Wednesday, May 13, 2009

SitcomsOnline.com 2009-10 Upfront Preview: CBS; RTN Now in Boston, Denver, Houston, Dallas, etc.

CBS hardly ever changes anything drastically, so I expect more of the same from them. However, I think the Wednesday comedies are on the way to Sundays.
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 / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Tuesday, May 13

none scheduled

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of May 12)

Tuesday, May 13

  • John Krasinski (The Office) - Catch John on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Reba McEntire (Happy's Place/Malibu Country/Reba) - Reba appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Bento Skinner (Overcompensating) and Mary Beth Barone (Overcompensating) - Benito and Mary Beth are guests on After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Annie Murphy (Kevin Can F**k Himself/Schitt's Creek) - NBC's Today catches up with Annie in the 9am hour.
  • Alfonso Ribeiro (In the House/The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air/Silver Spoons) - Alfonso is a guest on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
  • Jay Pharoah (White Famous/Champaign ILL) - Jay talks about The Quiz with Balls on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
  • Mindy Kaling (Running Point/The Mindy Project/The Office) - In this a little bit extra episode Drew shares more of her conversation with Running Point creator Mindy Kaling on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
  • Justina Machado (One Day at a Time) - Justine talks about her play Real Women Have Curves on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
  • Jim Gaffigan (The Jim Gaffigan Show/My Boys/The Ellen Show/Welcome to New York) - Jim tells Sherri about his Hulu comedy special, The Skinny, and his new bourbon line on Sherri, so check your local listings.
  • Camille Guaty (The Help/Raising Dad) - Camille is a guest on PIX11 Morning News on WPIX in New York at 9:30am.


New on DVD and Blu-ray

The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series 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)

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)
07/08 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)

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


Recent SitcomsOnline.com News Blog Posts

05/13 - ABC Upfront 2025-26: Fall 2025 Schedule; Ted: The Animated Series Coming to Peacock
05/12 - NBC Upfront 2025-26: Fall 2025 Schedule; Fox Upfront 2025-26: Fall 2025 Schedule
05/11 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of May 12, 2025)
05/10 - SitcomsOnline Digest: NBC Cancels Night Court and Lopez vs. Lopez; ABC Renews Duo of Game Shows
05/09 - Peacock Orders Dig from Amy Poehler; Apple TV+ Comedy Stick Premieres June 4; Remembering Ruth Buzzi
05/08 - CBS 2025-26 Schedule; Animal Control and Going Dutch Renewed by Fox
05/07 - Netflix's A Man on the Inside Bulks Up Cast for Season 2; The Studio Renewed by Apple TV+
05/06 - Netflix's Long Story Short Announces Cast; NBC Renews All Chicago Series for 2025-26
05/05 - Antenna TV's The Partridge Family Mother's Day Marathon; Rewind TV's 227 40th Anniversary Marathon
05/04 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of May 5, 2025)
05/03 - SitcomsOnline Digest: CBS Cancels The Equalizer; Wisteria Lane Offshoot of Desperate Housewives in the Works
05/02 - USA and SYFY Announce Summer Premieres; CBC in Canada Renews 5 Series, Including Wild Cards
05/01 - ABC Summer 2025 Schedule; Audible Scripted Comedy Podcasts for Summer
04/30 - The Carol Burnett Show Mother of All Marathons; Netflix Renews North of North
04/29 - Lifetime Adds New Ripped from the Headlines Movie; BET+ Orders Season 2 of Series
04/28 - Fox Summer 2025 Schedule; Final Guest Hosts for Saturday Night Live 50th Anniversary Season
04/27 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of April 28, 2025)
04/26 - SitcomsOnline Digest: CBS Cancels Poppa's House; Final Season 50 Hosts for Saturday Night Live Set
04/25 - Classic TV's Biggest Auction; Remembering Will Hutchins and Wink Martindale
04/24 - Jerrod Carmichael's 4th HBO Comedy Special; HBO's Pee-wee as Himself Premieres May 23
04/23 - Apple TV+ Announces Comedy Series Prodigies; ABC Renews Unscripted Series Slate
04/22 - Hallmark Channel's May For Moms Month; Prime Video Gets Korean Comedy Action Series
04/21 - Peacock's Twisted Metal Returns July 31; Poker Face Lines Up Big Guests for Season 2
04/20 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of April 21, 2025)
04/19 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Clueless Reboot in the Works at Peacock; King of the Hill Cast Reunion and Revival Preview at ATX TV Festival Next Month
04/18 - 2025 TIME100 on ABC; Atsuko Okatsuka: Father Premieres June 13 on Hulu
04/17 - BET+ Orders Martin Spinoff Varnell Hill; It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Returns in July
04/16 - And Just Like That... Season 3 on Max This May; MGM+ Comedy Series Adds Big Stars
04/15 - HBO's Harry Potter Series; Classic TV Comes to Life in NYC
04/14 - TV Stars Lineup for Summer of 69 Hulu Film; Jessica Kirson Comedy Special
04/13 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of April 14, 2025)