NBC Upfront 2008-09; Yet More Upfront Rumblings; More ABC Summer 2008 Series

Monday, May 12, 2008

NBC Upfront 2008-09; Yet More Upfront Rumblings; More ABC Summer 2008 Series

NBC has already announced their Fall 2008 schedule early last month, along with Mid-season 2009 and Summer 2009 schedules, for some reason, but they still made some announcements at its upfront presentation today.
- NBC has identified the last piece in its late night succession plan, naming Jimmy Fallon as the new host of Late Night when Conan O'Brien moves to The Tonight Show in 2009. The premiere date for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon will be announced at a later date.
- NBC will introduce Momma's Boys, a new reality series to be executive-produced by Ryan Seacrest and Andrew Glassman centering on a group of mothers who must help choose the perfect bride for their complacent sons -- and ultimately, the series poses the question: "Who is really the most important woman in every man's life?" The series will premiere on the heels of NBC's All-American Summer and the Summer Olympic Games in Beijing.

We will announce more on NBC's upfront, if anything else noteworthy comes out of it.
Stay tuned tomorrow for the Fall line-ups for ABC and The CW!

As for more upfront rumblings, CBS has picked up four new dramas and two new sitcoms, as of now. Dramas are: Eleventh Hour & The Mentalist for the fall and The Ex List (AKA: Mythological Ex) & Harper's Island for mid-season. The Ex-List could be shared with Moonlight on Fridays, which could be benched until mid-season. And the two sitcom pick-ups are Worst Week and Project Gary (starring Jay Mohr), both likely for the fall. There could be another pilot or two picked-up (Tower or sitcom My Secret Public Journal), but right now slim chances. Single White Millionaire with Fred Savage has no shot now. The Unit looks like will be back for another season, possibly on Sundays or Fridays in the fall, while Shark has been killed most likely. CBS announces its line-up on Wednesday.
On the Fox front, animated comedy Sit Down, Shutup has been renamed to Class Dismissed. They have also officially canceled New Amsterdam & Canterbury's Law, which I didn't think had a chance anyway. Fox is shopping canceled sitcom Back to You and the animated pilot The Pitts for new homes, along with the drama pilot The Oaks. None are likely to be bought.
The CW has for sure brought back sitcom The Game, while drama Reaper will be back...but for mid-season (13 episodes). The CW also announced new reality series, Stylista (also from Tyra) will air after Top Model this fall. Filthy Rich Girls joins 90210 as a new drama series order.
On ABC, no surprises so far, Eli Stone has been renewed for 13 episodes, while October Road has been canceled. Life on Mars finally officially got picked-up. Miss Guided is still set to return this fall.

Moving on to ABC summer news, we have more news. We announced ABC's summer slate already, but there is a bit more to announce. Before the NBA Finals begins, ABC Tuesday will feature According to Jim (new on May 27), Samantha Who, and Boston Legal repeats from 8-11pm on May 27 and June 3 (and June 17 if NBA Finals Game 6 is not necessary)
Friday, June 6 and Friday, June 13 from 8-10pm will be repeats of AFV and According to Jim from 8-10pm.
The NBA Finals begins Thursday, June 5 and will air Thursdays, Sundays and Tuesdays through June 19, if necessary. So up to 7 dates. The NBA Finals starts at 8:30pm ET each night, leading into them will be Jimmy Kimmel Live: Game Night at 8pm ET. Join Jimmy in primetime for up to seven times! On Sundays when the NBA Finals airs, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition repeats will air at 7pm instead.
After the NBA Finals, starting Sunday, June 22 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition will air two-hour encore episodes from 8-10pm, leading into Desperate Housewives at 10pm, which will be its new summer time slot. High School Musical reality series starts on the night on Sunday, July 20 at 8pm.
Effective Tuesday, June 24, all-new Primetime: Crime will air Tuesdays at 10:00PM until further notice. The premieres of Wipeout and I Survived a Japanese Game Show launches from 8-10pm on the same night.
Effective Wednesday, June 25, all-new Primetime: The Outsiders will air Wednesdays at 10:00PM Et/PT until further notice.

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Tuesday, April 1

St. Denis Medical - "Anything to Push Zaluva" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Ron's teasing makes Joyce question whether her friendship with a pharmaceutical rep is genuine; Alex has trouble letting Serena take on a new task; Matt finds a mentor in Bruce.

Night Court - "Hot to Trot" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Abby's friendship with her ex-boyfriend's mother leads to romantic complications; when Julianne's wealthy aunt passes away, the gang vies for a piece of her inheritance.

Tyler Perry's House of Payne - "Love At First Swipe" (BET, 9:00PM ET/PT)
C.J. and Janine receive marital advice from an unlikely source; Peanut seeks help with his newfound online lover.

Tyler Perry's Assisted Living - "Failure 2 Launch" (BET, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Assisted Living is the new situation comedy by Tyler Perry about three generations who must make a new start in the rural backwoods of Georgia.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of March 31)

Tuesday, April 1

Adam Scott (Ghosted/Veep/Parks and Recreation/Party Down) - Catch Adam on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Kevin Bacon (I Love Dick) - Kevin is a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Amanda Peet (Brockmire/Togetherness/Bent) - Amanda appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Paul Rudd (The Shrink Next Door/Living with Yourself/Wild Oats) - Paul stops by Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Ike Barinholtz (The Studio/The Afterparty/Bless the Harts/The Mindy Project/Eastbound & Down) - Ike appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC. He will also be on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 9:30pm on Bravo.
Vinny Thomas (Platonic), Paul F. Tompkins (The Great North/BoJack Horseman/DAG) and Aparna Nancherla (The Great North/Lopez vs Lopez/Corporate) - Vinny, Paul and Aparna are guests on After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
Chase Sui Wonders (The Studio/Bupkis) and Kathryn Hahn (The Studio/Tiny Beautiful Things/Central Park/Happyish/Transparent/Free Agents) - Chase and Kathryn are guests on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 9:30pm on Bravo.
Will Ferrell (The Office) and Jennifer Coolidge (2 Broke Girls/Joey) - E! News has interviews with Will and Jennifer at 11pm on E!.
Román Zaragoza (Ghosts) - Román talks about Ghosts on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
Jenny Slate (The Great North/Big Mouth/Married/Bob's Burgers) - Jenny talks about Dying for Sex on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
Michael Angarano (Laid/I'm Dying Up Here/Will & Grace) and Michael Cera (Life & Beth/Arrested Development/I Was a Sixth Grade Alien) - Michael and Michael talk about Sacramento with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Olivia Munn (Perfect Couples) - Olivia guest co-hosts NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
Hannah Einbinder (Hacks) - Hannah talks about Hacks on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
Tasha Smith (Survival of the Thickest/Tyler Perry's For Better or Worse/The Tom Show/Boston Common) and Tone Bell (Survival of the Thickest/Fam/Disjointed/Truth Be Told/Bad Judge/Whitney) - Tasha and Tone talk about the new season of Netflix’s Survival of the Thickest on Sherri, so check your local listings.
Kathryn Hahn (The Studio/Tiny Beautiful Things/Central Park/Happyish/Transparent/Free Agents) - Kathryn is dishing on her new comedy series The Studio on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Wilmer Valderrama (That '70s Show) - Wilmer and Freddy Rodriguez chat about their podcast Dos Amigos on a repeat of Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
Brenda Song (Running Point/Dollface/Dads/The Suite Life on Deck/The Suite Life of Zack & Cody) - Brenda talks about Netflix's Running Point on a repeat of Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
Paul Walter Hauser (The Afterparty) - Paul is a guest on PIX11 Morning News on WPIX in New York at 9:40am.