Tuesday, May 09, 2006

SitcomsOnline.com Upfront Preview: ABC; 'Two and a Half Men' To Local Syndication and Their Websites in Fall 2007

The network with the best current dramas, looks to have even more good ones in store, plus some good comedies, too! We think ABC will have at least two or three nights with comedies on the map next fall. The question still remains if veterans According to Jim, George Lopez, and Hope & Faith can survive?
Here is the SitcomsOnline.com ABC 2006-07 preview:

New Series Already Picked-Up: In Case of Emergency (sitcom) and Masters of Science Fiction (drama mid-season)
New Series We Think That Are Almost Good To Go: Brothers AND Sisters (drama), Help Me Help You (sitcom), Him & Us (sitcom), Men in Trees (drama), The Nine (drama), Patricia Heaton Show (sitcom), Secrets of a Small Town (drama), Six Degrees (drama), Women of a Certain Age (sitcom).
New Series Perhaps Picked-Up for Mid-Season: Ugly Betty (drama), October Road (drama), and Pink Collar (sitcom)

OUR FALL 2006 PREDICTION:

Sundays
7:00PM America's Funniest Home Videos
8:00PM Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
9:00PM Desperate Housewives
10:00PM Secrets of a Small Town (NEW)

Mondays
8:00PM Supernanny
9:00PM Grey's Anatomy
10:00PM Six Degrees (NEW)

Tuesdays
8:00PM In Case of Emergency (NEW)
8:30PM Help Me Help You (NEW)
9:00PM Boston Legal
10:00PM Brothers AND Sisters (NEW)

Wednesdays
8:00PM Wife Swap
9:00PM Lost
10:00PM The Nine (NEW)

Thursdays
8:00PM Dancing with the Stars
9:00PM The Patricia Heaton Show (NEW)
9:30PM Women of a Certain Age (NEW)
10:00PM Primetime Live

Fridays
8:00PM Dancing with the Stars: The Results
8:30PM Him & Us (NEW)
9:00PM Invasion
10:00PM 20/20

Saturdays
8:00PM George Lopez
8:30PM Freddie
9:00PM According to Jim
9:30PM Hope & Faith
10:00PM Men in Trees (NEW)

Comments: I went the aggressive path with ABC on Saturdays. I feel something new is needed on this night where every network is giving up (sorry news magazines do not count!). Men in Trees is a nice high profile drama that has tested well, so maybe Fridays would be more suitable, but I'm being aggressive and scheduling it on a Saturday--who knows ABC could actually win this night. I have brought back Invasion because it is one damn good show. It deserves another shot. As does sitcom Sons & Daughters, which I think ABC will try once again, probably mid-season. A few of my other favorites such as What About Brian and Commander in Chief probably will not get another shot; others that will be canceled or are ending include: Alias, Crumbs, Less than Perfect, Rodney, Hot Properties, The Night Stalker, The Evidence, Jake in Progress, Emily's Reasons Why Not, Miracle Workers and In Justice. I will bring back on the bubble sitcoms Jim, George, Freddie and Hope & Faith one last time, and put them on a night where there is no pressure--Saturdays. It worked for NBC in the late '80s and early '90s with Facts of Life, Golden Girls, 227 and Amen--so why not try again? I think The Bachelor and American Inventor will both return for mid-season. One of them will probably give Dancing with the Stars a break in January, but Dancing will have two installments this season (Sept-Dec and March-May probably) I think. Looking at the fall line-up, ABC has at least one strong show each night (such as Desperate Housewives, Lost) and hopefully they can build or maintain ratings with new shows such as Six Degrees and Secrets of a Small Town. Moving Grey's Anatomy maybe be a risk, but it will help ABC a lot on Mondays and we can look for it to be number one in its time-slot. New sitcom wise, I have penciled in two single camera sitcoms to lead-off Tuesdays, two traditional sitcoms on Thursdays, and a high profile single camera sitcom geared towards women on Fridays from Elton John. On the bench for mid-season I have picked up two new dramas and one new sitcom (single camera). The one new sitcom for mid-season is Pink Collar. I wanted to pick up also Separated at Worth (traditional sitcom) and Let's Rob Mick Jagger, but I don't think they will be picked-up. ABC has Masters of Science Fiction for mid-season probably, could work Fridays or Saturdays. It should be another ratings plus for ABC in the fall. They just have to find a way to maintain it for mid-season.
Click here to see our detailed information on all of ABC's sitcom pilots. And here for ABC's drama pilots.

