Science Channel Acquires Firefly; USA Reduces CSI; Remembering Seinfeld's Uncle Leo, Actor Len Lesser

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Science Channel Acquires Firefly; USA Reduces CSI; Remembering Seinfeld's Uncle Leo, Actor Len Lesser

From the creator of the hit TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer sci-fi savant Joss Whedon delves into the final frontier with Firefly, which lands exclusively on the Science Channel on Sunday, March 6 at 8pm ET with the airing of the original 2-hour pilot. Immediately following, episode one of the 15 episode series will air at 10pm ET.
Firefly will dominate the airwaves every Sunday with an encore episode of the previous week airing 9pm ET to be followed by the network premiere of the next episode in the series airing at 10pm ET.
As a special treat for Firefly fans, star of Science Channel's Sci-Fi Science, and the cofounder of string field theory, Dr. Michio Kaku, will be commentating on the science behind Firefly for each episode. From terraforming, to anti-matter, Kaku will be explaining why the science fiction featured in the show really isn't that far from science fact.
When Firefly first aired in 2002 on Fox, Whedon's sci-fi western quickly became a cult favorite. Set 500 years in the future, in the aftermath of a universal civil war, the story centers on the renegade crew of a small transport spaceship led by Castle's Nathan Fillion, who directs the ragtag team through adventures into unknown parts of the galaxy, as they try to evade warring factions as well as authority agents out to get them. In addition to Fillion, the series starred Gina Torres (Alias), Adam Baldwin (Chuck), Summer Glau (Sarah Connor Chronicles), Ron Glass (Barney Miller) and Morena Baccarin (V).
Science Channel is part of Discovery Networks, which includes Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, and Discovery Health.

After just a few weeks, CSI will be reduced on USA Network. Law & Order: SVU replaces CSI on Mondays at midnight and Law & Order: CI replaces CSI on Mondays at 1am. And finally, NCIS replaces CSI on Fridays in late night beginning at 12am. So when will CSI now air? Wednesdays at 12am and Fridays 9pm-12am. It looks like the ratings are still not up to par for CSI on USA Network, which is surprising since it fits well with other reruns on the network. Stay with us for any further updates and changes, if any.

We have another TV passing to report. Len Lesser, the veteran character actor best known for his scene-stealing role as Uncle Leo on Seinfeld, has died. Lesser's family said in a statement that he died Wednesday (Feb. 16, 2011) in Burbank, CA, from cancer-related pneumonia.
He appeared in about 15 episodes as Seinfeld's uncle on the long running sitcom starting in the second season all the way to the series finale. Lesser's lengthy list of television credits included parts on Gunsmoke, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Dragnet, Love on a Rooftop, The FBI, My Favorite Martian, Honey West, Ben Casey, Get Smart, That Girl, The Munsters, The Monkees, The Rockford Files, The Bill Cosby Show, All in the Family, Kojak, Medical Center, The Bob Newhart Show, Bonanza, Ironside, Enos, Quincy, Remington Steele, Simon & Simon, Falcon Crest, Airwolf, thirtysomething, Babes, Boy Meets World, The John Larroquette Show, Caroline in the City, Mad About You, Smart Guy, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Son of the Beach, Rock Me Baby, Just Shoot Me!, Quintuplets, Cold Case, ER, 'Til Death, and Everybody Loves Raymond, which featured Lesser in a recurring role as the arm-shaking Garvin. He most recently appeared on the ABC's Castle in 2009.
He will be deeply missed. Fans will be saying "Jerry! Hellooo!" today in his memory. Mr. Lesser was 88.

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Sunday, November 17

Bob's Burgers - "Saving Favorite Drive-in" (Fox, 7:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When the Belchers visit the local drive-in, Bob comes up with a plan to save the theater from closing; Linda accidentally insults another mom while on a group text chain; Louise and Gene hide from Tina after stealing some of her favorite candy.

Krapopolis - "Ice Week" (Fox, 7:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Tyrannis struggles to keep his cool when he gets the hots for a visiting reporter; Shlub is paid a visit by an old friend; Hippocampus and Stupendous risk missing the festivities altogether.

The Simpsons - "Bart's Brain" (Fox, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Bart makes a new friend.

Universal Basic Guys - "Pet Projects" (Fox, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Threatened by a doctor's kindness toward Tammy, Mark tries to get her an exotic animal; Hank bonds with the chimpanzee via its bluetooth; David's dog saves David and Mernft Man from a pet snake.

Bob's Burgers - "Colon-ly the Dronel" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Linda agrees to drive Teddy to pick up Kathleen from her colonoscopy after he accidentally injures himself; the kids concoct a scheme to prank an overhead drone which is set to film the school from above.

Krapopolis - "Thor" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Tyrannis' little hunting mishap brings the Norse gods to Olympus; the family is forced to deal with the hunky Thor, the mischievous Loki, and some nasty bridge trolls.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of November 11)

Friday, November 15

Tom Hanks (Bosom Buddies) - Watch Tom on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Joel McHale (Animal Control/The Great Indoors/Community) - Joel appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Caroline Rhea (Sydney to the Max/Sabrina, the Teenage Witch/Pride & Joy) - Caroline is a guest on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
Jeff Goldblum (Search Party) - NBC's Today catches up with Jeff in the 9am hour.
Jimmy O. Yang (Interior Chinatown/Space Force/Silicon Valley) and Taika Waititi (Our Flag Means Death) - Jimmy and Taika talk about Interior Chinatown on ABC's Good Morning America some time between 7-9am.
Billy Bob Thornton (Hearts Afire) - Billy Bob chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Bad Sisters Cast - Eve Hewson, Sharon Horgan, Sarah Greene, and Eva Birthistle are dishing on the new season of the hit thriller show on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Lacey Chabert (Still the King/Baby Daddy/Family Guy) - Lacey tells Sherri about her new holiday movies, Hot Frosty on Netflix and The Christmas Quest on Hallmark, on Sherri, so check your local listings.
Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg (Two and a Half Men/Jenny) - Jenny talks about Fox's The Masked Singer on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.