Monday, June 25, 2007

According to Jim Renewed by ABC for 2008; Unsolved Mysteries To Return; NBC Notes

Mediaweek is reporting that ABC has given an 18 episode order for the veteran sitcom According to Jim to return next season during mid-season, likely in January 2008. It will be more than likely its final season, so let's hope ABC will give it a proper ending. The show started way back in Fall 2001, making it actually one of the oldest sitcoms on the air today. It will be its seventh season and no word if Courtney Thorne-Smith, who plays Cheryl, will return as she has said she wouldn't do another season. So more to come, I'm sure!

Broadcasting & Cable is reporting today that the 1987-97 series Unsolved Mysteries might be revived! HBO Television Distribution--reaching outside its own pay channel's original-programming ranks for the first time--and Cosgrove/Meurer Prods. are bringing back Mysteries, the granddaddy of hybrid reality/scripted crime- reenactment series.
They plan to make the classic show attractive to network buyers, through major reconstructive surgery. HBO began knocking on doors last week, offering an all-cash deal for 175 refurbished episodes of the documentary-style series about unsolved crimes and paranormal occurrences.
Lifetime has a contract to air reruns of the show, but that is expiring in 2008. HBO is taking out the series without a host, believed to be a first, and will leave it up to the acquiring cable network to choose the late Robert Stack's replacement.
Work is under way to expand the number of unsolved evergreen stories from four to five per episode, each cut down to a maximum of seven minutes. Cosgrove/Meurer and HBO are choosing their material from 900 hours of footage shot for the original 255 episodes.
They also plan to add newly produced updates--the most popular segments of the original series--that will focus on the solving of crimes and shedding new light on cold cases, which make up 60% of the stories, according to Executive Producer John Cosgrove.
Other additions include a new set, logo, music and, most important, the computerized effects needed to bring the stories up to current standards.
New weekly original episodes are also a distinct possibility and could come as part of the initial deal or at some point later.

NBC has quietly removed the summer encores of low-rated drama Friday Night Lights from its schedule. The show was repeating Sundays at 9pm, but was quietly replaced last night by a repeat of Law & Order, which did much better than Lights. Lights will return for a second season on Fridays at 10pm this fall, and NBC says they plan on returning the repeats either in late August or early September.
Meanwhile canceled drama Kidnapped is being burned-off during the late nights on most NBC affiliates on Sunday nights. It started last night on NBC stations in Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta etc. The #1 NBC station, WNBC in New York, is not airing it however. Check your local listings on Sunday nights for exact times (usually varies between 12-3am).
Finally, NBC is rushing to put new reality series The Singing Bee on the air ASAP because of Fox trying to put a similar show on air before they do. NBC was going to air Bee in late fall on Fridays at 8, but that will not happen now. The Singing Bee will premiere on Tuesday, July 10 at 9:30 PM ET following a 90-minute installment of America's Got Talent. Talent is hosted by former Dancing with the Stars alum Jerry Springer, so what does NBC do? They will bring another alum of Dancing with the Stars to host The Singing Bee. Last season's runner-up Joey Fatone will host!


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Wednesday, September 11

Abbott Elementary - "Double Date" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Two teachers head out on a double date, but when they run into familiar bar patrons, it proves to be an unfortunate distraction; at Ava's first book club meeting, the group ends up in a debate over who would be the best post-apocalyptic leader.

Abbott Elementary - "Mother's Day" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Barbara invites Gregory to her family's Mother's Day brunch; Jacob scrambles to figure out how to organize a school field trip.

Abbott Elementary - "Smith Playground" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Jacob manages to pull off a school-wide field trip to the park, but when Abbott must share the playground, the fun and games turn competitive; Mr. Johnson enjoys having an empty school to himself.

Abbott Elementary - "Party" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Ahead of summer vacation, Janine throws the perfect end-of-year party for her colleagues and friends, taking all their interests into consideration.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of September 9)

Wednesday, September 11

  • James Adomian (Duncanville) - Watch James on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Kathryn Hahn (Tiny Beautiful Things/Central Park/Happyish/Transparent/Free Agents) - Kathryn is a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
  • Amy Ryan (Only Murders in the Building/The Office/The Naked Truth) - Amy appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
  • Aparna Nancherla (Lopez vs Lopez/Search Party/Corporate) - Aprana is a guest on After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Edie Falco (Bupkis/Nurse Jackie) - Edie stops by Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 10pm on Bravo.
  • Kaitlin Olson (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia/The Mick) - Kaitlin talks about the new ABC series High Potential ABC's Good Morning America some time between 7-9am, on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your listings, and on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
  • Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/CafĂ© Americain/Sydney/One Day at a Time) - Drew is kicking off an important new series called Wellsdays, focused on all things wellness every Wednesday with Valerie Bertinelli opening up about her healthy lifestyle journey and prioritizing mental health on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
  • Lacey Chabert (Still the King/Baby Daddy/Family Guy) - Lacey discusses her new series Celebrations with Lacey Chabert on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.


New on DVD and Blu-ray

Too Close for Comfort - The Complete Series Check It Out! - The Complete Series Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray) Friends - The Complete Series (4K Ultra HD) Young Sheldon - The Complete Series

04/03 - Too Close for Comfort - The Complete Series (VEI)
04/08 - Check It Out! - The Complete Series (VEI)
05/21 - Frasier (2023) - Season One
06/11 - The Jeffersons - The Complete Series (2024 Release)
06/11 - Welcome Back, Kotter - The Complete Series (2024 Release)
07/05 - Letterkenny - Season 12 (Final Season)
07/30 - Ted Lasso - The Richmond Way (The Complete Series) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
09/10 - Rick and Morty - The Complete Seasons 1-7
09/10 - Ted - Season One (Blu-ray) (DVD)
09/17 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
09/17 - Top Cat - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
09/24 - Friends - The Complete Series (4K Ultra HD)
09/24 - Young Sheldon - The Complete Seventh Season (DVD) / The Complete Series (DVD) (Blu-ray)
10/08 - Curb Your Enthusiasm - The Complete Twelfth Season / The Complete Series
10/22 - Veep - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)

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

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09/06 - Hulu's Child Stars Documentary; Keke Palmer Heads to The 'Burbs for Peacock
09/05 - Dancing with the Stars Season 33 Cast; Tia Mowry We TV Docuseries
09/04 - Nick at Nite Acquires Modern Family; SNL Stars Go Live on Peacock Next Thursday
09/03 - The CW Swaps Two Nights for Fall 2024 Schedule; Retta Returns to HGTV
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08/28 - Acapulco Renewed for Season 4; Kiernan Shipka Max Movie
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08/26 - Frasier Returns September 19 on Paramount+ for Season 2; Ted Danson's Netflix Comedy Premieres in November
08/25 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of August 26, 2024)
08/24 - SitcomsOnline Digest: First Look at New Netflix Comedy; TNT Picks Up The Librarians: The Next Chapter
08/23 - FETV's Sunday Mystery Matinee Block; Glen Powell Is Chad Powers for Hulu Comedy
08/22 - Pee-wee Forever on August 27 on Shout! TV; The Lincoln Lawyer Is Back This October
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08/14 - Only Murders in the Building Season 4 Trailer; Grotesquerie Gets Premiere Date on FX
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