Monday, November 29, 2010
GMC Holiday 2010 Schedule w/227, Sister Sister, Amen; Remembering Leslie Nielsen
Christmas-themed episodes from their regular series such as Dr. Quinn: Medicine Woman, Amen, Highway to Heaven, Doc, Sister Sister and 227 beging to air starting tonight. The Amen two-part episode "Miracle On 134th Street" airs tonight at 1am. On Tuesday, the Amen holiday episode "Your Christmas Show of Shows" airs at 1am. On Sunday, Dec. 5, there will be a marathon of Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman Christmas episodes from 3pm-7pm, and again on Monday, Dec. 6 from 5pm-9pm. Highway to Heaven Christmas episodes first air Tuesday, Dec. 7 and Wednesday, Dec. 8 at 1pm. 227 first airs their Christmas episodes on Saturday, Dec. 11 from 5:30pm-7pm, with encore airings in the 11pm hour on Saturday, Dec. 11, Monday, Dec. 13, and Tuesday, Dec. 14. The Christmas episodes air again on Friday, Dec. 17 from 2:30pm-4pm in a special 227 Friday marathon from 2:30pm-7pm. A Sister, Sister "Christmas" airs Friday, Dec. 17 at 2pm, following a special Friday marathon of that show from 10am-2pm.
Christmas with a Capital C, their first GMC World Premiere Christmas movie, premieres on Sunday, December 5 at 7 p.m. ET. The movie will encore at 9 p.m. ET and 11 p.m. ET. 'Tis the season to be jolly, but holiday traditions are under attack when lawyer Mitch Bright returns to his hometown of Trapper Falls, Alaska. Residents of the small town who once looked forward to each year with enthusiasm and taking great care to drape the town with Christmas cheer every season, find themselves in the heat of a legal battle with a former member of their community. Christmas with a Capital C stars Daniel Baldwin (Cold Case) as Mitch Bright and Ted McGinley (Married... with Children) as Mayor Dan Reed.
Other Christmas features include The Perfect Gift on Sunday, December 5; Fred Hammond's Christmas Who Needs It? on Saturday, Dec. 11; the Arnold Schwarzenegger-directed Christmas in Connecticut (starring Dyan Cannon, Kris Kristofferson, Tony Curtis) on Saturday, Dec. 18; Miracle of the Cards (starring Kirk Cameron) on Saturday, Dec. 18; The Christmas Box (starring Richard Thomas, Annette O'Toole, Maureen O'Hara) on Saturday, Dec. 18; Miracle at Christmas: Ebbie's Story (starring Susan Lucci) on Sunday, Dec. 5; The Secret of Giving (starring Reba McIntire) on Sunday, Dec. 12; The Joyriders (starring Martin Landau, Elizabeth Moss, Kris Kristofferson) on Wednesday, Dec. 8; and Papa's Angels (starring Cynthia Nixon, Scott Bakula) on Tuesday, Dec. 14.
Also running throughout the month, GMC will serve up Top Spin: Top 12 Songs of Christmas, hosted by Tiffany Thorpe (premiering Friday, Dec. 3 at 8am), while Christmas Voices, presenting the festive sounds of Christmas music by the world's most popular inspirational singers, will sound every Monday to Saturday through Christmas Day at 7am (and other times, too). Throughout the month, the GMC Presents franchise will focus on original Christmas concert specials featuring performances from the likes of Natalie Grant, Jars of Clay, Mary Mary, Mercy Me, Mandisa, Take 6, George Huff, among others. The specials are also available on GMC onDemand. Scheduled for all dayparts during the month, GMC will offer exclusive interstitials in which stars including Jane Seymour, Joe Lando, Tia and Tamera Mowry, Kim Fields, Amy Grant, Mary Mary, Brian McKnight, Ledisi share their fondest holiday moments and memories.
Finally, on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, GMC will burn brightly with its Christmas Yule Log Gospel Music Video Marathon" starting at 8 p.m. (ET) on Dec. 24.
