Thursday, May 29, 2008
WGN Adds Weekly Retro TV Block, Renames to WGN America; TV Tonight
Now WGN is also planning more theme weeks. The '70s week is the first of many to come. They tentatively have an '80s week planned for July and we could see ALF, Family Ties, and more shows. So stay tuned to that when it is announced! Casey Kasem will be announcing during promos and voice-overs for the theme weeks and the regular Sunday block...how cool!
We will certainly let you know if more of these shows join the actual line-up...so far WKRP is the only one joining the line-up that has aired during a theme week. I wouldn't be surprised though if Newhart is in the '80s week and IF they have a '50s week, The Honeymooners could air in that. And once again all this is not available for the local WGN in Chicago. This is for the national WGN only, the cable version.
Also, the national WGN was called Superstation WGN for many years, but this past Monday they changed their name to WGN America. So, from now on I'll refer WGN to WGN America. The new name and logo was introduced this past Monday and also with the slogan "TV You Can't Ignore." According to the Chicago Tribune, WGN America's new "eyes" logo, which resembles the one used for much of the '90s by cable's The Movie Channel, was the inspiration of Tribune Co. Chief Innovation Officer Lee Abrams. The former radio consultant wanted the channel to look more like an album cover. It resembles the eyes of the woman on Duran Duran's "Rio" album, but Abrams said he was just trying to help the channel break from traditional TV.
Sean Compton, a former Clear Channel exec recruited to tend to Tribune TV programming, meanwhile is repackaging reruns (WKRP, etc) and old movies (Rocky movies, etc) and giving away prizes via WGNAmerica.com, the new website. By the end of the summer, the plan is to introduce an original program. And within 18 months or so, Compton hopes the nation will barely recognize the channel.
We leave you tonight with a reminder. Tonight is the last of the regular season show's, as Lost will ends its season with an all-night event. At 8pm an encore of the previous episodes will air with bonus footage followed by the game changing two-hour season finale from 9-11pm on ABC. It should do big. Only other new programming on the night is summer reality series: So You Think You Can Dance on Fox from 8-10 and Last Comic Standing on NBC from 8:30-10:30pm. Sitcom wise, NBC will wraparound The Office repeats around Comic at 8 and 10:30pm. CBS will encore Big Bang Theory and How I Met Your Mother from 8-9pm. But you should be getting Lost tonight! After tonight, the summer season will really begin since the regular season scripted series will come to an end until the new season.
Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows
Monday, June 23
The Neighborhood - "Welcome to the Blowout" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Calvin spends a day babysitting Daphne. Also, Gemma and Dave worry about Grover’s high school applications.
The Neighborhood - "Welcome to the Signature Service Loyalty Rewards Program" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Malcom receives an unexpected call from USC’s athletic director about a baseball head coach vacancy. Meanwhile, Calvin and Marty start a new signature loyalty rewards program at The Fuse Box.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of June 23)
Monday, June 23
- Patton Oswalt (A.P. Bio/The Goldbergs/The King of Queens) - Watch Patton on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Adria Arjona (Good Omens) - Adria appears on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Jensen Ackles (Mr. Rhodes) - Jensen is a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
- Idris Elba (Turn Up Charlie) - Idris stops by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS. He also talks about Head of State on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
- Matty Matheson (The Bear) - Matty appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Suzi Barrett (Just Roll with It) and Carrie Preston (Crowded/Happyish/Emeril) - Suzi is a guest and Carrie makes a special appearance on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
- Arnold Schwarzenegger (FUBAR) - Arnold drops by Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 10:01pm on Bravo.
- Liza Colón-Zayas (The Bear) - Liza talks about The Bear on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
- Jay Pharoah (White Famous/Champaign ILL) - Jay chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
- Niecy Nash-Betts (Reno 911!/Getting On/The Soul Man/Do Not Disturb) - Niecy guest co-hosts NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
- John Leguizamo (The Brothers Garcia) - John talks about Smoke on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
- Keegan-Michael Key (Schmigadoon!/Friends from College/Playing House/Gary Unmarried) - Keegan-Michael is a guest on a repeat of Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
- Kevin Chamberlin (Jessie) - Kevin appears on PIX11 Morning News on WPIX in New York at 9:40am.
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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