Wednesday, May 13, 2009
SitcomsOnline.com 2009-10 Upfront Preview: CBS; RTN Now in Boston, Denver, Houston, Dallas, etc.
Here is the SitcomsOnline.com CBS 2009-10 preview:
New Series Already Picked-Up: The Bridge (midseason drama)
New Series We Think That Are Almost Good To Go: The Good Wife (drama), NCIS: Legend (wt, drama), Happiness Isn't Everything (sitcom), Waiting to Die (sitcom) and Washington Field (drama).
New Series Perhaps Picked-Up for Mid-Season: Accidentally on Purpose (sitcom) and Three Rivers (drama)
OUR FALL 2009 PREDICTION:
Sundays
7:00PM 60 Minutes
8:00PM The Amazing Race
9:00PM Rules of Engagement
9:30PM Happiness Isn't Everything (NEW!)
10:00PM Cold Case
Mondays
8:00PM The Big Bang Theory
8:30PM How I Met Your Mother
9:00PM Two and a Half Men
9:30PM Waiting to Die (NEW!)
10:00PM CSI: Miami
Tuesdays
8:00PM Navy NCIS
9:00PM The Mentalist
10:00PM The Good Wife (NEW!)
Wednesdays
8:00PM NCIS: Legend (wt) (NEW!)
9:00PM Criminal Minds
10:00PM CSI: NY
Thursdays
8:00PM Survivor
9:00PM CSI
10:00PM Washington Field (NEW!)
Fridays
8:00PM Ghost Whisperer
9:00PM Flashpoint
10:00PM NUMB3RS
Saturdays
8:00PM Crime Repeats
9:00PM Crime Repeats
10:00PM 48 Hours Mystery
Comments: CBS is the number one network in total viewers. They rely heavily on crime dramas and we can expect that to continue. That makes them older skewing, and I think they are trying to go younger, especially with younger skewing comedies. I'll dissect night by night on what I think they will do. Their Monday sitcom block will likely have one new comedy, Waiting to Die is a contender for the post Two and a Half Men slot, as a single camera comedy didn't work at all this season in Worst Week.
As for Tuesday, the combo of NCIS and The Mentalist will likely remain and not be messed with, but they could try a new drama instead of Without a Trace, something like The Good Wife. I would have Trace return in midseason for its final season and be placed where needed.
For Wednesdays, instead of opening the night with two sitcoms the NCIS spinoff series would be lethal if it is anything like the original. I don't think CBS will move Criminal Minds or CSI: NY, as they are solid.
CBS Thursdays will have to change since nothing post CSI worked particularly well at 10pm this season. CBS could go with drama Washington Field following CSI. Survivor would likely remain at 8pm, but there is talk of it moving to Sunday or even Wednesday.
Fridays will likely remain the same with Ghost Whisperer and NUMB3RS opening and closing the night with Flashpoint in the middle. CBS could try the picked-up Canadian crime series The Bridge at some point after Whisperer.
Saturdays would still have crime repeats and 48 Hours Mystery at 10pm.
And as for Sundays, CBS always gets screwed with the sports run-over (especially in the fall with the NFL) and they usually are in 30-40 minute delays or even more for the entire country except the west coast. I keep suggesting they just shorten 60 Minutes, or it will kill a new show if they launch one on Sundays, which I think they will this year. I think Amazing Race will be back at 8pm...but maybe for just one cycle. CBS could try to open a second night of comedy on this night. Rules of Engagement and new Jason Biggs sitcom Happiness Isn't Everything would air in the 9pm hour (though there are reports this sitcom won't be until midseason), bumping Cold Case to 10pm to better close the night. Once Amazing Race ends, in January they can bring back Old Christine and try a new similar comedy as well, with the Jenna Elfman comedy Accidentally on Purpose the perfect fit. So come January, CBS could have sitcoms from 8-10pm. I think it is a better night to try comedy for CBS than Wednesdays.
