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

Thursday, April 25

Young Sheldon - "A Fancy Article and a Scholarship for a Baby" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Sheldon’s published paper leads to a frenzy of grad school recruiting, and Georgie tries to speak more properly in front of his daughter.

Ghosts - "The Traveling Agent" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Pete discovers a power that he never knew he had – one that brings him closer to his buddy Jay (and further apart).

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of April 22)

Thursday, April 25

Rob McElhenney (Mythic Quest/It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia) - Catch Rob on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Carol Burnett (Palm Royale/Mad About You/Mama's Family) - Carol appears on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Tim Robinson (Digman!/Detroiters) - Tim is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Wendell Pierce (The Odd Couple/The Michael J. Fox Show/The Weber/The Brian Benben Show/The Gregory Hines Show) - Wendell appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Fred Armisen (Los Espookys/Forever/Final Space) - Fred sits in with The 8G Band on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Jerry Seinfeld (Seinfeld) - E! News has an interview with Jerry at 11pm on E!. He also talks about Unfrosted on CBS Mornings some time between 7-9am.
Ronny Chieng (Young Rock/Ronny Chieng: International Student) - Ronny guest co-hosts Comedy Central's The Daily Show at 11pm.
Jason Ritter (The Class) - Jason is a guest on After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
Jim Gaffigan (The Jim Gaffigan Show/My Boys/The Ellen Show/Welcome to New York) - Jim talks about Unfrosted on CBS Mornings some time between 7-9am. NBC's Today catches up with Jim in the 9am hour.
Vivica A. Fox (Mr. Box Office/Getting Personal/Arsenio/Out All Night) - Vivica talks about Not Another Church Movie in the 10am hour.
Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/Café Americain/Sydney/One Day at a Time) - Valerie talks about her new book Indulge: Delicious and Decadent Dishes to Enjoy and Share on a repeat of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Pam Grier (Bless This Mess) - Pam talks about Prime Video's Them: The Scare on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
Luenell (Lopez) - Luenell stops by before her performance at the famous Apollo Theater in New York City on Sherri, so check your local listings.
Tichina Arnold (The Neighborhood/Survivor's Remorse/Happily Divorced/Everybody Hates Chris/Martin) - Tichina guest co-hosts The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.