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

Monday, December 23

The Neighborhood - "Welcome to the Vote" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Dave gathers everyone for a lengthy ballot-palooza party to discuss the merits of every candidate and prop on each of their election ballots. Also, Gemma is determined to run a tight ship as their local precinct captain when polls open at Walcott Academy.

Poppa's House - "Sleepover" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Dr. Ivy Reed joins Poppa’s family for dinner, she begins scrutinizing Nina and Junior’s relationship for potential catastrophe. Junior spends the night at his dad’s house while Nina and Ivy devise a plan over a bottle of wine.

Bob Hearts Abishola - "Black Ice" (The CW, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
On Valentine's Day, when it comes to showing affection, Bob and Abishola have to find a way to meet each other in the middle.

Bob Hearts Abishola - "Where's Your Other Wives, Tunde?" (The CW, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Dottie, Auntie Olu and Uncle Tunde must find a way to reconcile when they're forced to eat dinner together; Bob and Abishola have differing opinions on the progress of their relationship.

The Conners - "Rage Against the Machine" (The CW, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Dan gets injured while covering D.J.'s vending machine route, the decision to sue the company could cost D.J. his job; Jackie is appalled when Becky seeks life coaching from her nemesis.

The Conners - "Smoking Penguins and Santa on Santa Action" (The CW, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Dan is disappointed when everyone but Becky forgets about his birthday; Darlene faces another issue; Dan excludes Jackie from the family Christmas Santa photo for mistreating Louise.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of December 23)

Monday, December 23

  • John Mulaney (Mulaney) - Watch John on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
  • Linda Cardellini (No Good Deed/Dead to Me/Guys Like Us) - Linda is a guest on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
  • Sabrina Carpenter (Girl Meets World) - Sabrina appears on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
  • Nathan Lane (Only Murders in the Building/Modern Family/Charlie Lawrence/Encore! Encore!/One of the Boys) - Nathan is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Rosemarie DeWitt (United States of Tara) - Rosemarie appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Brandon Kyle Goodman (Human Resources) - Brandon is a guest on After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Ilana Glazer (Broad City) - Ilana appears on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
  • Megan Hilty (Sean Saves the World) - Megan appears on a repeat of Sherri, so check your local listings.
  • James Van Der Beek (Friends with Better Lives/Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23) - James chats with the ladies of The View on a repeat on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
  • Tony Shalhoub (We Are Men/Stark Raving Mad/Wings) - NBC's Today has The 70 Club with Tony in the 9am hour.
  • Jennifer Love Hewitt (Shaky Ground) - Jennifer talks about Lifetime's The Holiday Junkie on a repeat of Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
  • Alexa PenaVega (Ruby & the Rockits) - Alexa talks about Great American Family's Love at the Kettle on a repeat of Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.


New on DVD and Blu-ray

Friends - The Complete Series (4K UHD) Young Sheldon - The Complete Series Veep - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) I Love Lucy - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) Seinfeld - The Complete Series (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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