Saturday, February 28, 2009
Blog DVD Review: Lucy and Desi: A Home Movie
Lucy & Desi: A Home Movie (MPI, $19.98) gives fans of one of the most well-known couples in all of TV history a view of what things were like off-camera. Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, the stars of the classic TV series I Love Lucy, were married in 1940 and in their twenty years of marriage, they managed to build a TV legacy in a way that few (if any) others could successfully do.
Although the phrase "a home movie" appears in the title, it is a bit misleading. There are many clips from home movies from the private collection of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, although a lot of the documentary is interviews with family, friends, producers, and others that knew the couple most of all. There are also a few interspersed clips of interviews with Lucy and Desi from The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. The documentary starts nearly a century ago, with the childhood of Lucy and Desi. We find out here that both of them came from families that had certain difficulties. We hear quite a bit about Lucy's childhood, but not quite so much about Desi's.
The documentary quickly segues into the married life of Lucy and Desi, where we find out a lot about the movie careers that Lucy and Desi had in the 1940s, basically all of which were through the film studio RKO. And then, we get to the divorce--the first one in 1944, which never actually happened. Lucy decided that she wanted to divorce Desi because he was allegedly cheating on her (although Lucie Arnaz says that he always told her that he wasn't fooling around with other women in the way that other people though). The divorce never came to be, which opened the door to the big thing that was coming in a few years, a little TV series called I Love Lucy.
The year was 1951. Lucy and Desi had their first child, a daughter named Lucie Arnaz (one of the producers of this very documentary) and just a few months later, production of the series I Love Lucy began. But production costs for the series were a little expensive, and neither CBS nor Philip Morris were able to fully fund the series, so Desi Arnaz had an enterprising idea--he and Lucy would help to fund the series provided that he could have the film rights to the series. And so began the well-know TV studio of the 1950s and 1960s, Desilu. Not all went will for them in the 1950s, however. It was discovered that Lucy's hair was not the only red thing about her, and that she was also registered as a Communist in New York. It had the potential to destroy her entire career (as it had done to many other celebrities at the time), but luckily she came away mostly unscathed. As the 50s progress, we see the marriage of Lucy and Desi beginning to go into a slow decline, mostly due to Desi's use of drugs and alcohol, and the documentary takes us all the way to the 1960s, where Lucy takes control of Desilu away from Desi and the divorce proceedings begin. The documentary ends with a brief look into their lives after the divorce, and ends with a home movie from the 80s with Lucy and Desi in a swimming pool with their grandchild, with Desi singing (what else?) Babalu.
The DVD has very basic packaging (as it is only one disc) and very basic menus. They are simple, but functional for what it is worth. There is an option on the menus to turn on English subtitles for those that require them. The video and audio quality of the DVD and the special features is generally pretty impressive, except perhaps for the quality of the game show episodes from the 1950s. Of course, considering that these were never intended to be preserved in the first place, there isn't much to truly complain about with this.
The DVD is not without bonus features, either. We also have more interviews (31:07) on the disc from Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz, Jr. (in addition to the interviews featured in the documentary) that reflect upon the lives of their parents in a more candid perspective. There are even outtakes (20:32) from the interviews featured in the documentary! One of my favorite special features happens to be the original commercials (12:50) that are included that came from episodes of The Lucille Ball & Desi Arnaz Show (better known these days as The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour). Basically, these are extended commercials for Westinghouse that feature the characters from the series in their roles. I love how these older series integrated the characters into the commercials! These are very fun to watch.
The next two special features are sure to please game show fans. The first is a segment from the game show What's My Line? (9:15) where the celebrity panelists are blindfolded and have to guess the mystery celebrity on stage--which happens to be Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz! Additionally, we have an entire episode of the game show I've Got a Secret (23:48) with a special celebrity panelist for the episode, Lucille Ball. Finally, we have a Photo Gallery which features many photos from the private collection of Lucy and Desi, and we have a promo from MPI (2:03) for an upcoming DVD release (in season form) which many fans may have already heard of: the TV series Here's Lucy!
All in all, it isn't a bad documentary, although it does seem to be drag on a bit too slowly at times. I personally would have found it to be more interesting if it had a greater focus on the TV careers of Lucy and Desi. It seems to focus more upon their film careers and family life. Of course, the most dedicated fans of Lucille Ball are certain to love this, but to the casual fan, a lot of it may seem to be extraneous information. I kind of expected to find more information about the more negative aspects of their lives in the documentary, but it seemed that they skimped on some of the details of these events. That isn't to say that they completely ignore them, though. Fans of the work of Lucy, as well as anybody that is interested in television's golden era will definitely appreciate this DVD.
Reviewed by skees53
(4.5/5 stars)To purchase this DVD, click below and help support SitcomsOnline.com:
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Related links:
SitcomsOnline.com Full DVD Reviews Page
I Love Lucy TV.com Page
Here's Lucy TV.com Page
Friday, February 27, 2009
FamilyNet Adds Classic Sitcoms and Family Drama; BET Removes March Marathons
Weeknights (this started on Jan. 26) from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (encores from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m.), FamilyNet airs sitcoms from CBS-Paramount's vintage library featuring some of America's favorite TV families: the Cunningham's, the Douglas' and the Keaton's. During their long-running seasons, these must-see, classic series preserved "family time" and became standard programming on television sets in homes across America. To drive viewers to the prime-time block, FamilyNet rolled out its new promotional campaign, "Watch Families on FamilyNet." Note the airings of these show are on cable for FamilyNet only. Those who get the network as a broadcast station, they are not available for air.
FamilyNet used to only air public domain stuff, which is why we never covered them. They are still airing public domain episodes of I Spy in the afternoons, though. But now what with the acquisition of these series, this a channel to watch. Can they grow into a full-time channel for family shows? We can all hope! They have said they will continue to expand with entertainment programming as the network grows. I think they can grow and become a great channel for family television. I hope they get more family stuff from CBS Paramount like Webster mixing in with these family classics they have already before going to other studios for shows. There are plenty of shows out there that haven't gotten airplay in quite some time...Mr. Belvedere, Small Wonder are a few.
FamilyNet Television was launched in Atlanta, Georgia on October 25, 2007 and now is in 15.7 million television households. So check your local listings if you do have it, too! Or head on to their website to search by state! Unfortunately, I don't have it yet...but check if you do!
A few weeks ago we mentioned BET had scheduled two weekend marathons each of Family Matters and Fresh Prince in March. Now that isn't happening. The sister station Nick at Nite series won't be having marathons on those weekends, instead we get mini-blocks of One on One, The Game, and their original series. One on One is still getting that full day marathon tomorrow (Saturday, Feb. 28), though, despite the other March marathons being removed.
A change on weekdays is happening starting next week. BET will add an afternoon movie from 1-3pm in between hours of The Game (12-1pm) and One on One (3-4pm). So, One on One is not two hours anymore, as it was airing 2-4pm. 1-2pm was Hell Date, now it will be replaced by a movie. It will still remain late nights at 3-4am. Rounding out the weekday afternoon schedule is 4-5pm Smart Guy and 5-6pm The Game.
We will keep you up to date if Family Matters and Fresh Prince pop-up on the BET marathon slate again. They did air at the end of December, so it is possible they could air again for another marathon. For now, you can still watch them on Nick at Nite.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Seinfeld To Produce Comedy-Reality Series for NBC; Fox Orders Two More Seasons Simpsons, CBS Orders Two More Editions of Survivor
This new series titled The Marriage Ref (working title) will feature opinionated celebrities, comedians and sports stars who will candidly comment, judge and offer different strategies for real-life couples in the midst of a classic marital dispute.
No word yet when it will air exactly, but look for it sometime in the 2009-2010 season. More info will come soon, such as how many episodes were ordered. As of now, Jerry will create and produce the series, and not appear on it...but don't be surprised if he appears on it once or twice.
Fox has ordered two additional seasons of The Simpsons, which will bring the longest-running series in primetime television history through its 22nd season. The 44-episode pickup ensures the series will reach an astounding 493 episodes.
Since its debut on January 14, 1990, The Simpsons immediately struck a chord with viewers across the country as it poked fun of itself and everything in its wake. With its subversive humor and delightful wit, the series has made an indelible imprint on American pop culture and has become one of television's most iconic families.
"Best. 20 Years. Ever.," a year-long global celebration honoring all things The Simpsons, launched in January 2009 and will culminate on January 14, 2010, the 20th anniversary of the series' debut.
CBS has ordered two more editions of Survivor to be broadcast during the 2009-2010 season. These will mark the 19th and 20th editions of broadcast television's longest-running reality competition series. Jeff Probst, who won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality Competition Series, will continue as host. The groundbreaking reality series, which premiered in May 2000, has aired Thursdays at 8pm since February 2001.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
ION To Add Two Canadian Dramas; The CW Picks Up 6 Returning Series for 2009-2010 Season
ION Television has signed a deal with Fireworks International, the television and digital programming distribution arm of ContentFilm, to secure the exclusive U.S. original broadcast rights for The Border, the award-winning procedural crime drama series. The Border follows members of the elite Canadian Immigration and Customs Security Unit working with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to secure the border on both sides of the line.
