NBC Announces 7 Pilot Pick-Ups for 2011-2012; Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of May 16, 2011)

Friday, May 13, 2011

NBC Announces 7 Pilot Pick-Ups for 2011-2012; Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of May 16, 2011)

Fox announced most of its new series pick-ups the other day, as we told you, but NBC also made confirmations on its new series pick-ups and renewals. As of this writing, NBC has picked-up seven new series for 2011-12. More will be announced soon, but as of now it is seven and will likely be as many as ten by Monday when they "officially" announce their 2011-12 line-up. The new comedy pilot pick-ups to series are Up All Night (aka Alpha Mom) starring Christina Applegate and Whitney starring Whitney Cummings. The dramas are Prime Suspect, Smash, The Playboy Club, Grimm and Awake (aka REM). We predicted all of these series would get picked-up except for Grimm (we picked Metro instead, which NBC passed on). As for the current series returning, NBC will unofficially bring back Parenthood, Harry's Law for the new season and it looks like Chuck as well. The latter is surprising, but I don't think it is really beneficial to NBC as the series doesn't do good ratings. Perhaps it will be on for 13 weeks and that is it rather than an entire season. I would look for it to be moving out of Mondays at 8, but NBC has been strange the last 7 years, so who knows.
More new series pick-ups will likely be announced soon, as the comedy It's Me Chelsea and the drama The Firm are close to getting picked-up (both of which we also predicted). In addition, one more comedy pilot could be ordered, but it won't be be Help Wanted, which we predicted for mid-season. Stay with us all weekend long for any updates before the big upfront week starts on Monday. Keep it right here bright and early for the schedules, as we have posted some schedules before anyone else in the past (such as ABC).

It's Friday, so it is time for "Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows" for the coming week. This is where we list what sitcom stars are appearing on talk shows for the coming week, the stars are both current and past sitcom stars (but we won't cover movie stars like Tom Hanks or John Travolta, since they won't be talking about their past sitcoms likely), so this is for all sitcom fans of all eras!
For the week of May 16-20, 2011, we have many current sitcom stars and past sitcom stars on TV talk shows! So get your DVR's (or whatever you use) ready! Ready? Here is all what you need to know for the coming week!

Monday, May 16, 2011

Simon Helberg (The Big Bang Theory) - Watch Simon on Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson at 12:37am on CBS.
Ellie Kemper (The OFfice) - Catch Ellie on Conan at 11pm on TBS.
Shia LaBeouf (Even Stevens) - Shia visits The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check listings.
Mario Lopez (Saved by the Bell) - Mario Lopez prepares 200-calorie brownies on Rachael Ray, so check listings.
Ed Asner (The Mary Tyler Moore Show/Working Class) - Ed talks about Too Big To Fail on NBC's Today between 10-11am.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Melissa McCarthy (Mike & Molly) - Catch Melissa on The Late Show with David Letterman at 11:35pm on CBS.
Betty White (Hot in Cleveland/The Golden Girls/The Mary Tyler Moore Show) - The legendary Ms. White visits the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson at 12:37am on CBS.
Adam Pally (Happy Endings) - Adam will be a guest on Last Call with Carson Daly at 1:37am on NBC. Watch him on the hilarious Happy Endings on ABC on Wednesdays.
Norm Macdonald (The Norm Show) - Norm appears on Conan at 11pm on TBS.
Jim Belushi (According to Jim) - Jim chats on Good Morning America at 7-9am and later visits the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Paul Reiser (The Paul Reiser Show/Mad About You/My Two Dads) - Paul drops by The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
Megyn Price (Rules of Engagement/Grounded for Life) - Catch Megyn on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
Meshach Taylor (Designing Women/Dave's World) - Meshach chats on The Wendy Williams Show at 12am on BET or on your local stations.
Craig Robinson (The Office) - Catch Craig on The Mo'nique Show at 11pm on BET.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Julie Bowen (Modern Family) - Watch the lovely Julie on The Late Show with David Letterman at 11:35pm on CBS.
Ed Helms (The Office) - Ed will be one of the guests on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno at 11:35pm on NBC.
Chelsea Kane (Jonas L.A.) - Chelsea drops by The Tonight Show with Jay Leno at 11:35pm on NBC. Will she win Dancing with the Stars?
Topher Grace (That '70s Show) - Topher appears on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 12am on ABC.
Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory) - Jim stops by Late Night with Jimmy Fallon at 12:37am on NBC.
Niecy Nash (Reno 911!/Do Not Disturb)) - Catch Niecy on Lopez Tonight at 12am on TBS.
Eric Stonestreet (Modern Family - Eric visits LIVE! with Regis & Kelly, so check your listings.

