Tuesday, January 17, 2006

TCA Network Winter Tour: The WB and FOX; Life Goes On DVD on April 11

The WB was first up yesterday at the TCA Winter Press Tour. The WB Network welcomes a sexy and intriguing celebrity guest roster to kick-off its midseason, including Nick Lachey (The WB's Charmed, Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica) on Twins, James Denton (Desperate Housewives) returns to Reba, Kelly Carlson (Nip/Tuck) returns to Everwood and James Marsters (Angel) returns to Smallville.
Ellen DeGeneres, the multiple Award-Winning Comedienne/Actress/Author/Talk Show Host, will bring her comedic vision to The WB Network with a pilot script for a new half-hour, live-action comedy tentatively titled My Dog Sparky. She will voice the dog. A Nick Lachey sitcom and a Brandy sitcom are also in the works.
Regarding the new Daytime WB block (weekdays 3-5 p.m.):
Although the WB has had mixed early results programming the Monday to Friday 3-5 p.m. daypart in place of Kids' WB! programming, the network is committed to the affiliate stations.
"We worked with the stations to figure out an economic formula of how to do this," said Garth Ancier, chairman, the WB. "And all the feedback has been very positive. The biggest question is should it be a drama, or should it be comedies in there. So far 8 Simple Rules is doing better than ER, but ER is one of those serialized shows that tend to do better over time. So I think the jury is still out as to whether we should go in the comedy or drama direction long-term in the future."
And finally, upcoming this mid-season sitcom wise will be Misconceptions starring Jane Leeves and French Stewart and Modern Men starring Jane Seymour, George Wendt and Marla Sokoloff.

Today Fox was up at the TCA Tour. They made a lot of announcements. Two new comedies, Free Ride and The Loop, will soon join FOX's spring schedule. A partially improvised comedy, Free Ride follows recent college graduate Nate Stahlings (Josh Dean) as he moves back in with his parents in a small Midwestern town, with no life plans past doing his laundry. A preview episode airs Wednesday, March 1 (9:30-10:00 p.m. ET/PT), after a special 90-minute episode of American Idol. Free Ride premieres in its regular time period Sunday, March 12 (9:30-10:00 p.m.ET/PT). American Dad returns to the line-up in late April after Free Ride completes its run.
The Loop launches with a special preview Wednesday, March 15 (9:30-10:00 p.m. ET/PT) following the half hour American Idol Results Show. The following night, Thursday, March 16, the new comedy premieres in its regular time period (8:30-9:30 p.m. ET/PT) after That '70s Show. Stacked will return later in the season.
And at least two long running Fox sitcoms will come to an end this season. Malcolm in the Middle and That '70s Show. Malcolm in the Middle's series finale is scheduled to air Sunday, May 14, soon after its 150th episode. The show, which has followed the growth of boy genius Malcolm (Frankie Muniz) and his family. The show has won six Emmys and a Peabody Award in its lifetime. That '70s Show packs up the polyester bellbottoms, Zeppelin 8-tracks and lava lamps when it ends its eight-season run Thursday, May 18 (8:00-9:00 p.m. ET/PT) on FOX. The series finale also marks the 200th episode milestone. Numerous '70s icons have stopped by to guest-star, including Danny Bonaduce, Alice Cooper, Marion Ross, Eve Plumb, Ted Nugent, Valerie Harper, Richard Kline and Roger Daltrey from The Who. This season, Don Knotts, Mary Tyler Moore Tom Bosley and Isaac Hayes are joining the list.
Other Fox notes: Arrested Development is very likely finished on Fox. King of the Hill is also nearing its end and might not return until January 2007 next season. Ashton Kutcher and Topher Grace are in discussions to return for the series finale of That '70s Show.

Finally, last month we broke the news that the '90s ABC drama Life Goes On would be coming to DVD. As of now, the date for that season one set will be April 11! Now, take that with a grain of salt, as it is not official yet. Stay tuned to TVShowsonDVD.com for official information. Bring on Corky!


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Friday, April 18

none scheduled

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of April 14)

Friday, April 18

  • David Alan Grier (St. Denis Medical/Dad Stop Embarrassing Me!/The Cool Kids/The Carmichael Show/Bad Teacher/Life with Bonnie/DAG) - Watch David on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Bernadette Peters (High Desert/Mozart in the Jungle/All's Fair) - Bernadette is a guest on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
  • Chet Hanks (Running Point) - Chet appears on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
  • Woody Harrelson (Cheers) - Woody takes "The Colbert Questionert" on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
  • Paul Rudd (The Shrink Next Door/Living with Yourself/Wild Oats) - Paul is a guest 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.
  • Bobby Moynihan (Mr. Mayor/Me, Myself & I), Thomas Lennon (The Odd Couple/Sean Saves the World/Reno 911!) and Mary Eliabeth Ellis (Santa Clarita Diet/The Grinder/Perfect Couples/It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia) - Bobby, Thomas and Mary are guests on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Luke Kirby (Étoile) - Luke talks about Étoile on ABC News Live Prime with Linsey Davis at 7pm.
  • Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/Café Americain/Sydney/One Day at a Time) - Valerie is joining Drew and Ross Mathews to hit the headlines on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
  • Annaleigh Ashford (B Positive) - Annaleigh is telling Drew about the thrilling new series Happy Face based on a real life serial killer on The Drew Barrymroe Show, so check your local listings.
  • Michael B. Jordan (The Assistants) and Delroy Lindo (UNPrisoned) - Michael, Delroy and others tell Sherri about their highly anticipated new film Sinners on Sherri, so check your local listings.
  • Joel Kim Booster (Loot/Shrill) - Joel talks about Bravo's Love Hotel on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.


