Day 74: WGA's Strike; ION Initiative for African-American Programming

Thursday, January 17, 2008

Day 74: WGA's Strike; ION Initiative for African-American Programming

Welcome to day 74 of the strike. I can't believe I said welcome. Welcome to hell would be more like it. The Directors Guild of America just sealed their deal with producers already! The current deal was set to expire at the end of June. But after just five days of formal negotiations the Directors Guild of America has reached agreement with the producers on a new three-year contract. The deal turns the spotlight again on the striking film and TV writers who must now examine the directors' deal and decide if they will accept a similar contract. Let's hope! Screen Actors Guild's current contract expires at the end of June, so that is another deal let's hope that gets resolved.

ION Media Networks, Inc. in collaboration with African-American TV syndicator Star Media and Omnicom's OMG Entertainment & Sports unit, announced today a strategic partnership for the creation and exhibition of African-American programming on the ION Television Network. The initiative already has backing from major charter sponsors McDonald’s, State Farm and P&G, with others expected to follow.
Initially, the partnership will use the syndication marketplace and TV libraries of Warner Bros. and other major television studios to program urban and diverse content. The longer term goal is to reinvest net proceeds from this enterprise into an original programming fund that can help create new African-American and diverse content to be aired on ION Television. The initiative launched on Monday, January 14 in the 6-7 p.m. ET timeslot on ION Television, with the return of The Wayans Bros. to broadcast television. Warner Bros. Domestic Television is the programming partner for this series.
This might be some good news. Since initially they will use reruns, maybe they will expand the hours a bit, say the daytime, and we could get more shows in. Hopefully shows like Diff'rent Strokes, Hangin' with Mr Cooper, Webster could air and maybe Amen can return once again. To discuss this news, head on over to the ION January thread.

Sitcoms Airing Tonight

Wednesday, February 26

The Goldbergs - "Body Swap" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Adam is torn between following Beverly’s rules when it comes to off-campus lunch or going to the mall food court with his friends. Meanwhile, after using Barry’s college ID to get food at the dorm, Geoff goes overboard and becomes the “student” Barry wishes he could be.

The Goldbergs - "WrestleMania" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Murray decides to buy WrestleMania tickets to spend time with Barry and Adam, but he buys fake tickets so they can’t get in. Meanwhile, Beverly forms her own neighborhood watch group when the Frentas decide neighbor Jane Bales will be the Watch Captain and not her.

Modern Family - "The Prescott" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Alex’s new company is putting her up at a new luxury apartment with full amenities and a list of high-profile residents that the family is eager to take advantage of, without her knowing. Phil is on a mission to review the restaurant’s famous sliders for his food blog, while Mitch and Cam sneak in separately to meet its most famous resident, David Beckham. Meanwhile, Luke and Manny head straight for the gym to try and pick up on older women and end up in some hot water with a few of the residents.

Single Parents - "Untz, Untz, Untz" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Angie uses Sophie as bait to get time with her crush Colin by setting up Sophie and Percy, Colin’s son, on a playdate at Angie’s house. Meanwhile, Poppy and Douglas navigate Douglas’ first night sleeping at Poppy’s house, which doesn’t go as expected; and Graham and Will go on a bro-date of their own to the pizza parlor.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of February 24)

Wednesday, February 26

Jason Segel (How I Met Your Mother/Undeclared) - Watch Jason on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Nick Jonas (Jonas) - Nick appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Finesse Mitchell (Outmatched/A.N.T. Farm) - Finesse stops by Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC. He will also be on The Wendy Williams Show, so check your local listings.
Cedric the Entertainer (The Neighborhood/The Soul Man/The Steve Harvey Show) - Cedric visits The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Beth Behrs (The Neighborhood/2 Broke Girls) and Tichina Arnold (The Neighborhood/Survivor's Remorse/Happily Divorced/Everybody Hates Chris/Martin) - Beth and Tichina are guests on A Little Late with Lilly Singh at 1:35am on NBC.
Wanda Sykes (The New Adventures of Old Christine/Wanda at Large) - Wanda drops by Conan at 11pm on TBS.
Michael Rapaport (Atypical/The War at Home) - Michael stops by Watch What Happens: Live at 11pm on Bravo.
William Shatner ($h*! My Dad Says) - William appears on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
Kristen Bell (The Good Place) - Kristen is a guest on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
Melissa McCarthy (Mike & Molly/Samantha Who?) - Melissa drops by The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
Soleil Moon Frye (Punky Brewster/Sabrina, the Teenage Witch) - Soleil appears on Access Daily, so check your local listings.
Bobby Cannavale (Angie Tribeca/Nurse Jackie) - Bobby talks about The Jesus Rolls on NBC's Today in the 9am hour and on the BUILD Series at 12pm.
Mark Addy (Still Standing) - Mark talks about Hangmen on New York Live on WNBC in New York at 11:30am ET.
Jason Ritter (The Class) - Jason is a guest on Home & Family on Hallmark Channel at 10am ET/PT.