ION Television, in a separate deal with Lionsgate, also secured the exclusive U.S. original broadcast rights for The Guard, an original action-drama series focusing on the members of a Coastguard Search and Rescue team. ION also has all U.S. television, digital media rights, Internet streaming and video-on-demand rights for both shows.
The Border, which garnered two prestigious Gemini Awards with ten nominations, including Best Dramatic Series, is a hard-driving crime drama featuring strong, topical stories from terrorist threats and drug smuggling, to trafficking in illegal organs and underage brides, to corporate and international espionage -- and brings a cool lens to the grit of urban life. Stars include James McGowan, Sofia Milos, Grace Park, Graham Abbey, Mark Wilson, Jim Codrington, Jonas Chernick, Nazneen Contractor and Catherine Disher.
The Guard, produced by Halifax Film and Brightlight Pictures Inc., is shot in the scenic wilderness of Squamish, British Columbia. A character-driven ensemble series, it focuses on the lives of four imperfect, offbeat and sometimes difficult, but heroic Canadian Coast Guard Rescue specialists who face danger daily out on the Pacific Ocean, saving lives as they search for meaning in their own. This gripping, high-action drama series stars Steve Bacic as Duty Captain Miro Da Silva, Jeremy Guilbaut as Rescue Specialist Andrew Vanderlee and Sonya Salomaa as First Mate Laura Nelson. David James Elliot (JAG, Closer to Home) also guest stars in the recurring role of David Nelson.
ION Television also as previously announced will have the original series Durham County coming later this year. Not to mention reruns of the popular crime series Criminal Minds coming in the fall. Is ION going after the CBS audience with three original series and many off-network crime dramas?
The CW announced early pickups of six series, including five of the network's signature dramas and the reality hit America's Next Top Model, which will all return in Fall 2009. The series receiving early pickups for next season are The CW's Monday tandem of sophomore sensation Gossip Girl and One Tree Hill, which combined to lift The CW to become the fall's #1 network on Monday with women 18-34. Both Gossip Girl and One Tree Hill have scored double-digit gains compared to their previous seasons. Freshman hit 90210 has improved the network's Tuesday night by double-digit increases in key demos. Wednesday anchor America's Next Top Model, which consistently wins its time period with young women, will also be back with superstar Tyra Banks and new groups of aspiring models for cycles 13 and 14.
Also renewed were the network's established Thursday team of Smallville, which will be going into its ninth season, and Supernatural, which after posting ratings growth this season, will enter its fifth season next year.
The jury is still out on series such as Everybody Hates Chris, The Game, Privileged, and Reaper. More pickups won't be announced most likely until the May upfront.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
TV Land April 2009 Highlights, Includes 7th TV Land Awards; JustMyShow.com Interviews Cliff Huxtable's Father
As for reruns and movies, realize your action-movie dreams the weekend of April 3-5, with TV Land PRIME's "Truth, Justice & the Harrison Ford Way." The bankable box-office star Harrison Ford and American movie icon, hit the cinematic trifecta three years in a row with Patriot Games in 1992, The Fugitive in 1993, and Clear and Present Danger in 1994. For three nights in a row beginning Friday, April 3, TV Land PRIME delivers Harrison Ford to viewers in each of these heart-stopping thrillers: On Sunday, April 3, from 10pm-1am, Harrison Ford teams up with Tommy Lee Jones in the mother of all manhunts, The Fugitive. On Saturday, April 4 from 10pm-12:30am, Harrison Ford brings Tom Clancy's character Jack Ryan to life as the American hero who foils an assassination attempt on a member of the British Royal Family by the IRA which proves to have very personal consequences in Patriot Games. Finally, Harrison Ford reprises his role as Jack Ryan on Sunday, April 5 from 10pm-1am in Clear and Present Danger. Jack Ryan finds himself entwined in an illegal covert operation against a Columbian drug cartel and faces off against some surprising political adversaries. Don't miss Harrison Ford in his "Prime"--no pun intended!
Then we take some time to do some spring cleaning--Cosby Show style! Raising children is not only hard work, it can be messy too, and the Huxtable kids prove to be no exception to that rule. From Theo's kitchen floor 'surfing' to Rudy and Peter's showdown with "The Juicer" to Olivia's crayon cleaning caper, the kids keep Cliff & Claire on their toes and flush with cleaning products that will tackle whatever the clean-up job requires. Let the clean-u begin on Thursday, April 9 from 9pm-1am!
The 7th Annual TV Land Awards show rolls out the red carpet on Sunday, April 26 at 9pm. Watch TV Land PRIME spread our wings further as the 2009 awards embraces and recognizes "more than television" with a star-studded night featuring a list of who's who in television and film. And, to deliver the most viewers possible and build excitement leading up to the awards show, at 2pm, TV Land will kick off the fun with a 7-hour marathon of perennial favorite The Andy Griffith Show featuring red-carpet interstitials from the award show. Still the host for the awards has not been announced along with major honorees, so check back with us!
Besides the Harrison Ford movies, other TV Land PRIME movies for the month include Tom Cruise in Risky Business and Jack Nicholson in Witches of Eastwick. Movie encores for the month include The Twilight Zone and and Cocktail.
There are no regular schedule changes as of now, so expect the same stuff as February and March. View the full TV Land April 2009 highlights!
Eric of JustMyShow.com is back after a year to do a new interview for his podcast! This time it is Earle Hyman, who played Russell Huxtable (Cliff's dad) on The Cosby Show. He also did the voice of Panthro in the hit '80s animated series Thundercats! Feel the magic, feel the roar!
Tony and Emmy nominated actor Earle Hyman has been acting on the stage and screen for over sixty years. While highly respected in classical theatre, he is perhaps best known for the role of Bill Cosby's father, Russell on The Cosby Show.
Among the topics you'll hear Earle talk about is a place near and dear to him, The Classical Theatre of Harlem, and him in Three Sisters alongside his former Cosby castmate Sabrina LaBeauf through March 8, 2009 in Harlem.
So without further adieu, head on over to JustMyShow.com to listen to this podcast! Get that James Brown song stuck in your head that the Cosby Show family sang to Grandpa and Grandma Huxtable and that catchy Thundercats theme in your head as you listen to Earle!
Monday, February 23, 2009
ION Television March 2009 Highlights; Early Edition Delayed on Sci Fi
So head on over to our ION Television March 2009 schedule thread to discuss and to see the schedule, list of movies, and RHI movies/miniseries for the month.
We mentioned Sci Fi was launching Early Edition on Monday, March 9, but now Sci Fi has delayed it. It was set to launch weekdays at 4pm starting the 9th, but now Sci Fi has opted to go with a second episode of Lost instead. Lost will also still air weekdays at 1am, as scheduled. Previously, Lost was just airing Monday nights in primtime (now replaced by Star Trek: TNG), but they moved it to weekdays 1am and Tuesdays 7-9pm. The Tuesday evening airings will be gone though in March replaced by two Star Trek: Enterprise episodes, so Lost will air 4pm and 1am weekdays. Sci Fi has not said when Early Edition will be rescheduled, but as of now early April schedules do not list it.
We also mentioned originally that Highlander was having a marathon on Mach 19. That that is NOT happening, but Sci Fi has moved that same marathon to Thursday, April 2 from 8am-9pm, with an airing of the movie Highlander: The Source at 9pm, followed by two more episodes at 11pm and 12am. Also in April, instead of Daytime Rotation marathons for two weeks, starting Monday, April 13 through April 27 we get movies from 8am-4pm...mostly movies that are mini-series or related, like The Odyssey and Stephen Kings movies. The Daytime Rotation marathons earlier in the month (April) include Tru Calling, Invasion, Joan of Arcadia, and Jeremiah. Then The Sentinel and Jericho are a few after the two week movies.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Week 22 (First Four Nights) Numbers; How the Sitcoms Did
Households: Fox: 9.3/14.2; CBS: 8.0/12.5; ABC: 5.5/8.6; NBC: 4.6/7.3; The CW: 0.8/1.3; MNT: 0.7/1.1.
Total Viewers: Fox: 16.09 million; CBS: 12.76 million; ABC: 8.52 million; NBC: 7.27 million; The CW: 1.24 million; MNT: 1.11 million.
Adults 18-49: Fox: 5.9/14.8; CBS: 3.2/8.3; ABC: 3.2/8.1; NBC: 2.6/6.8; The CW: 0.5/1.3; MNT: 0.3/0.8.
Analysis: Week 22 has Fox in the lead in all categories through the first four days. Through the first four day, as mentioned Fox is on top, with CBS in second in HH/viewers and tied with ABC for second in 18-49, while ABC is third in HH/viewers. And NBC in fourth everywhere.
Last week, CBS won week 21 in HH and viewers, while Fox took first in 18-49. Fox was second in HH/viewers, while CBS was second in 18-49, just nipping ABC thanks to the Grammys. ABC was third in everything, and of course NBC back in fourth.
