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

Wednesday, October 8

Shifting Gears - "Date" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Matt and Eve go on their first date but have different ideas of what it should entail. Riley befriends the mom of Georgia’s new friend while Carter mediates a tiff between Gabe and Stitch. LA Dodger Mookie Betts and Lilly Singh guest star.

Abbott Elementary - "Cheating" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Melissa tries to outsmart her students; Tariq causes chaos in Janine’s class, and a new guidance counselor joins the school.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of October 6)

Wednesday, October 8

  • Tim Allen (Shifting Gears/Last Man Standing/Home Improvement) - Watch Tim on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • David Henrie (Wizards Beyond Waverly Place/Wizards of Waverly Place/How I Met Your Mother/The Pitts) and Janice Leann Brown (Wizards Beyond Waverly Place) - David and Janice talk about Wizards Beyond Waverly Place on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
  • Aubrey Plaza (Parks and Recreation) - Aubrey talks about Luna and the Witch Throw a Halloween Party on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am and with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
  • Ryan Reynolds (Two Guys and a Girl) - Ryan stops by for a talk with the hosts about John Candy: I Like Me on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
  • Tom Papa (Come to Papa) - NBC's Today catches up with Tom in the 9am hour.
  • Morris Chestnut (Out All Night) - Morris talks about Watson on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
  • Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/Cafe Americain/Sydney/One Day at a Time) - The Drew Crew team is sharing their best pro tips including newest Drew Crewer Amirah Kassem sharing how to make the perfect party dish and easy ways to level up hosting on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
  • Tom Arnold (Roseanne/The Jackie Thomas Show/Tom/The Tom Show) - Tom is a guest on New York Living on WPIX in New York at 10:05am.


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)
08/26 - The Huckleberry Hound Show - The Complete Original Series (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

10/07 - The CW's TV We Love Docuseries; Happy's Place Season 2 Trailer
10/06 - Dancing with the Stars Surging in Viewership, Especially Among Younger Viewers; Remembering Kimberly Hébert Gregory of Vice Principals
10/05 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of October 6, 2025)
10/04 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Fox Cancels The Great North; Everybody Loves Raymond Cast Set to Reunite for 30 Year Anniversary
10/03 - MeTV Acquires Everybody Loves Raymond; Hazbin Hotel Season 2 Trailer
10/02 - CBS Presents Everybody Loves Raymond: 30th Anniversary Reunion; Apple TV+ Renews Peanuts Specials Through 2030
10/01 - The CW's Six Brand New Movies Starting November 16; Hulu's Family Guy Halloween Special Details
09/30 - Sarah Sherman HBO Comedy Special in December; Huluween Programming for 2025
09/29 - Netflix Renews Haunted Hotel for Season 2; Christmas Comedy Series Sicilia Express
09/28 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 29, 2025)
09/27 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Scrubs Cast Comes Together for First Table Read for Reboot; Monopoly Game Show Moving Ahead
09/26 - Netflix Adds to Cast for Running Point Season 2; Stiller & Meara Apple TV+ Documentary
09/25 - Adam Pally HBO Comedy Special; Jimmy Kimmel Live! Returns with Huge Ratings
09/24 - Weigel's Newest Diginet WEST Launches Monday, September 29; New Baywatch Coming to Fox in 2026-27
09/23 - DMV Trailer for CBS; Mo Amer Returns to Netflix
09/22 - SNL Season 51 Guests for First Episodes; Prime Video's Bat-Fam Series
09/21 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 22, 2025)
09/20 - SitcomsOnline Digest: The Paper to Get Linear Run on NBC; Saturday Night Live Announces New Hosts
09/19 - NBC Schedules The Paper and Stumble in November; Remembering Patricia (Pat) Crowley of Please Don't Eat the Daisies
09/18 - UPtv Acquires The Mary Tyler Moore Show; Camp Rock 3 Coming Soon to Disney
09/17 - FETV Acquires The Munsters Effective September 29; Apple TV+ The Morning Show Renewed for Season 5
09/16 - Disney's SuperKitties Adds to Voice Cast; Netflix Renews The Hunting Wives for Season 2
09/15 - 77th Primetime Emmy Award Winners; Letterman TV Adds Late Night with David Letterman
09/14 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 15, 2025)
09/13 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Paramount Looking to Merge with Warner Bros. Discovery; Samsung TV+ Adds Late Night with David Letterman
09/12 - Emmy Awards to Create Special Moments; Ricky Gervais Netflix Animated Comedy Alley Cats Coming in 2026
09/11 - Remembering Polly Holliday of Alice and Flo; Prime Video's Overcompensating Renewed for Season 2
09/10 - Netflix Renews Leanne for Season 2; Hazbin Hotel Returns October 29
09/09 - HBO Comedy The Chair Company; Trailer for Disney's Vampirina: Teenage Vampire
09/08 - The Paper Renewed for Season 2, NYC Event on Tuesday; Final Season of Bel-Air
09/07 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 8, 2025)