Friday, February 01, 2008

Day 89: WGA's Strike; NATPE Notes, Fall 2008 Syndication Preview; Classic TV Trading Cards

Well it is now day 89 of the strike. No announcements yet of the happenings at the informal meetings. New scripted programming can still be found on the networks these days even though most shows have gone dark in airings. Returning series such as Lost, Medium, Brothers & Sisters, Boston Legal, Men in Trees, According to Jim, Girlfriends, Everybody Hates Chris, October Road, and The New Adventures of Old Christine have some episodes still left to air. While new series are still coming like last night's premiere of Eli Stone, the upcoming premiere of Lipstick Jungle, Cashmere Mafia, Sarah Connor Chronicles,, and the new sitcom Welcome to the Captain. We will have a full review of Welcome to the Captain here tomorrow, so come on back. The sitcom premieres CBS Monday at 8:30pm.
So don't stop watching TV because the strike is going on. There are still a lot of scripted shows still on the air with new episodes. But yes we would like the strike to end so we can get most of our favorites back on the air.
Meanwhile, Fox has picked-up 13 more episodes of the reality show The Moment of Truth. Now the show will have 25 episodes for this season.

NATPE's annual syndication conference ended yesterday. No real notes are in as of yet, as this has been a quieter than usual NATPE. It certainly started strong with tons of updates the first day or two, but it ends with a whimper. But as promised, we will preview for you all the new entries for syndication in Fall 2008! Here is a tentative list:

Fall 2008 Syndication
Off-Network Daily Sitcoms
Tyler Perry's House of Payne (Debmar-Mercury)

Off-Network Weekend Dramas
Boston Legal (20th Century Fox)
CSI: NY (CBS Television Distribution)
Desperate Housewives (Disney/ABC Studios)
Lost (Disney/ABC Studios)
Monk (NBC Universal)

Off-Network Weekend Reality
American Chopper (Debmar-Mercury)
Cribs (Litton Entertainment)
Gladiators 2000 (MGM)
Pimp My Ride (Litton Entertainment)
Storm Stories (Litton Entertainment)

First-Run Daily Talk Shows
The Bonnie Hunt Show (Warner Bros.)
The Doctors (CBS Television Distribution)
The Donald Trump Show * (20th Century Fox)
Godfrey Live * (Radar Entertainment)
Teen Talk with India Oxenberg * (Radar Entertainment)
Untitled Steve Harvey Project * (20th Century Fox)

First-Run Daily Court Shows
Family Court with Judge Penny (Program Partners)
Judge Karen (Sony Pictures Television)
Star Witness * (Radar Entertainment)

First-Run Daily Game Shows
Deal or No Deal (NBC Universal)
Trivial Pursuit: America Plays (Debmar-Mercury)

First-Run Weekend Shows
Terry Goodkind's Wizard's First Rule (Disney/ABC Studios)

* - Not a firm go yet, and no buys as of yet.

We will update you with clearances and if the projects with not a firm go yet are cleared. So keep checking back!

Sports legends aren't all you'll find in your packs of trading cards this year as Donruss taps into the world of Hollywood and pop culture to create a one-of-a-kind card set that captures the flavor of Americas rich and storied show biz history. Over 100 personalities are featured in Donruss Americana with more than 50 signing autographs and contributing memorabilia to the unique product.
Decorated actor Larry Hagman, who played notorious oil baron J.R. Ewing in Dallas as well as Anthony Nelson in I Dream of Jeannie appear in Donruss Americana as both personas, including a dual-autograph card with Jeannie co-star Barbara Eden.
Gilligan's Island stars Russell Johnson (The Professor) and Dawn Wells (Mary Ann) are also featured in Americana with a dual-autograph card, individual common cards, and authentic personally worn shirt piece card (Dawn Wells only). Bob Denver (Gilligan) hasn't been forgotten as he is part of the Hollywood Legends basic subset and rare material swatch subset.
More recent TV pop stars such as Married with Children's Ed O'Neill (Al Bundy) and Katey Sagal (Peggy Bundy) tag up in the Co-Stars Signature Series as well as the Co-Star Material Series sets. Both stars are individually represented in the common card set along with David Faustino (Bud).
Each 5-card pack sells for $40 and guarantees collectors either one autograph or memorabilia card in each pack. For more information visit your local hobby shop or www.Donruss.com.


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Wednesday, October 8

Shifting Gears - "Date" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Matt and Eve go on their first date but have different ideas of what it should entail. Riley befriends the mom of Georgia’s new friend while Carter mediates a tiff between Gabe and Stitch. LA Dodger Mookie Betts and Lilly Singh guest star.

