Tuesday, April 11, 2006

TBS Makes Some Schedule Changes for June; ABC Offering Four Shows Online for FREE

As promised this week is "TV schedule week" here at Sitcoms Online. Today, I will tell you that TBS is expected to make some changes in June. Nothing drastic but still some changes. Becker will be moved to early mornings at 5 and 5:30 a.m. replacing The Parent'hood. Becker's old slot of 12 noon and 12:30 p.m. will now be another hour of the popular and durable Saved by the Bell (which already airs weekday mornings from 7 to 9 a.m.). TBS's contract for the Tom Hanks '80s sitcom Bosom Buddies is expiring at the end of May, so TBS will replace that show with Becker. That is all the changes they are making but it should be interesting come this fall as Mama's Family, Saved by the Bell, and possibly more shows such as Cosby Show and Dawson's Creek are expiring. I would expect a renewal or two of some of these at least. TBS does have The King of Queens coming this October, so that will fill an hour block at least. Full details of the June changes at TBS are here.
Meanwhile sister network TNT will be airing Without a Trace five days a week now starting June 5. They will air it at 7 p.m. weeknights, with more episodes on some days running until 10 p.m.

Stay tuned tomorrow for more TV schedule updates. We hope to have some from TV Land, Nick@Nite and more (maybe a sitcom is coming to Adult Swim on Cartoon Network...that is all that I will say right now) this week.

And TBS announced they have original sitcoms in the works at their annual upfront presentation:

In Production at TBS
MY BOYS – Half-hour scripted comedy series from Sony Pictures Television and Pariah, executive producers Gavin Polone (Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Gilmore Girls) and Jamie Tarses and writer/executive producer Betsy Thomas (Run of the House) – Premieres in Q4 2006
In this half-hour comedy series, PJ, played by Jordana Spiro (JAG, Must Love Dogs), is a twenty-something “guy’s girl” who tries to find romance within her world dominated by male friends. As a huge sports fan and professional sportswriter, she’s got a masculine, no-nonsense, sports-analogous approach to dating that often freaks out potential boyfriends. Her only female friend advises her to dress and act more feminine, but it’s hard for PJ to shake off her tomboy qualities. Jim Gaffigan (That ‘70s Show, Ed), Jamie Kaler (The Family Stone), Michael Bunin (Scrubs), Reid Scott (American Dreams), Kyle Howard (Related, Orange County) and Kellee Stewart (Guess Who?) co-star.


10 ITEMS OR LESS – Half-hour scripted and improvised comedy series from Sony Pictures Television and executive producers/actors Robert Hickey, Nancy Hower and John Lehr (Memron) – Premieres in Q4 2006
In this loosely scripted comedy series, John Lehr plays a less-than-successful businessman from New York City who moves back home to take over the family supermarket after the death of his father. But the staff quickly realizes his management style is markedly different from that of his father, making for a comically chaotic workplace.


COMIC RELIEF – Three-hour comedy extravaganza premiering in November from The Comedy Festival
TBS is working with HBO on a COMIC RELIEF event as part of HBO and AEG Live’s second annual The Comedy Festival, taking place in Las Vegas Tuesday, Nov. 14 - Saturday, Nov. 18. As it did with last year’s inaugural edition of The Comedy Festival, TBS will once again serve as title sponsor.

In Development at TBS
MY EMBARASSING LIFE – Half-hour scripted comedy series from writer/executive producer David Rosenthal (Gilmore Girls, Spin City)
This coming-of-age story features 14-year-old Henry Einstein, who deals with ridicule at school and his first real crush while trying to survive his quirky family.

LARRY MILLER PROJECT – Half-hour scripted comedy series from Sony Pictures Television and writer/executive producer/star Larry Miller
Renowned stand-up comedian and actor Larry Miller provides a unique take on suburbia as he plays a dad, husband and newspaper columnist with two kids.

