Network Notes: The CW, Fox Lineup Changes, ABC Schedules 'Big Day', NBC Renews 'Heroes', Cancelation Watch; Classic Warner Sitcoms Re-done in Russia!

Friday, October 06, 2006

Network Notes: The CW, Fox Lineup Changes, ABC Schedules 'Big Day', NBC Renews 'Heroes', Cancelation Watch; Classic Warner Sitcoms Re-done in Russia!

The CW and Fox has announced line-up changes. The CW will swap its Sunday and Monday night schedules. Starting Monday, October 9, Sunday sitcoms Everybody Hates Chris, All of Us, Girlfriends, The Game will move from Sundays 7-9pm to Mondays 8-10pm. That night The CW will encore the season premieres for each sitcom. The Monday dramas of 7th Heaven and Runaway will move to Sundays 8-10pm starting Sunday, October 15. Top Model encores will lead the night off at 7 p.m. Click here for the changes in a list format.

Meanwhile Fox has announced that after the Baseball season is over they will change just about every night in someway. Mondays will see Prison Break remain at 8 p.m. and new drama Justice move from Wednesdays at 9 to Mondays at 9. Vanished, which was airing in that Monday at 9 slot will get the death slot of Fridays at 8, replacing Nanny 911 which goes to the bench. On Tuesdays, Fox will swap the slots for both Standoff and House, which could be good or could not be good. On Wednesdays, Bones remains at 8 and a new quiz show called The Rich List will at 9 starting November 1. Thursdays will see Happy Hour return at 8:30 p.m. (I bet just for a week or two then it will be put to sleep for good) and The O.C. returns for another season at 9 p.m. Click here for the changes in a list format.

Big Day, a new romantic comedy about life in the wild wedding lane, will premiere Tuesday, November 28 (9:00 p.m., ET) on ABC. For more information on the series, click here.
NBC has given a full-season order for 2006-07 to Heroes (Mondays, 9-10 p.m. ET) - the critically acclaimed and #1 new series this Fall in adults 18-49 (tied with ABC's "Brothers & Sisters").

CBS and NBC is not expected to have Smith and Kidnapped on their line-ups next week, as both have struggled. NBC is expected to air the full order of 13 episodes of Kidnapped at some point this season.

Warner Bros. International Television (WBITV) has struck format deals with Russian broadcasters for locally produced versions of classic U.S. hit comedy series Suddenly Susan, Perfect Strangers, Step by Step and Full House.
* Perfect Strangers: WBITV has partnered with production company AMEDIA to produce 50 episodes of this comedy, which debuted September 25 on Ren TV in Russia, to stellar ratings. In the Russian version, mismatched roommates Larry and Balki have become Ivan (played by Artem Semakin) and Andrei (Anton Eldarov). Andrei arrives from his remote ex-Soviet republic and moves straight into the flat of his Moscow cousin, Ivan, where cultures clash between the two dissimilar characters.
* Suddenly Susan: In conjunction with CTC in Russia, WBITV is in the midst of casting for an adaptation of the comedy which starred Brooke Shields in the U.S. CTC has committed to producing 40 episodes of the series. Pre-production has just begun, with casting underway.
* Step by Step and Full House: WBITV is about to begin production on both of these series, also with Russias CTC. Forty episodes of Step by Step and 20 of Full House have been ordered.

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Monday, December 22

Everybody Loves Raymond: 30th Anniversary Reunion Pt. 2 (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
CBS is gifting viewers an extra special holiday present this season, the brand-new EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND: 30TH ANNIVERSARY REUNION PT. 2,” airing Monday, Dec. 22, (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network and streaming on Paramount+.*

This one-hour show gives viewers who loved the first special another opportunity to reminisce and revisit the laughter and joy from the original CBS series. The brand-new broadcast follows the success of EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND: 30TH ANNIVERSARY REUNION, which originally aired Monday, Nov. 24, with an encore presentation Friday, Nov. 28, garnering 10.08 million live plus 7-day multiplatform viewers across both broadcasts and streaming.

Hosted by Emmy Award-winning actor Ray Romano and series creator Phil Rosenthal, this fresh hour brings fans closer than ever to the original series, with exclusive stories and heartfelt memories shared by beloved cast members gathered together to honor one of TV’s most iconic sitcoms. Ray Romano and Phil Rosenthal share their thoughts on the magic of being back on set and reuniting with the cast. Additionally, viewers can enjoy never-before-seen content, outtakes and behind-the-scenes footage. Plus, guest stars, writers and producers will provide unique insights into the creation and legacy of this beloved series.

St. Denis Medical - "Get Me in the Pod, Brother" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Alex and Ron spar over the wisdom of open communication; Joyce brings in a body scanner that proves overly distracting.

The Paper - "I Love You" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
With Marv camped out in the newsroom while his office is painted, Ned and the staff find their unresolved attitudes toward authority bubbling up; Esmeralda and Ken plot a betrayal that leaks.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of December 22)

Monday, December 22

Kenan Thompson (Kenan/Kenan & Kel) - Watch Kenan on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Tony Shalhoub (We Are Men/Stark Raving Mad/Wings) - Tony appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Ron Funches (Loot/Powerless/Undateable) and Jeff Garcia (Mr. Box Office) - Ron and Jeff are guests on a repeat of Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen at 12:37am on CBS.
Kate Hudson (Running Point) - Andy Cohen interviews Kate on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 9pm on Bravo. She also talks about Song Sung Blue on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
Jamie Lee Curtis (The Sticky/Anything But Love/Operation Petticoat) - Jamie Lee talks about Ella McCay with the ladies of The View on a repeat on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Simu Liu (Kim's Convenience) - Simu talks about The Copenhagen Test on ABC News Live Prime with Linsey Davis at 7pm.
Hugh Jackman (Human Resources) - Hugh talks about Song Sung Blue on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
Kyle Richards (Down to Earth) - Kyle gives Sherri a sneak peek at the 15th season of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills on a repeat of Sherri, so check your local listings.
Paul Rudd (The Shrink Next Door/Living with Yourself/Wild Oats) - Paul and Jack Black are telling Drew all about their hilarious adaptation of Anaconda on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Odessa A'zion (I Love LA/Fam) - Odessa tells Drew about her role in new movie Marty Supreme and hit series I Love LA on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Melissa Gilbert (Stand by Your Man) - Melissa is guest on New York Living on WPIX in New York at 10:10am.