Day 79: WGA's Strike; Network Notes; Remembering Lois Nettleton

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Day 79: WGA's Strike; Network Notes; Remembering Lois Nettleton

Today is the 79th day of the strike and we might have some good news! Tomorrow could be a key day. Why? See the WGA statement below:
On Wednesday, January 23, the Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers will begin informal discussions to determine if there is a basis for both parties to return to formal negotiations. Both the AMPTP and the WGA have agreed to make no public comments about the informal discussions until those discussions have concluded.
Meanwhile, NBC will bench Medium on Feb. 4 and 11. It was already slated to be preempted next week, as the State of the Union is scheduled. On Feb. 4 and 11, NBC will air 90-minute episodes of American Gladiators and Deal or No Deal from 8-11pm.
ABC counteracted today by slating a 90-minute Dance War on Feb. 4. I wouldn't be surprised if they do the same for Feb. 11 and maybe a two-hour finale on Feb. 18. So it doesn't seem Samantha Who will air its all-new final few pre-strike episodes until maybe with Dancing with the Stars in March. Too bad, but worth the wait since it is the best new sitcom. We will get a repeat at 10:30pm next Monday, though!

We keep losing TV stars so far in early 2008. Two-time Emmy winning actress Lois Nettleton died this past Friday in Woodland Hills, CA, after a long bout with lung cancer. A veteran of the Broadway stage, films and television, Nettleton recieved Emmys for the daytime special The American Woman: Profiles in Courage in 1977 and for A Gun for Mandy in 1983 an episode of the syndicated religious anthology Insight. She received an additional three noms as guest star in Last Bride of Salem and The Golden Girls and supporting actress in the drama In the Heat of the Night.
She has guest starred on many TV series such as Crossing Jordan, Coach, Seinfeld, Murder She Wrote, Full House, Mr. Belvedere, The Facts of Life, Hotel, Cagney & Lacey, Trapper John MD, The Love Boat, The Streets of San Francisco, Petroceli, Medical Center, Hawaii Five-0, Kung Fu, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and so many more. She was also a familiar face to the game show community, appearing on many game shows such as $10,000 Pyramid and Cross-wits.
She will certainly be missed. Ms. Nettleton was 80.

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Thursday, May 21

Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - "Funky Chili and Friends Who Take Their Clothes Off" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Mandy and Jim butt heads when they take over the store for a sick Georgie and Ruben. Meanwhile, Audrey panics when Connor rekindles an old flame.

Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - "A New Beau and Someone Else's Mom’s House" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Georgie and Mandy take matters into their own hands when Mary starts warming up to Fagenbacher (Matthew Letscher). Also, Audrey struggles to cope with Connor’s absence.

Ghosts - "Up the Creek" (CBS, 9:00PM ET/PT)
When Woodstone’s future is put in jeopardy, Sam and Jay join forces with the ghosts to protect the mansion by securing its place in history.

Ghosts - "Across the Pond" (CBS, 9:00PM ET/PT)
A trip abroad could determine Woodstone’s fate. Meanwhile, a major career opportunity takes Sam out of town, leaving others to step in and help with the ghosts.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of May 18)

Thursday, May 21

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert - Watch the series finale of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Andrew Rannells (Girls/The New Normal) - Andrew is a guest on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Maya Rudolph (Loot/Bless the Harts/Forever/Up All Night) - Maya appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Keke Palmer (Scream Queens/True Jackson, VP) and Brooke Shields (Suddenly Susan) - Andy Cohen interviews Keke and Brooke on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 9pm on Bravo.
Ronny Chieng (Young Rock/Ronny Chieng: International Student) - Ronny hosts Comedy Central's The Daily Show at 11pm.
LaKeith Stanfield (Atlanta) - LaKeith chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Laurie Metcalf (Big Mistakes/The Conners/Roseanne/The McCarthys/The Norm Show) - Laure discusses Death of a Salesman on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
Niecy Nash (Reno 911!/Getting On/The Soul Man/Do Not Disturb) - Niecy is Sherri's special guest on the final Sherri show, so check your local listings.
Michelle Buteau (Survival of the Thickest/Bless the Harts/Enlisted) - Michelle stops by for a very special Sherri's Laugh Lounge on Sherri, so check your local listings.
Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/Cafe Americain/Sydney/One Day at a Time) - The Drew Barrymore Show has a little bit extra from Drew-crewers Ross Mathews, Sunny Anderson and Valerie sharing their tips in the kitchen with knife skills 101, so check your local listings.
Paul Rudd (The Shrink Next Door/Living with Yourself/Wild Oats) and Nick Jonas (Jonas) - Paul and Nick can be heard on the Morning Mash Up on SiriusXM.
Judith Light (Who's the Boss?/Phenom/Transparent) - Judith talks about AMC+'s The Terror: Devil in Silver on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
Utkarsh Ambudkar (Ghosts) - Utkarsh talks about Ghosts on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.