Disney-ABC Television Group announced that it will offer ad-supported, full-length episodes of four ABC primetime series online at www.ABC.com as part of a two-month-long experiment. Current episodes of Lost, Desperate Housewives, and Commander In Chief, as well as the entire present season of Alias, will be available for streaming during May and June, marking the first time a broadcast network has made multiple series available for viewing online, free of charge to consumers.
As part of the trial, ABC has offered ten advertisers the opportunity to test possible in-stream broadband advertising models as well as the ability to take advantage of sponsorships. The unique interactive video ads will take many different forms and will be seen within each episode. Participating advertisers include AT&T, Cingular, Ford, Procter & Gamble, Toyota, Unilever's Suave, Universal Pictures and Walt Disney Pictures, among others.
Combining an all-new sleek, modern design with user-friendly functionality, ABC.com will offer episodes the day after they premiere on the linear channel. Consumers will be able to pause and move back and forth between "chapters" within each episode, but will not have the ability to fast-forward through advertisements. Episodes will be streamed in 16x9 formatting which offers a cinema-like feel to the viewing experience.
Encoded and streamed in Flash 8, which offers the best video quality and allows users on both Mac and PC platforms to watch the video episode, will be offered in two different sizes. The standard viewing size is 500x282 pixels (streamed at 400kbs), and the larger viewing size is 700x394 pixels (streamed 700 kbps).

Additionally, the Group announced it will launch SOAPNETIC, the first-ever, always-on broadband channel dedicated to soap fans, on April 17, 2006. Providing comprehensive coverage of all nine current soap operas, as well as classic and original programming, the gated broadband service, an extension of the linear SOAPnet channel, will be accessible at launch to Verizon consumer broadband customers.
Previously, the Disney-ABC Television Group announced that full episodes of popular original series from Disney Channel and Jetix will be available for viewing online starting later this spring. Kids will be able to log on to DisneyChannel.com and Jetix.tv and stream full-length episodes of the hit series That's So Raven, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, Kim Possible, Power Rangers and Super Robot Monkey Team Hyperforce Go!, among others, free and on-demand.


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Monday, June 23

The Neighborhood - "Welcome to the Blowout" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Calvin spends a day babysitting Daphne. Also, Gemma and Dave worry about Grover’s high school applications.

The Neighborhood - "Welcome to the Signature Service Loyalty Rewards Program" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Malcom receives an unexpected call from USC’s athletic director about a baseball head coach vacancy. Meanwhile, Calvin and Marty start a new signature loyalty rewards program at The Fuse Box.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of June 23)

Monday, June 23

  • Patton Oswalt (A.P. Bio/The Goldbergs/The King of Queens) - Watch Patton on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Adria Arjona (Good Omens) - Adria appears on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Jensen Ackles (Mr. Rhodes) - Jensen is a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
  • Idris Elba (Turn Up Charlie) - Idris stops by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS. He also talks about Head of State on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
  • Matty Matheson (The Bear) - Matty appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Suzi Barrett (Just Roll with It) and Carrie Preston (Crowded/Happyish/Emeril) - Suzi is a guest and Carrie makes a special appearance on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Arnold Schwarzenegger (FUBAR) - Arnold drops by Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 10:01pm on Bravo.
  • Liza Colón-Zayas (The Bear) - Liza talks about The Bear on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
  • Jay Pharoah (White Famous/Champaign ILL) - Jay chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
  • Niecy Nash-Betts (Reno 911!/Getting On/The Soul Man/Do Not Disturb) - Niecy guest co-hosts NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
  • John Leguizamo (The Brothers Garcia) - John talks about Smoke on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
  • Keegan-Michael Key (Schmigadoon!/Friends from College/Playing House/Gary Unmarried) - Keegan-Michael is a guest on a repeat of Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
  • Kevin Chamberlin (Jessie) - Kevin appears on PIX11 Morning News on WPIX in New York at 9:40am.


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)
07/08 - 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


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