WGN America's Newhart Thanksgiving Marathon; Sci Fi Channel Picks Up Reruns of Invasion & Moonlight

Thursday, November 06, 2008

WGN America's Newhart Thanksgiving Marathon; Sci Fi Channel Picks Up Reruns of Invasion & Moonlight

WGN America will celebrate Thanksgiving with an all-day marathon of the '80s sitcom Newhart! Yes, on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 27 from 12pm to 3am ET (that's 9am-12am PT) you can enjoy classic episodes of Newhart, including both Thanksgiving episodes ("Don't Rain On My Parade" and "Thanksgiving for the Memories") in the 8pm ET hour. The classic 30-episode marathon concludes with one of the best series finales ever, "The Last Newhart." If you're a new fan thanks to WGN and have not seen it yet, then I won't spoil it.
Newhart starred Bob Newhart and actress Mary Frann as an author and his wife who owned and operated a historic inn located in a small Vermont rural town that was populated by eccentric characters. The show aired on the CBS from 1982 to 1990, and was Bob Newhart's second hit sitcom.
View the Newhart episodes airing in this Thanksgiving Day Marathon. Stay tuned in the coming weeks as we announce what WGN America will air on Christmas Eve/Day...it will be lots of classic holiday episodes. They also have a classic series marathon, similar to Newhart, planned on New Year's Eve/Day...so stay tuned for that info also in the coming weeks!
In other WGN America programming news, ALF will not be airing Monday nights 9-10pm ET anymore starting Nov. 24, it will however still remain on the very strong Sunday line-up.
Remember you can catch Newhart every Sunday night on WGN America's Outta Sight Retro Night in the 8pm ET (5pm PT) hour.

Sci Fi Channel has picked up rerun rights for two short-lived series from Warner Bros. Television. They have picked up ABC's one-year-wonder Invasion from 2005-06 TV season and CBS's one-year-wonder Moonlight from this past season, 2007-08.
Invasion was one of my favorite series in 2005-06 and it told the story of the aftermath of a hurricane in which water-based creatures infiltrate a small Florida town and begin to take over the bodies of the town's inhabitants through a cloning process (first by merging with and then unknowingly replacing them). Eddie Cibrian and William Fichtner starred.
Moonlight had a huge cult following yet CBS canceled it. The series follows private investigator Mick St. John who was turned into a vampire by his bride Coraline on the couple's wedding night fifty-five years earlier. In the present day, he struggles with his love for a mortal woman, his friendship with Josef Kostan, and his dealings with other vampires in Los Angeles.
Sci Fi Channel will air both series back-to-back on Friday nights starting Friday, January 23, 2009. Invasion will air Fridays at 8pm ET and Moonlight will air Fridays at 9pm ET...low and behold that was Moonlight's night and time on CBS! Fans will certainly be pleased...too bad new episodes can't be made.
Don't forget to tune in to the Mork & Mindy all-day, day after Thanksgiving marathon on Sci Fi Channel on Friday, November 28!

Sitcoms Airing Tonight

Tuesday, December 7

Live in Front of a Studio Audience: The Facts of Life and Diff'rent Strokes - (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
In this one-night-only event, an all-star lineup of talent will tackle the roles first portrayed in the iconic television sitcom “The Facts of Life,” including Jennifer Aniston playing the role of Blair, Gabrielle Union taking on the role of Tootie, Allison Tolman who will play Natalie and Kathryn Hahn recreating the role of Jo. Previously announced “Diff’rent Strokes” cast member Ann Dowd is also set to appear as Mrs. Garrett in this recreation of “The Facts of Life.” The Sony Pictures Television special can also be viewed the next day on demand and on Hulu.

The live special event will feature reenactments of the hit series “The Facts of Life,” created by Dick Clair and Jenna McMahon, and “Diff’rent Strokes,” created by Bernie Kukoff and Jeff Harris, and will reunite executive producers Norman Lear, Jimmy Kimmel, Brent Miller, Kerry Washington, Will Ferrell, Justin Theroux and Jim Burrows. Previously announced cast members taking on the famed “Diff’rent Strokes” roles include John Lithgow, who will play Mr. Drummond; Kevin Hart, assuming the role of Arnold; and Damon Wayans and Ann Dowd, who will play Willis and Mrs. Garrett in “Diff’rent Strokes.”

Abbott Elementary - "Pilot" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT)
In this workplace comedy, a group of dedicated, passionate teachers — and a slightly tone-deaf principal — are brought together in a Philadelphia public school where, despite the odds stacked against them, they are determined to help their students succeed in life. Though these incredible educators may be outnumbered and underfunded, they love what they do — even if they don’t love the school district’s less-than-stellar attitude toward educating children.

The Last O.G. - "Know Thyself" (TBS, 10:30PM ET/PT)
Amira attends college presentations, and her quick decision surprises Tray, who then works to guide Amira toward a better understanding of her identity; while cleaning out Roberta's storage unit, Shahzad makes a discovery about her past.

Tyler Perry's House of Payne - "Wondering Prince" (BET, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Lisa helps Miranda set up her online dating proﬁle.

Tyler Perry's Assisted Living - "What the Wellness" (BET, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Mr. Brown vows that he's finished eating meat until he's left alone with a lot of soul food.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of December 6)

Tuesday, December 7

Brandy (Zoe Ever After/The Game/Moesha/Thea) - Catch Brandy on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
J. B. Smoove (Curb Your Enthusiasm/Mapleworth Murders/Bent/'Til Death) - J. B. guest hosts Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Kristin Davis (And Just Like That.../Sex and the City) and Cynthia Nixon (And Just Like That.../Sex and the City) - Kristin and Cynthia are guests on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS. Kristin also talks about And Just Like That... on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am and on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
Chris Kattan (The Middle) - Chris will be on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Jane Levy (Suburgatory) - Jane appears on The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Sterling K. Brown (Starved) - Sterling is a guest on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
Whoopi Goldberg (Harlem/Whoopi/Bagdad Cafe) - Whoopi talks about her new holiday collection on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.