ION Television's 1st Upfront Presentation, Perfect Strangers, A-Team Coming Soon?; The CW Ends 'Gilmore Girls'

Thursday, May 03, 2007

ION Television's 1st Upfront Presentation, Perfect Strangers, A-Team Coming Soon?; The CW Ends 'Gilmore Girls'

ION Television had its first upfront presentation. They just released the press release to us and it is hot off the press! It doesn't go into detail on what shows and movies are coming actually, but the press release mentioned stars like Vicki Lawrence (Mama's Family), Tracey Gold (Growing Pains), and Bronson Pinchot (Perfect Strangers) were on hand at the presentation. While they didn't go ahead and mention any programming titles, it is safe to assume Perfect Strangers is coming to the network soon since Bronson was there! And maybe Growing Pains will return, since Tracey was there. The press release also mentioned The A-Team when touting its series, so maybe that is coming soon, too?
The press release states: The strength of classic programing series is demonstrated in strong audience growth – especially in adults ages 25-54, which experienced a 31 percent gain in Monday to Sunday primetime. And new programming deals are on the horizon. Stay tuned!
Hmmm new deals are on the horizon. Interesting. The press release didn't tell us whether the hours will expand from more than 6-11pm, but I think they will, they just haven't announced it yet.
The highlight of the upfront was of course the RHI deal, which will air Fri-Sun 7-11pm starting June 29. Explosive new programming partnership with RHI Entertainment, the award-winning producer and distributor of groundbreaking miniseries and movies for television. RHI's exciting lineup of programming for ION will include the creation of exclusive original programming as well as quality library titles & movies. The first of a promised 12 originals per year is Killer Wave, a political-thriller miniseries featuring a multi billion-dollar conspiracy that will have audiences at the edge of their seats.
Finally, the upfront included a sneak peek at ION’s partnership with Firebrand, a first-of-its-kind multi-platform experience that gives consumers interactive access to their favorite brands, products and promotions, set to launch in the fall airing weeknights from 11pm-12am. Firebrand programs only the best TV commercials as a reflection of pop culture in an environment rich with consumer touch points.
We will certainly have more news for you when we hear! Diagnosis Murder is also going to air Saturdays at 6PM, so an hour of expansion on Saturdays, as it was 7-11pm. This will start Saturday, May 26. For now, read the Upfront press release.

It looks like The CW's Gilmore Girls will end after its May 15 airing. The series will come to end with a proper series finale. The show started back in 2000 and was a high performer for The WB and still was one of the top shows on the new CW. The CW and Warner Bros. Television released this statement:
"Announcing the final season of Gilmore Girls is truly a sad moment for everyone at The CW and Warner Bros. Television," statement read. "This series helped define a network and created a fantastic, storybook world featuring some of television's most memorable, lovable characters."

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Tuesday, October 22

Happy's Place - "Pilot" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Bobbie inherits her late father's tavern, Happy's Place, she's shocked to learn that she also has a new business partner in the half-sister she never knew existed.

Tyler Perry's House of Payne - "Final Answer" (BET, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Jazmine gets caught up in a cheating scandal at school; Curtis enlists the help of a vlogger to promote his food truck.

Tyler Perry's Assisted Living - (BET, 9:30PM ET/PT)

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of October 21)

Tuesday, October 22

Bridget Everett (Somebody Somewhere) - Catch Bridget on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Jenny Slate (The Great North/Big Mouth/Married/Bob's Burgers) - Jenny appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Josh Peck (Grandfathered/Drake & Josh) - Josh is a guest on After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
Selena Gomez (Only Murders in the Building/Wizards of Waverly Place) and Jennie Garth (Mystery Girls/What I Like About You) - E! News has interviews with Selena and Jennie at 11pm on E!.
Billy Crystal (The Comedians/Soap) - Billy talks Before on NBC's Today some time between 7-9am.
Judith Light (Who's the Boss?/Phenom/Transparent) - NBC's Today catches up with Judith in the 9am hour.
David Henrie (Wizards Beyond Waverly Place/Wizards of Waverly Place/How I Met Your Mother/The Pitts) and Janice Leann Brown (Wizards Beyond Waverly Place) - David and Janice talk about Wizards Beyond Waverly Place on ABC's Good Morning America some time between 7-9am.
Tony Danza (Taxi/Who's the Boss?/Hudson Street/The Tony Danza Show) - Tony talks about Power Book III: Raising Kanan and The Stars of Tomorrow Project on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
Anna Kendrick (Love Life) - Anna chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Damon Wayans Jr. (Poppa's House/Happy Together/New Girl/Happy Endings) - Damon talks about Poppa's House on Sherri, so check your local listings.
David Mann and Tamela Mann (Tyler Perry's Assisted Living/Mann & Wife/Meet the Browns) - David drops into Sherri's Laugh Lounge and talks about his Mann To Man - Love, Your Mind series on YouTube on Sherri, so check your local listings. Tamela performs a song off her new album Live, Breathe, Fight on Sherri, so check your local listings.
Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/Café Americain/Sydney/One Day at a Time) and Pamela Anderson (Stacked/Home Improvement) - Drew and Valerie Bertinelli are going makeup free for the whole episode in honor of the amazing Pamela Anderson joining them and embracing bare beauty. Plus, Pamela is making a mouthwatering recipe from her brand-new cookbook on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Jackie Tohn (Nobody Wants This/GLOW) - Jackie talks about Netflix's Nobody Wants This on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.