TV Land and AFI Honor Morgan Freeman; The CW Renews Five Series for 2011-12

Thursday, April 28, 2011

TV Land and AFI Honor Morgan Freeman; The CW Renews Five Series for 2011-12

American film's finest have confirmed their participation on the American Film Institute (AFI) Gala Benefit Committee honoring 39th Life Achievement Award recipient, Morgan Freeman. Members of this year's benefit committee are Ben Affleck, Jim Carrey, Clint Eastwood, Tom Hanks, Ashley Judd, Helen Mirren, Mike Nichols, Jack Nicholson, Brad Pitt, Sidney Poitier, Robert Redford, Tim Robbins, Steven Spielberg, Hilary Swank, Denzel Washington and Alfre Woodard. AFI will present the 39th AFI Life Achievement Award – America's highest honor for a career in film – to Freeman on Thursday, June 9. TV Land Presents: The AFI Life Achievement Award Honoring Morgan Freeman will air on TV Land on Sunday, June 26, 2011 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT.
The black-tie event will take place on historic Stage 15 at Sony Pictures Studios, where The Wizard of Oz, Grand Hotel, Spiderman and other classic movies were filmed. The stage will be transformed into an elegant ballroom to honor the storied career of Morgan Freeman. Proceeds from the AFI Life Achievement Award Gala directly support the Institute's national educational programs and the preservation of American film history.
We will have more on this special on the TV Land June 2011 highlights very soon, so come on back!

The CW Network has given early pickups to five of its established series for next season, including an All-Star Cycle of America's Next Top Model and the network's top-rated drama The Vampire Diaries. Dramas Gossip Girl, 90210 and Supernatural will also return next season. All five shows will return in Fall 2011.
America's Next Top Model has been ordered for both cycles next season, as The CW's signature reality series will kick-off the Fall with its first-ever All-Star Edition, featuring the models who became breakout characters and who had the most memorable stories from past cycles. The CW's bloodily addictive hit The Vampire Diaries was also given an early renewal, and in its sophomore season, remains the network's most-watched show and the network's number-one show among its target audience of women 18-34.
Also given early pickups for next season are The CW's scandalous guilty pleasures Gossip Girl, which is the network's second most popular series with women 18-34, and 90210, which posts some of TV's largest percent increases from DVR playback, more than doubling its women 18-34 live ratings once live+7 data is included. The network also renewed fan favorite Supernatural, which enters its seventh season next year. In moving to Fridays last September, the series immediately helped make The CW more competitive on the night and dramatically contributed to year-to-year gains on Friday in adults 18-34 and total viewers.
So we have half of the series set to air on The CW next season. What will be the other five hours? We'll see on Thursday, May 19 when The CW announces its fall 2011 schedule at its annual upfront presentation. Will One Tree Hill, Hellcats and Nikita return? Veteran drama Smallville will end its run next month with a proper send-off.

Sitcoms Airing Tonight

Sunday, November 27

Welcome to Flatch - "Flatchural Disaster" (Fox, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Mandy, Barb and Dylan throw their hats in the ring for town selectperson; when a tornado makes its way through the town, Flatch spins out of control.

The Simpsons - "When Nelson Met Lisa" (Fox, 8:30PM ET/PT)
A future tale of Springfield's most unlikely couple.

Bob's Burgers - "Show Mama From the Grave" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Bob takes Linda and the kids to visit his mother's grave, but finding the headstone is harder than he expected; Teddy makes a grave mistake while doing repairs in the Belcher's house.

The Great North - "Bee's All That Adventure" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Kima and her family host a very surprising visitor during Lone Moose's exchange student week; Ham fails to care for a cactus.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of November 21)

Friday, November 25

Tracy Morgan (The Last O.G./30 Rock/The Tracy Morgan Show) - Watch Tracy on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Zach Woods (Avenue 5/Silicon Valley/Playing House/The Office) - Zach appears on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Matthew Perry (The Odd Couple/Go On/Mr. Sunshine/Friends/Sydney/Boys Will Be Boys) - Matthew chats with the ladies of The View on a repeat on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Tisha Campbell (Uncoupled/Outmatched/Dr. Ken/Rita Rocks/My Wife and Kids/Martin) - Tisha discusses the TV series Uncoupled on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
Rosie O'Donnell (SMILF/Stand By Your Man/Gimme a Break!) - Rosie is a guest on a repeat of The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
Tyler James Williams (Abbott Elementary/Go On/Everybody Hates Chris) - Tyler appears on a repeat of The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
Regina Hall (Black Monday/Grandfathered/Second Generation Wayans) - Regina is a guest on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Howie Mandel (Good Grief) - Howie appears on a repeat of The Jennifer Hudson Show, so check your local listings.
Tia Mowry (Family Reunion/Instant Mom/The Game/Sister, Sister) - Tia uses leftover fruit to make a quick dessert on Rachael Ray, so check your local listings.
Emayatzy Corinealdi (Ballers) - Emayatzy talks about Hulu's Reasonable Doubt ABC's Good Morning America some time between 7-9am and on Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
Marlo Thomas (That Girl) - NBC's Today has Thanks & Giving Finale with Marlo and Choir in the 10am hour.
Jack McBrayer (30 Rock) - Jack talks about Apple TV+'s Hello, Jack! The Kindness Show on a repeat of Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
Tori Spelling (Mystery Girls/So Notorious) - Tori talks about MTV's Love at First Lie on a repeat of Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
Brian Tyree Henry (Atlanta) - Brian talks about Causeway and Atlanta on ABC's Good Morning America some time between 7-9am.