Monday Fox and ABC battled as CBS was in repeats. Fox started with House and did a solid14.2 million leading into an all-new 24 at 11.22 million, up from previous week when it had Obama as its lead-in. ABC was next with a two-hour episode of The Bachelor did an excellent 12.52 million for week seven...and yes up once again. This time up a million from the previous week. It has gone up in all telecasts...it is doing excellent and the finale will be huge. The penultimate episode of True Beauty followed and did a decent 6.99 million. Season finale tomorrow. CBS had repeats...well for the most part. A repeat of The Big Bang Theory did a decent 8.73 million, while a rerun of How I Met Your Mother did 7.29 million, as this repeats worse. #1 sitcom Two and a Half Men was also a repeat and did 13.32 million, who else can pull that off for a repeat? The finale of Worst Week followed and did a poultry 8.7 million, while that sounds good...dropping near 5 million from a repeat is not good. At 10pm an encore episode of CSI: Miami did 10.5 million. NBC was next with its so-so line-up. A new Chuck did 6.84 million as looks like the 3-D episode didn't bring in new viewers. Same old same old. Heroes still struggled and did 7.74 million, down a bit from previous week and Medium followed with 8.97 million, but up over a million from previous week. The CW was next with a repeat of Gossip Girl doing 1.18 million and a repeat of One Tree Hill did 1.08 million, both down from previous week's repeats. Is it me or is this night more repeats than new for The CW?
Tuesday that show called American Idol dominated. Fox devoted the entire night to Idol, as it did 25.37 million for two-hours, up a bit from previous week, as that was just an hour. Fringe is now on an extended hiatus and will likely return in mid-March or...even later. CBS was next as NCIS started the night off at 18.06 million...on par really from previous week. New drama The Mentalist did 18.23 million, down over 1.5 million as it faced Idol head-to-head this week...but who cares, 18.23 million is awesome. The only problem is 70% of the audience are over 55! At 10pm, Without a Trace was new and did 12.1 million, down nearly two million week-to-week. NBC was next with a two-hour The Biggest Loser at 8.88 million, down from previous week, as it was affected a bit by that second hour of Idol. NBC followed at 10pm with a new Law & Order: SVU at a disappointing 9.48 million. Has this show gone tired? ABC was next and started with an all-new Homeland Security USA at 4.71 million...looks like this would work better Fridays at 8pm. Two repeats of Scrubs followed with 2.92 and 2.78 million, ouch. Next new episode is on its new night and time of Wednesdays at 8 starting March 18. So repeats until then, if they air. ABC ended with Primetime: What Would You Do at 10pm and did an OK 5.7 million. The CW aired a repeat of 90210 and did 1.08 million and an encore of Privileged only did 760,000 viewers.
Wednesday saw you know who dominate, yes I keep saying that but isn't it true sadly? Fox aired a results show of American Idol at 8pm doing 24.79 million, on par really from the previous week but that was two hours. New Fox drama Lie to Me followed and did 11.09 million for third place...not good news. CBS started with new episodes of sitcom Old Christine at an OK 6.72 million, on par really from previous week and a new episode of Gary Unmarried at an almost similar 6.5 million, off just a bit week-to-week. These are iffy for CBS. A new episode of Criminal Minds followed and did 14.54 million, up two million from previous week. CSI: NY followed with a new showing also doing 12.33 million, up some from previous week. ABC was next with an enhanced encore of Lost at 8pm doing 5.43 million, up over a million from previous week as looks like fans who missed it the previous week because of the second hour of Idol caught up, followed by an all-new Lost doing 11.41 million, up over a million and half from previous week and a great 5.2 18-49 rating, up .8 from previous week. A new Life on Mars did 5.48 million, up nearly a million from previous week. NBC opened the night with Knight Rider doing 5.32 million, down slightly from previous, a new episode of the dud Life followed and did just 5.04 million, but actually up from previous week. Law & Order followed at 10pm doing only 7.23 million, down a bit from previous week, it's time for NBC to put this show to rest. The CW aired another repeat of Privileged at 8pm at just 840,000 viewers and a repeat of 90210 followed with only 740,000 viewers, both down from previous week. Why not air comedy repeats instead?
Thursday saw CBS win in HH/viewers and ABC win the night in 18-49. ABC started with a new Ugly Betty doing 7.6 million, up slightly from previous week, a new Grey's Anatomy was next and did 15.57 million and a 5.9 18-49 rating. A new Private Practice followed and did 11.16 million at 10pm, and a 4.4 18-49 rating for a regular episode, so looks like the crossover with its parent helped. CBS started with Survivor: Tocantis doing 13.59 million, on par really from previous week, followed by a new CSI at 16.92 million, down a million from previous week, and a new Eleventh Hour followed with 11.17 million, up a bit from previous week. Fox followed with a new Bones at a solid 9.51 million followed by an all-new Hell's Kitchen at 6.57 million, but its strength was 18-49 doing a 3.2 rating despite the fierce competition. NBC was in the gutter in fourth...an all-new My Name is Earl did 6.79 million, up some week-to-week, a new Kath & Kim followed with 5.18 million, down from previous week. A repeat of The Office did just 5.89 million, yet it built on the lead-in. A repeat of 30 Rock followed with just 4.85 million. A new ER was next and did just 7.51 million, up a bit week-to-week. Smallville was a repeat on The CW and did 2.27 million, followed by a repeat of Supernatural at 1.97 million.
Now, as usual final numbers for Friday and Saturday are not available, but CBS won Friday with repeats of Ghost Whisperer, Flashpoint, NUMBERS as usual. ABC finished second for the night helped by 20/20 and Supernanny. NBC saw more declines for Howdie Do It at 8pm. And Fox was off the map with the should-be-pulled Sarah Connor Chronicles but did a bit better with week two of Dollhouse.
Saturday numbers were low with CBS winning a slow night in viewers and Fox in 18-49.
Tonight will all ABC with the Academy Awards. CBS has a new 60 Minutes and The Amazing Race, but the latter will be killed likely. NBC has a two-hour Dateline and a two-hour special 100 Most Outrageous Moments. Fox has a NASCAR race.
As for the week, ABC could win the week. It all depends on how big the Oscars do tonight. Maybe 40 million or more? Can't be worse than last year's 32 million. Look for CBS and Fox to be in the mix for the top as well, while NBC has no chance at anything but 4th. What to look for this week...Obama's Address to Congress Tuesday at 9pm ET/6pm PT will mess up programming. A slow week ends with a Brothers & Sisters movie event on ABC from 9-11pm next Sunday.
Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for week of Feb. 9-15, Week 21)
- The Simpsons (Fox) - A new episode did a below normal 6.73 million...maybe the Grammy's hurt it?
- King of the Hill (Fox) 2 episodes - A new episode did just 5.41 million and a repeat at 7pm did just 3.6 million.
- Family Guy (Fox) - FINALLY a new episode aired! 7.41 million tuned in...could have been better though. Now what will Fox do? Next new one is March 8...another 2 weeks off!
- American Dad (Fox) 2 episodes - A new airing did just 5.88 million and a repeat at 7:30 did a terrible 3.43 million.
Monday Sitcoms
- The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - 8.73 million for a repeat...very good actually.
- How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - 7.29 million for a repeat...could be better.
- Two and a Half Men (CBS) - 13.32 million for our sitcom leader...and did I mention it was a repeat? Why rewatchable?
- Worst Week (CBS) - Series...I mean season finale did 8.7 million. Should have been much better.
Tuesday Sitcoms
- Scrubs (ABC) 2 episodes - Two repeats did a pathetic 2.92 and 2.78 million, as Idol ate it. Repeats until its move to Wednesdays at 8 starting March 18.
- Old Christine (CBS) - 6.72 million vs. Idol, a bit up from previous week ever so slightly.
- Gary Unmarried (CBS) - 6.5 million but the show did build from its lead-in in 18-49 a bit.
- Under One Roof (MNT) 2 episodes - Two repeats did 930,000 and 900,000 viewers...ouch. But good lord it went up!
Thursday Sitcoms
- My Name is Earl (NBC) - 6.79 million for a new episode...up a bit week-to-week.
- Kath & Kim (NBC) - 5.18 million, back down after a week of gains.
- The Office (NBC) - 5.89 million for a repeat. It built from the lead-in and that was NEW.
- 30 Rock (NBC) - 4.85 million for a repeat. Not too good.
Friday Sitcoms
- Everybody Hates Chris (The CW) - 1.42 prelim million for a repeat.
- The Game (The CW) - 1.18 prelim million for a repeat. Why not move this to Wednesdays at 9??
Saturday Sitcoms
- Scrubs (ABC) - A repeat at 8pm barely registered.
Airing tonight (Sunday) are no comedies. Watch the Oscars!
Summing it up. Two and a Half Men, The Big Bang Theory, were impressive for the week. Everything else was OK (such as repeats of The Office, How I Met Your Mother) or just plain old terrible (such as Worst Week, Scrubs).
