ION Television February 2010: My Name is Earl on Weekends; USA Network Acquires CSI Starting Dec. 2010, Exclusive Rights Start Sept. 2014

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

ION Television February 2010: My Name is Earl on Weekends; USA Network Acquires CSI Starting Dec. 2010, Exclusive Rights Start Sept. 2014

ION Television has done very well in the ratings, especially in primetime, that they haven't made many schedule changes to their schedule lately. In February 2010, they will add two new shows to their line-up, while one show leaves. First off, they will add My Name is Earl to its weekends line-up whenever a movie doesn't start at 3pm. The series starts Saturday, Jan. 30 in the 3pm hour. It will also air Feb. 7 at 3pm, Feb. 13 from 3-4pm, Feb. 21 from 3-4pm, and Feb. 28 from 3-4pm. So it isn't anything regular, which is strange. It is replacing Family Feud at these times, but that show airs weekdays from 5-7pm anyway. I think ION is probably limited to airing My Name is Earl on weekends because broadcast stations are also airing the series on weekdays as is TBS on cable. It seems weird that it is only airing on weekends, though.
As for weekdays, starting Feb. 1, weekdays in the 4pm hour will now be back-to-back episodes of the court show Texas Justice, replacing Reba, which is now gone totally. Texas Justice was a court show which had cases that were judged by Larry Joe Doherty. The program was recorded at the studios of Fox station KRIV (Channel 26) in Houston, Texas. The series lasted for 4 1/2 seasons in syndication from January 2001 until it was cancelled in September 2005. Reba will remain on cable in Lifetime, so it isn't totally gone from television at least. No word when or if Reba will return to ION.
Other ION February 2010 notes includes a M*A*S*H sighting! But it is only one airing on Saturday, Feb. 27 at 3pm with the episode "The Pilot" airing. Strange, but at least an episode is airing. Movie premieres for ION in February are Basic, Twisted and Elopement. Movies encoring are Unbreakable, Matrix Reloaded, Matrix Revolutions, City of Angels, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, Guarding Tess, and The Pelican Brief.
View the full ION Television February 2010 schedule and highlights.

USA Network has acquired the rights to reruns of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation for its second cycle. Under the agreement, USA will have non-exclusive rights to seasons 1-10 beginning December 2010 (shared with Spike TV). Starting Fall 2011, USA will also have the exclusive off-network rights to premiere CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Seasons 11 and beyond. Beginning September 2014, NBCU shall be the exclusive home of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, as Spike TV loses the rights to the series. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation will be available to air on other NBCU owned networks like Bravo. Sources close to the deal say USA is paying in the neighborhood of $500,000 per episodes for the CBS TV Studios-produced show.
CSI will join the rerun rose of NCIS, JAG, Law and Order: SVU, Law and Order: Criminal Intent, House, and more. NCIS spin-off NCIS: Los Angeles is also set to make USA its rerun home in Fall 2011 airing weekly then weekdays by Fall 2013. With a lineup of originals led by Monk, Psych, Burn Notice, Royal Pains, & White Collar that continues to set ratings highs, USA was No. 1 basic cable network in 2009 in the 18-49 demo, increasing 29% from 2008.

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Wednesday, April 24

The Conners - "Manifesting, Marriage Testing and Cheeseballs" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
The Conners relish national cheeseball day as a family. Meanwhile, Harris falls behind in her work duties at the Lunch Box, and Darlene and Ben must figure out how to spend time together despite their two separate schedules.

Not Dead Yet - "Not the End Yet" / "Not a Ghost Yet" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Nell finds out that Duncan is selling the SoCal Independent, so she takes matters into her own hands to save her job when Lexi seems unwilling to help. Then, Nell navigates an unexpected incident that leaves the sale of the newspaper on hold.

Animal Control - "Skunks and Swans" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Frank and Shred take on an aggressive swan; Shred has a meet-cute with a mysterious woman; Emily makes a mistake that results in Victoria having very little time to prepare for her big exam; Patel gets his father to help Victoria cram for the test.

Family Guy - "A Stache From the Past" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Peter loses the Griffins' home in a reverse mortgage, he and Mayor West travel to confront the man advertising the scheme, Tom Selleck; Stewie and Brian open a booth at the flea market, leading to a rivalry with Bruce.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of April 22)

Wednesday, April 24

Carol Burnett (Palm Royale/Mad About You/Mama's Family) - Watch Carol on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Nicole Richie (Great News) - Nicole is a guest on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm 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.
Lisa Ann Walter (Abbott Elementary/Emeril) and Michaela Watkins (Dinner with the Parents/Search Party/The Unicorn/Casual/Trophy Wife) - Lisa and Michaela are guests on After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
John Early (Search Party) - John appears on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 10:15pm on Bravo.
Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Modern Family/The Class) - Jesse is a guest on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 10:15pm on Bravo.
Tiffany Haddish (The Last O.G./The Carmichael Show) - E! News has an interview with Tiffany at 11pm on E!.
Ronny Chieng (Young Rock/Ronny Chieng: International Student) - Ronny guest co-hosts Comedy Central's The Daily Show at 11pm.
Drew Barrymore (Santa Clarita Diet) - Drew will be on CBS Mornings some time between 7-9am.
Jerry Seinfeld (Seinfeld) - Jerry talks about Unfrosted on ABC's Good Morning America some time between 7-9am and on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
Mayan Lopez (Lopez vs Lopez) - Mayan talks about NBC's Lopez vs Lopez on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
Carrie Preston (Crowded/Happyish/Emeril) - Carrie, a fan-favorite on The Good Wife, tells Sherri about her new show Elsbeth on Sheri, so check your local listings.
Harry Hamlin (Movie Stars) - Harry has a cooking demo on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.