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 10pm on Bravo.
Nathan Lane (Mid-Century Modern/Only Murders in the Building/Modern Family/Charlie Lawrence/Encore! Encore!/One of the Boys) - Nathan talks about Broadway's Death of a Salesman with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Ariana DeBose (Schmigadoon!) - Ariana joins Tamron to talk about her fashion evolution and her role in the all-star cast of the new series Scarpetta on Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
Lauren Graham (The Z-Suite/M.Y.O.B./Conrad Bloom/Townies/Good Company) - Lauren talks about Reminders of Him on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/Cafe Americain/Sydney/One Day at a Time) - NBC's Today catches up with Valerie in the 10am hour.
Phil Rosenthal (Creator of Everybody Loves Raymond) - Phil and Lily Rosenthal join Drew for a taste test of weird foods and talk about their children's book Just Try It! Someplace New! (A Phil & Lil Book) on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.