Tuesday, March 04, 2008
Nick at Nite March 2008 - George Lopez Week; TBS and TNT Upfront 2008- New Sitcoms, Dramas...and Match Game!
We will try to detail this more when more information comes, but this sounds like a, watch out, whoooooppppaaa week, as George would say! Discuss this month here.
TBS and TNT had its annual upfront yesterday and many original series are in the works for both cable networks.
TBS, television's top-rated comedy network, is ramping up its production of original programming with a slate of primetime comedy series in development, two late-night pilots ordered and three late-night projects in the works. The network, which currently ranks as ad-supported cable's #1 network in primetime delivery of young adults, has enjoyed tremendous success with such original programming as My Boys, The Bill Engvall Show and Frank TV. All three of those series are set to return.
Primetime projects in development include a sitcom adaptation of Jane Ganahl's bestselling memoir Naked on the Page: The Misadventures of My Unmarried Midlife, along with half-hour comedies from Dave Caplan (The Drew Carey Show) and Brian Hargrove (Titus). For late night, TBS has ordered pilot presentations of the animated series Stay Tooned (working title) and a new edition of the classic game show Match Game. TBS is also working on late-night comedies with Robert Townsend, The Jim Henson Company and Mark Wolper.
TNT is planning a significant boost in original programming, with 14 series in development and a plan to change most of the network's weekday, primetime schedule to originals by 2010. TNT's aggressive plan includes a mixture of scripted dramas, unscripted programs and the network's award-winning telecasts of the NBA. Under the new strategy, TNT will continue to showcase popular movies on Friday nights and weekends.
TNT has several new series in development. They join two recently greenlit projects Raising the Bar (working title), from executive producer Steven Bochco (NYPD Blue), and Leverage, from executive producer Dean Devlin (Independence Day). Both projects are expected to premiere in TNT's lineup later this year. TNT is also considering Truth in Advertising, from Greer Shephard and Michael M. Robin, executive producers of The Closer.
Scripted series in development include The Genie Chronicles, a fantasy-adventure from DreamWorks Television, producers of TNT's Into the West; Generations, a family drama from executive producer Robert Redford and writer/executive producer John Sacret Young (The West Wing, China Beach); Technophobia, from executive producer Mark Frost (Twin Peaks); an untitled project from the Hoosiers team of Angelo Pizzo and David Anspaugh; and an untitled drama based on characters created by crime novelist Tess Gerritsen.
For the first time, TNT is also branching into unscripted series, with several projects in development from such talents as Ridley Scott, Tony Scott, Mark Burnett, Mark Wolper, former NBA star Kenny Smith and Gay Rosenthal.
TNT's current original programming successes include ad-supported cable's #1 series of all time, The Closer, starring Golden Globe winner Kyra Sedgwick. That series will return for its fourth season this summer. The network's highly successful Saving Grace, featuring Oscar winner Holly Hunter, also will return for a second season this summer. The show premiered in 2007, claiming ad-supported cable's largest audience of the year for a new series launch.
For full details on each new project with synopsis, click HERE!
Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows
Monday, June 9
The Neighborhood - "Welcome to the Pickle" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
The Johnsons and Butlers are curious about their new neighbors’ lifestyle and their interest raises some surprising questions. Also, Marty feels pressure to enroll Daphne in the best preschool.
The Neighborhood - "Welcome to the e-Neighborhood" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
A new community social app shakes up the neighborhood. Also, Marty and Courtney attend a family class with Daphne and unexpectedly bump into Marty’s high school sweetheart.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of June 9)
Monday, June 9
- Ricky Gervais (After Life/The Office) - Watch Ricky on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Kaitlyn Dever (Last Man Standing) - Kaitlyn appears on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- William Shatner ($h*! My Dad Says) - William is a guest The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
- Henry Winkler (Barry/Arrested Development/Out of Practice/Monty/Happy Days) - Henry stops by Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC. He is joining Drew and playing a round of Fast Five on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
- Monica Barbaro (FUBAR) - Monica appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC. She will also be on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
- Pete Holmes (How We Roll/Crashing), Kurt Braunohler (Bob's Burgers) and Gillian Jacobs (Love/Community) - Pete, Kurt and Gillian are guests on After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
- Sherri Shepherd (Mr. Iglesias/Trial & Error/Sherri/Less Than Perfect/Suddenly Susan) - Sherri chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
- Sarah Jessica Parker (And Just Like That.../Divorce/Sex and the City/Square Pegs), Cynthia Nixon (And Just Like That.../Sex and the City), Kristin Davis (And Just Like That.../Bad Teacher/Sex and the City) and Sarita Choudhury (And Just Like That...) - Sarah, Cynthia, Kristin and Sarita chat with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
- Joel McHale (Animal Control/The Great Indoors/Community) - Joel swings by the studio to talk The 1% Club on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
- Dakota Johnson (Ben and Kate) - Dakota talks about Materialists on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am.
- Greg Kinnear (Shining Vale) - NBC's Today catches up with Greg in the 9am hour.
- Jay Ellis (Running Point/Insecure/The Game) - Jay guest co-hosts NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
- Jurnee Smollett (Cosby/On Our Own/Full House) - Jurnee talks about Smoke on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
- Jenny Slate (The Great North/Big Mouth/Married/Bob's Burgers) - Jenny is telling Drew all about writing her new book, Lifeform, on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
New on DVD and Blu-ray
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)
07/08 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
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