Hallmark Channel Revises Sundays in January; Fox Announces Idol Dates, Orders New Midseason Series

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Hallmark Channel Revises Sundays in January; Fox Announces Idol Dates, Orders New Midseason Series

We gave you Hallmark Channel's January 2009 highlights last month, now we have some changes in store for Sundays! Sundays from 10am-3am has been changed totally! Effective Sunday, January 4, we will now get a block of 7th Heaven from 10am-3pm, that's five straight episodes of the Camden family on family day...Sunday! This will basically replace a movie, Diagnosis Murder movie, a Perry Mason movie, and a Matlock movie. Regular movies will now air from 3pm-1am, yes, five straight movies will air. These movies will basically replace the four Murder, She Wrote episodes in the evening. Finally, we get more I Love Lucy! As I Love Lucy will also air Sunday nights from 1-3am now replacing the Matlock movie. So to recap the times for I Love Lucy now...Saturdays 6-9am & 1-3am, Sundays 8:30am-10am & 1-3am, weekdays 8-9am and weekdays 4-5pm. Whole lotta Lucyyyyyyyy!

Fox has announced the American Idol schedule through March 10 (3/11-5/20 dates and times will be announced at a later date). As we know, Idol launches Jan. 13 and 14 with a two-night premiere from 8-10pm both nights. Then it will regularly air 8-9pm on both Tuesdays and Wednesdays, but there are times when it will be expanded to 8-10pm and two special Thursday airings will air on Jan. 29 and March 5. March 5 is the first night of March sweeps, as this year there is no February sweeps due to the transition to DTV on Feb. 17.
Why is this Idol schedule important? Because it looks like Bones will be preempted on Thursday, Jan. 29 now, since Idol is airing that night leading into the season premiere of Hell's Kitchen. Bones will return the following week (Feb. 5), though. Bones moves to the Thursdays at 8pm slot on Jan. 15 leading into the final two episodes of Kitchen Nightmares on Jan. 15 and 22.
Also, only 4 episodes of Fringe will air after American Idol through March 10 it seems. Fringe is slated to air for four weeks in a row on 1/20, 1/27, 2/3, and 2/10, then Idol expands to two-hours the next four weeks AT LEAST, so Fringe will probably not return until the end of March sweep. The news is better for new drama Lie to Me out of Idol, Idol will only be two-hours on a Wednesday on Feb. 11, so Lie to Me will air for three straight weeks then be preempted then air again for another three weeks at least, maybe more.
Meanwhile, Fox has ordered 13 episodes of Glee, an inspiring musical comedy series from Ryan Murphy. The one-hour series follows an optimistic high school teacher as he tries to transform the school's Glee Club and inspire a group of ragtag performers to make it to the biggest competition of them all: Nationals. The show will debut in 2009 and features a soundtrack of hit songs from past to present. It could be the perfect fit out of American Idol, so Fringe and Lie to Me need to do very well, if not then Glee will fit like a glove likely out of Idol.
View our previous story on Fox's 2009 midseason schedule for the rest of the schedules besides Tues-Thurs.

Sitcoms Airing Tonight

Sunday, November 27

Welcome to Flatch - "Flatchural Disaster" (Fox, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Mandy, Barb and Dylan throw their hats in the ring for town selectperson; when a tornado makes its way through the town, Flatch spins out of control.

The Simpsons - "When Nelson Met Lisa" (Fox, 8:30PM ET/PT)
A future tale of Springfield's most unlikely couple.

Bob's Burgers - "Show Mama From the Grave" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Bob takes Linda and the kids to visit his mother's grave, but finding the headstone is harder than he expected; Teddy makes a grave mistake while doing repairs in the Belcher's house.

The Great North - "Bee's All That Adventure" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Kima and her family host a very surprising visitor during Lone Moose's exchange student week; Ham fails to care for a cactus.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of November 21)

Friday, November 25

Tracy Morgan (The Last O.G./30 Rock/The Tracy Morgan Show) - Watch Tracy on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Zach Woods (Avenue 5/Silicon Valley/Playing House/The Office) - Zach appears on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Matthew Perry (The Odd Couple/Go On/Mr. Sunshine/Friends/Sydney/Boys Will Be Boys) - Matthew chats with the ladies of The View on a repeat on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Tisha Campbell (Uncoupled/Outmatched/Dr. Ken/Rita Rocks/My Wife and Kids/Martin) - Tisha discusses the TV series Uncoupled on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
Rosie O'Donnell (SMILF/Stand By Your Man/Gimme a Break!) - Rosie is a guest on a repeat of The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
Tyler James Williams (Abbott Elementary/Go On/Everybody Hates Chris) - Tyler appears on a repeat of The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
Regina Hall (Black Monday/Grandfathered/Second Generation Wayans) - Regina is a guest on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Howie Mandel (Good Grief) - Howie appears on a repeat of The Jennifer Hudson Show, so check your local listings.
Tia Mowry (Family Reunion/Instant Mom/The Game/Sister, Sister) - Tia uses leftover fruit to make a quick dessert on Rachael Ray, so check your local listings.
Emayatzy Corinealdi (Ballers) - Emayatzy talks about Hulu's Reasonable Doubt ABC's Good Morning America some time between 7-9am and on Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
Marlo Thomas (That Girl) - NBC's Today has Thanks & Giving Finale with Marlo and Choir in the 10am hour.
Jack McBrayer (30 Rock) - Jack talks about Apple TV+'s Hello, Jack! The Kindness Show on a repeat of Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
Tori Spelling (Mystery Girls/So Notorious) - Tori talks about MTV's Love at First Lie on a repeat of Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
Brian Tyree Henry (Atlanta) - Brian talks about Causeway and Atlanta on ABC's Good Morning America some time between 7-9am.