Friday, November 09, 2007

Day 5: WGA's Writer's Strike; Kotter Podcast; More RTN Affiliates Announced

It is now day 5 of the writers' strike. If this goes as long as 1988, I'll be saying welcome to day 150 of the writers' strike. I hope it doesn't last that long. 1988 was from March 7 to August 7, so it was mostly during the hiatus season for production. So, if this strike lasts long, it will be much worse than 1988. We don't want to make TV history this way. Hope the writers enjoy the donuts from Leno, tacos from Kimmel, and pizza from Longoria.
B&C is reporting that NBC informed the nonwriting staff of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno that it will be laid off at the end of next week in the wake of the show shutting down for the writers' strike. And with Leno still refusing to cross the picket line, the show is looking at coming back on the air Nov. 19 with guest hosts so that it can save the jobs of the nonwriters. In fact NBC is being very low to the head writer of The Tonight Show, by even turning off his NBC e-mail account. Will any of the late night hosts cross the picket line to save the jobs of the nonwriters? We shall see.
NBC, CBS and ABC could announce primetime strike schedules for January and beyond soon.

Our good friend Eric from JustMyShow.com is back with an all-new podcast episode! This time with episode 16. The guests are Bob Hegyes, who played Epstein on Welcome Back, Kotter and John Sebastian, who wrote and performed the Welcome Back, Kotter theme. Did you know, that he's also in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for his work with The Lovin' Spoonful? This episode was suggested by Epstein's mother! Catch up with show sixteen by clicking HERE! Welcome back!

Hello Santa Barbara, CA; Roanoke, VA; and Harrisburg-Lancaster- Lebanon-York, PA you three markets are the next contestants on the expansion of the Retro Television Network! RTN is a new television network that provides each affiliate a customized feed with classic hit shows, in addition to local programming including news, weather and sports. RTN is specifically designed to go on a broadcast digital channel and provides local broadcasters with a way to get ratings and successfully monetize their digital spectrum.
They will partner with Smith Broadcasting to add an RTN affiliate in Santa Barbara, CA. The network will launched October 30 on a digital stream of KEYT, the ABC affiliate that serves the Santa Barbara / Santa Maria / San Luis Obispo market. Viewers in Santa Barbara are treated to one the greatest comedic actors of our time with Robin Williams in Mork & Mindy, and many other favorites from RTN's 'Prime Time all the Time' lineup, including Perry Mason, Matlock and Michael Landon in Little House on the Prairie.
They have also partnered with Albritton Communications to bring RTN programming to Roanoke, VA. The network will launch in April 2008 on a digital stream of WSET-TV, Albritton's ABC affiliate that serves the Roanoke/Lynchburg area. They will see Raymond Burr as a wheelchair-bound detective in the critically-acclaimed Ironside and viewers can escape to Hawaii each weeknight while watching Jack Lord in Hawaii 5-0 and Tom Selleck in Magnum P.I.
Finally, they announced today that it will partner with Albritton Communications to bring RTN programming to the Harrisburg-Lancaster- Lebanon-York, PA market. The network will launch in April 2008 on a digital stream of WHTM-TV, Albritton's ABC affiliate that serves Harrisburg and the entire Susquehanna Valley. Local viewers are going to be treated to Raymond Burr in his two hit shows, Perry Mason and Ironside and viewers will laugh along with the antics of Jim Nabors in Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C. and Don Adams in Get Smart.
Yes, I know, I promised an interview with RTN...and trust me it is coming. It is just that they have been very busy. My questions were submitted long ago though, so the responses should be coming any day. Thanks for your patience!


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.


New on DVD and Blu-ray

The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series Frasier (2023) - Season Two Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* (missing 4 episodes and some music has been replaced or altered) Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)

01/28 - Wait Till Your Father Gets Home - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/04 - The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series
03/11 - Frasier (2023) - Season Two
04/01 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season
05/13 - The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* (missing 4 episodes and some music has been replaced or altered)
06/06 - Shoresy - Season 2
06/17 - Looney Tunes - Collector's Vault - Volume 1 (Blu-ray)
07/08 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)

More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD and Blu-ray Releases / TV Shows on DVD, Blu-ray and Prime Video / DVD Reviews Archive


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