Monday, May 11, 2009

SitcomsOnline.com 2009-10 Upfront Preview: Fox; TV Land Schedules Married with Children Mini-Marathon

Fox usually has a hard time in the fall, and depend a lot on American Idol and to a lesser degree 24 in January. This year is likely to be the same thing, but if Glee hits big after American Idol next week, Fox could have two hits in the fall and have a much better fall than usual, as House is the only big hit in the fall for fall.
Here is the SitcomsOnline.com Fox 2009-10 preview:

New Series Already Picked-Up: Glee (drama), The Cleveland Show (animated sitcom)
New Series We Think That Are Almost Good To Go: Sons of Tucson (sitcom), Brothers (sitcom) and Human Target (drama)
New Series Perhaps Picked-Up for Mid-Season: Maggie Hill (drama) and Masterwork (drama)

OUR FALL 2009 PREDICTION:

Sundays
7:00PM NFL Overrun / Animated Encores
8:00PM The Simpsons
8:30PM American Dad!
9:00PM Family Guy
9:30PM The Cleveland Show (NEW!)

Mondays
8:00PM House
9:00PM Human Target (NEW!)

Tuesdays
8:00PM Fringe
9:00PM Brothers (NEW!)
9:30PM Sons of Tucson (NEW!)

Wednesdays
8:00PM Glee (NEW!)
9:00PM Kitchen Nightmares

Thursdays
8:00PM Bones
9:00PM Lie to Me

Fridays
8:00PM Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?
9:00PM Don't Forget the Lyrics! / 'Til Death

Saturdays
8:00PM Cops
8:30PM Cops
9:00PM America's Most Wanted

Comments: As I keep saying, it'll be once again a tale of two seasons within a season for Fox. Their mid-season line-up will probably be a lot different from fall, since 24 and American Idol come in January. House will likely still lead-off Mondays, leading into a new drama, perhaps Human Target. If that doesn't hit, they could always replace it with 24 in January. As for Tuesdays, I think the J.J. Abrams drama Fringe will likely be on a short leash and will kick off the night leading into two comedies, with one of them being the Michael Strahan comedy Brothers, which could get big promo push on Sundays with the NFL on Fox. Fringe will leave I think in January when American Idol comes, and perhaps a new drama will be used at 9pm (like Masterwork or Maggie Hill) or the comedies can stay if they hit. On Wednesdays, I think they will start with Glee but they really don't have anything to pair it with in the fall. It is perfect for American Idol. The best best would be something light, like Kitchen Nightmares. Since Hell's Kitchen will be airing in late summer, a new season of that wouldn't be airing in the fall I would think. Maybe in January again? If so, it would be on another night. And if Glee hits, it could remain in this slot all season and be a lead-in to American Idol Results. Good combo. I think Bones would likely remain on Thursdays at 8pm, but something more compatible needs to air with it, as currently the show following it at 9pm has a totally different audience. I think Lie to Me at 9pm on Thursdays is probably the best option. 5th Grader and Don't Forget the Lyrics will probably return to Fridays for the fall, with 'Til Death mixing in at some point unfortunately. Saturdays...do I need to ever talk about that? Fox will never change that. As for Sundays, animation domination will continue of course with the addition of The Cleveland Show, the Family Guy spin-off, but Sit Down Shut Up is likely dead after horrible ratings.
And so many series are goners next season we think: Prison Break, Dollhouse, Sarah Connor Chronicles, Do Not Disturb, King of the Hill, Sit Down Shut Up, The Moment of Truth, Hole in the Wall, Osbournes: Reloaded. I think Secret Millionaire is worth trying again in December. Everything else seems to be returning for Fox.
So, we have the usual...Fox hopes to do decent in the fall and explode in the winter/spring. Will American Idol fall more next season? It very well could.

Remember, next Monday (May 18) is the actual date when we will find out Fox's plans for the 2009-10 season. So, come on back next Monday and we will let you know the details and you can see how much we were right (or wrong). Stay tuned next week for the official fall line-ups for all the networks.
Discuss your thoughts on our prediction and feel free to make suggestions of your own!