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Blog DVD Review: Futurama - Into the Wild Green Yonder (2/24)
Good news, everyone! Futurama - Into the Wild Green Yonder (20th Century Fox, $29.98) is coming out on DVD this Tuesday. This feature marks the final installment (of four) in the Futurama direct-to-DVD movie franchise serves as the initial revival of the 1999-2003 Fox animated series. And while currently it is the end of Futurama, it may not stay that way for long. A recent interview conducted with Billy West (the voice of quite a few characters on the show, including Fry, the Professor, and Zapp Branigan) suggests that Futurama may ultimately wind up with a full-season order, either on Fox or Comedy Central. For those of you familiar with the show, I ask a simple question: How much of this introductory paragraph have you read in your head using Professor Farnsworth's voice after I started off the review with his signature warning? Neat trick, huh?
The fourth and final diverges from the parody/send-up format used by the previous movie, in favor of a fairly linear story -- albeit one broken up neatly into four plot sub-arcs, for the purposes of reruns. The episode starts with the groundbreaking of a casino, and from there snowballs into a story of golfing, protests, tinfoil hats, a prison break, and of course Bender. And while I won't spoil the ending or any major plot details, the ending is such that it works well as EITHER a season or series finale. The end result of this movie is 89 minutes of program viewing captivating enough that you'll think you were experiencing the broadcasting bliss of Everybody Loves Hypnotoad. All Glory to the Hypnotoad!
Packaging and disc artwork were not given to us, but as soon we get that (if we DO)...we will edit that in.
This is the first presentation of the feature and obviously I can't compare it to previous television broadcasts. The colors have a neat way of popping at you with the new animation styles that older stuff simply can't compare. These 4 movies were "drawn" (via digital animation) with HD broadcasts in the future a distinct possibility. HD animation allows for a greater color palette to be used -- resulting in more vibrant colors. This difference was on display just this past weekend with Futurama's sister series The Simpsons, which began airing in HD last Sunday. Until the day we have technology to immerse us in the programs themselves, you're not going to find audio better than this. Today's audio technologies allow for some neat little tricks. Chapter stops are plentiful as there is a scene selection option in the wonderfully animated menus.
The special features burst out of this set. The features are selectable from a giant prize wheel (think a vertical version of the Wheel of Fortune wheel). First is commentary with Matt Groening, David X. Cohen, John DiMaggio, Maurice LaMarche, Patric M. Verrone, Michael Rowe, Lee Supercinski, and Peter Avanzino. I should probably recognize all those names, but I really trail off after Maurice LaMarche. He's the last one on the list I actually recognize. Sorry to the last four in the list -- then again I've been known not to recognize people I've known for decades, so don't feel left out. For fans of animatics out there (the rough sketches of the episode that get used for storyboards), the first part of the episode is included in animatic form (22:25). In the next segment, we're humorously shown a how Futurama is made through the blood, sweat, and tears of Lauren Tom (5:10). Next is a quickie on Penn Jillette -- who voices himself in a poker tournament scene (2:08). There is 2:52 worth of "Golden Stinkers" -- deleted scenes included. After that, Matt Groening and David X. Cohen go into space...they take a trip in one of those private Zero G places and take a camera with them (4:24)! Afterward, you learn to draw the Professor, Nibbler, the Hypnotoad, and Fry - all in 10-ish VERY difficult steps each (11:10). Afterwards is a 4:20 long tour of 3-D models used in the space scenes. Bender then next provides some tips on movie theater etiquette that only Bender can in an animation style eerily evocative of another of my favorites, The Critic (1:17). Finally (but not finally) is a guide by Zapp Branigan on making love to a woman 2:49. There IS an Easter Egg -- you just have to find it. Per my own personal policy, I'm not saying what it is or how to find it.
It seems to be the "in" thing to do these days to say that the Futurama DVD movies aren't as good as the series. I think that the sentiment expressed there is based on a misguided notion of the series as it was. Four years of cancelation and mourning led to people thinking the series was 22 minutes of awesomeness injected directly into the bloodstream once a week. Futurama was a great show, but it's not that. The four movies all represent different aspects of Futurama's storytelling character, and this one represents a great story and has the elements of a great character episode, particularly for Fry. I personally found Bender's Big Score to be the best of the four, but that's my own personal taste. I highly recommend *this* movie though to all fans of the show, and to people who just want to see Fox have to turn around and resurrect a second animated series due to high DVD sales volumes (see Family Guy). Highly Recommended.
-- Reviewed by Seth Thrasher
(5/5 stars)To purchase this DVD, click below and help support SitcomsOnline.com:
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Related links:
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Friday, February 20, 2009
TV Land Reveals Stunning 'Cougar'; ABC Moves Scrubs Wednesday Premiere Up a Week
For years, Stacey has believed that society has placed a double standard on women who date younger men, and she is here to prove that age is nothing but a number. Stacey's dating experiences have led her to believe that men her age and older live under the pressure of a "ticking clock," which dampens their spontaneity and zest for life. Essential to Stacey's personal success is her upbeat optimism and zeal, which have not been tainted by life's adversities. She believes that younger men have the same spirited zest for life, a demeanor Stacey finds crucial for her future love interest to possess, a love interest that she plans to find on The Cougar.
In her spare time, Stacey gives back to her community by helping to acquire affordable land for the nonprofit organization Habitat for Humanity. She also enjoys an active lifestyle by playing tennis, golf, hiking and swimming.
Stacey is currently a realtor who, in only her first year in the commercial real estate business, was ranked in the top 1% of realtors nationwide for sales over 50 million dollars.
Check out the stunning photograph of this Cougar! Meowww!
Meanwhile, ABC has announced it will move the new night and time premiere of Scrubs up a week from March 18 to March 11. Scrubs is on the move to Wednesdays at 8pm and will lead-into new sitcom Better off Ted starring Jay Harrington. Though Ted will still start in its original date of March 18, so we get an encore episode of Scrubs on March 11 at 8:30pm. As of now, Scrubs is still slated to air in its Tuesday at 9pm hour on March 3 and 10 with encore episodes. This coming Tuesday is President Obama's Address to Congress.
In other ABC schedule updates, a two-hour episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is slated for Sunday, Mach 29 from 8-10pm, leading into an encore of Desperate Housewives at 10pm. So no new Housewives that week, but it will be new on March 8, 15 and 22 that month. And finally the annual showing of the classic The Ten Commandments will air on Saturday, April 11 from 7-11pm on ABC.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
TBS Launches My Boys Season 3 on March 31; Obama Address to Congress Programming Update
In other TBS original sitcom news, House of Payne is having new episodes on Wednesdays from 10-11pm from Feb. 11 to March 4. More will air later in the year as well, as the order is for 26 episodes. Meanwhile Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns will return this summer after a successful 10-episode trial run. The series will have 80 additional episodes. The 10 Items or Less season finale is this coming Tuesday at 11pm ET, as it wraps-up its eight episode season. And finally, 10 more episodes of The Bill Engvall Show will launch this summer part of its third season. From the mind of America's favorite comedian, The Bill Engvall Show is a familiar, satisfying, contemporary family sitcom in the tradition of timeless sitcoms viewers know and love. Full of Bill Engvall's trademark family humor and unique take on parenting, marriage and kids, you will see your own family in this very funny family sitcom.
A few weeks ago we mentioned President Obama will preempt primetime programming on Tuesday, Feb. 24 at 9pm ET as he addresses to Congress. The address is now 90-minutes on the networks to include a Republican Response. So how will this affect primetime on network TV? For ABC, they will air the address from 9pm-10:30pm ET and an abbreviated half-hour version of Primetime: What Would You Do? will air at 10:30pm ET for the eastern time zone. The same goes for the central time zones, but of course they are one-hour behind. Out west, for the mountain time zone, the address to Congress will air live from 7-8:30pm MT, followed by an abbreviated half-hour version of Primetime: What Would You Do? at a special time of 8:30pm MT (it usually airs 9-10pm MT) and then they will conclude with Homeland Security USA at 9pm MT at a special time (usually airs 7pm MT). For the pacific time zone, the address to Congress will air 6-7:30pm PT, followed by local programming, then Homeland Security USA in regular 8pm PT hour, followed by a special repeat of Supernanny at 9pm PT (won't count in the ratings), and a full hour of Primetime: What Would You Do? at 10pm PT.
For CBS, they too will air the Obama address from 9-10:30pm ET, followed by a repeat of Two and a Half Men at 10:30pm ET. The same goes true for the central time zone, just off by an hour. For the mountain time zone though, the address to Congress will air live from 7-8:30pm MT, followed by the special Two and a Half Men encore at 8:30pm MT and an all-new NCIS at 9pm MT at a special time, as it usually airs at 7pm MT. Finally, for the pacific time zone, the address to Congress will air 6-7:30pm PT, followed by local programming, then NCIS at its normal 8pm PT slot, followed by special repeats of Two and a Half Men and Old Christine in the 9pm PT hour. Old Christine won't count in the ratings like Supernanny on ABC because it is not airing in the entire country. If Two and a Half Men gets preempted for the entire nation (that will only happen if the address to congress runs longer than 90-minutes), then a repeat of The Unit will air at 9pm PT for the pacific time zone only. 10pm PT will be returned to local stations to program for pacific time.
