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

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

Thursday, February 26

Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - "A New Hobby, a Pervert and a Part-Time Job" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Audrey and Mandy urge Jim to find a new hobby now that he’s retired and driving them crazy.

Ghosts - "The Others" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Sam and the ghosts face The Others, a new group of spirits from one ghost’s past. Meanwhile, Trevor tries to deal with a demanding Patience, who seeks a committed relationship in the wake of their holiday hookup.

Animal Control - "Roosters and Moles" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT)
When Templeton is nominated for Animal Control officer of the year, Frank sets out to rescue 24 animals in 24 hours; Victoria steps in for Shred after he's bitten by a kitten; Templeton tries to sabotage Frank's mission.

Going Dutch - "Swapadakis" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Major Shah needs the weekend off to celebrate his anniversary with Celeste; Capt. Maggie makes an emotional hair choice.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of February 23)

Thursday, February 26

Sterling K. Brown (Starved) - Catch Sterling on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC. He also talks about Hulu's Paradise on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
Dave "Lil Dicky" Burd (Dave) - Dave is a guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Bobby Cannavale (Angie Tribeca/Will & Grace) - Bobby appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Jon Hamm (Grimsburg/Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt) - Jon stops by Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC. He also talks about Hoppers on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
Christa Miller (Shrinking/Cougar Town/Scrubs/The Drew Carey Show) - Christa talks about Shrinking on Comedy Central's The Daily Show at 11pm.
Amy Landecker (Transparent/The Paul Reiser Show) and Bradley Whitford (Perfect Harmony/Trophy Wife) - Amy and Bradley talk about For Worse on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm. NBC's Today catches up with Bradley in the 9am hour.
Jackson White (Mrs. Fletcher) - Jackson talks about Tell Me Lies on NBC's Today in the 9am hour.
Gina Gershon (Red Oaks/How to Make It in America) - NBC's Today catches up with Gina in the 10am hour.
Kym Whitley (Act Your Age/Young & Hungry/Animal Practice/Sparks) - Sherri's BFF Kym stops by to introduce her to some single men on Sherri, so check your local listings.
Emeril Lagasse (Emeril) - It's a cooking flashback when Emeril surprises Sunny on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Kristin Davis (And Just Like That.../Bad Teacher/Sex and the City) - It's a little bit extra with Kristin who reminisces about her favorite moments playing Charlotte on Sex and the City on The Drew Barrmyore Show, so check your local listings.
Piper Curda (I Didn't Do It) and Bobby Moynihan (Mr. Mayor/Me, Myself & I) - Piper and Bobby talk about Hoppers on New York Living on WPIX in New York at 10:05am.
Brenda Song (Running Point/Dollface/Dads/The Suite Life on Deck/The Suite Life of Zack & Cody) - Brenda talks about her film Operation Taco Gary on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
Demi Lovato (Sonny with a Chance) - Demi talks about her It's Not That Deep tour on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.