Remember, next Tuesday (May 16) is the actual date when we will findout ABC's plans for the 2006-07 season. So, come on back next Tuesday and we will let you know the details and you can see how much we were right (or wrong). Stay tuned tomorrow for a preview on CBS's upfront.

In a syndication first, CBS sitcom Two and a Half Men will be available in syndication in fall 2007 not only on local channels, but their websites, too! Warner Bros. Television announced Monday that they will start selling the show to locals this week. And the locals will also put the show online for free on their websites. You'll see the episodes premiere on TV on the local channel, then a week later the episode will be online anytime you want to view on the local channel's website. It is an interesting move and I like it. I'm liking all this free online on demand viewing. I just wish Sony would do it too, so we can watch their classic library online anytime (you know, Diff'rent Strokes, What's Happening!!, Facts of Life, Silver Spoons, Jeffersons, etc). I'm enjoying Warner Bros. programming on In2TV very much and hopefully Paramount's innertunbe puts classic TV programming. Back to Two and a Half Men, the show will be available for cable (bets are on for TBS) in fall 2010, and Warner Bros. will also allow the cable channel to put the episodes on their websites a week later. Cool!


Sitcoms Airing Tonight

Wednesday, June 7

Night Court - "Just Tuesday" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
After Abby makes a mistake in the courtroom, she decides to adopt an all-business approach to get things back on track, but her new style catches everyone off guard.

Night Court - "Dan v. Dating" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
With Abby's encouragement, Dan attempts to venture back into the dating world, but reigniting his love life proves more complicated than anticipated; Gurgs and Olivia search for a new office and find something they weren't expecting.

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - "The Gang Inflates" (FXX, 10:00PM ET/PT)
Dennis and Mac get into inflatable furniture to deal with the economy's inflation; Dee tries to find a place to crash after being evicted by her greedy landlord; Charlie wants to pitch Frank his investment idea.

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - " Frank Shoots Every Member of the Gang" (FXX, 10:33PM ET/PT)
After Frank shoots Dennis and Dee, they resolve to take Frank's gun away; Mac and Charlie go on a road trip with their moms to get their inheritances.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of June 5)

Wednesday, June 7

  • Chris Perfetti (Abbott Elementary) - Watch Chris on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Sheryl Lee Ralph (Abbott Elementary/Fam/Instant Mom/Moesha/George/It's a Living) - Sheryl Lee is a guest on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
  • Laura Benanti (Younger/The Detour/Go On/Starved) - Laura appears on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
  • Ike Barinholtz (History of the World, Part II/The Afterparty/Bless the Harts/The Mindy Project/Eastbound & Down) - Ike is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Ben Schwwartz (The Afterparty/Space Force/Parks and Recreation) - Ben appears on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Betty Gilpin (GLOW/Nurse Jackie) - Betty is a guest on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Ken Jeong (Dr. Ken/Community) - Ken will be on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS. He will also be on a repeat of The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
  • Sarah Michelle Gellar (The Crazy Ones) - Sarah appears on a repeat of The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
  • Charlie Day (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia/Luis) - Charlie appears on a repeat of The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
  • Chris Pratt (Parks and Recreation) - Chris is a guest on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
  • Brittany Snow (Ben and Kate) - Brittany and entrepreneur Jaspre Guest talk about their online platform September Letters on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
  • Maitreyi Ramakrishnan (Never Have I Ever) - Maitreyi appears on PIX11 Morning News on WPIX in New York at 9:45am.


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

Cheers - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) Gimme a Break! - The Complete Series (VEI) Kate & Allie - The Complete Series (VEI) Mayberry R.F.D. - The Complete Series Night Court (1984-1992) - The Complete Series

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

06/07 - Hallmark's Christmas in July Programming; The Lincoln Lawyer Season 2 Launches July 6
06/06 - New Superman Animated Series Coming to Adult Swim; TV Stars Come Together in Netflix Film
06/05 - Shout! TV's ALF Reunion; Hulu's This Fool Season Two Premieres July 28
06/04 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of June 5, 2023)
06/03 - SitcomsOnline Digest: ABC Declares Rating Victories for 22-23 Season; Australian Version of The Office in the Works
06/02 - HBO Renews Somebody Somewhere for a Third Season; Remembering Marlene Clark of Sanford and Son and Other Sitcom Stars We Recently Lost
06/01 - MeTV's Marry Me Block on June 4; TBS Sets Miracle Workers: End Times Premiere Date for July 10
05/31 - Amazon Freevee's Jury Duty Gets Special Release; Stars on Mars Fan Experience
05/30 - 75th Emmy Awards Nominations on July 12; Final Season of HBO's How to with John Wilson
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)