SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

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.