A few weeks ago, TV Land aired Married with Children for a mini-marathon since they were honoring it at the TV Land Awards, the ratings must have been decent for it because now TV Land will air another mini-marathon this coming Thursday (May 14) from 10pm-1am ET/PT featuring classic episodes preempting the regular M*A*S*H. TV Land is borrowing the episodes from Spike TV, which is a sister station that airs the show regularly. They are owned by Viacom.
The episodes will be from seasons two-four. In the second season opener, the Bundy's go to a sleazy, dumpy motel in Dumpwater Florida. Trouble heads their way when an axe murderer, who hates tourists, arrives. Then in the conclusion, Peg is kidnapped by the axe murderer and it's up to Al to save her. Other episodes include: A nice weekend away for the Rhoadeses and the Bundys turns into misery for the men when Peg, Kelly, and Marcy all have their periods at the same time; Al grows his hair when his barber dies, and fears he is turning into a "sissy" just because he has to go to salons; Marcy's dead aunt's ashes end up in the Labor Day hamburgers, in the classic Labor Day episode; and Al's pride and "do-it-yourself" beliefs annoys the rest of the family when Al decides to fix the leaking roof himself.
TV Land should air this series regularly in primetime, it sure beats some of the shows that are airing there, including all the reality originals. Married would work well with the upcoming Roseanne. Whoaaaaaa Bundy!


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Friday, October 10

Vampirina: Teenage Vampire - "First Final" (Disney Channel, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Vee leaves Transylvania for boarding school to chase her musical dreams. As she keeps her vampire identity a secret, unexpected obstacles threaten to return her to the shadows.

Vampirina: Teenage Vampire - "First Holiday" (Disney Channel, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Vee leaves Transylvania for boarding school to chase her musical dreams. As she keeps her vampire identity a secret, unexpected obstacles threaten to return her to the shadows.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of October 6)

Friday, October 10

  • Seth Rogen (The Studio/Platonic/Undeclared) and Aziz Ansari (Master of None/Parks and Recreation) - Watch Seth and Aziz on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Carrie Preston (Crowded/Happyish/Emeril) - Carrie is a guest on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
  • Rose Byrne (Platonic/Physical) - Rose appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC. She also chats about If I Had Legs I’d Kick You with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT and on ABC News Live Prime with Linsey Davis at 7pm.
  • Bill Bellamy (Mr. Box Office/Men, Women & Dogs/Cousin Skeeter) - Bill is a guest on a repeat of Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Michael J. Fox (Family Ties/Spin City/The Michael J. Fox Show) - Michael discusses his new book Future Boy: Back to the Future and My Journey Through the Space-Time Continuum on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
  • Kenzi Richardson (Vampirina: Teenage Vampire) - Kenzi talks about Vampirina: Teenage Vampire on ABC's The View at 11am ET/10am CT-PT and on GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
  • Morris Chestnut (Out All Night) - Morris sits down for a DAYTIME EXCLUSIVE to chat about the Season 2 premiere of Watson on Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
  • Maya Rudolph (Loot/Bless the Harts/Forever/Up All Night) - Maya stops by the studio to discuss Loot on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
  • Greta Lee (HouseBroken/Russian Doll) - Greta talks about Disney's Tron: Ares on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
  • Dermot Mulroney (The Righteous Gemstones/Four Weddings and a Funeral) - Dermot is a guest on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
  • Idris Elba (Turn Up Charlie) - Idris and Rebecca Ferguson talk about A House of Dynamite on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am.
  • Aubrey Plaza (Parks and Recreation) - Aubrey talks about her new book Luna and the Witch Throw a Halloween Party on NBC's Today in the 10am hour and on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
  • Sheryl Lee Ralph (Abbott Elementary/Fam/Instant Mom/Moesha/It's a Living) - Sheryl stops by to chat with Sherri about the new season of Abbott Elementary on Sherri, so check your local listings.
  • Henry Winkler (Barry/Arrested Development/Out of Practice/Monty/Happy Days) - TV legend Henry shares details about his 40th book, Detective Duck: The Mystery at Emerald Pond, on Sherri, so check your local listings.
  • Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/Cafe Americain/Sydney/One Day at a Time) - Valerie appears on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
  • Teri Hatcher (The Odd Couple/Sunday Dinner/Karen's Song/The Love Boat) - Teri and her daughter Emerson Tenney talk about the Desperately Devoted podcast on a repeat of Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
  • Jeremy Piven (Entourage/Ellen/Pride & Joy/The Larry Sanders Show) - Jeremy is a guest on New York Living on WPIX in New York at 10:05am.


New on DVD and Blu-ray

Frasier (2023) - Season Two Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* (missing 4 episodes and some music has been replaced or altered) Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray) Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - The Complete First Season

01/28 - Wait Till Your Father Gets Home - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/04 - The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series
03/11 - Frasier (2023) - Season Two
04/01 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season
05/13 - The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* (missing 4 episodes and some music has been replaced or altered)
06/06 - Shoresy - Season 2
06/17 - Looney Tunes - Collector's Vault - Volume 1 (Blu-ray)
07/22 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
08/26 - The Huckleberry Hound Show - The Complete Original Series (Blu-ray)
10/07 - Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - The Complete First Season

More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD and Blu-ray Releases / TV Shows on DVD, Blu-ray and Prime Video / DVD Reviews Archive


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