Finally, we pay tribute to Leslie Nielsen, who passed away yesterday. Leslie Nielsen, who traded in his dramatic persona for inspired bumbling as a hapless doctor in the 1980 movie Airplane! and the accident-prone detective Frank Drebin in The Naked Gun trilogy (1988, 1991, 1994), died on Sunday (November 28, 2010) in Fort Lauderdale, FL in his sleep in a hospital after complications from pneumonia.
While Nielsen was know for movies and TV dramas, he appeared on sitcoms as well. He played Detective Frank Drebin first in the 1982 TV comedy series, Police Squad, which trashed the cliches of Dragnet and other cop shows. Despite good reviews, ABC canceled it after only four episodes to low ratings. The series aired Thursdays at 8pm and was paired with Bosom Buddies. The remaining two episodes were aired in the summer of 1982. Years later, CBS aired reruns of the short-lived comedy in the summer of 1991 when the film The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear came out in theatres. Nielsen was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series in 1982 for the role. Of course 6 years later the series turned into The Naked Gun film trilogy. Police Squad has been available on DVD since 2006. After Police Squad, he had another sitcom on ABC titled Shaping Up in mid-season 1984 lasting only 5 episodes despite being paired with Three's Company on Tuesdays at 9:30pm.
Earlier in his career he was a regular on dramas. The Swamp Fox on ABC in 1959, The New Breed on ABC in 1961, Peyton Place on ABC in 1964, Bracken's World on NBC in 1969, The Protectors on NBC in 1969, and the mini-series Backstairs at the White House on NBC in 1979.
He has also guest starred on many sitcoms such as The Farmer's Daughter, M*A*S*H, The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, 227, Who's the Boss?, The Golden Girls, Evening Shade, Herman's Head, Day by Day, and Flesh 'n' Blood. He was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for Day by Day. He also guest starred on many dramas like Lights Out, Alfred Hitchcock Hour, Route 66, The Fugitive, Daniel Boone, Wagon Train, The Defenders, The Virginian, Ben Casey, The Wild Wild West, Dr. Kildare, Bonanza, It Takes a Thief, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Gunsmoke, The Big Valley, Night Gallery, Medical Center, The Mod Squad, The FBI, Barnaby Jones, The Streets of San Francisco, Hawaii Five-0, Ironside, Kojak, The Rookies, Lucas Tanner, Kung Fu, Cannon, Columbo, SWAT, Vega$, Hotel, Finders of Lost Love, Murder She Wrote, Highway to Heaven, Father Dowling Mysteries, Due South, and many more! Wow! I bet nobody knew he was on that much TV!
He has appeared in many TV movies as well such as Chance of a Lifetime in 1981 on NBC opposite Betty White, Cave-In! on NBC in 1983, The Wonderful World of Disney: Safety Patrol in 1998 for ABC and The Wonderful World of Disney: Santa Who? in 2000 for ABC.
Mr. Nielsen will be DEEPLY missed by his many fans. He was on TV dramas, films, and comedies. AMC is airing Airplane! tomorrow (Tuesday) at 6pm & 12am, while GMC is airing his episode of 227 on Tuesday at 11:30pm. These were already scheduled before his death, though. If there are any tributes, we will let you know. Let's hope someone airs Police Squad! Mr. Nielsen was 84.
Sitcoms Airing Tonight
Thursday, December 12
Young Sheldon - "Teenager Soup and a Little Ball of Fib" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Sheldon fakes being sick to avoid a swim test at school. Also, Dr. Sturgis spies on Meemaw’s new boyfriend.
The Unicorn - "Anna and the Unicorn" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Wade is giddy, his daughters are amused and his friends are excited when he has his first crush since becoming single again. Also, Grace and Natalie take advantage of their dad going on dates by having friends over and it starts to get out of hand.
