Day 66: WGA's Strike; People's Choice Awards Winners

Wednesday, January 09, 2008

Day 66: WGA's Strike; People's Choice Awards Winners

We are in day 66 of the strike. A couple of items of scheduling due to the strike were announced. NBC will broadcast the last two original pre-strike episodes of Chuck on Thursday, January 24, at 8 p.m. ET and again at 10 p.m. ET -- sandwiched around an original episode of The Celebrity Apprentice. This means the return of Scrubs will not be on this date. It'll probably be Jan. 31 now. Last new pre-strike episodes of My Name is Earl and 30 Rock air this week and ER has two more episodes left (Jan. 10 and 17). Meanwhile, NBC has announced for this Sunday they will have a two-hour Dateline special called "Going for the Gold" interviewing some of the stars...this will lead-in to the one-hour special announcing the viewers from 9-10pm. It is unclear so far what NBC will air at 10pm.
Dubbed television's smartest reality show, ABC is bringing back The Mole, featuring new "whodunit" game elements, interactivity and a new host. Producers are launching a nationwide search to replace Cooper. In addition to a new host, new features, new games, new locations and online and mobile interactivity are planned for the series. Casting for players begins immediately. Casting information can be found at www.molecasting.com. The series could likely begin this spring before the season ends or as an early summer player. Forgot how the series was played? It follows a group of players as they try to figure out who among them is The Mole, a saboteur trying to keep them from winning money. Players must decide who they think The Mole is and then learn as much about him or her as they can, because, at the end of each one-hour episode, the player who knows the least about The Mole is immediately eliminated from the game. In the final dramatic episode, The Mole is revealed and one of two final players wins a substantial cash prize.

The People's Choice Awards were on last night in a new format because of the strike. Ratings started off OK but went down considerably as each half-hour progressed. Looks like fans didn't like it much. Here are the winners, in case you missed it:

• Favorite TV Drama: House, Fox
• Favorite TV Comedy: Two and a Half Men, CBS
• Favorite Animated TV Comedy: The Simpsons, Fox
• Favorite TV Sci-Fi Show: Stargate Atlantis, Sci-Fi
• Favorite TV Competition/Reality Show: Dancing with the Stars, ABC
• Favorite TV Game Show: Deal or No Deal, NBC
• Favorite Female TV Star: Katherine Heigl, Grey's Anatomy, ABC
• Favorite Male TV Star: Patrick Dempsey, Grey's Anatomy, ABC
• Favorite Scene-Stealing TV Star: Chandra Wilson, Grey's Anatomy, ABC
• Favorite TV Talk-Show Host: Ellen DeGeneres, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, syndicated
• Favorite New TV Comedy: Samantha Who?, ABC
• Favorite New TV Drama: Moonlight, CBS
You can discuss the winners and the format of last night's show HERE!

More news to come, if any...so try and come back.

Sitcoms Airing Tonight

Wednesday, August 5

United We Fall - "My Favorite Marta" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Jo steps in as a role model for her teenage niece, Marta, much to her strict father Chuy’s dismay. Bill plays matchmaker for Sandy who, under the influence of post-colonoscopy drugs, inadvertently professes her love for her first husband, Dave.

The Goldbergs - "Schmoopie's Big Adventure" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Mother and son have a bonding experience when Beverly buys a bicycle for Adam just like the one from “Pee Wee’s Big Adventure,” while Barry and Erica turn Murray’s furniture store into an after-hours lounge for college students.

The Conners - "Live From Lanford" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Mark is watching the results of the primary for a school report with Harris who is apathetic to the electoral process and believes money’s influence in politics means real change is impossible. The rest of the Conners share their differing takes on why they all think everyone should vote, including their working-class perspective that you may have to vote for a candidate you don’t love but one that will “screw you the least.” All of this happens against the backdrop of romance when Louise (guest star Katey Sagal) gets an opportunity that might send her away from Lanford, prompting the family to interfere in Dan’s (John Goodman) complicated relationship with her by throwing Louise a surprise going-away party, creating major new tensions between Dan and his daughters.

American Housewife - "Senior Prank" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Against Greg’s better judgment, Katie pushes Taylor to lighten up and participate in her school’s senior prank. Meanwhile, Anna-Kat asks Oliver to give Franklin (Evan O’Toole) a makeover so he won’t embarrass himself at a classmate’s party.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of August 3)

Wednesday, August 5

Jamie Foxx (The Jamie Foxx Show) - Watch Jamie on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Tig Notaro (One Mississippi) - Tig appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Seth Rogen (Undeclared) - Seth is a guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Gillian Jacobs (Love/Community) - Gillian appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
David Tennant (Final Space) - David is a guest on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Karen Gillan (Selfie) - Karen appears on a repeat of A Little Late with Lilly Singh at 1:35am on NBC.
Jerry O'Connell (We Are Men/Carpoolers) - Jerry is a guest on Watch What Happens: Live at 10pm on Bravo. He also talks about The Secret: Dare to Dream on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
Steven Weber (Indebted/Cursed/Wings) - Steven appears on a repeat of The Real, so check your local listings.
Rob Riggle (Rob Riggle's Ski Master Academy/Golan the Insatiable) - Rob is a guest on a repeat of The Real, so check your local listings.
Lecy Goranson (The Conners/Roseanne) - Lecy talks about the season finale of The Conners on a repeat of Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
Cedric Yarbrough (Carol's Second Act/Speechless/Reno 911!) - Cedric talks about the return of Reno 911! on a repeat of Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.