Turner South Sold to Fox; More Classic Sitcoms Coming?

Thursday, February 23, 2006

Turner South Sold to Fox; More Classic Sitcoms Coming?

Turner South, a regional cable network for outlets in the southeast, has now been sold to Fox. Turner South airs classic movies, sports (Braves, Hawks and Thrasher games), original programming, and some series as well (Major Dad, In the Heat of the Night). But now Fox has bought the channel and has plans to create it to an all-sports channel. They could treat it like a "Fox Sports Net" channel. While I am a sports fan, I don't like this because shows like Major Dad are rare to find these days.

As I mentioned, Fox could convert Turner South into an all-sports network by dropping its other programming, but regardless, the second channel gives Fox the opportunity to purchase more regional sports. Fox operates two separate regional sports networks in L.A. and now could have two in the southeast.
In a statement, TBS Inc. CEO Phil Kent called the sale “a win for Turner Broadcasting and for viewers of the Fox Cable Networks. It creates significant financial return for our company, adds quality programming to Fox’s portfolio and enhances the value for consumers of a popular cable service.”

OK, now for the sitcom story. As I mentioned last week, Evening Shade is now on CMT. But starting maybe next week (March 1) we might get another sitcom. They have not officially announced it yet but I have a strong feeling we will get another sitcom on CMT. Right now Evening Shade airs 6-7am, 1-2pm and 11p-12a. The 6:00am, 1:30pm and 11:00pm slot as of March 1 is now listed as "TBD 30 Minutes." That has to be a sitcom. What else could lead-in or lead-out of Evening Shade? We hope to have news on this VERY soon. So come on back.
Also, if that is not all, we have another cable network that now lists a "TBD" (stands for To Be Determined, if anyone didn't know) block. ABC Family Channel released their April line-up to us last week and we didn't post it right away because we saw that TBD slot. The TBD slot is listed for 12 noon and 12:30 p.m. The current occupant of that slot is Full House. Full House will slide over to 11 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. starting April 3, and Step by Step will move from 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. starting April 3. So what will air at noon and 12:30 p.m.? We just don't know yet, but indication again is it could be a sitcom. Hopefully a sitcom that doesn't air on that channel right now. Maybe Perfect Strangers? Hangin' With Mr. Cooper? Or the return of Growing Pains? We will let you know as soon as we know!
And finally, in local channel news, a Webster marathon is in the works for Chicago's ME-TV. It has not been confirmed yet, but all indications list March 7 as the date. As soon as we have full details we will let you know on the pint-sized kid's return! We just hope that show returns nationally sometime soon, too (and DVD--come on Paramount!).

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Tuesday, April 1

St. Denis Medical - "Anything to Push Zaluva" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Ron's teasing makes Joyce question whether her friendship with a pharmaceutical rep is genuine; Alex has trouble letting Serena take on a new task; Matt finds a mentor in Bruce.

Night Court - "Hot to Trot" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Abby's friendship with her ex-boyfriend's mother leads to romantic complications; when Julianne's wealthy aunt passes away, the gang vies for a piece of her inheritance.

Tyler Perry's House of Payne - "Love At First Swipe" (BET, 9:00PM ET/PT)
C.J. and Janine receive marital advice from an unlikely source; Peanut seeks help with his newfound online lover.

Tyler Perry's Assisted Living - "Failure 2 Launch" (BET, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Assisted Living is the new situation comedy by Tyler Perry about three generations who must make a new start in the rural backwoods of Georgia.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of March 31)

Tuesday, April 1

Adam Scott (Ghosted/Veep/Parks and Recreation/Party Down) - Catch Adam on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Kevin Bacon (I Love Dick) - Kevin is a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Amanda Peet (Brockmire/Togetherness/Bent) - Amanda appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Paul Rudd (The Shrink Next Door/Living with Yourself/Wild Oats) - Paul stops by 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 Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC. He will also be on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 9:30pm on Bravo.
Vinny Thomas (Platonic), Paul F. Tompkins (The Great North/BoJack Horseman/DAG) and Aparna Nancherla (The Great North/Lopez vs Lopez/Corporate) - Vinny, Paul and Aparna are guests on After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
Chase Sui Wonders (The Studio/Bupkis) and Kathryn Hahn (The Studio/Tiny Beautiful Things/Central Park/Happyish/Transparent/Free Agents) - Chase and Kathryn are guests on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 9:30pm on Bravo.
Will Ferrell (The Office) and Jennifer Coolidge (2 Broke Girls/Joey) - E! News has interviews with Will and Jennifer at 11pm on E!.
Román Zaragoza (Ghosts) - Román talks about Ghosts on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
Jenny Slate (The Great North/Big Mouth/Married/Bob's Burgers) - Jenny talks about Dying for Sex on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
Michael Angarano (Laid/I'm Dying Up Here/Will & Grace) and Michael Cera (Life & Beth/Arrested Development/I Was a Sixth Grade Alien) - Michael and Michael talk about Sacramento with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Olivia Munn (Perfect Couples) - Olivia guest co-hosts NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
Hannah Einbinder (Hacks) - Hannah talks about Hacks on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
Tasha Smith (Survival of the Thickest/Tyler Perry's For Better or Worse/The Tom Show/Boston Common) and Tone Bell (Survival of the Thickest/Fam/Disjointed/Truth Be Told/Bad Judge/Whitney) - Tasha and Tone talk about the new season of Netflix’s Survival of the Thickest on Sherri, so check your local listings.
Kathryn Hahn (The Studio/Tiny Beautiful Things/Central Park/Happyish/Transparent/Free Agents) - Kathryn is dishing on her new comedy series The Studio on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Wilmer Valderrama (That '70s Show) - Wilmer and Freddy Rodriguez chat about their podcast Dos Amigos on a repeat of Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
Brenda Song (Running Point/Dollface/Dads/The Suite Life on Deck/The Suite Life of Zack & Cody) - Brenda talks about Netflix's Running Point on a repeat of Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
Paul Walter Hauser (The Afterparty) - Paul is a guest on PIX11 Morning News on WPIX in New York at 9:40am.