For NBC, they have just announced they too will air the address to Congress from 9-10:30pm ET, and in the eastern time zone, a repeat episode of The Office will follow. The same goes true for the central time zone, but they are one-hour behind. For the mountain time zone the address to congress will air live from 7pm-8:30pm MT, followed likely by The Office repeat and The Biggest Loser at 9pm MT at a special time, as it usually airs at 7pm MT. For the pacific time zone, the address to Congress will air 6-7:30pm PT, followed by local programming, The Biggest Loser will air from 8-9pm PT, followed likely by The Office encore at 9pm. NBC has not made that 9pm PT hour official yet, so I am not sure what will air at 9:30pm PT, but it would likely be a Office repeat. At 10pm PT we are not sure if NBC will air a repeat of Law & Order: SVU out west or just give it back to local programming like CBS is doing. For those wondering, The Biggest Loser is usually two-hours but like we mentioned a few weeks ago, it will air for an hour on this night and the second hour will air the following night.
For Fox, the address to Congress will air likely from 9-10pm ET in the eastern time zone, as they have not mentioned a half-hour Republican Response. A repeat of Bones will lead into that, as the regularly scheduled American Idol will be moved to Wednesday from 8-10pm, and the usual Wednesday results will be moved to Thursday 8-9pm. The same goes true for central time. For your mountain time zone readers, the address to Congress will air from 7-8pm MT, and in the eastern time zone. The Bones repeat will follow at 8pm MT. For pacific time zone readers, Fox will air the address to Congress from 6-7pm ET followed by local programming then likely two Bones repeats from 8-10pm PT, though that second hour is not confirmed yet.
I hope this made sense! We will have continued updates if anything changes, so come on back!
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
7th Annual TV Land Awards Date Confirmed; Hallmark Acquires Movies; TMZ Renewed Through 2011
Throughout the ninety-minute telecast, TV Land will honor legendary artists from both television and movies, feature exhilarating music as well as never-before-seen reunions of some of the most iconic celebrity casts from TV and movies, and of course, the fan favorite -- the perennial TV Land Awards parody that always highlights the year's pop culture moments.
We will have MUCH more on the TV Land Awards in the coming weeks, such as the honorees, the reunions, the parody, and of course the host!
Hallmark Channel saddles up for more "Rough 'n' Ready" weeks and more mystery movie marathons with the acquisition of the Emmy Award-nominated CBS mini-series Comanche Moon and two additional CBS Stone Cold movies starring Tom Selleck, all from Sony Pictures Television, for air on The Hallmark Channel.
In addition, the acquisition deal brings a roster of 18 classic musicals to Hallmark Movie Channel, the spinoff network. Titles in the deal for Hallmark Movie Channel the 24-hour sibling network to Hallmark Channel which airs "the very best" of family friendly theatrical feature films include Bye, Bye Birdie, starring Janet Leigh, Dick Van Dyke, Ann-Margret and Maureen Stapleton; Funny Lady, starring Barbra Streisand, James Caan, Omar Sharif, Roddy McDowall and Ben Vereen; Oliver!, starring Oliver Reed and Jack Wild; Pal Joey, starring Rita Hayworth, Frank Sinatra and Kim Novak; and, Pennies From Heaven, starring Bing Crosby and Louis Armstrong. The musicals will become part of a franchised block on Hallmark Movie Channel.
As for The Hallmark Channel, it is known for its success in programming a uniquely appealing mix of original movies like the four original holiday premieres which each delivered over a 3.0 HH rating the very best of family-friendly theatrical feature films; and, a line-up of classic and beloved off-network series including 7th Heaven, Little House on the Prairie, M*A*S*H, and The Golden Girls which begins March 1.
Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution (WBDTD) has renewed its entertainment news half-hour, TMZ through 2011 in nearly 100% of the country, reports B&C.
In November, Warner Bros. announced that the Fox station group had picked up TMZ for two more years. The Fox stations served as the show's launch pad in Sept. 2007. Over the past four months, the following station groups also have reupped: Sinclair Broadcast Group, Tribune Broadcasting, Barrington Broadcasting, ComCorp, ACME Television, Grant Communications, Gray Television, Raycom, Hoak Media, LIN TV, Lambert Broadcasting, Newport Television, Max Media, Media General, Meredith, New Age Media, New Vision Television, Newport Television, Nexstar Broadcasting Group, Northwest Broadcasting, Pappas Telecasting and Smith Media, among others.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
ION HD Launch Delayed, Details on Switch to DTV on June 12; Retroality.TV Interviews Gilligan's Island's Dawn Wells
B&C reports, ION's 40 other stations are still going to make the transition to digital on Feb. 17, but about two thirds of the nation's roughly 1,800 TV stations will be delaying pulling the plug on the analog version of their primary signal after the administration asked, and Congress consented, to move the date.
So, yes the transition to DTV was supposed to take place today. But President Obama, the House, and Congress moved the date to June 12 instead citing that most people were still not ready. Many stations will still make the transition to digital today, but the entire country won't be ready until June 12. This will the government more time to set up call centers and get DTV-to-analog converter box coupons to ALL viewers, though it will also create some confusion as viewers now have several analog cut-off dates to contend with.
So if you still have an old television with no cable or satellite, I urge you to head to DTVAnswers.com for information on how to still watch TV. This is a big mess, as February sweeps was moved to March because of this and now it isn't happening on Feb. 17 anymore. I haven't mentioned this on the blog at all, but we urge you to head to DTVAnswers.com for any questions and how to get a converter box if you're TV is not ready.
Our buddy Chris Mann has his February cover feature posted on his website Retroality.TV. This time he goes one-on-one with Gilligan's Island's Mary Ann herself--Dawn Wells! I cannot believe she is 70, she still practically looks the same! Dawn "Mary Ann" Wells (now a film actors boot camp mentor) opens up about her Mary Jane scandal/arrest, Michael Phelps' bong fiasco, the upcoming Gilligan's Island feature film, and Tina "The Movie Star" Louise's 40-year Island exile.
I'll share some interesting quotes from Chris' interview with Dawn:
ON HER ARREST
"I had that horrible experience with that fake arrest. It wasn't fake--I was arrested but it wasn't legitimate. He's in jail now, as a matter of fact, the guy who arrested me. And the sheriff has also been under investigation for false arrest. It was a very unfortunate situation. And I was very, very aware of what the press can do. ... It was very, very difficult. And I finally said to somebody, "I'm not sure if Britney Spears has two boys." I don’t believe anything I read anymore."
ON CO-STAR TINA "THE MOVIE STAR" LOUISE
"(The 2004 TV Land Awards) was very awkward, though. I'd heard there was a rumor that she wouldn't sit with us, or she wanted to get paid to sit with us ... So she didn't sit with us. But afterward, we all took a picture with Sherwood Schwartz. And then after that somebody wanted to interview us, and Tina and I sat down together for the first time ever. And she was very complimentary about the show. I almost fell off the chair. (She said,) 'The little kids really like it, and I'm reading to kids and kids appreciate it.' And I thought, 'Well, maybe it's taken this much time to realize how grateful we all should be for that show.' I haven't run into her (since), but we're always very civil."
For the rest of the great questions from Chris to Dawn Wells, check out his FULL interview at Retroality.TV. It is about 4-parts long, so great job by Chris! He even has video excerpts from Entertainment Tonight and The View! Coming soon from Chris will be an interview with Janet Wood herself--Joyce DeWitt! And speaking of interviews, we here at SitcomsOnline.com also have some in the works that you will love to read. I won't give it away until it is official, but many of you will enjoy them! Stay tuned...
Monday, February 16, 2009
The Golden Girls on WE tv Details; TNT's The Closer Heads to Broadcast Syndication in Fall 2010
We gave you the details on The Golden Girls on The Hallmark Channel already, now we have details on The Golden Girls on WE tv. We were the first ones to announce last year that the series would also come to WE tv when it comes to Hallmark and leaves Lifetime. Now we finally have the details on WE tv's timeslots for the show!
The hit '80s sitcom premieres Monday, March 16, on WE tv from 5pm to 7pm, with four back-to-back episodes that will air every weeknight thereafter as well from 5pm to 7pm. So Hallmark will air it on weekdays 9-10am, 4-5pm and 12-2am, and we can now add 5-7pm for WE tv. If my math is correct, that is six combined hours between the two. This is just weekdays, too! In addition, an all-day marathon has been scheduled from 10am-5pm on Saturday, March 21 on WE tv. We don't know yet if WE tv will air the series yet on weekends, but Hallmark is airing it in the mornings (Saturdays 6-9am and Sundays 8:30am-10am). Stay tuned, as they say in the TV world.
The series of course is about four previously married women living together in Miami, sharing their various experiences together and enjoying themselves despite hard times. We will have more on this for sure in the coming days, as we are not yet sure if WE tv will make any other schedule changes, as they air other sitcoms as well (Hope & Faith, Dharma & Greg, and Girlfriends). But for now head on over to WE tv's The Golden Girls section! Thank you for being a friend!
The Closer, basic cable's highest-rated program, will premiere on TV stations in reruns in fall 2010 and is sold through 2012. The show is sold to the Fox Television Stations in 16 markets, including New York, Los Angeles and Chicago.