Series canceled or I think will be canned include The Ex List, Worst Week, Harper's Island, Eleventh Hour, Million Dollar Password, The Unit. I think CBS will bring back Old Christine for mid-season, as mentioned...and they could slot Gary Unmarried in some slot that needs help (perhaps Sundays). Without a Trace also will be on call to replace anything that fails in midseason. It's time for CBS to cut its ties with The Unit. CBS also has two reality series that have been picked-up to series: Arranged Marriage and There Goes the Neighborhood. I would guess they air in midseason or even next summer. I already mentioned I think the Jenna Elfman sitcom Accidentally on Purpose would go to Sundays in midseason as it goes perfectly with Old Christine, and CBS will likely pick-up a medical drama, likely Three Rivers...perhaps replacing Cold Case in January?
Remember, next Wednesday (May 20) is the actual date when we will find out CBS's plans for the 2009-10 season. So, come on back next Wednesday and we will let you know the details and you can see how much we were right (or wrong). Stay tuned tomorrow for a preview on The CW's upfront.
Discuss your thoughts on our prediction and feel free to make suggestions of your own!
We haven't given you Retro Television Network (RTN) news in awhile, so I'm going to try and catch you all up news on all new affiliates in the past few months. It's an RTN round-up, so saddle up! RTN announced that it has reached an agreement with WMFP in Boston to put RTN on both the digital and primary feed. The station which had been airing infomercials and other paid programming will become a full time RTN affiliate within the next two weeks. According to RTN's Neal Ardman "we could not have a better affiliate. RTN will transform WMFP from an all infomercial station to a station that families all over the Boston DMA can enjoy with great shows like Quincy and The Rockford Files." RTN will provide WMFP with a 24/7 custom network feed from its studios in Tennessee.
Retro Television Network has also announced its newest affiliate will be KCDO in Denver, CO. KCDO is a full power station serving the Denver DMA. RTN's Neal Ardman said "we are thrilled to add KCDO to the growing list of RTN affiliates using RTN as their primary channel."
Johnson Broadcasting's independent KNWS Houston, will offer Retro Television Network's programming lineup of classic TV shows on a digital subchannel very soon. Houston is the 10th largest DMA in the nation.
Also, Johnson Broadcasting's independent KLDT Dallas, will offer Retro Television Network's programming lineup of classic TV shows on a digital subchannel. Dallas is the 5th largest DMA in the nation.
Welcome Back, Buffalo! WGRZ-TV has confirmed that the Gannett-owned station has a deal with the Retro Television Network (RTN) to carry it on a third digital channel once the necessary equipment arrives in Buffalo, NY. The Buffalo market was the most interested in the return of RTN since it was dumped from WNGS-TV, the station that was recently purchased at an Equity auction by a religious station group based in Dallas.
And another welcome back is in story for Little Rock, AR. In Little Rock, RTN says it will return to the state capital by July 1 and as an affiliate of Allbritton Communications KATV. KATV is one of five Allbritton Communications stations that has chosen to air RTN and its classic TV lineup on a digital subchannel. KATV's primary network is ABC.
KSLM-TV (Salem, OR), the Salem area's newest television station, is pleased to announce it has also reached an affiliation agreement with Retro Television Network. KSLM-TV is free to over-the-air viewers, and can be seen on DTV channel 17-2. View their schedule.
Wow, I think that is it! If not, I'll let you know as soon as I do. RTN is growing everyday, so I urge you to view their full list of affiliates, so you don't miss it in your area. I'm still hoping it comes to the #1 market of NYC soon, so I can enjoy it as well.
RTN was founded in 2005 and has deals covering over 65% of the U.S. RTN provides custom feeds for most markets allowing the stations to be a part of programming process. With great shows like Adam-12, Battlestar Galactica and Quincy RTN has become a viewer favorite quickly.
Sitcoms Airing Tonight
Thursday, June 8
Young Sheldon - "Pancake Sunday and Textbook Flirting" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Mary struggles to make new friends while Mandy pushes Georgie to date another woman.
