Tuesday, February 28, 2006

Classic '80s Sitcom to Join ABC Family Channel in April; Sitcom News for ABC and Showtime; GSN Honors Knotts, McGavin and Weaver

'Life is such a sweet insanity..." Yes, life IS such a sweet insanity! Because the more you learn, the less you know...well not in this case, because you are ALL about to know what the new sitcom is coming to ABC Family Channel this April! I mentioned last week that a "TBD" slot has been filled in starting April 3 and it clearly had to be a sitcom because ABC Family airs nothing but sitcoms from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. So, if you have not guessed by now with all those clues (and the picture) the sitcom is the 1986-1991 sitcom The Hogan Family. It will air WEEKDAYS @ 12 PM & 12:30 PM starting April 3. They will start with season three, by passing the Valerie years.
The show was titled Valerie in its first two seasons, then Valerie's Family for season three, before being called The Hogan Family by season four. You can read all about that on our Hogan Family website. The series starred Valerie Harper, but she left show by season three. Sandy Duncan replaced her. The series also starred Jason Bateman, who went on to star in Arrested Development.
The series last aired as a regular on PAX some years ago. TV Land aired two episodes this past June for a Warner Bros. 50th Anniversary Weekend marathon. It will be SO good to have this series back on the air again. Now, let's hope we can get '80s gems Mr. Belvedere, Small Wonder, and Perfect Strangers back on the air. For more on ABC Family April 2006, click here!

ABC has announced the return date of third season sitcom Hope & Faith. It will return and air Tuesdays at 8:30 p.m. starting March 21. It will replace Rodney, which airs tonight for the last time, since the next two weeks (March 7 & 14) a special According to Jim will air in its slot. No idea yet on when or if ABC will air the remaining 8 episodes of Rodney, as only 14 will have aired by tonight. Hope & Faith has 10 more episodes remaining, as 12 have aired earlier in the season. Still no word yet on when ABC plans to bring back sitcoms Crumbs, Less than Perfect and Jake in Progress. My guess would be in June.
ABC also announced other mid-season plans and changes. Veteran spy-drama Alias will return for its final eight episodes starting Wednesday, April 19 at 8 p.m. replacing sitcoms George Lopez and Freddie, who both would have finished their 22 episode order for the season by then. New J.J. Abrams drama What About Brian has been pushed back two weeks to a Sunday, April 16 premiere following DH, then will air Mondays at 10 p.m. starting the next night. Invasion will return Wednesday, April 19 at 10 p.m., after a four week break to let the new mid-season drama The Evidence air. Invasion is all-new on March 8 and 15--don't miss it, it is by far the best new drama this season! And ABC's new mini-series, a revival of the classic movie The Ten Commandments will air over two nights on Monday, April 10 and Tuesday, April 11 from 9 to 11 p.m. starring Naveen Andrews of Lost. Read all that and more here.

The New York Post is reporting that sitcom Arrested Development is very close to be picked-up by Showtime for 26 episodes. They would divide it by two and have 13 episodes for next season and 13 more the following season. The two-hour finale of the critically-acclaimed series nabbed only 3.3 million viewers when it aired on Feb. 10 on Fox. We certainly will keep you all updated on this as Showtime has not officially said anything on it, but it sure looks good!

In honor of the recent passing of legendary television actors Don Knotts, Darren McGavin and Dennis Weaver, GSN is planning special programming tributes showcasing some of their memorable appearances on classic game shows. GSN is honored to present these acclaimed and award-winning actors as they appeared as themselves on such memorable series as I've Got a Secret (Knotts), Password (McGavin) and Family Feud (Weaver.) To see when these special episodes are airing, click here.


Sitcoms Airing Tonight

Monday, May 29

The Neighborhood - "Welcome to What Used to be the Neighborhood" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Calvin’s favorite restaurant closes and is replaced by a flashy pet spa, he worries the community is losing too many small businesses and starts a campaign to only buy local. Also, Tina helps Necie prepare a special surprise for Marty.

Bob Hearts Abishola - "Your Father's Kingdom" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Abishola turns to Gloria and Kemi when Bob mortgages their home to pay for a new factory space. Also, Kemi worries that she and Chukwuemeka are losing their spark.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of May 29)

Monday, May 29

  • Seth Rogen (Platonic/Undeclared) - Watch Seth on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Nicole Byer (Grand Crew/Loosely Exactly Nicole) - Nicole is a guest on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Keanu Reaves (Swedish Dicks) - Keanu appears on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
  • Melanie Lynskey (Two and a Half Men/Togetherness) - Melanie is a guest on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
  • James Spader (The Office) - James appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Ms. Pat (The Ms. Pat Show) - Ms. Pat is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Amanda Peet (Brockmire/Togetherness/Bent) - Amanda appears on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Brett Gelman (Fleabag/Married/Go On) - Brett is a guest on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Tichina Arnold (The Neighborhood/Survivor's Remorse/Happily Divorced/Everybody Hates Chris/Martin) - Tichina appears on a repeat of The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
  • Kristin Chenoweth (Schmigadoon!/Trial & Error/Kristin) - Kristin is a guest on a repeat of The Jennifer Hudson Show, so check your local listings.
  • John Leguizamo (The Brothers Garcia) - John talks about MSNBC's Leguizamo Does America on a repeat of Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
  • Eric McCormack (Will & Grace) - Eric talks about Shudder and AMC+'s Slasher: Ripper on a repeat of Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
  • Method Man (Method & Red) - Method Man tells Sherri about his role in Sanaa Lathan’s directorial debut, On the Come Up, on a repeat of Sherri, so check your local listings.


