Saturday, May 13, 2006

Upfront Notes; 'Knight Rider' Movie; and More!

As we have relayed our upfront picks this past week, networks have began picking up new pilots left and right and relaying other news, such as what series will be back and which won't be.

ABC has picked-up the following pilots already:
Dramas: Six Degrees, Day Break, The Nine, Ugly Betty, Traveler, Brothers & Sisters and Men In Trees.
Sitcoms: In Case of Emergency, Help Me Help You, Notes from the Underbelly, A Day in the Life and Let's Rob Mick Jagger.
(So, that is 7 new dramas and 5 new sitcoms. I don't think ABC will pick-up any more new shows. The sitcoms are all single camera comedies, which is strange for ABC. Multicamera sitcoms Women of a Certain Age and Patricia Heaton Show have been passed on, along with the drama Secrets in a Small Town.)
'On the Bubble' Shows Returning: According to Jim, George Lopez, What About Brian
'On the Bubble' Shows NOT Returning: Freddie, Sons & Daughters
'On the Bubble' Shows Unknown Still: Invasion, Hope & Faith, Wife Swap, Supernanny
Everything else should return and is not on the bubble.
The no chance stuff includes: Rodney, Less than Perfect, Crumbs, Jake in Progress, Emily's Reasons Why Not, The Evidence, Night Stalker, Miracle Workers, In Justice, and Hot Properties.

Fox has picked-up the following pilots already:
Dramas: American Crime, Primary, The Wedding Album and Vanished.
Sitcoms: 'Til Death, Happy Hour, The Winner (mid-season)
(Total of 7 pilots picked-up up, thus far.)
'On the Bubble' Shows Returning: The Loop, War at Home, The O.C.
'On the Bubble' Shows Unknown Still: Bernie Mac, Trading Spouses, Nanny 911, Unan1mous
Everything else should return and is not on the bubble.
The no chance stuff includes: Free Ride, Arrested Development, Kitchen Confidential, Stacked, Head Cases, Reunion, and Killer Instinct.

NBC has picked-up the following pilots already:
Dramas: The Black Donnellys, Kidnapped, Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip, Friday Night Lights, Heroes, and Raines.
Sitcoms: 20 Good Years, The Singles Table, Tina Fey Show
(So far, 9 pilots have been picked-up. Tina Fey is still pending because of Alec Baldwin, and two other sitcoms might get picked-up: Community Service and Andy Barker, P.I. The latter was passed on to Fox, but is said to be back in the running for NBC, but for a six episode mid-season order.)
'On the Bubble' Shows NOT Returning: Teachers
'On the Bubble' Shows Unknown Still: Scrubs, Surface
Everything else should return and is not on the bubble.
The no chance stuff includes: E-Ring, Apprentice: Martha Stewart, Conviction, Four Kings, Joey, Heist, Three Wishes, Inconceivable, Book of Daniel.

The CW and CBS have been quiet and have not officially picked up any additional pilots. CBS has picked up sitcom The Class, but that was known. CBS has passed on its drama pilot The Ultra to The CW for consideration. CW has picked up 7th Heaven for its 11th season, which was surprising. Invasion could head from ABC to the CW, but probably won't.

The 1980s TV action drama Knight Rider has become the latest TV show to find a new life as a feature film.
The Weinstein Company has acquired the rights to develop and produce a movie from Glen A. Larson, the original creator of the show. As part of the deal, Larson will write the script and co-executive produce the movie.
The project has bounced around several studios over the past decade, and most recently was in development at Sony-based Revolution Studios. Weinstein Company has already announced they are preparing feature films based on the TV shows Welcome Back, Kotter and The Equalizer. Other Larson TV series slated for the big-screen include The Fall Guy and Magnum P.I. Actor David Hasselhoff has apparently been dismissed from the upcoming film version of the show, even after he pleaded with the show's creator for a part in the adaptation, according to a published report.

Lovespring International, the new half-hour improvisational comedy series from Eric McCormack and Michael Forman's Big Cattle Productions and distributed by Lionsgate, has been picked up for an additional seven episodes, it was announced today by Susanne Daniels, President, Entertainment, Lifetime Entertainment Services. Initially given a six episode order, the series centers on a dating service marketed to customers as an "elite Beverly Hills" company, despite its location in Tarzana, California. Comprised of dysfunctional misfits or "relationship counselors," they desperately try to find love for their clients although they have no idea how to do it for themselves. Lovespring International premieres Monday, June 5 at 11 p.m. (ET/PT) on Lifetime Television.


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Thursday, May 8

Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - "Ladies Love Brunch" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Georgie tries to juggle his mom, his mother-in-law and Mandy on Mother’s Day. Meanwhile, Audrey wants to meet Connor’s girlfriend.