It's also been cleared with the following groups: CBS, Raycom, Capitol Broadcasting, Local TV, Hearst-Argyle Television, Tribune, Young, LIN TV, Turner, Newport Television, Weigel Broadcasting, Post-Newsweek Stations, Four Points Media Group, Meredith, Cox Television, Grant Television, Gannett Broadcasting, McKinnon Broadcasting, Freedom Communications, ComCorp, Bonten Media Group, Barrington Broadcasting Group, Hubbard Broadcasting and ACME Television. This covers about 85% of the country so far.
The series is produced by Warner Bros. Television. Kyra Sedgwick stars as Deputy Police Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson, who is involved in cracking tough and high-profile murder cases in Los Angeles.
Meanwhile, Warner Bros. has sold the third syndication cycle of Without a Trace to stations representing 85% of the country, renewing the hit drama series in reruns through the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons on the CBS Television Stations in 18 markets, including New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, as well as to stations owned by Sinclair, Tribune, Raycom, Meredith, Newport, Post-Newsweek, Four Points, Media General, Belo, Freedom, New Vision, Barrington, Bonten Media Group, McKinnon, Dispatch, Weigel, Journal, Allbritton, Grey, ACME and Hearst-Argyle. The series is still airing on broadcast in originals on CBS in its seventh season and is likely to return for an eighth season in 2009-2010.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Week 21 (First Four Nights) Numbers; How the Sitcoms Did
Households: CBS: 8.6/13.6; Fox: 8.5/13.0; ABC: 5.3/8.3; NBC: 4.9/7.8; The CW: 1.1/1.7; MNT: 0.6/1.0.
Total Viewers: Fox: 14.84 million; CBS: 13.95 million; ABC: 8.32 million; NBC: 7.69 million; The CW: 1.64 million; MNT: 1.01 million.
Adults 18-49: Fox: 5.5/13.8; CBS: 3.6/9.2; ABC: 3.2/8.1; NBC: 2.9/7.3; The CW: 0.7/1.8; MNT: 0.3/0.8.
Analysis: Week 21 has CBS in the lead in HH edging Fox by a hair through the first four days. Through the first four day, as mentioned CBS has the lead in HH, though Fox has the edge in viewers and has a commanding lead in 18-49. CBS is second in viewers and 18-49, while ABC is third in all categories and NBC in fourth.
Last week, CBS won week 20 in HH and viewers, while Fox took first in 18-49. Fox was second in HH/viewers, while CBS was second in 18-49. ABC was third in everything, and of course NBC back in fourth. No NFL, means a given fourth place for NBC.
Monday President Obama has a special news conference at 8pm, causing the networks to move stuff, delay stuff, etc. A big mess. ABC's coverage of the event was first place, but the conference doesn't count in the ratings. CBS had to move The Big Bang Theory to 9:30pm this week, while How I Met Your Mother was preempted. #1 sitcom Two and a Half Men aired in its normal time and and did a below normal 15.0 million for a new episode, down over 1.5 million from previous week. The finale of Worst Week was moved to tomorrow thanks to Obama, so CBS aired The Big Bang Theory at a special time and did an excellent 12.72 million, for of course a series high. At 10pm a new episode of CSI: Miami did 13.81 million, which was way down from the previous week...nearly three million below previous week. Fox had to preempt House because of Obama, so that cost them big time. However 24 still aired but at 10.61 million, down from previous week. ABC was ahead of Fox on this atypical Monday, with a two-hour episode of The Bachelor at a special time of 9-11pm out east and it did an excellent 11.59 million for week six...and yes up once again. It has gone up in all telecasts...it is doing excellent. Because of Obama, True Beauty was preempted and moved to the following night. NBC had to preempt Chuck because of Obama and that could end up hurting this series as it just returned the previous week. Heroes still struggled and did 7.9 million, down from previous week and Medium followed with 7.89 million, also down from previous week. The CW was next with a repeat of Gossip Girl doing 1.67 million and a repeat of One Tree Hill did 1.38 million.
Tuesday that show called American Idol dominated, but CBS nearly won the night in viewers still but did in HH. Fox started with Idol, doing 24.94 million, down a million or so from previous week. Fringe followed with just 9.83 million, down nearly three million from previous week, ouch...now the show is on hiatus for a month or so as Idol expands to two-hours. CBS was next as NCIS started the night off with doing 18.03 million...but the question is, how? New drama The Mentalist was finally new and returned with 19.7 million, building on its lead-in by a lot this time. At 10pm, Without a Trace was new and did 14.31 million, up nearly two million week-to-week, as it had a much bigger lead-in this week. NBC was next with a two-hour The Biggest Loser at 9.25 million, but down over a million from previous week. NBC followed at 10pm with a special Dateline on the octuplet mom preempting Law & Order: SVU doing slightly better than that at 11.26 million. ABC was next and started with a the classic 1975 special Be My Valentine Charlie Brown and the 2002 special A Charlie Brown Valentine at a below normal 4.81 million, as Homeland Security USA does better than that. Two all-new Scrubs episodes followed with 4.56 and 4.22 million, which was both down a bit from previous week once again. ABC preempted Primetime: What Would You Do at 10pm and aired True Beauty on a special night because of Obama and looks like viewers did not find it or know about it because it did just 3.69 million. The CW aired a new 90210 and did 2.38 million, down a bit week-to-week and a new Privileged only did 1.4 million, also down some from previous week.
Wednesday saw you know who dominate. Fox aired a two-hour American Idol doing 24.82 million, down two million from the previous week and that was just one our. New Fox drama Lie to Me was preempted, but Fox didn't mind. CBS started with new episodes of sitcom Old Christine at an OK 6.67 million and an episode of Gary Unmarried at an almost similar 6.54 million. These are iffy for CBS. A new episode of Criminal Minds followed and did 12.48 million, seems below normal. CSI: NY followed with a new showing also at a below normal 11.94 million. ABC was next with an enhanced encore of Lost at 8pm doing 4.31 million, down some from previous week, followed by an all-new Lost doing 9.82 million, down over a million from previous week thanks to Idol but still a solid 4.4 18-49 rating. A new Life on Mars did 4.63 million, down over a million from previous week as well. NBC opened the night with Knight Rider doing 5.48 million, up some from previous, a new episode of the dud Life followed and did just 4.59 million, down over two million from its return the previous week when it had lesser competition thanks to Katie Couric on CBS. Law & Order followed at 10pm doing only 7.44 million, down well over a million from previous week, it's time for NBC to put this show to rest. The CW aired another repeat of Privileged at 8pm at just 1.02 million, but up some actually from previous week, and a repeat of 90210 followed with only 880,000 viewers, down slightly from previous week.
Thursday saw CBS win in HH/viewers and ABC win the night in 18-49. ABC started with a new Ugly Betty doing 7.4 million, up slightly from previous week, a new Grey's Anatomy was next and did 15.16 million and a 5.9 18-49 rating, on par week-to-week. A new Private Practice followed and did a a great 14.1 million at 10pm, and a series high of 5.7 18-49 rating! The episode was a crossover with its parent and delivered big time in quality and the ratings. The conclusion is this coming week! CBS started with the return of Survivor: Tocantis doing 13.63 million, followed by a new CSI at 17.94 million and a new Eleventh Hour followed with 10.94 million. NBC was third with an all-new line-up, too...My Name is Earl did 6.4 million, up slightly from previous week a new Kath & Kim followed with 5.51 million, up from previous week. A new The Office did 9.0 million, up from previous week, followed by a highly promoted new 30 Rock at 7.68 million, up over a million this week. ER was next and did just 7.24 million, the second lowest ever. Fox had to take a back seat as Bones and Hell's Kitchen were preempted for te 40th Annual NAACP Awards doing just 4.2 million. Smallville was a repeat on The CW and did 2.41 million, followed by a repeat of Supernatural at 1.99 million.
Now, as usual final numbers for Friday and Saturday are not available, but CBS won Friday with a new Ghost Whisperer, Flashpoint, NUMB3RS as usual. However, ABC finished second but won the 10pm hour with 20/20 and also an above average Supernanny at 9pm did solid. NBC saw more declines for Howdie Do It at 8pm. And Fox was off the map with the return of Sarah Connor Chronicles but did a bit better with the series premiere of Dollhouse.
Saturday numbers were so low it was not funny. Valentine's Day affected the night badly, as no network went above 4 million.
Tonight will be CBS and ABC battling for the win. CBS with its usual lineup and the season premiere of The Amazing Race and ABC with its Sunday combination of AFV, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Desperate Housewives and Brothers & Sisters. NBC has a two-hour Dateline and the conclusion of the mini-series XIII, which did terrible last Sunday. Fox has returns its animation with finally an all-night new line-up.
As for the week, CBS should hang on for the win in HH/viewers, while Fox in 18-49. Fox should be second in HH/viewers and ABC could be 2nd in 18-49, if CBS does lower than ABC tonight. ABC will be third in HH/viewers, while NBC should be fourth across the board. What to look for this week...the conclusion of the crossover on ABC Thursday with Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice! The CW will be in repeats the entire week and they will lose to MNT because of it. The week ends in a bang with the Oscars on ABC, so ABC will win the week this coming week.
Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for week of Feb. 2-8, Week 20)
- The Simpsons (Fox) - A repeat episode did just 4.75 million.
- King of the Hill (Fox) - A new episode did just 4.75 million, but its lead in was a repeat.
- Family Guy (Fox) - Yet another repeat of this show did 5.56 million...not too bad though. This show is FINALLY new tonight.
- American Dad (Fox) - A repeat did just 4.6 million.
Monday Sitcoms
- The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - 12.72 million for a new episode...series high...but it aired at 9:30pm this week thanks to Obama.
- How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - preempted thanks to Obama.
- Two and a Half Men (CBS) - 15.0 million for our sitcom leader...but down well over a million from previous week.
- Worst Week (CBS) - preempted thanks to Obama. Series...I mean season... finale tomorrow.
Tuesday Sitcoms
- Scrubs (ABC) 2 episodes - Two all-new episodes did 4.56 and 4.22 million only and a 2.0 18-49 rating. Now repeats until its move to Wednesdays at 8 starting March 18.
- Old Christine (CBS) - 6.67 million vs. Idol, not too good but not that bad.
- Gary Unmarried (CBS) - 6.54 million but the show did build from its lead-in in 18-49 a bit.
- Under One Roof (MNT) 2 episodes - Two repeats did 620,000 and 590,000 viewers...ouch. Looks Flavor Flav needs to find some more love on VH1.
Thursday Sitcoms
- My Name is Earl (NBC) - 6.4 million for a new episode...not too good but up a bit week-to-week.
- Kath & Kim (NBC) - 5.51 million, it actually went up.
- The Office (NBC) - 9.0 million for a new episode, finally cracked 9 million. Now a repeat this week. Bad timing for NBC.
- 30 Rock (NBC) - 7.68 million for a new episode...up from previous week as a guest star had to drive it up.
Friday Sitcoms
- Everybody Hates Chris (The CW) - 1.36 prelim million for a new episode.
- The Game (The CW) - 1.53 prelim million for a new episode. Why not move this to Wednesdays at 9??
Saturday Sitcoms
- None.
Airing tonight (Sunday) are new episodes of Fox's animated comedies from 8-10pm.
Summing it up. Two and a Half Men, The Big Bang Theory, The Office, were impressive for the week. Everything else was OK (such as Old Christine, Gary Unmarried) or just plain old terrible (such as Under One Roof, Scrubs).
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Blog DVD Review: Alvin and the Chipmunks - The Mystery of the Easter Chipmunk
Alvin & the Chipmunks: The Mystery of the Easter Chipmunk (Paramount, $16.99) brings the 1995 TV special "The Easter Chipmunk" on DVD along with four episodes from the TV series! In "The Easter Chipmunk," Alvin finds out that his Grandpa was the original Easter Chipmunk, and tries to sue Mr. Hoppity, the Easter Bunny for the rights. What will happen? You'll have to watch!
We have had many Chipmunk sets, some even re-released. Basically, we have had Chipmunks Go To The Movies sets (which featured episodes like "Daytona Jones and the Pearl of Wisdom," "Robomunk," "Star Wreck," "Batmunk," and "Funny...We Shrunk the Adults"). We have also had holiday themed sets such as Valentine's, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas specials releases. Paramount has also released the Chipmunk Adventure feature film from 1987. We also had episodes featuring The Chipettes from the original series 1983-87 series. And my personal favorite was the Alvinnn! Edition, which was the first set to have episodes from the original 1983-87 series. 14 of them!
This set has the 1995 Easter special along with episodes from the series. The original 1983-87 series and the 1988-89 Chipmunks series had two 11-minute episodes or so in a half-hour. So as with the other DVDs, we don't get the actual "full episodes," but one 11-12 minute episode from a full episode. The Easter special runs 21:35 with four chapter stops. The other four episodes are from the original series or the 1988 Chipmunks series. In "Snow Wrong," the Chipmunks and Chipettes audition to be in a Snow White play. The episode is from the original 1983-87 series and runs around 12:24 and we also get the opening and closing credits, but no episode title card. The next three episodes are from The Chipmunks years. In "Special Kind of Champion," Alvin is upset that he can't seem to keep up with the rest of his track race team. Being that so, the coach decides to let him become a trainer for one of the athletes of the Special Olympics. This episode runs 11:59 and has the opening and closing credits. The next episode is "Thinking Cap Trap," Simon is frustrated being the smartest member of the family. He invents a cap that helps Dave and his brothers become smarter. Simon is so confident with his family's new smarts that he signs them up to be on a genius game show. But before he can give his family another boost of the thinking cap, he loses it. This episode runs 13:02 and has the opening and closing credits. The final episode on this set is "Luck O' the Chipmunks," Micky, a new Irish boy at school, claims that he has his very own leprechaun. The Chipmunks are keen to investigate. This one runs 13:08 and also has the opening and closing credits. Weird that only one episode (the Easter special) has to deal with Easter. The rest seem random, though nice to have. The St. Patrick's Irish themed episode fits, I guess since that holiday is on the horizon.
Packaging is simple and in the same line as the previous sets--a nice simple case with the discs inside, and as with last time, there is NO insert for Chipmunks.com once again. Cover art features the Alvin, Simon, & Theodore with the Easter Chipmunk looking. Back of the case we have info on the set and the episodes, with Alvin with rabbit ears and lots of Easter eggs below him. We get a little yellow box listing the episode titles for the set. Disc art has the same artwork as the cover art, but just Alvin and the Easter Chipmunk this time. All the artwork seems to be from the post-1987 version, and not the original series artwork for some reason. This is been the case for all the sets it seems. Oh well.
The menu screen has the same artwork has cover art. Options are Play All, Episode Selection and Previews. An auto-trailer for Alvin sets come before the main menu starts and also the same trailer can be found in the Previews option on the main menu. At least we don't get any other trailers. The Episode Selection list the episode titles. Simple yet effective.
The video and audio are OK at best, some episodes look good (not great though), some don't. If you have any of the other sets, you'll know what I mean. They are certainly not remastered or anything, like I have mentioned before. They are watchable, though. So it is worth the buy, especially since this series is not on television anymore. The copies are a bit better than VHS that you may have recorded from the original run or 90s syndication. The Easter special is newer, so that looks better.
I highly do recommend any fan to pick up this set. We are now getting episodes of the classic series from 1983-87, as this is the third set to feature them...though we only get one episode from that here. Those are the best and most memorable episodes. And once again I reiterate, I just wish they start giving us season sets. It isn't that hard, is it? They obviously have the rights to the original episodes now since they were not releasing them at first. Though I hope if and when they make season sets, they remaster and clean up the episodes a bit for the fans. I really want a complete first season or at least break them up into half seasons and release them. I want to see "The C Team" episode on DVD! Mr. T in animation! Anyway, I know today is Valentine's Day but this episode features the upcoming holidays of St. Patrick's Day and Easter...so we like to look ahead! So grab your bunny ears and buy this set while eating your Easter eggs or your Valentine's chocolate...whatever! Let's get to the bottom of this scrambled caper!
-- Reviewed by Pavan
(4/5 stars)To purchase the DVD, click below and help support SitcomsOnline.com:
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Friday, February 13, 2009
BET Premieres The Game One Week Earlier, Adds Sitcom Marathons in March; TVLandPRIME.com Adds High School Reunion Content; Boomerang News
Starting February 28, BET will have sitcom marathons all March long on weekends! On Saturday, Feb. 28 from 9am-8pm we will have an all-day One on One marathon! For the following weekend (March 7-8), we will have Family Matters! Sister station Nick at Nite's series returns to BET for another marathon airing. The marathon airs Saturday, March 7 from 12pm-8pm, following the Proud Family block and Proud Family Movie. Family Matters will also air Sunday, March 8 from 12pm-4pm. The weekend after that (March 14-15), we get more Urkel and company with Family Matters once again on Saturday, March 14 from 2pm-5pm and Sunday, March 15 from 12-2pm. So a shorter block that weekend, but still a whole lotta Urkel on BET. Next, the weekend of March 21-22, will feature another sitcom from sister station Nick at Nite! This time catch Will Smith in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air on Saturday, March 21 from 4pm-10pm and again on Sunday, March 22 from 4pm-8pm. The final weekend in March (March 28-29), will have yet more Fresh Prince! This time just on that Saturday (March 28) from 6pm-10pm.
So that's BET's sitcom update for you! Of course, as usual, this is subject to change. We will keep you up to date on further developments and we will also provide episode info for those weekend sitcom marathons in March on our message board thread for this. So stay tuned!
TVLandPRIME.com kicks off the second season of TV Land's hit reality series High School Reunion, from Warner Horizon Television, with exclusive and exciting content for the program, which premieres on Wednesday, February 18, 2009, at 10 p.m. ET/PT. The TV Land original eight-part reality series premieres on TV Land PRIME, TV Land's new primetime programming destination designed to appeal to the attitudes, life stage and interests of people in their 40s.
