Friday, March 24, 2006

SitcomsOnline.com's 4th Annual ABC Pilots Info: 2006-07 Edition

Yes, it is that time of the year again! Pilot development time. All the pilots are set and are about to start taping/filming. Some have already started, but most usually do it in early April. If you are new to SitcomsOnline.com, then you probably don't know that we cover ABC's pilots in vast detail. This will be our fourth consecutive year covering ABC's sitcom pilots (by popular demand we added dramas too and this will be our third year covering the dramas). It is hard to tell just from the description and show stars if the show is good or not. We really have to see the pilots to make that decision. But just by reading the plot and stars, try to figure out what you want to see added in the fall or what you hope to see. ABC has 18 sitcom pilots in development. I think roughly 2-4 will be added for fall 2006, with maybe a few for mid-season 2007. ABC also has 16 wonderful drama pilots for next season, and again I expect 2-4 to be added in the fall.
Here is our sitcoms section for ABC's 2006-07 pilots. We will be keeping it up to date, with casting updates and even cast photos. The cast photos are great because most of these pilots will not make it, so it will be nice to have a photo of a cast of a show that never aired. ABC seems to have a lot of sitcoms with women leads. Some of the big name stars for the sitcom pilots include: Sofia Vergara, Danny Comden, Marla Sokoloff, Wendie Mallick, Kurt Fuller, Bumper Robinson, Patricia Heaton, Justine Bateman, Mo Collins, Ted Danson, Kim Cattrall, Bonnie Hunt, Dennis Miller, Joe Mantegna, Lauren Tom, David Arquette, Greg Germann, Kelly Hu, Lori Loughlin, Jonathan Silverman, Kevin Weisman, Alicia Silverstone, Kiele Sanchez, Heather Locklear, and Peri Giplin.
I hope you have read the sitcom pilot section by now, if you have - read my thoughts:
3/23/06 It seems to me that ABC has gone with a lot of "women" stars (Heather Locklear, Patricia Heaton, Bonnie Hunt, Alicia Silverstone, Kim Cattrall etc.). It makes me wonder if they will try and start a women-themed night capped off by Grey's Anatomy. I can actually see them do Hope & Faith, and then three new comedies, followed by Grey's Anatomy on Tuesdays, but I don't think it'll happen.
It is too early to tell which will make it, because they have not been even taped/filmed yet. I am still uncertain on which are traditional and which are one-camera--that makes a big difference for sitcoms I think. I know for a fact that Bonnie Hunt's sitcom will be one-camera, so it makes me wonder if that will make it because one-camera sitcoms seem to never really do well ratings wise--but that cast is probably the most all-star cast of the bunch. I think Locklear and Heaton's sitcoms will make it because they are traditional style (four-camera). Cattrall's sitcom is from Sir Elton John, so that might be a plus for it to make it. Others that look good so far: Ted Danson's sitcom, Danny Comden's sitcom, and In Case of Emergency...
But I'm not yet going to make predictions on which I would schedule. But for the dramas, I will! Read about that next...

Moving on to the dramas, ABC again looks to have a good bunch of dramas in development. ABC has been the best network in brining quality dramas the last few seasons and I think we could see another hit or two among this new batch.
Here is our dramas section for ABC's 2006-07 pilots. Just like the sitcom section we will be keeping it up to date, with casting updates and even cast photos. The drama pilots have big names also: Calista Flockhart, Ron Rifkin, Taye Diggs, Chazz Palminteri, Jason O'Mara, Dylan McDermott, Anne Heche, John Amos, Tom Berenger, Angie Harmon, John Terry, Denise Richards, Kelli Williams, Regina King, David James Elliot, Tim Daly, Chi McBride, Scott Wolf, Aaron Stanford, Steven Culp, Jessie Bradford, and Vanessa Williams to name a few.
I hope you have read the drama pilot section by now, if you have - read my thoughts:
ABC will have to find new dramas to air after Desperate Housewives and Lost. Grey's Anatomy is probably on the move to another night, so DH needs a new show to air after it. The perfect show is Secrets of a Small Town. That looks so DH compatable--Angie Harmon and Denise Richards, wow! After Lost, I think the best bet is Six Degrees--and it is from J.J. Abrams, too--perfect match for Lost. Traveler also looks good after Lost, but maybe for mid-season? Now, I'd have Grey's Anatomy at 10pm on Monday or Tues, but if it airs 9pm Mon, it also will need a good show after it. I'd so with Sisters in Law or Brothers & Sisters. Another drama I think ABC will add, possibly Thursdays at 10, is David James Elliott's Sixty Minute Man. Or maybe Steve Bochco's Hollis & Rae. I hope ABC gets Twenty Questions, maybe that could be mid-season?

We will try to do sections on CBS, NBC, Fox and The CW, too, so check back with us. Stay tuned tomorrow for a preview of an internet sitcom that you could watch for free and download.