Ghosts - "The Devil Went Down to Woodstone" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Sam and Jay host a big party for the launch of Sam and Isaac’s vampire book. Mary Holland (Patience), Punam Patel (Bela) and Matt Walsh (Elias Woodstone) return as guest stars.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of May 5)

Thursday, May 8

  • Paula Poundstone (Home Movies) - Paula performs stand-up comedy on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
  • Natasha Lyonne (Russian Doll) - Natasha appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Michelle Buteau (Survival of the Thickest/Bless the Harts/Enlisted) - Michelle talks about Netflix's Survival of the Thickest on Comedy Central's The Daily Show at 11pm.
  • Maria Bamford (Lady Dynamite/Benched) and Doug Benson (You're the Worst) - Maria and Doug are guests on After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
  • John Benjamin Hickey (HouseBroken/The Big C/It's All Relative) - John stops by Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 11:15pm on Bravo.
  • Patricia Clarkson (Davis Rules) - Patricia is a guest on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 11:15pm on Bravo.
  • Kerry Washington (UnPrisoned) - E! News has an interview with Kerry at 11pm on E!. Kerry and Omar Sy discuss their highly anticipated new film Shadow Force on Sherri, so check your local listings.
  • Rebel Wilson (Super Fun Night) - Rebel chats about Juliet & Romeo on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
  • Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/CafĂ© Americain/Sydney/One Day at a Time) - In A Little Bit Extra Valerie and Ross Mathews are sharing more of their conversation with Al Roker in Charleston at the Food & Wine Classic on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
  • Morris Chestnut (Out All Night) and Randall Park (Young Rock/Blockbuster/Fresh Off the Boat/Veep/Supah Ninjas) - Morris and Randall talk about Watson on PIX11 Morning News on WPIX in New York at 9:30am.


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


Recent SitcomsOnline.com News Blog Posts

05/08 - CBS 2025-26 Schedule; Animal Control and Going Dutch Renewed by Fox
05/07 - Netflix's A Man on the Inside Bulks Up Cast for Season 2; The Studio Renewed by Apple TV+
05/06 - Netflix's Long Story Short Announces Cast; NBC Renews All Chicago Series for 2025-26
05/05 - Antenna TV's The Partridge Family Mother's Day Marathon; Rewind TV's 227 40th Anniversary Marathon
05/04 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of May 5, 2025)
05/03 - SitcomsOnline Digest: CBS Cancels The Equalizer; Wisteria Lane Offshoot of Desperate Housewives in the Works
05/02 - USA and SYFY Announce Summer Premieres; CBC in Canada Renews 5 Series, Including Wild Cards
05/01 - ABC Summer 2025 Schedule; Audible Scripted Comedy Podcasts for Summer
04/30 - The Carol Burnett Show Mother of All Marathons; Netflix Renews North of North
04/29 - Lifetime Adds New Ripped from the Headlines Movie; BET+ Orders Season 2 of Series
04/28 - Fox Summer 2025 Schedule; Final Guest Hosts for Saturday Night Live 50th Anniversary Season
04/27 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of April 28, 2025)
04/26 - SitcomsOnline Digest: CBS Cancels Poppa's House; Final Season 50 Hosts for Saturday Night Live Set
04/25 - Classic TV's Biggest Auction; Remembering Will Hutchins and Wink Martindale
04/24 - Jerrod Carmichael's 4th HBO Comedy Special; HBO's Pee-wee as Himself Premieres May 23
04/23 - Apple TV+ Announces Comedy Series Prodigies; ABC Renews Unscripted Series Slate
04/22 - Hallmark Channel's May For Moms Month; Prime Video Gets Korean Comedy Action Series
04/21 - Peacock's Twisted Metal Returns July 31; Poker Face Lines Up Big Guests for Season 2
04/20 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of April 21, 2025)
04/19 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Clueless Reboot in the Works at Peacock; King of the Hill Cast Reunion and Revival Preview at ATX TV Festival Next Month
04/18 - 2025 TIME100 on ABC; Atsuko Okatsuka: Father Premieres June 13 on Hulu
04/17 - BET+ Orders Martin Spinoff Varnell Hill; It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Returns in July
04/16 - And Just Like That... Season 3 on Max This May; MGM+ Comedy Series Adds Big Stars
04/15 - HBO's Harry Potter Series; Classic TV Comes to Life in NYC
04/14 - TV Stars Lineup for Summer of 69 Hulu Film; Jessica Kirson Comedy Special
04/13 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of April 14, 2025)
04/12 - SitcomsOnline Digest: FX Sets Premiere Date for Adults; Netflix Picks Up Monopoly Themed Reality Competition Series
04/11 - Bounce TV Renews Mind Your Business; AMC Networks 2025 Upfront Highlights
04/10 - David Spade's Prime Video Comedy Special; Brett Goldstein's HBO Comedy Special Filmed in New Jersey
04/09 - Paramount+ Orders Season 3 of Colin from Accounts; FX's Adults Premieres May 28
04/08 - Prime Video's New Comedy Overcompensating; Nine Perfect Strangers Returns on Hulu in May