TCA Cable Winter Press Tour: Day 4; FOX Books Arrested Development Finale, Moves 'Malcolm' to Sundays

Friday, January 13, 2006

TCA Cable Winter Press Tour: Day 4; FOX Books Arrested Development Finale, Moves 'Malcolm' to Sundays

Day 4 of the TCA Cable Winter Press Tour didn't really fit any of our sitcom needs. Networks like Discovery Channel, TLC were there today. FX and HBO were also there. They both are creating new series that just doesn't fit our news. HBO will bring back The Sopranos on March 12 for a sixth season with 12 new episodes.
Some late developments from yesterday included GSN. They will bring back a revived version of the classic game show I've Got a Secret starting April 17. Oxygen had its own version a few years back. On Feb. 12 they will celebrate Valentine's Day in style with a marathon of Love Connection and The Newlywed Game from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. And Lingo returns for a fifth season on GSN on April 3, airing weekdays at 7:30 p.m. Who can get enough of Lingo? Chuck Woolery is classic.

Fox has set Friday, Feb. 10, for a two-hour season finale episode of critically acclaimed Arrested Development. The 8-10 p.m. edition could be the final airing of the comedy from 20th Century Fox Television and Imagine TV on Fox. Both ABC and Showtime have reportedly expressed interest in picking it up. The final four episodes of the season will feature guest stars like Judge Reinhold and Jason Bateman's sister--Justine Bateman.
Meanwhile, Fox will move Malcolm in the Middle from Fridays at 8:30 p.m. to Sundays at 7 p.m. Right now Fox was airing a rotating wheel of shows on Sundays at 7 p.m. Bernie Mac encores will take the Friday 8:30 p.m. slot starting January 20. Malcolm makes its moves back to Sundays on January 29. Malcolm is currently Fox's lowest rated show for the season with less than 3.5 million viewers. The Sunday slot should help, but not by much I think.

Last night ABC's Crumbs premiered with over 12 million viewers, making the hilarious sitcom the third highest sitcom debut of the season (behind only NBC's My Name is Earl and CBS's Out of Practice). If the show can get 11-13 million viewers a week, ABC will be very pleased as Thursdays has been like hell to them in the past. Dancing with the Stars 2 has picked Thursdays up and has moved ABC ahead of NBC in total viewers and households for Thursdays. It should be interesting come March what ABC will do on Thursdays, since Stars 2 will conclude by then. Crumbs will still have a handful of episodes left so it will be interesting if it can generate its own audience if the lead-in will be weaker.

Sitcoms Airing Tonight

Wednesday, September 18

The Goldbergs - "Breakin'" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Adam unintentionally lets it slip that Barry never completed his community service requirement, the brothers join together to throw the greatest breakdancing battle in the history of William Penn. Geoff’s stress levels are at an all-time high, so Erica makes an adult decision and plans for them to follow the Grateful Dead all summer. Finally, it’s the end of an era when the JTP graduates from high school.

Schooled - "Dr. Barry" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
After initially trying to sabotage him, CB works with Barry and the JTP to help him win back Lainey’s heart. Meanwhile, Glascott faces removal as principal after a prank damages William Penn Academy.

Modern Family - "A Year of Birthdays" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
As the birth of Haley and Dylan’s twins approaches, we take a look back at how each family member celebrated their birthdays this past year.

Single Parents - "Ketchup" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
After learning that Angie’s ex Derek (played by Adam Brody) lives near Space Camp, Will convinces Angie to confront him about leaving her when she was pregnant, which results in a rowdy and awkward encounter between the three of them. Meanwhile, Poppy internally struggles with who she truly has romantic feelings.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of September 16)

Wednesday, September 18

Zach Galifianakis (Baskets) - Watch Zach on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Lake Bell (Bless This Mess/Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp/How to Make It in America) - Lake drops by Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Nick Kroll (The League/Cavemen) - Nick is a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Billy Crystal (The Comedians/Soap) - Billy visits The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Chelsea Handler (Are You There, Chelsea?) - Chelsea appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC. She chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Sara Gilbert (The Conners/Roseanne/Bad Teacher/Twins) - Sara is a guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC. She also talks about The Conners on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9m, on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan (check your listings), on the BUILD Series at 11:15am and on ABC's Strahan, Sara & Keke at 1pm.
Tracee Ellis Ross (black-ish/Girlfriends) - Tracee stops by A Little Late with Lilly Singh at 1:35am on NBC. She will also be on The Real, so check your local listings.
Jim Gaffigan (The Jim Gaffigan Show/My Boys/Welcome to New York) and Fred Armisen (Los Espookys/Forever) - Jim and Fred are panelists on Lights Out with David Spade at 11:30pm on Comedy Central.
Billy Gardell (Bob Hearts Abishola/Mike & Molly) and Folake Olowofoyeku (Bob Hearts Abishola) - Billy and Folake are guests on People Now at 12pm.
Sophia Bush (Partners) - Sophia talks about the and especially you podcast on Access Live, so check your local listings.
Sarah Jessica Parker (Divorce/Sex and the City/Square Pegs) - Sarah will be on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
Jamie Lee Curtis (Scream Queens/Anything But Love) - Jamie Lee and the cast of Knives Out are guests on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.