Monday, March 12, 2007

ABC Adds New Sitcom 'Underbelly' to Wednesdays in April, Wednesday Summer Plans; NBC Makes 'The Office' Look New Even in Repeats

A new comedy series from director/producer Barry Sonnenfeld and producers Kim and Eric Tannenbaum (Two and a Half Men), Notes from the Underbelly, will premiere on Wednesday, April 11 at 9:30 p.m. ET on the ABC Television Network. The series brings a comedic take on life's greatest adventure – parenthood, and proves that surviving the politics of pregnancy and maintaining your relationships with family and friends can be just as demanding as raising a child.
The series stars Jennifer Westfeldt as Lauren, Peter Cambor as Andrew, Michael Weaver as Danny, Rachael Harris as Cooper, Melanie Paxson as Julie and Sunkrish Bala as Eric.
Look for our pilot review closer to airdate. The show will air for six weeks and it looks like In Case of Emergency will have a few unaired episodes, unless ABC will move it to another slot. ABC has now scheduled encores of According to Jim for the next two Wednesdays at 8:30, instead of George Lopez encores. George will still air for the next two weeks at 8pm, with all-new episodes. Jim encores will lead in to a new Jim at 9.
Meanwhile, ABC has announced changes to its Wednesday line-up once the season is over, for the summer. Two reality shows and a new drama will air Wednesdays starting May 30. ABC announces its new Wednesday night summer line-up: new alternative series The Next Best Thing: Who is The Greatest Celebrity Impersonator?, returning series American Inventor, and new drama Traveler. A special two-hour premiere The Next Best Thing: Who is The Greatest Celebrity Impersonator?, will air Wednesday, May 30 from 8:00-10:00 p.m. ET (the series will normally air from 8:00-9:00 p.m., ET), followed by the new drama, Traveler, from 10:00-11:00 p.m., ET. American Inventor, from Simon Cowell, returns for a second season the following week on Wednesday, June 6 from 9:00-10:00 p.m., ET.

NBC's Emmy Award-winning comedy The Office will offer fans extra overtime of laughs by treating them to never-before-seen footage from the hit series in a newly edited hour of encore episodes on Thursday, March 15 (8-9 p.m. ET).
The "newpeats" on Thursday, March 15 (8-9 pm ET) will tie together edited encore episodes "Traveling Salesman" and "Oscar's Return" combined with new, never-before-seen moments throughout the hour. An original episode of Scrubs, (9:00 pm ET) along with the premieres of Andy Barker P.I. (9:30 pm ET) and Raines (10:00 pm ET) will follow.
Additionally, on Thursday, March 29 (8-9:30 & 10-11 p.m. ET), "Toby Flenderson" (co-executive producer/writer/ actor Paul Lieberstein) who plays the Director of Human Resources, will host "A Night at the Office" marathon. Five "human resource nightmare" episodes on March 29 will air surrounding an all-new episode of Andy Barker P.I. at 9:30 p.m. ET. The encore episodes include "Diversity Day" (8:00 p.m. ET), "Healthcare" (8:30 pm), "Sexual Harassment" (9:00 p.m. ET), "The Injury" (10:00 p.m. ET) and "Gay Witch Hunt" (10:30 ET).

March 15 is shaping up to be a big night. Premiere of three new shows...NBC's Andy Barker & Raines and ABC's October Road. Can any of these capture the March 15 success of Three's Company 30 years ago in 1977? We shall see...
The night will also see the "newpeats" of The Office, all-new Ugly Betty & Grey's Anatomy and the first night of the NCAA College Basketball Tournament--March Madness indeed!


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Sunday, March 30

The Simpsons - "The Flandshees of Innersimpson" (Fox, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Bart dips his toe into the world of celebrity DJ-ing; Homer finally pushes Flanders too far.

Family Guy - "Pitch Imperfect" (Fox, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Peter must gain his family's respect back after he makes a humiliating throw; Brian and Stewie become chiropractors.

The Great North - "It's Compli-skated Adventure" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Judy tells a story to help Alanis Morissette fall asleep; Beef's romantically obsessed stalker, Zelda Blop, returns to Lone Moose with a surprise.

