Monday, May 08, 2006

SitcomsOnline.com Upfront Preview: NBC; 'Facts of Life' Reunion Tomorrow on NBC's 'Today'

Sitcoms might be hard to find this fall on NBC. NBC is relying on new dramas to bring them back from the ratings dead. Sitcom wise, we think that the only night we will find them will be on Thursday nights. Tuesdays are possible, at least for an hour, but I think it is unlikely.
Here is the SitcomsOnline.com NBC 2006-07 preview:

New Series Already Picked-Up: The Black Donnellys (drama), Kidnapped (drama), and Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip (drama).
New Series We Think That Are Almost Good To Go: Friday Night Lights (drama), Heroes (drama), Raines (drama), and Tina Fey Show (sitcom).
New Series Perhaps Picked-Up for Mid-Season: 20 Good Years (sitcom), Andy Barker, P.I. (sitcom), and Community Service (sitcom)

OUR FALL 2006 PREDICTION:

Sundays
7:00PM Football Night in America
8:00PM Sunday Night Football

Mondays
8:00PM Deal or No Deal
9:00PM Kidnapped (NEW)
10:00PM Medium

Tuesdays
8:00PM Friday Night Lights (NEW)
9:00PM Heroes (NEW)
10:00PM Law & Order: SVU

Wednesdays
8:00PM The Apprentice
9:00PM Law & Order
10:00PM Raines (NEW)

Thursdays
8:00PM My Name is Earl
8:30PM Scrubs
9:00PM The Office
9:30PM Tina Fey (NEW)
10:00PM Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip (NEW)

Fridays
8:00PM Deal or No Deal
9:00PM The Black Donnellys (NEW)
10:00PM Las Vegas

Saturdays
8:00PM Dateline NBC
9:00PM Law & Order repeats
10:00PM Law & Order: SVU repeats

Comments: So what about ER, Crossing Jordan and Law & Order: Criminal Intent? I say they will be benched until January after the NFL ends. The West Wing, Will & Grace, E-Ring, Apprentice: Martha Stewart, Conviction, Teachers, Four Kings, Joey, Heist, Three Wishes, Inconceivable, Book of Daniel, and Surface are all (or will be) canceled or ended. I really think NBC will only go with one comedy night. Scrubs could also be benched until January and perhaps another single-camera new sitcom, like Andy Barker, P.I. could take its place in the fall. There is a good chance that Tina Fey's sitcom could be paired with The Office. So NBC will be multi-camera sitcom-less in the fall, but I have them picking up 20 Good Years for mid-season. If none of this fails, I think ER will be on the move to another night in January, perhaps Sundays or Wednesdays. Really NBC's only hits this past season were Deal or No Deal and My Name is Earl. They can use Deal or No Deal as a launching pad, since it airs on two nights, for two high-profile dramas. My Name is Earl has been slowly going down as the season ends, so I'm not sure what to expect of NBC's Thursday night comedy block. Their biggest and most talked about new show (Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip) is almost a lock for Thursdays at 10. And finally, The Apprentice (Donald Edition) will probably be on its last legs this season. I was hesitant to put it in my prediction, because this could be another show held back until mid-season.

Remember, next Monday (May 15) is the actual date when we will find out NBC's plans for the 2006-07 season. So, come on back next Monday 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 ABC's upfront.

Get ready to go back in time like it was 1980 as The Facts of Life girls are all together again for the first time since it was canceled in 1988. Yes, there was a reunion movie on ABC in 2001, but Nancy McKeon (who played Jo on the show) was not in it. But tomorrow morning in the 9 a.m. hour on NBC's Today show, you will see Nancy McKeon, Lisa Whelchel, Kim Fields and Mindy Cohn reunited once again promoting the first two seasons release on DVD from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. Charlotte Rae, who played Mrs. Garrett, is not listed in appearing, which is a sad, but at least we will see the four girls together again for the very first since 1988. Don't miss it tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. on NBC's Today show. We will keep you all up to date if the cast is appearing anywhere else to promote the DVD. Don't forget to buy your copy of the DVD as well, ordering info is at our Facts of Life website.
UPDATE: Word is Kim Fields will not appear now. Bummer. But I do have some good news. Lisa Whelchel's website is reporting more interviews! Such as Showbiz Tonight and Fox & Friends. Click here to view the other interviews.


Sitcoms Airing Tonight

Sunday, December 10

none scheduled

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of December 4)

Friday, December 8

  • Eddie Murphy (The PJs) - Watch Eddie on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Da'Vine Joy Randolph (Only Murders in the Building/High Fidelity/People of Earth/Selfie) - Da'Vine appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • John Caponera (The Good Life) - John is a guest on a repeat of Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen on CBS between 12:37-1:37am.
  • Robert Smigel (Let's Be Real) - Triumph the Insult Comic Dog aka Robert Smigel chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
  • Noah Galvin (The Real O'Neals) and Molly Gordon (Ramy) - Noah and Molly talk about Theater Camp on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am.
  • Eric Stonestreet (The Santa Clauses/Modern Family) - Eric talks about The Santa Clauses on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
  • Kenan Thompson (Kenan/Kenan & Kel) - Kenan sits down with Sherri to talk about his new book, When I Was Your Age, on Sherri, so check your local listings.
  • Sebastian Maniscalco (Bookie) - Sebastian appears on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.


New on DVD/Blu-ray (September-December)

Family Matters - The Complete Series Step by Step - The Complete Series ALF - The Complete Series (Deluxe Edition) Leave it to Beaver - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) The Odd Couple - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)

09/05 - Young Sheldon - The Complete Sixth Season
09/12 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Second Season
09/12 - Rick and Morty - The Complete Seasons 1-6 (Blu-ray) (DVD)
09/26 - Family Matters - The Complete Series
09/26 - Step by Step - The Complete Series
10/10 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Complete Season Thirteen / The Complete Season Fourteen
10/17 - ALF - The Complete Series (Deluxe Edition) (Shout! Factory Special Offers)
10/17 - Night Court (2023) - The Complete First Season
11/07 - South Park - The Complete Twenty-Sixth Season (Blu-ray) (DVD)
11/14 - Leave it to Beaver - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
12/05 - Father Knows Best - The Complete Series
12/05 - The Odd Couple - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
12/12 - The Dick Van Dyke Show - The Complete Series
12/12 - Looney Tunes Collector's Choice - Volume 2 (Blu-ray)
12/12 - That Girl - The Complete Series
12/19 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Official Restored Complete Series

That Girl - The Complete Series The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Official Restored Complete Series

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