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Jennifer Lawrence (The Bill Engvall Show) - Jennifer stops by The Late Show with David Letterman at 11:35pm on CBS.
Danielle Spencer (What's Happening!!/What's Happening Now!!) - Danielle appears on The Wendy Williams Show at 12am on BET or on your local stations.

Friday, May 20, 2011

Tracy Morgan (30 Rock/The Tracy Morgan Show) - Watch the funnyman Tracy on The Late Show with David Letterman at 11:35pm on CBS.
Kirstie Alley Cheers/Veronica's Closet) - Kirstie visits The Tonight Show with Jay Leno at 11:35pm on NBC.
Jim Belushi (According to Jim) - Catch Jim on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon at 12:37am on NBC.
Jennifer Lawrence (The Bill Engvall Show) - Jennifer continues to make the rounds on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon at 12:37am on NBC.
John Larroquette (Night Court/The John Larroqutte Show) - John and co-star Daniel Radcliffe perform a number from their Tony nominated Broadway musical, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, and later drops by The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.

Leave us comments on our message board or Tweet/Facebook us to let us know what you think of this Friday feature! We do listen!

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Thursday, December 26

Ghosts - "The Christmas: Spirit One" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
In part one of a special one-hour #Ghostsmas episode, Jay’s sister, Bela (Punam Patel), visits Woodstone Mansion and brings along an adoring male friend, inspiring Sam to spark a romance between them in the spirit of the holiday rom-coms she loves. Meanwhile, the ghosts have conjured up a very different holiday plan for Trevor and Bela. Also, Isaac has an awkward encounter with Nigel that forces him to look back on events in his life.

Ghosts - "The Christmas: Spirit Two" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
In part two of a special one-hour #Ghostsmas episode, Sam and Thorfinn get caught in the crossfire as the scheme Jay’s sister, Bela (Punam Patel), and the ghosts have conjured up goes awry. Also, Isaac’s marriage to Beatrice sheds light on how apprehensive he has been in communicating his feelings to Nigel.

Ghosts - "A Very Arondekar Christmas Part 1" / "A Very Arondekar Christmas Part 2" (CBS, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
A leaky water heater mishap threatens to ruin holiday plans as Sam and Jay prepare to host Jay’s hard-to-please dad, Mahesh (Bernard White), difficult-to-impress mom, Champa (Sakina Jaffrey), and sister Bela (Punam Patel), on a one-hour GHOSTSMAS special.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of December 23)

Thursday, December 26

Jenny Slate (The Great North/Big Mouth/Married/Bob's Burgers) - Catch Jenny on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Paul Feig (Sabrina, the Teenage Witch/The Louie Show/The Jackie Thomas Show/Dirty Dancing) - Paul is a guest on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
Luke Wilson (No Good Deed/Englightened) - Luke is joining Drew for a round of "Behind-the-Scenes" with tidbits from his roles in movies like Legally Blonde on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings. He's also telling her about his role in the thrilling new show, No Good Deed.
Whitney Cummings (Whitney) - Whitney is chatting with Drew about joining her on Hollywood Squares, going back to work in comedy after becoming a mother, and hosting her new trivia show about Friends on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Michelle Buteau (Survival of the Thickest/Bless the Harts/Enlisted) - Michelle appears on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
Sanaa Lathan (Family Guy/The Cleveland Show/LateLine) - Sanaa and Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor talk about the enduring power of friendship in their new Hulu film The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat on a repeat of Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
Carol Kane (Taxi/All Is Forgiven/Amerian Dreamer/Pearl/Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt) - Carol chats with the ladies of The View on a repeat on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Lamorne Morris (Woke/New Girl) - Lamorne sits down for an interview on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your listings.
Jay Pharoah (White Famous/Champaign ILL) - Jay talks about his new virtual reality series Soapstone Comedy Presents on a repeat of Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.