Ghosts - "Alberta's Descendant" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Alberta is thrilled when a living relative, Alicia (Ashley D. Kelley), visits Woodstone to learn more about her, but things take a turn when she hits it off with Todd (Rodrigo Fernandez Stoll), Sam’s podcast co-host. Also, Nigel uses his knowledge of Trevor and Hetty’s secret tryst to try to blackmail Hetty.
Animal Control - "Dogs and Geese" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Dispatch radios a report of a goose on the loose; the precinct hosts an adoption day.
Animal Control - "Pigs and Minks" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
The team welcomes back Patel even though he is still on suspension; Shred and Victoria are called into the principal's office on a school visit; Rick heads back into the field with Frank.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of June 5)
Thursday, June 8
- Kaley Cuoco (The Big Bang Theory/8 Simple Rules/Ladies Man) - Catch Kaley on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
- Tom Hanks (Bosom Buddies) - Tom appears on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
- Lea Michele (The Mayor/Scream Queens) - Lea is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Janelle James (Abbott Elementary) - Janelle appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Chris Messina (The Mindy Project) - Chris will be on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
- Laurie Metcalf (The Conners/Roseanne/The McCarthys/The Norm Show) - Laurie chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
- Boris Kodjoe (The Last Man on Earth/Second Time Around) - Boris is a guest on a repeat of The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
- Maitreyi Ramakrishnan (Never Have I Ever) - Maitreyi talks about Never Have I Ever Live with Kelly and Mark, (check your listings) and on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
- Eva Longoria (Telenovela) - Eva appears on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
- Marcus Scribner (grown-ish/black-ish) - Marcus joins the Tam Fam to discuss the final season of grown-ish on Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
- Nia Long (Uncle Buck/The Cleveland Show/The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air) - Nia appears on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
- Lauren London (The Game) - Lauren is a guest on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
- Fortune Feimster (Kenan/Bless the Harts/Champions) - Fortune appears on a repeat of The Jennifer Hudson Show, so check your local listings. She also talks about FUBAR on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
- Kelsey Grammer (Frasier/Partners/Cheers) - Kelsey is telling Rachael about his recent movie, the Frasier revival and what he's got going on next on a repeat of Rachael Ray, so check your local listings.
- Marilu Henner (Evening Shade/Taxi) - Marilu talks about Hallmark's Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: Haunted by Murder on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
- Vivica A. Fox (Mr. Box Office/Getting Personal/Arsenio/Out All Night) - Vivica stops by to discuss her involvement with the Tony Awards and her Fox Soul talk show Cocktails with Queens on Sherri, so check your local listings.
- Marsha Warfield (Night Court/Empty Nest) - Marsha drops by to talk about her iconic comedy career, her The Book of Marsha comedy tour and finally sees the green room at Sherri that was inspired by her, so check your local listings.
- Sarah Jessica Parker (And Just Like That.../Sex and the City/Square Pegs) - Sarah will be on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
New on DVD/Blu-ray (January-June)
01/03 - Andy Richter Controls the Universe - The Complete Series (2023 Release)
01/27 - Master of None - Season Three / The Complete Series
02/21 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Complete Season Nine / The Complete Season Ten
02/28 - Growing Pains - The Complete Series
03/28 - Rick and Morty - Season 8 (Blu-ray) (DVD)
04/04 - South Park - The Complete Twenty-Fifth Season (Blu-ray) (DVD)
04/18 - Blondie - The Complete 1957 Television Series (Blu-ray)
04/25 - Cheers - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
05/23 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Complete Season Eleven / The Complete Season Twelve
05/23 - Go On - The Complete Series
05/23 - Kate & Allie - The Complete Series (Universal)
05/29 - Gimme a Break! - The Complete Series (VEI)
05/29 - Kate & Allie - The Complete Series (VEI)
05/30 - Looney Tunes Collector's Choice - Volume 1 (Blu-ray)
06/13 - Mayberry R.F.D. - The Complete Series
06/13 - Night Court (1984-1992) - The Complete Series
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