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 / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Tuesday, April 23

Lopez vs Lopez - "Lopez vs Dreams" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
When George's vivid dreams reveal he has feelings for Rosie, he avoids sleeping and gets distracted at work; when Chance tests at a genius-level IQ, Mayan and Quinten fear that they're a couple of dum-dums.

Lopez vs Lopez - "Lopez vs Lisa" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Mayan worries when George gets into a hairy situation dating a hot hairdresser; Josué gets locked into a competition with the other man in Rosie's life: her grandson, Chance.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of April 22)

Tuesday, April 23

  • Wanda Sykes (The Upshaws/The New Adventures of Old Christine/Wanda at Large) - Catch Wanda on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Gabriel Iglesias (Mr. Iglesias/Cristela) - Gabriel appears on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Modern Family/The Class) - Jesse is a guest on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
  • Esther Povitsky (Dollface/Alone Together) - Esther appears on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
  • Hannah Waddingham (Krapopolis/Ted Lasso) - Hannah is a guest on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
  • Maya Rudolph (Loot/Bless the Harts/Forever/Up All Night) - Maya appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Drew Carey (The Drew Carey Show/The Good Life) and Thomas Lennon (The Odd Couple/Sean Saves the World/Reno 911!) - Drew and Thomas are guests on After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Bebe Neuwirth (Cheers/Frasier) - Bebe will be on CBS Mornings some time between 7-9am.
  • John Leguizamo (The Brothers Garcia) - NBC's Today catches up with John in the 9am hour.
  • Zendaya (K.C. Undercover/Shake It Up) - Zendaya will be on ABC's Good Morning America some time between 7-9am.
  • Patton Oswalt (A.P. Bio/The Goldbergs/The King of Queens) - Patton chats with the ladies of The View on a repeat on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
  • Gina Rodriguez (Not Dead Yet) - Gina talks about ABC's Dead to Me on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
  • Jennifer Tilly (Out of Practice) - Jennifer talks about the new season of Chucky on USA & SYFY Networks on Sherri, so check your local listings.


New on DVD/Blu-ray

Father Knows Best - The Complete Series Three's Company - The Official 40th Anniversary Collection Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) Too Close for Comfort - The Complete Series Check It Out! - The Complete Series

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
12/15 - Letterkenny - Season 11
12/19 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Official Restored Complete Series
12/22 - Three's Company - The Official 40th Anniversary Collection (includes The Ropers and Three's a Crowd)
01/09 - South Park - Seasons 11-15 (Blu-ray)
01/16 - Ghosts (UK) - Season Five
02/13 - Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/27 - The Really Loud House - Season One
03/12 - Ghosts (UK) - The Complete Series
03/12 - Looney Tunes Collector's Choice - Volume 3 (Blu-ray)
03/12 - Rick and Morty - Season 7 (Blu-ray Steelbook) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
04/03 - Too Close for Comfort - The Complete Series (VEI)
04/08 - Check It Out! - The Complete Series (VEI)

The Odd Couple - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) That Girl - The Complete Series The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Official Restored Complete Series

More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD Releases / DVD Reviews Archive / SitcomsOnline Digest


Recent SitcomsOnline.com News Blog Posts

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04/22 - Hasan Minhaj: Off With His Head Comedy Tour Expands Into June & July, Including at NJPAC; Comedy Central Orders Golden Axe
04/21 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of April 22, 2024)
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04/19 - Nikki Glaser Gets HBO Special; Peacock and UK Channel 4's We Are Lady Parts Season 2
04/18 - Acapulco Returns May 1; Iliza Shlesinger Heads to Prime Video
04/17 - 31st SAG Awards Airs on Netflix Next February; Prime Video Orders Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? Spinoff with Host Travis Kelce
04/16 - ABC Renews The Rookie for Season 7; CBS Orders New Soap Opera The Gates
04/15 - Paramount+ Announces Final Season of Animated Star Trek Comedy; Lifetime May 2024 Movies
04/14 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of April 15, 2024)
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04/12 - Netflix Orders Tom Segura Comedy Series; Surprise! S.W.A.T. Gets Uncanceled...Again
04/11 - Max's Velma Returns April 25; Eva Longoria Apple TV+ Series Premieres in June
04/10 - CBS Renews NCIS and The Neighborhood; Max's Pretty Little Liars Returns May 9
04/09 - CBS 2023-24 Season Finale Dates; Hacks Star Gets Max Comedy Special
04/08 - Letterman's My Next Guest Returns April 30; Jack McBrayer HGTV Series Premieres May 3
04/07 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of April 8, 2024)
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04/05 - Hulu Spring and Summer 2024 Slate; Netflix Orders Tyler Perry Drama; Remembering Joe Flaherty
04/04 - Apple TV+ The Big Door Prize Returns April 24; ABC Renews Will Trent for Season 3
04/03 - Sony Pictures and Game Show Network Upfront; ABC Renews Grey's Anatomy and 9-1-1 for 2024-25
04/02 - Adult Swim's Smiling Friends Returns May 12; Stallone Drama Returning for Season 2
04/01 - Selena Gomez Gets New Food Network Series; Orphan Black Gets New Series
03/31 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of April 1, 2024)
03/30 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Patricia Richardson on Potential Home Improvement Reboot; Paramount+ Removes Several Nickelodeon Series
03/29 - Hulu Launches on Disney+; Under the Bridge Premieres April 17
03/28 - Netflix's Good Times Animated Comedy Trailer; Too Close for Comfort and Check It Out! Complete Series on DVD
03/27 - The Upshaws Part 5 This April; Max Orders Noah Wyle Medical Drama
03/26 - Apple TV+ Orders Star-Studded Comedy; Elizabeth Banks Joins New Peacock Series
03/25 - Disney Channel Orders Wizards of Waverly Place Revival; Paramount+ Animated Comedy Ark: The Animated Series
03/24 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of March 25, 2024)
03/23 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Netflix Sets Premiere Date for Good Times Animated Reboot; NBC Renews Several Popular Series