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.
Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows
Monday, March 24
The Neighborhood - "Welcome to the Blowout" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Calvin spends a day babysitting Daphne. Also, Gemma and Dave worry about Grover’s high school applications.
Poppa's House - "Melvin" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Poppa’s smooth-talking brother, Melvin (Marlon Wayans), rolls into town with a shady new get-rich-quick scheme.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of March 24)
Monday, March 24
- Ike Barinholtz (The Studio/The Afterparty/Bless the Harts/The Mindy Project/Eastbound & Down) - Watch Ike on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Randall Park (Young Rock/Blockbuster/Fresh Off the Boat/Veep/Supah Ninjas) - Randall is a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC. He also talks about Netflix's The Residence on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
- Kate Hudson (Running Point) - Kate appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Sunita Mani (Government Cheese/No Activity/GLOW) - Sunita is a guest on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
- Paul Rudd (The Shrink Next Door/Living with Yourself/Wild Oats) - Paul appears on Comedy Central's The Daily Show at 11pm.
- Debra Messing (Will & Grace/Ned & Stacey) - Debra stops by Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 9pm on Bravo.
- Krysten Ritter (Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23) - Krysten talks about Retreat: A Novel on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
- Beth Behrs (The Neighborhood/2 Broke Girls) - Beth talks about The Neighborhood on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am and on CBS Mornings Plus in the 9am hour.
- Kimberly Williams-Paisley (According to Jim) - Kimberly talks about her health scare and hosting Farmer Wants a Wife on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am and in the 10am hour.
- Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/Café Americain/Sydney/One Day at a Time) - Valerie covers the latest headlines in all new Drew's News on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
- Scott Caan (Entourage) - Scott talks about Fox's Alert: Missing Persons on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
New on DVD and 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)
01/28 - Wait Till Your Father Gets Home - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/04 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
02/04 - The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series
03/11 - Frasier (2023) - Season Two
04/01 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season
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