TV One February 2011 Schedule Has 'Way Black When' Month; ABC Mid-Season 2011 Update

Thursday, January 20, 2011

TV One February 2011 Schedule Has 'Way Black When' Month; ABC Mid-Season 2011 Update

TV One will celebrate Black History Month in February 2011, like they did last year. Thee will not be any changes to the regular schedule, but there will be plenty of stunts. To celebrate "Our History Month," beginning Monday, Jan. 31 at 10 PM ET, and airing each weeknight over four weeks, TV One will present "Way Black When," a month of high-profile programming designed to reflect back on the golden age of black culture that emerged during the 1970s, '80s and '90s. The centerpiece of the initiative is Way Black When: Prime Time, a high-energy, one-hour talk show that will showcase Black pop culture icons across three decades – the '70s, '80s and '90s -- including actors, comedians, athletes, musicians and many more--from Black Power through Hip Hop. Guiding a live studio audience and television viewers on their trip back through 'blackness,' will be three hosts, each of whom embodies a decade's essence. Comedian and actor Sinbad will conduct a fantastic voyage through the 70's...Niecy Nash keeps it moving and groovin' through the 80's... and comedian and actor Chris 'Kid' Reid picks up the final leg of the Way Black When journey with 90's Hip Hop.
Each night, guests who characterize the specific week's decade will be showcased, along with a musical act and a comedian who provide the tunes and the tone of the time. The series will include a "Retro Trek" segment of nightly comedic sketches spoofing memorable hairstyles, fashion trends, and cultural fads from each decade. Each week, TV One will feature Heroes, Newsmakers, Icons and Celebs (HNIC) segment in which "Washington Watch" host Roland Martin will provide a look back at the major news events of the day.

Among the many guests (including performers and comedians) included in Way Black When, which airs weeknights at 10 PM and repeats weeknights at 1 AM, will be:

Way Black When: The '70s – hosted by Sinbad (Monday, Jan. 31-Friday, Feb. 4) – actor and pro football Hall of Famer Jim Brown; Peabody Award-winning comedian and radio personality J. Anthony Brown; comedian Don "DC" Curry; The Emotions (Best of My Love) ; former NFL great Vince Evans; actor Antonio Fargas (Huggy Bear from Starsky and Hutch); Cuba Gooding, Sr (The Main Ingredient, Everybody Plays the Fool); singer/songwriter/musician Larry Graham; comedian and activist Dick Gregory; The Hues Corporation (Rock the Boat); Grammy Award-winning and Oscar-nominated singer/musician James Ingram; groundbreaking model, actress and sportscaster Jayne Kennedy; vocalist Evelyn "Champagne" King; comedian Paul Mooney; actress Denise Nicholas (Room 222, In the Heat of the Night); Freda Payne; actor/producer, husband/wife duo Daphne and Tim Reid; actor Ernest Thomas (What's Happening!!); singer/songwriter and fashion icon Jody Watley (originally of Shalamar); and actor and martial artist Michael Jai White.
Way Black When: The '80s – hosted by Niecy Nash (Monday, Feb. 7-Friday, Feb. 11) – R&B duo Alexander O'Neal & Cherrelle; singer/songwriter Bobby Brown; rapper and record producer Kurtis Blow; actor Todd Bridges (Diff'rent Strokes); comedian Joe Clair; actor/director Bill Duke (Sister Act 2); rap trailblazer Doug E. Fresh; recording industry executive André Harrell; Anna Maria Horsford (Amen); R&B singer and actress Miki Howard; rapper Kool Mo Dee; R&B singer Louis Price (The Temptations) and his wife, actress Fay Hauser; director/producer Michael Schultz (Cooley High); hip hop pioneer Roxanne Shante; drummer and percussionist Sheila E.; R&B star Al B. Sure; actor Taimak (The Last Dragon); actor Glynn Turman (A Different World, The Wire); and The Whispers.
Way Black When: The '90s – hosted by Chris "Kid" Reid (Monday, Feb. 14-Friday. Feb. 18) – Tatyana Ali (Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, TV One's new original sitcom, Love That Girl!); R&B group Bell Biv DeVoe; producer and former actor Carl Craig; comedian and actor Tommy Davidson; commentator and author Dr. Michael Eric Dyson; comedian Earthquake; R&B singer/songwriter Johnny Gill; singer and performer Ginuwine; actress Jasmine Guy (A Different World); comedian and actress Jackée Harry (227, Sister, Sister); R&B superstars K-Ci & JoJo (originally of Jodeci); Christopher "Play" Martin; actor Darius McCrary (Family Matters); Grammy Award-winning hip hop group Naughty By Nature; comedian and actress Ajai Sanders (A Different World); new jack swing/R&B group Tony! Toni! Toné!; director, actor and comedian Robert Townsend; actor Ben Vereen; actress Lynn Whitfield; actor Malik Yoba; comedian YoYo; and from New Jack City - director Mario Van Peebles and cast members Vanessa Williams, Christopher Williams, and William Cobbs, plus New Jack Swing group Guy, who sang the title song from the groundbreaking film.
The fourth week of Way Black When: Primetime, Monday, Feb. 21 – Friday, Feb. 25, will offer a "Best Of" week that will feature the best interviews, comedy sketches and performances of the prior three weeks, plus original, unseen material, with the Best of the '70s airing on Monday, Feb. 21; the Best of the '80s airing on Tuesday, Feb. 22; the Best of the '90s airing on Wednesday, Feb. 23; plus an all-stand-up comedy show on Thursday, Feb. 24 and an all-musical performance show on Friday, Feb. 25.

