Sundance Channel Picks Up The Comeback; Conan Premiere Hammers Letterman and Leno on Monday

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Sundance Channel Picks Up The Comeback; Conan Premiere Hammers Letterman and Leno on Monday

Sundance Channel has acquired basic cable rights to the short-lived HBO original comedy series The Comeback. The series will make its basic cable premiere on Sundance Tuesday, Nov. 23 at 11:00pm ET and will air every Tuesday nights.
The 13-episode series stars former Friends star Lisa Kudrow and was created by Kudrow and Sex and the City creator Michael Patrick King. The 2005 series was about a former sitcom star trying to make her way back in show business, and without much luck. Lisa Kudrow, was also nominated for an Emmy for the role.
The series will be paired with Sundance's newest reality show Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys, which will premiere Tuesday, Dec. 7 at 10:30pm ET. That series examines relationships between women and their gay best friends.

Conan O'Brien's new TBS talk show was a hit with young viewers for its premiere on Monday night, delivering an audience with a projected median age of just 30 (compared to the median age of 59 for The Tonight Show). Conan - which featured guests Seth Rogen, Lea Michele and Jack White - was watched by 2,451,000 adults 18-34; 3,285,000 adults 18-49; and 4,155,000 total viewers. The series beat both Late Show with David Letterman and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno in all categories (including hammering both in adults 18-49 by wide margins). Conan also beat Comedy Central's The Daily Show and The Colbert Report in the hour. Conan was second overall in late night to ABC's Nightline, which had a 3.7 metered market rating, to Conan's 2.8 metered market rating, but the new talk show was by far the best in adults 18-49.
O'Brien has a strong following among younger viewers, and social media has proven to be a key way for him to connect with his fans. Conan welcomed guests Tom Hanks, Jack McBrayer and Soundgarden last night. Upcoming guests include Jon Hamm, Fistful of Mercy and Charlyne Yi tonight; and Michael Cera, Julie Bowen and Jon Dore on Thursday. Conan airs Mon-Thurs at 11:00pm ET on TBS.
Meanwhile, Lopez Tonight moved to 12am on Monday. TBS's Lopez Tonight, starring George Lopez, opened its second year Monday with outstanding deliveries of adults 18-34 (571,000) and adults 18-49 (883,000). The series had a 1.1 metered market rating, coming short of other 12am entries: Jimmy Kimmel Live (1.7), Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (1.4) and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (1.2).
Overall, Monday's premiere – which featured Grammy®-winning musical artist and actress Janet Jackson, musical guest Rooney and online sensation Antoine Dodson – was watched by 1,352,000 total viewers in its new later timeslot. Last night, Lopez was joined by Oscar®-winning actor Jamie Foxx, Glee star Jayma Mays and San Francisco Giants infielder Freddy Sanchez. Upcoming guests include Howie Mandel and Juliette Lewis tonight and Denzel Washington, Hilary Duff and Russell Peters on Thursday. Lopez Tonight airs Mon-Thurs nights at 12 midnight ET.

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Wednesday, January 21

Shifting Gears - "Toys" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Riley’s new relationship feels perfect until Matt crashes in, throwing some unexpected obstacles her way. Meanwhile, Matt’s toy car project is derailed when he and Gabe are tasked with working together. Jesse Williams and Maria Bamford guest star.

Abbott Elementary - "Mall Part 3: Heroes" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
After the faculty finds surprising success operating the school in the mall, they quickly realize they are being taken advantage of. Meanwhile, a new custodian arrives to join Mr. Johnson.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of January 19)

Wednesday, January 21

Martin Short (Only Murders in the Building/Mulaney/I'm a Big Girl Now/The Associates) - Watch Martin on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Jackson White (Mrs. Fletcher) - Jackson appears on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Jane Fonda (Grace and Frankie) - Jane is a guest on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Jessica Williams (Shrinking/Love Life/Just for Kicks) - Jessica stops by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS. She also chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Bert Kreischer (Free Bert) - Bert appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Kenan Thompson (Kenan/Kenan & Kel) - Kenan appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC. He also chats about Unfunny Bunny and Saturday Night Live with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Simu Liu (Kim's Convenience) - Simu is a guest on Comedy Central's The Daily Show at 11pm.
Kenan Thompson (Kenan/Kenan & Kel) - Kenan share details of his new children’s book, Unfunny Bunny, and more on Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
Scott Foley (The Goodwin Games/A.U.S.A./Scrubs) - Scott talks about Will Trent and It's Not Like That on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
Sarah Jessica Parker (And Just Like That.../Divorce/Sex and the City/Square Pegs) - Sarah discusses her love of reading and protecting her vision with Lara Spencer on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
Jennette McCurdy (Sam & Cat/iCarly) - Jennette talks about Half Her Age on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
Arden Myrin (Free Bert/Working/Still the King) - Arden dishes about her new Netflix series Free Bert on Sherri, so check your local listings.
Jason Biggs (Outmatched/Mad Love/Drexell's Class) and Meaghan Rath (Children Ruin Everything/Cooper Barrett's Guide to Surviving Life/The Assistants) - Jason and Meagahn talk about their film Untitled Home Invasion Romance on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
Kim Fields (The Upshaws/Living Single/The Facts of Life/Baby, I'm Back) - Kim talks about Netflix's The Upshaws on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.