"i" Network Now Acquires Sony Owned TV Shows; Stiller to Produce CBS Sitcom, McClanahan on Here! Network

Wednesday, July 05, 2006

"i" Network Now Acquires Sony Owned TV Shows; Stiller to Produce CBS Sitcom, McClanahan on Here! Network

Fresh off their announcement last Thursday of acquiring classic TV shows and movies from Warner Bros. Television, the "i" network has now announced a similar deal with Sony Pictures Television! Today they announced a programming agreement that provides ION Media (i network) with the rights to broadcast dozens of classic television series and a large selection of award-winning feature films from the Sony library on the i television network, reaching over 90 million homes.
Under the terms of the agreement, "i" will have access to many of SPT’s most popular TV series from the last three decades, including Charlie’s Angels, Starsky & Hutch, The Partridge Family, The Monkees and Silver Spoons, among others.
They will begin scheduling the Sony movies on the i network this month, with plans to launch the television series in August. So, both Warner and Sony TV shows will both be scheduled starting this August. It is unclear right now how many shows from Sony they have acquired, but I'll try to find out. And we will bring you their launch schedule very shortly--it will include both Warner and Sony TV shows.
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Ben Stiller is back on television. Well...sort of. He will executive produce and direct a sitcom project for CBS that will star his wife Christine Taylor. The project has been likened to a Curb Your Enthusiasm-type show featuring Taylor’s life in Hollywood and her career as an actress. The project, from CBS Paramount will be executive produced by Stiller and Ajay Sahgal.
Rue McClanahan has signed on for a sitcom pilot for the Here! network, B&C reports. Here! is a gay TV channel. The show, which it targeted for a 2007 launch, will feature McClanahan as the "crazy and wise" grandmother of a gay teenager "coming of age and coming out." The network describes the veteran actress (The Golden Girls, Maude) as having a strong fan base in the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community. The six-episode series is based on a short film from writer Nick Wauters, who will also pen the series.

Sitcoms Airing Tonight

Thursday, June 30

Young Sheldon - "A Pink Cadillac and a Glorious Tribal Dance" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Sheldon attends his first comic book convention; Mary tries selling makeup.

United States of Al - "Punch / Musht" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Hazel gets in trouble at school, Riley and Vanessa disagree on how to handle the issue.

Ghosts - "Farnsby & B" (CBS, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
As Sam and Jay await the arrival of their first official bed-and-breakfast guests, they face obstacles triggered by a Norse curse placed upon them by Thorfinn; Isaac takes a huge, centuries-in-the-making step in his personal life.

B Positive - "Payroll, a Waterwall and Valley Forge" (CBS, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Gina struggles to keep Valley Hills running smoothly after Mrs. Ludlum quits and starts work at a rival assisted living facility. Also, Drew wonders whether he should go on another road trip adventure or stay close to Gina.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of June 27)

Thursday, June 30

Chelsea Handler (Are You There, Chelsea?) - Chelsea guest hosts Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Craig Robinson (Killing It/Ghosted/Mr. Robinson/The Office) - Craig chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Jim Carrey (Kidding/The Duck Factory) - Jim appears on a repeat of The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
Idris Elba (Turn Up Charlie) - Idris will be on a repeat of The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
The Jonas Brothers (Jonas) - The Jonas Brothers are guests on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
Dakota Johnson (Ben and Kate) - Dakota appears on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Kym Whitley (Young & Hungry/Animal Practice/Sparks) and Finesse Mitchell (Outmatched/A.N.T. Farm) - Kym and Finesse guest co-host a repeat of The Wendy Williams Show, so check your local listings.
Cedric the Entertainer (The Neighborhood/The O.G./The Soul Man/The Steve Harvey Show) - Cedric is a guest on a repeat of The Wendy Williams Show, so check your local listings.
Jason Biggs (Outmatched/Mad Love/Drexell's Class) - Jason appears on a repeat of Rachael Ray, so check your local listings.
Selena Gomez (Only Murders in the Building/Wizards of Waverly Place) - Selena is a guest on E!'s Daily Pop at 11am.
Steve Carell (Space Force/The Office/Come to Papa/Watching Ellie) - Steve appears on E!'s Daily Pop at 11am.
Michelle Buteau (Enlisted/China, IL) - Michelle will be on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
Cristela Alonzo (Cristela) - Cristela talks about Netflix's Middle Classy on Access Daily, so check your local listings.
Page Kennedy (Blue Mountain State) - Page is a guest on PIX11 Morning News on WPIX in New York at 9:40am.
Marsai Martin (black-ish) - Marsai talks about executive producing Saturdays on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.