Mom - "Higgledy-Piggledy and a Cat Show" (CBS, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Bonnie is forced to relive painful Christmas memories when Christy recounts tales from her childhood to Bonnie’s sponsee, Patty (Kate Micucci).
Carol's Second Act - "Merry December 19th" (CBS, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Carol excitedly plans an early Christmas celebration for Jenny, but Jenny’s preoccupied with her secret first date with Daniel. Also, the doctors investigate a case of food poisoning at an office holiday party.
Superstore - "Negotiations" (NBC, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Jonah and Sandra represent the Cloud 9 employees at union contract negotiations with corporate. Worried about the union’s fate, Amy, Dina and Cheyenne distract themselves by looking for the perfect Christmas tree. Mateo, Garrett and Glenn compete to see who can sell an unsellable item.
Perfect Harmony - "Merry Jaxmas" (NBC, 9:30PM ET/PT)
When Reverend Jax is visited by his charismatic parents, Arthur helps him overcome his lifelong feelings of living in their shadow, and encourages him to embrace his way of ministering in time for their Christmas performance. Meanwhile, Ginny and Wayne decide to have a secret fling.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of December 9)
Thursday, December 12
- Ryan Reynolds (Two Guys and a Girl) - Catch Ryan on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC. He also talks about 6 Underground on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am.
- Keri Russell (Running Wilde) - Keri stops by Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Sam Rockwell (F Is for Family) - Sam visits The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
- Mary Lynn Rajskub (Rob Riggle's Ski Master Academy/How to Be a Gentleman/Veronica's Closet) - Mary Lynn is a panelist on Lights Out with David Spade at 11:30pm on Comedy Central.
- John Lithgow (Trial and Error/Twenty Good Years/3rd Rock from the Sun) - John drops by Conan at 11pm on TBS.
- The Cast of The Brady Bunch - The Cast of The Brady Bunch are guests on Watch What Happens: Live at 11pm on Bravo.
- Kathy Bates (Disjointed) - Kathy appears on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
- Candace Cameron Bure (Fuller House/Full House) - Candace stops by The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
- Patricia Heaton (Carol's Second Act/The Middle/Back to You/Everybody Loves Raymond) - The Heaton is on – Patricia is back and Rach has a surprise in store for her on Rachael Ray, so check your local listings.
- Jamie-Lynn Sigler (Guys with Kids/Entourage) - Jamie-Lynn talks about Mob Town on NBC's Today in the 9am hour, on the BUILD Series at 1pm and on New York Live on WNBC in New York at 11:30am ET.
- Madison Iseman (Still the King) - Madison talks about Jumanji: The Next Level on People Now at 12pm and on the BUILD Series at 2pm.
- Ana Gasteyer (People of Earth/Lady Dynamite/Suburgatory) - Ana performs on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
New on DVD/Blu-ray (October/November/December)
10/08 - Leave it to Beaver - The Complete Series
10/08 - Life with Lucy - The Complete Series
10/15 - Mom - The Complete Sixth Season
10/16 - Our Miss Brooks - Season 1 - Volume 1
10/16 - Our Miss Brooks - Season 1 - Volume 2
11/05 - The Fonz and the Happy Days Gang - The Complete Animated Series
11/05 - Laverne & Shirley in the Army (Animated Series) - The DVD Edition
11/05 - Letterkenny - Seasons 1 & 2
11/05 - Step by Step - The Complete Fifth Season (WBShop.com)
11/12 - The Big Bang Theory - The Twelfth and Final Season (Blu-ray)
11/12 - The Big Bang Theory - The Complete Series (Blu-ray Limited Edition)
11/18 - The Guest Book - Season Two
11/19 - The King of Queens - The Complete Series (Mill Creek)
11/19 - The Kominsky Method - The Complete First Season (Blu-ray)
12/03 - The Simpsons - The Nineteenth Season
12/03 - The Simpsons - Seasons 1-20: Limited Collector's Set
12/10 - Family Guy - Season Seventeen
12/17 - Fuller House - The Complete Fourth Season
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