Fox Schedule Update, Loses NFL Lead-In for New Series; Friends Reunion Tonight on ABC's Cougar Town

Wednesday, January 06, 2010

Fox Schedule Update, Loses NFL Lead-In for New Series; Friends Reunion Tonight on ABC's Cougar Town

The NFL for some reason changed the playoff schedule for Sunday, Jan. 17. Instead of Fox having the late afternoon playoff game, it will now be CBS, which was scheduled to have the early afternoon playoff game. However, Fox will now have the late afternoon playoff game (Green Bay at Arizona) this coming Sunday (Jan. 10) instead. But I'm sure Fox is pissed because now on Jan. 17, the premiere of new series Human Target will NOT get a direct NFL lead-in. Also airing that night on Fox is the season premiere of 24 from 9-11pm and it also won't have that inflated lead-in. A repeat of the season finale of 24 from last season will air in the 7pm hour opposite the ending of the NFL playoff game on CBS. CBS will use the huge NFL playoff lead-in for 60 Minutes at a special time of 8pm. It will be followed by an all-new Cold Case and a repeat of NCIS at 10pm.
As mentioned above, Fox will get to have a big NFL lead-in this coming Sunday though for the 450th episode of The Simpsons at 8pm followed by a one-hour 20th anniversary special, and an all-new Cleveland Show at a special time of 9:30pm. While that is good for Fox, but they would have preferred the huge lead-in for Jan. 17 instead, I'm sure. My guess is the 450th episode will do very well, but then the night will go back to normal levels quickly.
Here is the NFL playoff schedule for the networks the next two weeks: Saturday, Jan. 9 NBC late afternoon and primetime; Sunday, Jan. 10 CBS early afternoon and Fox late afternoon; Saturday, Jan. 16 Fox late afternoon and CBS primetime; Sunday, Jan. 17 Fox early afternoon and CBS late afternoon. Early afternoon is 1pm ET, late afternoon is 4:30pm ET, and primetime is 8:00pm ET.

Wishing for a Friends reunion? Well tonight on ABC, you'll probably get the best Friends reunion you can get right now. Lisa Kudrow guest stars tonight on the ABC comedy Cougar Town starring Courtney Cox at 9:30pm ET/PT. Yes, Phoebe and Monica together again...but on Cougar Town they will not be friends, they will be frenemies! Despite fearing the meanest and most unrelenting dermatologist in town, Dr. Amy Evans (Lisa Kudrow), Jules (Courtney Cox) and Ellie (Christa Miller) are willing to endure the harsh ridicule and wrath for an appointment with the best in the business. But when Jules learns Dr. Evans is seeing her ex-husband Bobby (Brian Van Holt), she's determined to stand up to her and protect him. I'll be there for you, indeed! Meanwhile, her son Travis (Dan Byrd) gets a job working for the cougar Barb (Carolyn Hennesy) that turns out to be more than he bargained for. Scott Foley also guest stars.
Maybe Jennifer Aniston is next? View the promo and a sneak peak for tonight's reunion:

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Sunday, July 13

Ghosts - "Patience" (CBS, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
While Sam and the ghosts race to find him, Isaac comes face to face with Puritan ghost Patience (Mary Holland) for the first time since she was lost in the dirt.

The Simpsons - "Homer and Her Sisters" (Fox, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
After a fight in an escape room, Krusty's aunt fixes Homer's relationship with Patty and Selma.

Krapopolis - "Ice Week!" (Fox, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Ty struggles to keep his cool when he gets the hots for a visiting reporter; Shlub is paid a visit by an old friend; Hippocampus and Stupendous risk missing the festivities altogether.

Animal Control - "Giraffes, Gorillas and Penguins" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
The crew must contain a freak zoo break; Frank realizes that he needs to break up with Yasmin; Emily finds an unexpected benefactor in a celebrity businesswoman.

Going Dutch - "Pilot" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
The colonel is reassigned to take emergency command of USAG Stroopsdorf in the Netherlands; Sgt. Conway provides the colonel and Shah with a tour of the things Stroopsdorf is known for... cheese, laundry and bowling.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of July 7)

Friday, July 11

Aparna Nancherla (The Great North/Fairview/Corporate) and Whitney Cummings (Whitney) - Aparna and Whitney are guests on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
Malachi Barton (Stuck in the Middle) and Meg Donnelly (American Housewife) - Malachi and Meg discuss Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires and perform on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am. They will also be on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
Jean Smart (Hacks/Samantha Who?/Center of the Universe/In-Laws/Style & Substance/Designing Women) - Jean chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Patton Oswalt (A.P. Bio/The Goldbergs/The King of Queens) - Patton talks about Black Coffee and Ice Water on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
Margaret Cho (All-American Girl) and Joel Kim Booster (Loot/Shrill) - CBS News contributor Lisa Ling talks with Margaret and Joel on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
Krysten Ritter (Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23) - Tamron Hall (repeat) has a DAYTIME EXCLUSIVE sitdown with actress/director/author Krysten Ritter who recently released her new thriller/mystery novel Retreat, so check your local listings.
Maggie Q (Pivoting) - Maggie Q talks about Prime's Ballard on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
Tisha Campbell (Act Your Age/Uncoupled/Outmatched/Dr. Ken/Rita Rocks/My Wife and Kids/Martin) and Wendy Raquel Robinson (Poppa's House/The Game/Here We Go Again/The Steve Harvey Show/Minor Adjustments) - Tisha and Wendy chat about their film Operation: Aunties on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings. They will also be on PIX11 Morning News on WPIX in New York at 9:30am.
David Zayas (The Bear/Saint George) - David appears on PIX11 Morning News on WPIX in New York at 9:40am.