There will also be stunt programming to go along with these weeks. Both TV series and movies will surround these specials. TV series airs weeknights at 9 and the movies at 11. Series for the '70s week will be The Flip Wilson Show (Tuesday and Wednesday) and The Richard Pryor Show (Thursday and Friday). Movies for the '70s week are Cooley High, Superfly, Shaft, Black Caesar and Cotton Comes Harlem. Every Saturday will feature a marathon block in February of the week's shows. On Saturday, Feb. 5 TV One airs a marathon of The Flip Wilson Show from 12pm-8pm, followed by the movie Shaft, and a marathon of The Richard Pryor Show from 8pm-6am. Also on Sunday, Feb. 6, TV One will air two classic '70s sitcoms in Sanford & Son from 12pm-7pm and Good Times from 8pm-2am.
Moving on to the '80s week, series will be A Different World (Tuesday and Wednesday) and Amen (Thursday and Friday). Movies for the '80s week are Disorderlies, Harlem Nights, Beat Street, Young Blood and Purple Rain. On Saturday, Feb. 12 TV One airs a marathon of A Different World from 12pm-8pm, followed by the movie Purple Rain, and a marathon of Amen from 8pm-6am.
And then on to the '90s week, series will be Martin (Tuesday and Wednesday) and Living Single (Thursday and Friday). Movies for the '90s week are Juice, Distinguished Gentleman, Fresh, Double Platinum and Livin Large. On Saturday, Feb. 19 TV One airs a marathon of Living Single from 12pm-8pm, followed by the movie Two Can Play That Game, then the movie Three Can Play That Game, and then another marathon of Living Single from 12am-6am. Martin got a special stunt on Sunday, Feb. 13 from 1pm-4am instead. On Sunday, Feb. 20, TV One will air 6 episodes of NY Undercover from 12pm-6pm.
Finally, the last week of the month will be a best-of week. Series will be A Different World on Tuesday, Martin on Wednesday, Living Single on Thursday and Amen on Friday. Movies for the best-of week are Don King: Only in America, Blood Done Sign My Name, Tyson, Dead Presidents and A Raisin in the Sun. On Saturday, Feb. 26 from 12pm-4:30am, TV One airs a movie marathon featuring Young Blood, Black Caesar, Cotton Comes Harlem, Superfly, Cooley High, Harlem Nights, Distinguished Gentleman, and Cooley High again. Random airings of Martin and Good Times follow from 4:30am-6am.