New on DVD/Blu-ray (January-June)

Growing Pains - The Complete Series Cheers - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Complete Season Twelve Gimme a Break! - The Complete Series (VEI) Kate & Allie - The Complete Series (VEI)

01/03 - Andy Richter Controls the Universe - The Complete Series (2023 Release)
01/27 - Master of None - Season Three / The Complete Series
02/21 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Complete Season Nine / The Complete Season Ten
02/28 - Growing Pains - The Complete Series
03/28 - Rick and Morty - Season 8 (Blu-ray) (DVD)
04/04 - South Park - The Complete Twenty-Fifth Season (Blu-ray) (DVD)
04/18 - Blondie - The Complete 1957 Television Series (Blu-ray)
04/25 - Cheers - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
05/23 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Complete Season Eleven / The Complete Season Twelve
05/23 - Go On - The Complete Series
05/23 - Kate & Allie - The Complete Series (Universal)
05/29 - Gimme a Break! - The Complete Series (VEI)
05/29 - Kate & Allie - The Complete Series (VEI)
05/30 - Looney Tunes Collector's Choice - Volume 1 (Blu-ray)
06/13 - Mayberry R.F.D. - The Complete Series
06/13 - Night Court (1984-1992) - The Complete Series
More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD Releases / DVD Reviews Archive / SitcomsOnline Digest


Recent SitcomsOnline.com News Blog Posts

05/29 - Memorial Day 2023 TV Sitcom Marathons
05/28 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of May 29, 2023)
05/27 - SitcomsOnline Digest: CBS Wins 2022-2023 Ratings Game; Netflix Ends Sharing of Passwords
05/26 - Prime Video Renews Priyanka Chopra Series; Sex and the City 25th Anniversary Event in NYC
05/25 - Brady Bunch House on the Market; The Family Stallone Gets 2nd Season
05/24 - Antenna TV's Father Knows Best Father's Day Fest Marathon; Netflix Gets Glamorous This June
05/23 - CBS Summer 2023 Reality Schedule; Apple TV+ Announces Peanuts Programming
05/22 - More Details on Zoey 102; New Lifetime Movie Series Coming July 8
05/21 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of May 22, 2023)
05/20 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Showtime Looking to Bring Back Two Old Favorites; Disney+ Removing Content
05/19 - Futurama Triumphantly Returns July 24; Final Season of Physical Drops August 2; Primo Premieres May 19 on Amazon Freevee
05/18 - The CW Upfront 2023-24: Fall 2023 Schedule; Netflix Upfront 2023
05/17 - Warner Bros. Discovery Upfront 2023; Sarah Silverman HBO Special Premieres May 27
05/16 - ABC Upfront 2023-24: Fall 2023 Schedule; FX's Summer 2023 Slate
05/15 - FOX Announces 2023-24 Programming Slate; iCarly Season 3 Premieres June 1
05/14 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of May 15, 2023)
05/13 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Night Court Season Finale Brings Back a Familiar Face; Comedy Central Renews Digman! for Second Season
05/12 - NBC Upfront 2023-24: Fall 2023 Schedule; Hulu Orders Deli Boys from Onyx Collective
05/11 - CBS Upfront 2023-24: Fall 2023 Schedule; The CW Summer Lineup Has Comedies
05/10 - Minx Returns in July on STARZ; Never Have I Ever Final Episodes Premieres June 8, Trailer Drops
05/09 - The CW Acquires Son of a Critch; FX's The Bear Returns June 22
05/08 - NBC's Hot Wheels Gets Celeb Judges; Zooey Deschanel's Max Series Premieres May 23
05/07 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of May 8, 2023)
05/06 - SitcomsOnline Digest: First Week of Writers' Strike Already Sees Early Casualties; Fox Cancels Call Me Kat
05/05 - BUZZR's Classic TV Moms Week; Fox's Stars on Mars Celebs Announced
05/04 - Dancing with the Stars Returning to ABC in Fall; Conan O'Brien Producing New Podcast Miniseries
05/03 - Roku 2023 NewFront; Peacock Schedules Kaley Cuoco Series
05/02 - COZI TV's Little House Mother's Day "Ma-A-Thon"; Human Resources Returns June 9 on Netflix
05/01 - Peacock's Twisted Metal Drops in July; IFC Dark Comedy SisterS Launching May 17
04/30 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of May 1, 2023)
04/29 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Bob ♥ Abishola to Return with Smaller Regular Cast; CBS Developing Comedy Set in 1700s