TCA Network Winter Press Tour CBS Day 2; UPN

Thursday, January 19, 2006

CBS was up for a second day at the TCA Tour and they gave information on some of its mid-season entries. Courting Alex, which premieres this Monday at 9:30 p.m., starring Jenna Elman is Alex, an attractive, single, workaholic attorney who has everything in life with the exception of one thing…a life. Executive producer Rob Hanning is comparing this show to The Mary Tyler Moore Show. The official SitcomsOnline.com Review of the pilot for this new series is coming soon. So stay tuned to see what we think about the show and about that comparison. Another sitcom they have in the works is The New Adventures of Christine starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Can the Seinfeld alum break the post-Seinfeld curse? Well we can't tell yet because CBS has still not announced what night and time it will air. It'll be either Mondays or Wednesdays, I'm sure, and it will start this March. CBS also has a crime drama (yes yet another!) in the works as well, titled The Unit. No night and time for that yet either.

Elsewhere at CBS, they announced that Nickelodeon on CBS Saturday mornings will be gone starting fall 2006. DiC Entertainment has now teamed up with the eye net for Saturday morning cartoons and the block will be called CBS' Secret Saturday Morning Slumber Party. Shows have not been announced yet, but DiC has a vast array of shows on the air now in some form such as Where on Earth is Carmen Sandiego?, Sabrina: The Animated Series, Madeline, Strawberry Shortcake, Liberty's Kids, Trollz, Sherlock Holmes in the 22nd Century, Archie's Weird Mysteries, The Littles, Inspector Gadget's Field Trip, and Sonic Underground.

CBS has optioned the format rights to an internationally successful property dubbed Game Show Marathon, which will feature a half-dozen celebrity contestants competing in a different classic game show (The Price is Right, Match Game, Beat the Clock, etc.) each week.

Former Joan of Arcadia co-star Jason Ritter has enrolled in the CBS comedy pilot The Class.
The action begins with a party thrown by 27-year-old Ethan (Ritter) for his girlfriend, whom he met in third grade. Ethan invites six other people who were in the class with them, all of whom have since lost touch with one another. The party then becomes the springboard for following how the lives of the reunited characters continue to intersect.
Also cast in the pilot is Jesse Tyler Ferguson, who will play one of the schoolmates, a serious man going through a dark period in his life. The two join previously cast Lucy Punch.

In the UPN front, executive producers Chris Rock and Will Smith will direct episodes of their respective UPN series, Everybody Hates Chris and All of Us, which will air later this season on UPN.
In the Chris Rock directed episode of Everybody Hates Chris entitled "Everybody Hates Corleone," Chris grows tired of getting beat up by bullies at school, so he asks his parents to be transferred to the neighborhood school, but when they deny the request, he decides to take matters into his own hands. Meanwhile, Julius' new job at the fish market makes him stink up the house and everyone in it.
In the Will Smith directed episode of All of Us, Bobby says the "N" word at a birthday party, and it forces Robert to examine his own use of the term and whether or not it's appropriate.

UPN's comedy Half & Half will feature a three-episode HIV storyline guest starring Michelle Williams of Destiny's Child in which she plays Naomi Dawson, a rival record producer who is HIV positive with whom Spencer (Chico Benymon) is pursuing a relationship. The three-episode arc airs in consecutive weeks beginning Monday, February 13 (9:30-10:00 p.m, ET/PT) on UPN.

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Thursday, February 26

Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - "A New Hobby, a Pervert and a Part-Time Job" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Audrey and Mandy urge Jim to find a new hobby now that he’s retired and driving them crazy.

Ghosts - "The Others" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Sam and the ghosts face The Others, a new group of spirits from one ghost’s past. Meanwhile, Trevor tries to deal with a demanding Patience, who seeks a committed relationship in the wake of their holiday hookup.

Animal Control - "Roosters and Moles" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT)
When Templeton is nominated for Animal Control officer of the year, Frank sets out to rescue 24 animals in 24 hours; Victoria steps in for Shred after he's bitten by a kitten; Templeton tries to sabotage Frank's mission.

Going Dutch - "Swapadakis" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Major Shah needs the weekend off to celebrate his anniversary with Celeste; Capt. Maggie makes an emotional hair choice.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of February 23)

Thursday, February 26

Sterling K. Brown (Starved) - Catch Sterling on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC. He also talks about Hulu's Paradise on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
Dave "Lil Dicky" Burd (Dave) - Dave is a guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Bobby Cannavale (Angie Tribeca/Will & Grace) - Bobby appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Jon Hamm (Grimsburg/Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt) - Jon stops by Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC. He also talks about Hoppers on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
Christa Miller (Shrinking/Cougar Town/Scrubs/The Drew Carey Show) - Christa talks about Shrinking on Comedy Central's The Daily Show at 11pm.
Amy Landecker (Transparent/The Paul Reiser Show) and Bradley Whitford (Perfect Harmony/Trophy Wife) - Amy and Bradley talk about For Worse on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm. NBC's Today catches up with Bradley in the 9am hour.
Jackson White (Mrs. Fletcher) - Jackson talks about Tell Me Lies on NBC's Today in the 9am hour.
Gina Gershon (Red Oaks/How to Make It in America) - NBC's Today catches up with Gina in the 10am hour.
Kym Whitley (Act Your Age/Young & Hungry/Animal Practice/Sparks) - Sherri's BFF Kym stops by to introduce her to some single men on Sherri, so check your local listings.
Emeril Lagasse (Emeril) - It's a cooking flashback when Emeril surprises Sunny on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Kristin Davis (And Just Like That.../Bad Teacher/Sex and the City) - It's a little bit extra with Kristin who reminisces about her favorite moments playing Charlotte on Sex and the City on The Drew Barrmyore Show, so check your local listings.
Piper Curda (I Didn't Do It) and Bobby Moynihan (Mr. Mayor/Me, Myself & I) - Piper and Bobby talk about Hoppers on New York Living on WPIX in New York at 10:05am.
Brenda Song (Running Point/Dollface/Dads/The Suite Life on Deck/The Suite Life of Zack & Cody) - Brenda talks about her film Operation Taco Gary on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
Demi Lovato (Sonny with a Chance) - Demi talks about her It's Not That Deep tour on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.