ABC Announces More Early Pick-Ups for 2007-08; TV Land's New Version of 'Laverne & Shirley?"

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

ABC Announces More Early Pick-Ups for 2007-08; TV Land's New Version of 'Laverne & Shirley?"

ABC has announced it has renewed ten more primetime series and their late night talk show for 2007-08 season. The shows are: The Bachelor, Boston Legal, Brothers & Sisters, Dancing with the Stars, Desperate Housewives, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Grey’s Anatomy, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Lost, MEN IN TREES and Ugly Betty. The only real not given here was MEN IN TREES. So, fans of that show can relax.
These series join previously announced 2007-08 season pick-ups of America’s Funniest Home Videos, Supernanny and Wife Swap.
Now, these are just early pick-ups...this does NOT mean do other returning series will have a chance to return. Among the returning series that have no fate yet are According to Jim, George Lopez, What About Brian, Six Degrees, The Knights of Prosperity, and the just premiered drama October Road. I think 2-3 of those have a shot to return, with George, Road, Knights having the best shots. I hope Brian can return, too. 20/20 will for sure return and Primetime will probably be back as a series of specials, as it has done this season.
No chance for series like The Nine, Help Me Help You, Day Break, Show Me the Money, Big Day, and In Case of Emergency to return, I think...but stranger things have had happened.

TV Land's Upfront presentation is Friday, and we will cover that of course for you. But we might have a little sneak peak of what is to come for you today. TVWeek is reporting that TV Land is developing a loosely scripted show featuring the real Laverne & Shirley, Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams...as themselves! A pilot with the duo living together at Penny's house, is scheduled to shoot next month. It would pair the actresses in a series for the first time since collaborating on the long-running '70s ABC sitcom, Laverne & Shirley.
TV Land is also considering a show with George Foreman, who Larry Jones (President of TV Land) calls the "poster child for reinventing yourself in the second part of life."
TV Land is also eying a TV Land take on My Super Sweet 16, a popular reality series on sibling Viacom-owned network MTV. TV Land would peg shows to 40th birthdays.
In August, TV Land expects to roll out TV Land's version of High School Reunion, which ran for two seasons on The WB. The original featured 10 year reunions. TV Land is going with 20-year+ gatherings.
We will have complete details of their upfront on Friday...and let's hope some classic TV acquisitions are announced and not just original series news. Boomer and former President Bill Clinton will be the keynote speaker!

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Monday, June 30

The Neighborhood - "Welcome to the Sting" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Calvin and Marty send Courtney on a mission to find out information about Fuse Box’s impressive new rival. Meanwhile, Malcolm attends an event for his creative writing program at USC, where he scores a meeting with a book agent, Lisa (Angelique Cabral).

The Neighborhood - "Welcome to Your Own Medicine" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
After Dave’s disastrous attempt to dunk a basketball, Calvin takes care of his injured neighbor. Also, Gemma befriends a cool mom group while babysitting Daphne.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of June 30)

Monday, June 30

Don Johnson (Kenan) - Watch Don on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
George Clooney (Roseanne/The Facts of Life/ E/R (1984-1985) - George appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Christopher Sieber (It's All Relative/Two of a Kind) - Christopher is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Kel Mitchell (Game Shakers/Kenan & Kel) and Thomas Lennon (The Odd Couple/Sean Saves the World/Reno 911!) - Kel and Thomas are guests on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
Evan Handler (And Just Like That...) - Evan talks about And Just Like That... on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
Hugh Jackman (Human Resources) - Hugh chats with the ladies of The View on a repeat on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Jeff Hiller (Somebody Somewhere/Nightcap) - Jeff talks about Actress of a Certain Age: My Twenty-Year Trail to Overnight Success on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
Amy Poehler (Duncanville/Parks and Recreation) - NBC's Today has Prompter Wars with Amy in the 10am hour.
Kevin Hart (Lil Kev/Die Hart/The Big House/Undeclared) - NBC's Today catches up with Kevin in the 10am hour.
Amy Schumer (Life & Beth), Jillian Bell (Bless the Harts/Idiotsitter/Eastbound & Down/Workaholics) and Brianne Howey (Dollface) - NBC's Today catches up with Amy, Jillian and Brianne on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/One Day at a Time) - Drew is introducing the newest Drew-crew member, Valerie Bertinelli on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings. Plus, Valerie is making a shrimp and veggie cups recipe from her latest cookbook, Indulge.
Mario Cantone (And Just Like That.../Sex and the City) - Mario talks about Max's And Just Like That... on a repeat of Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
Edwin Lee Gibson (The Bear/Unprisoned) - Edwin is a guest on PIX11 Morning News on WPIX in New York at 9:30am.