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Wednesday, July 23

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - " Thought Leadership: A Corporate Conversation" (FXX and FX, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Desperate to stave off a public relations nightmare, the Gang embraces their newfound corporate professionalism to strategically scapegoat one Paddy's employee to fall on the proverbial sword.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of July 21)

Wednesday, July 23

  • Fortune Feimster (FUBAR/Kenan/Bless the Harts/Champions) - Fortune guest hosts on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Arnold Schwarzenegger (FUBAR) - Watch Arnold on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Freddie Prinze Jr. (Freddie) - Freddie appears on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Anthony Mackie (Twisted Metal) - Anthony is a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC. He also talks about Twisted Metal on NBC's Today in the 9am hour.
  • Steve Buscemi (Miracle Workers) - Steve stops by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
  • Molly Gordon (The Bear/Ramy) - Molly appears on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
  • Keyla Monterroso Mejia (Abbott Elementary/Curb Your Enthusiasm) and Brandon Kyle Goodman (Human Resources) - Keyla and Brandon are guests on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Christopher McDonald (Hacks/Mr. Iglesias/Good Advice/Walter & Emily) - Christopher talks about Happy Gilmore 2 on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
  • Sterling K. Brown (Starved) - Sterling talks about Washington Black on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
  • Stephanie Beatriz (Twisted Metal/Brooklyn Nine-Nine) - Stephanie talks about Twisted Metal on NBC's Today in the 9am hour.
  • Kevin Bacon (I Love Dick) - Kevin is playing a round of Behind-the-Scenes and dishing on some of his biggest projects on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
  • Tichina Arnold (The Neighborhood/Survivor's Remorse/Happily Divorced/Everybody Hates Chris/Martin) - Tichina is telling Drew about being single and using dating apps, her daughter turning 21, and filming the last season of The Neighborhood on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
  • Max Greenfield (The Neighborhood/New Girl) - Max and Tess Sanchez are telling Drew all about how they make their marriage work in an all new Drew Love on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.


New on DVD and Blu-ray

The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series Frasier (2023) - Season Two Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* (missing 4 episodes and some music has been replaced or altered) Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)

01/28 - Wait Till Your Father Gets Home - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/04 - The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series
03/11 - Frasier (2023) - Season Two
04/01 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season
05/13 - The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* (missing 4 episodes and some music has been replaced or altered)
06/06 - Shoresy - Season 2
06/17 - Looney Tunes - Collector's Vault - Volume 1 (Blu-ray)
07/22 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)

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

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07/22 - Remembering Malcolm-Jamal Warner of The Cosby Show and Malcolm & Eddie; Futurama Season 13 Drops September 15
07/21 - Hallmark Channel Acquires Gilmore Girls; Freida Pinto to Star in Netflix Series
07/20 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of July 21, 2025)
07/19 - SitcomsOnline Digest: CBS Cancels The Late Show; Gilmore Girls Headed to Hallmark
07/18 - ABC Fall 2025 Premiere Dates; The Late Show with Stephen Colbert to End in May 2026
07/17 - Netflix's Geek Girl Season 2 Starts Production; The CW Picks Up Sullivan's Crossing for Season 4
07/16 - Antenna TV's Still Dreaming of Jeannie 60th Anniversary Marathon; 77th Primetime Emmy Nominations
07/15 - Shark Tank Season 17 Guest Sharks; Tubi YA Comedy Film with Paris Berelc
07/14 - CBS Fall 2025 Premiere Dates; HBO and Larry David Team Up Again
07/13 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of July 14, 2025)
07/12 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Scrubs Reboot Headed to ABC; New King of the Hill Trailer Released
07/11 - The Office Spinoff The Paper Premieres September 4; Upload Season 4 Returns August 25
07/10 - The Big Bang Theory's Stuart Spinoff Ordered by HBO Max; Long Story Short Premieres August 22 on Netflix
07/09 - New Girl Summer on Hulu; Vir Das Gets Brand New Netflix Special
07/08 - Tubi Comedy Series Demascus Premieres in August; LEGO Masters Jr. Lines Up Celebs for 4-Week Event
07/07 - Digman! Season Premiere Moved to July 23; Hulu's Reasonable Doubt Returns September 18
07/06 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of July 7, 2025)
07/05 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Comedy Central Delays South Park and Digman! Season Premieres; Jackée to Appear in Guest Role in Netflix Series
07/04 - Happy 4th of July; Antenna TV's McHale's Navy Red, White and Navy Independence Day Marathon
07/03 - The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder Season 3 Premieres August 6; South Park New Season Moves by Two Weeks
07/02 - FETV Acquires The Rookies; Hulu Renews The Bear for Season 5
07/01 - Bert Kreischer Gets Netflix Sitcom; NBC Gets Into Survival Mode This Summer
06/30 - The Comeback Makes Another...Comeback; First Look at Black Rabbit at Netflix
06/29 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of June 30, 2025)
06/28 - SitcomsOnline Digest: The Comeback Returning for a Third and Final Season; South Park to Remain on HBO Max
06/27 - The White Lotus Star Teams Up with Netflix; Remembering Bobby Sherman, Lynn Hamilton, and Rick Hurst
06/26 - The CW's Fall Movie of the Week; First Look at New York Comic Con 2025
06/25 - Netflix Renews Ransom Canyon for Season 2; My Life with the Walter Boys First Look for Season 2
06/24 - Marc Maron Gets Second HBO Comedy Special; Outlander Prequel Renewed for Season 2 Ahead of Series Premiere
06/23 - MeTV Summer Changes, Adds Adventures of Superman; Jimmy Kimmel Live! Summer Guest Hosts