Tuesday, March 22, 2011
TV Land Orders 2 New Sitcoms, New Season of Retired; NBC Summer 2011 Update
The two new series joining the network's roster are Happily Divorced marking Fran Drescher's (The Nanny) return to television joined by John Michael Higgins (Best in Show), Tichina Arnold (Everybody Hates Chris) and Rita Moreno (West Side Story) as well as The Exes (working title) starring Donald Faison (Scrubs) , Wayne Knight (Seinfeld, Hot in Cleveland), David Alan Basche (Law and Order) and Kristen Johnston (3rd Rock from the Sun). Additionally, TV Land has renewed its hit sitcom Retired at 35 starring George Segal, Jessica Walter and Johnathan McClain for a second season. Happily Divorced, The Exes and Retired at 35 are all picked up for 10 episodes each. Happily Divorced is slated to premiere Wednesday, June 15 at 10:30pm airing after new episodes of the final 10 episodes of season two for Hot in Cleveland. No word on premiere dates for The Exes and Retired at 35, but they will premiere next winter (2012).
Happily Divorced is based on Fran Drescher's real life and centers around Los Angeles florist Fran (Drescher) as she deals with dating after finding out her realtor husband of 18 years (John Michael Higgins) is gay. The show focuses on how she juggles her new relationships and her ex-husband post-divorce while still living under the same roof. The cast is rounded out by Fran's best friend Judi (Tichina Arnold), her parents Dori and Glen (Rita Moreno and Robert Walden) and her flower delivery employee Cesar (Valente Rodriguez). Additionally, in the pilot, Fran's love interest, Elliot, is played by D.W. Moffett.
The Exes revolves around three divorced men, ladies man Phil (Donald Faison), homebody Haskell (Wayne Knight) and newly-single and needy Stuart (David Alan Basche). The men live together in an apartment across the hall from their divorce attorney, Holly (Kristen Johnston), who also happens to be their landlord. Holly avoids her own relationship and commitment issues by becoming immersed in the men's affairs as they put their lives back together and return to the dating scene.
As you recall we mentioned TV Land ordered three sitcom pilots, but as of now they have not picked-up the third pilot, Rip City (aka Untitled Terri Minsky Pilot), which stars Christine Taylor, Barry Watson and The View's Sherri Shepherd. If they do pick that up to series, we will let you know but as of now it seems unlikely.
NBC revealed some of its original series programming for Summer 2011 that features the sixth-season premiere of summer's top-rated America's Got Talent on Tuesday, May 31 from 9-11 p.m. ET, the announcement of the new game show It's Worth What? and the second-season debut of The Marriage Ref on Sunday, June 26 at 10 p.m. ET.
In addition, NBC will offer fresh programs such as the musical competition series The Voice (premieres April 26, regular day and time Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET) through the end of June as well as the new game show Still Standing (working title in the U.S.) and reality series Love in the Wild (days and times for both are TBA). Original episodes of the drama Law & Order: Los Angeles on Mondays at 10 p.m. ET also continue through the end of June.
NBC also will present the broadcast network premiere of the final season of Law & Order: Criminal Intent beginning on Monday, May 30 at 9 p.m. ET. Meanwhile, the last season of Friday Night Lights on Fridays at 8 p.m. ET also continues into the summer (premieres April 15).
As for timings for America's Got Talent, it will premiere its sixth season on Tuesday, May 31 from 9-11 p.m. ET with a two-hour broadcast. After its debut, the series will resume its run on Tuesdays in the 9 p.m. ET hour from June 7 through June 28. The series then will begin two-hour Tuesday editions from 9-11 p.m. ET starting July 5 until September 6. America's Got Talent will debut its Wednesday broadcasts on June 1 in the 9 p.m. ET hour and will continue on that night through September 7. On Tuesday, September 13, America's Got Talent returns to one hour at 9 p.m. ET for its penultimate episode before returning for its two-hour season finale on the next night - Wednesday, September 14 from 9-11 p.m. ET. Encores of both the Tuesday and Wednesday airings will air on the following Sunday and Monday.
View more about the new original programming for NBC summer 2011. We will let you know the full summer schedule as soon as it is announced, including premiere dates for the three new original series (game shows - It's Worth What and Still Standing and reality series Love in the Wild). For now view the NBC summer line-up without them added in.
Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows
Thursday, May 8
Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - "Ladies Love Brunch" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Georgie tries to juggle his mom, his mother-in-law and Mandy on Mother’s Day. Meanwhile, Audrey wants to meet Connor’s girlfriend.
Ghosts - "The Devil Went Down to Woodstone" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Sam and Jay host a big party for the launch of Sam and Isaac’s vampire book. Mary Holland (Patience), Punam Patel (Bela) and Matt Walsh (Elias Woodstone) return as guest stars.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of May 5)
Thursday, May 8
- Paula Poundstone (Home Movies) - Paula performs stand-up comedy on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
- Natasha Lyonne (Russian Doll) - Natasha appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Michelle Buteau (Survival of the Thickest/Bless the Harts/Enlisted) - Michelle talks about Netflix's Survival of the Thickest on Comedy Central's The Daily Show at 11pm.
- Maria Bamford (Lady Dynamite/Benched) and Doug Benson (You're the Worst) - Maria and Doug are guests on After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
- John Benjamin Hickey (HouseBroken/The Big C/It's All Relative) - John stops by Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 11:15pm on Bravo.
- Patricia Clarkson (Davis Rules) - Patricia is a guest on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 11:15pm on Bravo.
- Kerry Washington (UnPrisoned) - E! News has an interview with Kerry at 11pm on E!. Kerry and Omar Sy discuss their highly anticipated new film Shadow Force on Sherri, so check your local listings.
- Rebel Wilson (Super Fun Night) - Rebel chats about Juliet & Romeo on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
- Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/Café Americain/Sydney/One Day at a Time) - In A Little Bit Extra Valerie and Ross Mathews are sharing more of their conversation with Al Roker in Charleston at the Food & Wine Classic on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
- Morris Chestnut (Out All Night) and Randall Park (Young Rock/Blockbuster/Fresh Off the Boat/Veep/Supah Ninjas) - Morris and Randall talk about Watson on PIX11 Morning News on WPIX in New York at 9:30am.
New on DVD and Blu-ray
01/28 - Wait Till Your Father Gets Home - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/04 - The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series
03/11 - Frasier (2023) - Season Two
04/01 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season
05/13 - The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* (missing 4 episodes and some music has been replaced or altered)
06/06 - Shoresy - Season 2
06/17 - Looney Tunes - Collector's Vault - Volume 1 (Blu-ray)
07/08 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
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