Finally, ABC has added two more pieces to its mid-season 2011 schedule. We broke the news for both on Twitter last night. Reality series Shark Tank will return for a second season on Friday, March 25 at 8pm. The series was ordered for a second season with 8 all-new episodes including guest panelists Mark Cuban and Jeff Foxworthy joining for a few episodes each. The series also had one episode left-over from last season that they could air. Shark Tank will replace Supernanny on Fridays at 8pm. Supernanny is ending its run this season, so it looks like the series finale will air on March 18.
Meanwhile, after Wipeout's Winter edition ends, ABC will have to plug in something on Thursdays at 8pm for the last 6 weeks of the season. Replacing Wipeout starting Thursday, April 14 at 8pm will be Take The Money and Run, from Jerry Bruckheimer. This six-week series is a game of cat and mouse between two teams to try and win $100,000. Wipeout was supposed to end its Winter run starting March 4, but it seems like they have ordered four more episodes, bringing the total to 12 (instead of 8). Thursdays, March 3-April 7 is 6 weeks, so Wipeout will be repeats for two weeks in that span.
Still yet to be scheduled for ABC is game show Million Dollar Mind Game, reality series Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition, Mark Burnett's new reality series Expedition Impossible, and returning reality series Wife Swap & Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution. Most of these could be for summer now. Everything else for ABC is scheduled for mid-season including comedy Mr. Sunshine (Feb. 9), reality series Secret Millionaire (March 6), drama Body of Proof (March 29), and comedy Happy Endings (April 13). Stay with us for updates.

Sitcoms Airing Tonight

Wednesday, September 22

The Goldbergs - "The Goldbergs' Excellent Adventure" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
The season nine premiere revolves around the iconic ‘80s family paying tribute to Pops. Together they venture down memory lane by visiting Pops’ favorite stomping grounds. Adam Goldberg, forever with camera in hand, captures the outing – theming it to “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure.” Hijinks and hilarity ensue, and we are reminded that there is no bond greater than family.

The Wonder Years - "Pilot" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
As the youngest in the Williams family, Dean is struggling to figure out where he fits in. Between his brother’s athleticism, sister’s popularity, mother’s intelligence and dad’s overall coolness, everyone else seems to have their lane figured out. He decides to pursue his calling as “The Great Uniter” and attempts to organize the first integrated baseball game between his team and his friend Brad’s team.

The Conners - "Trucking Live in Front of a Fully Vaccinated Studio Audience" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Lights, Camera, Action: “The Conners” is going live for both the East and West Coast broadcasts of the season four premiere episode. This iconic TV family continues to deal with the current pandemic while navigating breakups and newfound sobriety, all while planning an upcoming wedding.

Home Economics - "49ers Foam Finger, $7" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Connor invites the Hayworth clan to a San Francisco 49ers game as he tries to close his latest business deal. Desperately trying to prove that he knows the game, Tom gets a once-in-a-lifetime chance to showcase his football skills in front of the entire crowd of 49ers Faithful at Levi’s® Stadium. Meanwhile, Denise tries to get Sarah to come to terms with Shamiah’s new interest in cheerleading.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of September 20)

Wednesday, September 22

Steve Martin (Only Murders in the Building) and Martin Short (Only Murders in the Building/Mulaney/The Martin Short Show) - Watch Steve and Martin on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Jim Gaffigan (The Jim Gaffigan Show/My Boys/Welcome to New York) - Jim appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Melissa McCarthy (Mike & Molly/Samantha Who?) - Melissa is a guest on The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Scott Foley (The Goodwin Games/Scrubs/A.U.S.A.) - Scott appears on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
Kim Fields (The Upshaws/Living Single/The Facts of Life/Baby, I'm Back) - Kim is a guest on a repeat of The Wendy Williams Show, so check your local listings.
Alyson Hanningan (How I Met Your Mother/Free Spirit) - Alyson will be on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
Jaleel White (Family Matters/Grown Ups) - Jaleel talks about his hit podcast Ever After on Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
John Stamos (Fuller House/Grandfathered/Jake in Progrews/Full House/You, Again?) - John talks about his podcast The Grand Scheme on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Drew Barrymore (Santa Clarita Diet) - Drew appears on CBS This Morning sometime between 7-9am.
Martin Lawrence (Martin/Partners) - Martin gets excited for the NFL season by partnering with DraftKings on Access Daily, so check your local listings.
Jon Bernthal (The Class) - Jon talks about The Many Saints of Newark on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am.
The Cast of The Wonder Years (2021) - Elisha "EJ" Williams, Laura Kariuki, Dulé Hill and Saycon Sengbloh are guests on Tamron Hall, so check your local listings. Dulé appears on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan (check your local listings) and chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT. Dulé and EJ will be on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.