Krapopolis - "Number Two" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Ty and Stupe are both looking to hire assistants; Hippo tries to have a romantic getaway with Daphne -- and his parents.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of March 24)

Sunday, March 30

  • Michelle Buteau (Survival of the Thickest/Bless the Harts/Enlisted) - Catch Michelle on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 10pm on Bravo.


New on DVD and Blu-ray

I Love Lucy - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) Seinfeld - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray) The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series Frasier (2023) - Season Two

11/05 - I Love Lucy - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
11/12 - The King of Queens - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (2024 Release)
11/19 - SpongeBob SquarePants - The Complete Fourteenth Season
11/26 - Looney Tunes Collector's Choice - Volume 4 (Blu-ray)
12/03 - Angel (1960-1961) - The Complete Series, Volume 1
12/17 - Seinfeld - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (4K UHD)
01/28 - Wait Till Your Father Gets Home - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/04 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
02/04 - The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series
03/11 - Frasier (2023) - Season Two
04/01 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season

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

03/30 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of March 31, 2025)
03/29 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Netflix Gives Pilot Order to A Different World Sequel; Malcolm in the Middle Reboot Recasts Role of Dewey
03/28 - Pat Sajak's Final Spin on Wheel and Return of Jeopardy! Masters; Remembering George Foreman and Wings Hauser
03/27 - IFC Renews SisterS for Season 2; Netflix Orders Live-Action Scooby-Doo Series
03/26 - Hulu Spring 2025 Slate; The Making of The Americas Special Narrated by Tom Hanks on NBC
03/25 - Deli Boys Now Streaming All Episodes on Hulu; Heartland Season 18 on UP Faith & Family
03/24 - Peacock April Highlights Include Three's Company; Antenna TV's 50 Years on the Beat Barney Miller Anniversary Marathon
03/23 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of March 24, 2025)
03/22 - SitcomsOnline Digest: The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* Coming to DVD; American Dad! Moving Back to Fox
03/21 - Big Mouth Final Season; The Four Seasons Premieres in May on Netflix
03/20 - HBO's Brett Goldstein Comedy Special; Disney+ Adds The Simpsons 24/7 Stream
03/19 - Solar Opposites Final Season This Fall; NBC to Move Grosse Pointe Garden Society to Fridays
03/18 - Game Show Network New Shows Launch April 14; NBC Picks Up 3rd Comedy Pilot, While Bobby Moynihan Joins Tracy Morgan Pilot
03/17 - It's True! Ted Lasso Renewed for Season 4; Jane Goodall Returns for Jane Season 3
03/16 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of March 17, 2025)
03/15 - SitcomsOnline Digest: The Neighborhood Renewed for Eighth and Final Season; NBC Picks Up New Cheerleading Comedy
03/14 - NBC Comedy Pilots Wheeling & Dealing; Hulu's Got to Get Out
03/13 - Prime Video Comedy Series Overcompensating Premiere Date; Eric Stonestreet Joins Dexter: Resurrection
03/12 - Hacks Season 4 Premieres April 10; Nickelodeon Orders Wylde Pak
03/11 - The Neighborhood Renewed for Final Season; Max's The Official Big Bang Theory Podcast
03/10 - Netflix Renews Running Point for Season 2; Apple TV+ Trailer for The Studio
03/09 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of March 10, 2025)
03/08 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Tracy Morgan to Star in NBC Pilot from Tina Fey and Robert Carlock; Nobody Wants This Returning for Second Season
03/07 - Trailer for Apple TV+ Comedy Government Cheese; Remembering Saved by the Bell and TV Producer Peter Engel
03/06 - The CW Spring Premiere Dates; Henry Winkler Heads to HISTORY Channel
03/05 - Hacks Brings Out the Stars in Season 4; NBC Orders Pilot with Tracy Morgan
03/04 - Apple TV+ Side Quest Launches March 26; Krysten Ritter Joins Dexter: Resurrection
03/03 - HBO's The Rehearsal Returns April 20; Sharon Horgan Signs Deal for HBO Comedy Series
03/02 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of March 3, 2025)
03/01 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Premiere Date for Mid-Century Modern Set; Roseanne Remastered in High Definition