The High School Reunion microsite is jam-packed with interesting features this season, such as a user-generated "Digital Yearbook," extended and deleted scenes from the show, behind-the-scenes video taken by the cast, personal photo galleries, video cast bios and weekly blogs from cast members revealing juicy gossip from the reunion. Additionally, visitors will be able to enjoy full streaming episodes online the day after they premiere on-air, as well as streaming '80s radio and '80s trivia.
View more information about this, the new cast, and more.
Boomerang will ring-in Valentine's Day with a network premiere of It's Valentine's Day, Johnny Bravo on Saturday, Feb. 14, at 8 p.m. (ET). The half-hour animated special follows a six-hour marathon of dating-themed episodes of Johnny Bravo, one of the first three original series created by Cartoon Network in 1997.
Johnny Bravo is a buff, girl-chasing-mama's-boy who can't seem to get a date in spite of his good looks and an even better hairdo. On Saturday, February 14, (Valentine's Day), Johnny Bravo's funniest dating disasters will be showcased in a six and a half-hour marathon beginning at 2 p.m. (ET) on the commercial-free Boomerang network. The marathon will culminate with the network premiere of the special, It's Valentine's Day, Johnny Bravo at 8 p.m. (ET).
In this very special episode, we learn that Valentine's Day is in fact Johnny Bravo's birthday also, which might explain his penchant for amorous antics. He yet again strikes out with the ladies until his "mama," Bunny Bravo, sets him up on a blind date with a real "knock-out"-literally. Meeting the girl of his dreams turns out to be a true nightmare during what should be the most romantic night of the year. A plethora of guest stars appearing in It's Valentine's Day, Johnny Bravo include former Saturday Night Live cast member Molly Shannon, "New Kids on the Block" heartthrob Joey McIntyre, The Brady Bunch's Maureen McCormick and former teen idol Donny Osmond.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
ION Adds More Boston Legal, Reduces Harvey, Feud; Dancing with the Stars Professional Pairings Announced
We're not sure yet of the March schedule, but one could assume these changes will head on over to March as well. We'll let you know as soon as we can! But for now, view the updated ION Television February 2009 line-up.
On Sunday the cast of the new season of Dancing with the Stars was announced. Today the professional partners of each celebrity was revealed. We already knew Denise Richards was paired with Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Chuck Wicks was paired with his girlfriend Julianne Hough. Now we get the rest! Jonathan Roberts, Kym Johnson, Mark Ballas, Derek Hough, Cheryl Burke, Lacey Schwimmer, Edyta Sliwinska, and Karina Smirnoff all return for another season. We have two newcomers, too! 2006 U.S. National finalist Dmitry Chaplin and 10 Dance Youth National champion Chelsie Hightower make heir debuts.
View the full list of professional partners with their celebs!
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Hallmark Channel March 2009 Schedule Revised; Pushing Daisies and Valentine's Themed Episodes Come to TheWB.com
So, we won't have I Love Lucy airing weekdays 3-4pm in March, Little House on the Prairie will remain in that slot, but it will still lose its 4pm hour to The Golden Girls starting March 2. Weeknights from 11pm-3am will be altered, too. Murder, She Wrote will remain weekdays at 11pm now and will not leave the schedule, so Golden Girls won't air 11pm-1am, but will air 12am-2am now. Originally I Love Lucy was airing in the 1am hour, but now it will air 2am, cutting the return of Cheers to just 2:30am, when it was originally slated for 2-3am.
Saturdays 6-9am will now be The Golden Girls, as the original plan was Lucy 6-7:30a and Golden Girls 7:30-9a. Then late night on Saturdays from 1-3am will remain Murder, She Wrote and won't be I Love Lucy. In February, the block was Walker, Texas Ranger.
As for Sundays, 8:30am-10am was originally supposed to be I Love Lucy, now it will be The Golden Girls. The Golden Girls was slated for 10am-12pm originally, but now 7th Heaven will air 10am-12pm. Then late night on Sundays from 1-3am will once again remain Murder, She Wrote and won't be I Love Lucy. In February, the block was Walker, Texas Ranger.
Confused? View the full edited Hallmark Channel March 2009 schedule. So originally Murder, She Wrote was leaving, now it will remain and air weeknights at 11pm and Saturday & Sunday nights from 1-3am. But The Waltons is still leaving. As for the sitcom recap, The Golden Girls will air weekdays 9-10am, 4-5pm, and 12-2am, Saturdays 6-9am, and Sundays 8:30am-10am. I Love Lucy is just weekdays now, airing weekdays 8-9am and 2am. Cheers will air weeknights a 2:30am. And of course, M*A*S*H remains weekdays 5-7pm. View the full schedule above link for more!
TheWB.com announced that the destination site will help fans get in the mood for love by featuring Valentine's Day and relationship-themed programming during the week of February 9–17, followed by a "Love Hangover" week from February 18–March 1. TheWB.com is also giving Pushing Daisies fans a reason to rejoice, as it will now feature full episodes of the critically acclaimed romantic comedy created by Bryan Fuller.
Re-live the ups and downs of the romance of Ross and Rachel (David Schwimmer and Jennifer Aniston) with 10 Friends episodes, including the two-part series finale. Valentine's Day episodes of hit series Smallville, Gilmore Girls, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Everwood, Veronica Mars and The O.C. will be available from Feb. 9-17. TheWB.com will premiere the first five episodes of acclaimed series Pushing Daisies, starring Lee Pace, Anna Friel, Chi McBride, Ellen Greene, with Swoosie Kurtz and Kristin Chenoweth in that time frame as well.
Then Feb. 18-March 1, for those feeling a little ill from all of that saccharine Valentine's Day activity, TheWB.com offers Janice (Maggie Wheeler) from Friends to squash any leftover amorous feelings, with 10 Friends episodes featuring the shrill love interest of Chandler Bing (Matthew Perry). Break-ups and other bumps in the romantic road on special episodes of One Tree Hill, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel and Gilmore Girls will also be available in that time frame.
This seasonally themed programming and content adds to TheWB.com's already robust collection of new and classic programming available on the site. The month of February also features new episodes of TheWB.com's latest original series, Pushed, a thriller from Jeremy Littman and Morgan Gendel. Additionally, viewers can watch full episodes of acclaimed action/comedy series Chuck, from co-creator/executive producer Josh Schwartz. Schwartz fans can also log on to www.rockvilleca.com to see the trailer for Rockville, CA, his highly anticipated original digital series coming to TheWB.com March 17. The scripted romantic comedy will also feature performances by a number of acclaimed indie music artists, including Kaiser Chiefs, Phantom Planet, Travis, Lykke Li, Anya Marina, The Kooks and many more.
As for Pushing Daisies fans, word is the final three episodes will air on ABC in the summer as they are obligated to air it. The second season DVD should be coming out that time as well from Warner Home Video.
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Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows
Thursday, November 21
Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - "The 6:10 to Lubbock" (CBS, 10:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Georgie and Mandy get fed up staying with her parents and reconsider their living situation after a fight with Mandy’s mom, Audrey.
Ghosts - "Man of Your Dreams" (CBS, 10:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Sam learns that one of the ghosts’ powers is to enter the dreams of the livings and influence their decisions. Also, two of the ghosts think they’ve learned the secret to moving on.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of November 18)
Thursday, November 21
- Jim Gaffigan (The Jim Gaffigan Show/My Boys/The Ellen Show/Welcome to New York) - Catch Jim on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Rita Moreno (One Day at a Time/Happily Divorced/9 to 5) - Rita appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Justine Lupe (Nobody Wants This/Cristela), Jackie Tohn (Nobody Wants This/GLOW) and Timothy Simons (HouseBroken/Veep) - Justine, Jackie and Timothy are guests on After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
- Kristin Chenoweth (Trial & Error/Kristin) - Kristin appears on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 10pm on Bravo.
- Maura Tierney (NewsRadio/The Van Dyke Show) - Maura is in the studio to discuss the neww season of Law and Order on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your listings.
- Paul Reiser (Mad About You/Red Oaks/Married/My Two Dads) - Paul is telling Drew about his huge return to comedy after thirty years with his standup special, Life, Death and Rice Pudding, and his new movie The Gutter on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
- John O'Hurley (Seinfeld/Over the Top/The Mullets) - John will be on PIX11 Morning News on WPIX in New York at 9:40am.
New on DVD and Blu-ray
09/10 - Rick and Morty - The Complete Seasons 1-7
09/10 - The Ropers - The Complete Series (VEI)
09/10 - Ted - Season One (Blu-ray) (DVD)
09/17 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - Video Scrapbook
09/17 - Top Cat - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
09/24 - Friends - The Complete Series (4K UHD)
09/24 - Young Sheldon - The Complete Seventh Season (DVD) / The Complete Series (DVD) (Blu-ray)
10/08 - Curb Your Enthusiasm - The Complete Twelfth Season / The Complete Series
10/22 - Veep - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
11/05 - I Love Lucy - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
11/12 - The King of Queens - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (2024 Release)
11/19 - SpongeBob SquarePants - The Complete Fourteenth Season
11/26 - Looney Tunes Collector's Choice - Volume 4 (Blu-ray)
12/03 - Angel (1960-1961) - The Complete Series, Volume 1
12/17 - Seinfeld - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (4K UHD)
02/04 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
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