Abbott Elementary - "Cheating" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Melissa tries to outsmart her students; Tariq causes chaos in Janine’s class, and a new guidance counselor joins the school.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of October 6)

Wednesday, October 8

  • Tim Allen (Shifting Gears/Last Man Standing/Home Improvement) - Watch Tim on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • David Henrie (Wizards Beyond Waverly Place/Wizards of Waverly Place/How I Met Your Mother/The Pitts) and Janice Leann Brown (Wizards Beyond Waverly Place) - David and Janice talk about Wizards Beyond Waverly Place on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
  • Aubrey Plaza (Parks and Recreation) - Aubrey talks about Luna and the Witch Throw a Halloween Party on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am and with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
  • Ryan Reynolds (Two Guys and a Girl) - Ryan stops by for a talk with the hosts about John Candy: I Like Me on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
  • Tom Papa (Come to Papa) - NBC's Today catches up with Tom in the 9am hour.
  • Morris Chestnut (Out All Night) - Morris talks about Watson on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
  • Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/Cafe Americain/Sydney/One Day at a Time) - The Drew Crew team is sharing their best pro tips including newest Drew Crewer Amirah Kassem sharing how to make the perfect party dish and easy ways to level up hosting on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
  • Tom Arnold (Roseanne/The Jackie Thomas Show/Tom/The Tom Show) - Tom is a guest on New York Living on WPIX in New York at 10:05am.


New on DVD and Blu-ray

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) Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - The Complete First Season

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)
07/22 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
08/26 - The Huckleberry Hound Show - The Complete Original Series (Blu-ray)
10/07 - Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - The Complete First Season

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


Recent SitcomsOnline.com News Blog Posts

10/08 - Prime Video's Kevin Details; Trailer for Crutch with Tracy Morgan
10/07 - The CW's TV We Love Docuseries; Happy's Place Season 2 Trailer
10/06 - Dancing with the Stars Surging in Viewership, Especially Among Younger Viewers; Remembering Kimberly Hébert Gregory of Vice Principals
10/05 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of October 6, 2025)
10/04 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Fox Cancels The Great North; Everybody Loves Raymond Cast Set to Reunite for 30 Year Anniversary
10/03 - MeTV Acquires Everybody Loves Raymond; Hazbin Hotel Season 2 Trailer
10/02 - CBS Presents Everybody Loves Raymond: 30th Anniversary Reunion; Apple TV+ Renews Peanuts Specials Through 2030
10/01 - The CW's Six Brand New Movies Starting November 16; Hulu's Family Guy Halloween Special Details
09/30 - Sarah Sherman HBO Comedy Special in December; Huluween Programming for 2025
09/29 - Netflix Renews Haunted Hotel for Season 2; Christmas Comedy Series Sicilia Express
09/28 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 29, 2025)
09/27 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Scrubs Cast Comes Together for First Table Read for Reboot; Monopoly Game Show Moving Ahead
09/26 - Netflix Adds to Cast for Running Point Season 2; Stiller & Meara Apple TV+ Documentary
09/25 - Adam Pally HBO Comedy Special; Jimmy Kimmel Live! Returns with Huge Ratings
09/24 - Weigel's Newest Diginet WEST Launches Monday, September 29; New Baywatch Coming to Fox in 2026-27
09/23 - DMV Trailer for CBS; Mo Amer Returns to Netflix
09/22 - SNL Season 51 Guests for First Episodes; Prime Video's Bat-Fam Series
09/21 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 22, 2025)
09/20 - SitcomsOnline Digest: The Paper to Get Linear Run on NBC; Saturday Night Live Announces New Hosts
09/19 - NBC Schedules The Paper and Stumble in November; Remembering Patricia (Pat) Crowley of Please Don't Eat the Daisies
09/18 - UPtv Acquires The Mary Tyler Moore Show; Camp Rock 3 Coming Soon to Disney
09/17 - FETV Acquires The Munsters Effective September 29; Apple TV+ The Morning Show Renewed for Season 5
09/16 - Disney's SuperKitties Adds to Voice Cast; Netflix Renews The Hunting Wives for Season 2
09/15 - 77th Primetime Emmy Award Winners; Letterman TV Adds Late Night with David Letterman
09/14 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 15, 2025)
09/13 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Paramount Looking to Merge with Warner Bros. Discovery; Samsung TV+ Adds Late Night with David Letterman
09/12 - Emmy Awards to Create Special Moments; Ricky Gervais Netflix Animated Comedy Alley Cats Coming in 2026
09/11 - Remembering Polly Holliday of Alice and Flo; Prime Video's Overcompensating Renewed for Season 2
09/10 - Netflix Renews Leanne for Season 2; Hazbin Hotel Returns October 29
09/09 - HBO Comedy The Chair Company; Trailer for Disney's Vampirina: Teenage Vampire
09/08 - The Paper Renewed for Season 2, NYC Event on Tuesday; Final Season of Bel-Air