New on DVD and Blu-ray

I Love Lucy - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) Seinfeld - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray) The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series Frasier (2023) - Season Two

11/05 - I Love Lucy - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
11/12 - The King of Queens - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (2024 Release)
11/19 - SpongeBob SquarePants - The Complete Fourteenth Season
11/26 - Looney Tunes Collector's Choice - Volume 4 (Blu-ray)
12/03 - Angel (1960-1961) - The Complete Series, Volume 1
12/17 - Seinfeld - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (4K UHD)
01/28 - Wait Till Your Father Gets Home - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/04 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
02/04 - The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series
03/11 - Frasier (2023) - Season Two
04/01 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season

More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD and Blu-ray Releases / TV Shows on DVD, Blu-ray and Prime Video / DVD Reviews Archive


Recent SitcomsOnline.com News Blog Posts

04/17 - BET+ Orders Martin Spinoff Varnell Hill; It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Returns in July
04/16 - And Just Like That... Season 3 on Max This May; MGM+ Comedy Series Adds Big Stars
04/15 - HBO's Harry Potter Series; Classic TV Comes to Life in NYC
04/14 - TV Stars Lineup for Summer of 69 Hulu Film; Jessica Kirson Comedy Special
04/13 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of April 14, 2025)
04/12 - SitcomsOnline Digest: FX Sets Premiere Date for Adults; Netflix Picks Up Monopoly Themed Reality Competition Series
04/11 - Bounce TV Renews Mind Your Business; AMC Networks 2025 Upfront Highlights
04/10 - David Spade's Prime Video Comedy Special; Brett Goldstein's HBO Comedy Special Filmed in New Jersey
04/09 - Paramount+ Orders Season 3 of Colin from Accounts; FX's Adults Premieres May 28
04/08 - Prime Video's New Comedy Overcompensating; Nine Perfect Strangers Returns on Hulu in May
04/07 - NBC Celebrates Joan Rivers with Special; Remembering Jay North of Dennis the Menace
04/06 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of April 7, 2025)
04/05 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Fox Renews Three Animated Series and Brings Back a Fourth for Four More Seasons; ABC Renews Shifting Gears
04/04 - ABC 2025-26 Season Renewals for Scripted Series; New Season of Phineas and Ferb Returns June 5
04/03 - Fox Renews Animated Hits for 4 Additional Seasons and American Dad! Returns; South Park Season 27 Premieres July 9
04/02 - Rick and Morty Season 8 Premieres May 25; Netflix's Tires Returns June 5
04/01 - Disney Renews Wizards Beyond Waverly Place for Season 2; Prime Video Details Final Season of The Summer I Turned Pretty
03/31 - Prime Video's Dance-World Comedy Étoile; Netflix's Tom Segura Dark Comedy Bad Thoughts
03/30 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of March 31, 2025)
03/29 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Netflix Gives Pilot Order to A Different World Sequel; Malcolm in the Middle Reboot Recasts Role of Dewey
03/28 - Pat Sajak's Final Spin on Wheel and Return of Jeopardy! Masters; Remembering George Foreman and Wings Hauser
03/27 - IFC Renews SisterS for Season 2; Netflix Orders Live-Action Scooby-Doo Series
03/26 - Hulu Spring 2025 Slate; The Making of The Americas Special Narrated by Tom Hanks on NBC
03/25 - Deli Boys Now Streaming All Episodes on Hulu; Heartland Season 18 on UP Faith & Family
03/24 - Peacock April Highlights Include Three's Company; Antenna TV's 50 Years on the Beat Barney Miller Anniversary Marathon
03/23 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of March 24, 2025)
03/22 - SitcomsOnline Digest: The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* Coming to DVD; American Dad! Moving Back to Fox
03/21 - Big Mouth Final Season; The Four Seasons Premieres in May on Netflix
03/20 - HBO's Brett Goldstein Comedy Special; Disney+ Adds The Simpsons 24/7 Stream
03/19 - Solar Opposites Final Season This Fall; NBC to Move Grosse Pointe Garden Society to Fridays
03/18 - Game Show Network New Shows Launch April 14; NBC Picks Up 3rd Comedy Pilot, While Bobby Moynihan Joins Tracy Morgan Pilot
03/17 - It's True! Ted Lasso Renewed for Season 4; Jane Goodall Returns for Jane Season 3