Day 81: WGA's Strike; CBS Changes; RTN to Add 11 More Stations

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Day 81: WGA's Strike; CBS Changes; RTN to Add 11 More Stations

It is day 81 of the strike. Nothing new to report, but informal discussions between the writers and producers took place yesterday. Hopefully something comes out of it. NBC Universal executives confirmed Wednesday that the network currently does not have plans to cancel a batch of pilot scripts as CBS, Fox and The CW have done to dozens of projects in the wake of the writers' strike. But they are scaling back on their batches of pilot scripts from now on as the networks continue to institute budgetary cutbacks in the wake of the writers' strike, reports B&C.

CBS has announced a few schedule changes. The Power of 10, the primetime game show hosted by Drew Carey, will be pulled from the CBS schedule effective immediately. The show was airing Wednesdays at 8:00pm but has been coming in fourth place in its timeslot ever since American Idol returned. CBS will fill the void with repeats of sitcoms until further notice. Back-to-back repeats of Old Christine will air next week (Jan. 30), while Two and a Half Men and Big Bang Theory repeats will fill the hour on Feb. 6. Power of 10 could return to the air again by summer. Meanwhile, The Price is Right, the daytime game show hosted by Drew Carey, returns to prime time with six new specials to be broadcast on Fridays, beginning Feb. 22 from 8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT, on CBS and will be head-to-head vs NBC's 1 vs. 100 gameshow. These will be the first primetime specials to be broadcast since Carey took hosting reins from former host Bob Barker. During The Price is Right six-week primetime run, Ghost Whisperer repeats will move to 9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT. Moonlight will return to the schedule later this season.

Retro Television Network (RTN), which is nationally owned and distributed by Equity Media Holdings Corporation, announced today that it has entered into an agreement with Quincy Newspapers, Inc. (QNI) to launch RTN programming on 11 stations. The new affiliates will air on the digital streams of KWWL (Cedar Rapids/Waterloo/Iowa City/Dubuque, IA), WKOW (Madison, WI), WSJV (South Bend/Elkhart, IN), WVVA (Bluefield/Beckley/Oak Hill, WV), KXLT (Rochester, MN/Mason City, IA/Austin, MN), KTIV (Sioux City, IA), WREX (Rockford, IL), WXOW/WQOW (La Crosse/Eau Claire, WI) and WAOW/WYOW (Wausau/Rhinelander, WI).
As you all know by now, RTN is the first completely-customizable, national television network to provide a 24/7 digital feed of hit shows to each of its affiliates. The network's unique design allows each affiliate to remain in complete control while RTN runs the local and national master control from its central hub. RTN also offers customizable news and weather for each market, hosted by network-provided talent.

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Sunday, May 17

Family Guy - "High School History" (Fox, 8:00PM ET/PT)
The Griffins take a humorous look at the French Revolution, the American Civil War, and World War II.

Bob's Burgers - "Stuck in the Middle With Hu(go)" (Fox, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Bob is forced to spend time with one of his least favorite people; Tina is entrusted with something very close to Jimmy Junior's heart.

American Dad! - "Where the Wild Boars Are" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Jeff comes of age with the help of an old man; Roger takes care of a "special" shed.

Bob's Burgers - "Smellbound" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT)
When a horrible smell threatens to cancel one of the kids' favorite town traditions, Tina, Gene, and Louise decide to try and get rid of the smell themselves.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of May 11)

Friday, May 15

Goldie Hawn (Good Morning World) - Watch Goldie on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Asif Ali (Deli Boys/Wrecked/Mr. Robinson) and Saagar Shaikh (Deli Boys) - Asif and Ali are guests on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Stanley Tucci (Central Park) - Stanley appears on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Brenda Song (Running Point/Dollface/Dads/The Suite Life on Deck/The Suite Life of Zack & Cody) - Brenda is a guest on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Nathan Lane (Mid-Century Modern/Only Murders in the Building/Modern Family/Charlie Lawrence/Encore! Encore!/One of the Boys) - Nathan appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
John Krasinski (The Office) - John talks about Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan: Ghost War on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
Lisa Ann Walter (Abbott Elementary/Emeril) - Lisa talks about Abbott Elementary and Lisa Ann Walter: It Was an Accident with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT and on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/Cafe Americain/Sydney/One Day at a Time) - Drew and Ross are covering the headlines with pals Valerie and Nate Berkus on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Belmont Cameli (Saved by the Bell (2020-2021) - Belmont and Ella Bright talk about Off Campus on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am.
Patton Oswalt (A.P. Bio/The Goldbergs/The King of Queens) - Patton co-hosts NBC's Today in the 9am hour.
Jackie Tohn (Nobody Wants This/GLOW) - NBC's Today catches up with Jackie in the 10am hour.
Y'lan Noel (Insecure) - Y'lan talks about Netflix's Nemesis on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.