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

Wednesday, November 20

The Goldbergs - "Angst-Giving" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Even though Beverly’s patience with Pop Pop is put to the test due to his endless Thanksgiving demands, she is able to put aside her own feelings to help heal the longstanding rift between Murray and Pop Pop. Meanwhile, Barry and Erica are ready to return home for the holiday, but Uncle Marvin accidentally drives them to Pittsburgh. Marvin attempts to make it right not knowing if they will make it to Jenkintown in time to celebrate the holiday. Judd Hirsch and Dan Fogler return to guest star as Pop Pop and Uncle Marvin.

Schooled - "Friendsgiving" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
CB celebrates Thanksgiving by having all of William Penn rally around him after a cooking incident at his house, while the alumni faculty football game brings out the competitive sides of Wilma and Coach Mellor.

Modern Family - "The Last Thanksgiving" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Cameron and Mitchell’s friends mistakenly assume they have split up and have definitely chosen a side; and Haley attempts to cook Thanksgiving dinner as a thank you for Claire and Phil’s support with the twins. Meanwhile, Jay invites Phil and Dylan out to fly his model plane, and Phil thinks this is his chance to reclaim his dignity after their first outing 10 years ago went so wrong.

Single Parents - "Every Thursday Should Be Like This" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT)
When Will gets busy cooking Thanksgiving dinner at Douglas’ home, he asks Angie to hang out with Tracy Freeze (guest star Jama Williamson). Angie reluctantly does so, only to realize that Tracy is actually wonderful, except for a secret she’s keeping from Will. Meanwhile, Miggy shows up to Thanksgiving dinner with the kids’ teacher, Ms. Pronstroller (Sarah Yarkin), as his date, and he enlists Douglas’ assistance in helping them form an in-person connection, given all of their previous communication has been via texts, DMs and memes.

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - "A Woman's Right to Chop" / "Waiting for Big Mo" (FXX, 10:00PM ET/PT)
Trapped inside Paddy's with a suicidal jumper on the roof, the gang wonders if it should bother intervening; Dennis ponders the reasons of playing laser tag and if the pursuit of a victory is worth the effort.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of November 18)

Wednesday, November 20

Adam Driver (Girls) - Watch Adam on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Julie Andrews (Julie) - Julie stops by The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS. She will also be on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
Kristen Bell (The Good Place) - Kristen appears on The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Michael Rapaport (Awkward/The War at Home) and Tony Rock (Living Biblically/All of Us) - Michael and Tony are panelists on Lights Out with David Spade at 11:30pm on Comedy Central.
Dax Shepard (Bless This Mess) - Dax visits Conan at 11pm on TBS.
Craig Ferguson (The Drew Carey Show) - Craig appears on a repeat of LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
Johnny Galecki (The Big Bang Theory/Roseanne) - Johnny is a guest on a repeat of LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
Brie Larson (United States of Tara/Raising Dad) - Brie appears on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
Lena Waithe (Master of None) - Lena is a guest on The Wendy Williams Show, so check your local listings.
Ed Quinn (One Day at a Time/2 Broke Girls) - Ed visits The Real, do check your local listings.
Tisha Campbell (Dr. Ken/Rita Rocks/My Wife and Kids/Martin) - Tisha guest co-hosts The Real, so check your local listings.
Maura Tierney (NewsRadio) - Maura talks about The Report on People Now at 12pm.
Robin Givens (Head of the Class) - Robin talks about OWN's Ambition on NBC's Today in the 9am hour.
Jamie Lee Curtis (Scream Queens/Anything But Love) - Jamie Lee talks about Knives Out on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
Ashley Williams (The Jim Gaffigan Show/Good Morning, Miami) - Ashley talks about Holiday Hearts on Home & Family on Hallmark Channel at 10am ET/PT.