TV Land Picks-Up Season 2 of Happily Divorced; ABC Family's State of Georgia Gets 2 Multiple Episode Airings In August

Thursday, July 21, 2011

TV Land Picks-Up Season 2 of Happily Divorced; ABC Family's State of Georgia Gets 2 Multiple Episode Airings In August

TV Land announced that it has picked up its original sitcom Happily Divorced, starring and co-written by Fran Drescher, for a second season with 12 new episodes tentatively scheduled to premiere in Spring 2012. Drescher shared the news with the Fran Fans on TV Land's Happily Divorced Facebook page. Happily Divorced, inspired by Drescher's own life, also stars acclaimed actors John Michael Higgins (Best in Show), Tichina Arnold (Everybody Hates Chris), Rita Moreno (OZ), Robert Walden (All The President's Men) and Valente Rodriguez (George Lopez). According to Nielsen, Happily Divorced is averaging over 2.2 million total viewers, a 1.0 among A25-54 and a 1.3 among W25-54 season-to-date, posting triple digit gains over the network's primetime average.
Drescher, twice nominated for both Golden Globe® and Emmy® Awards and also a New York Times best-selling author of Enter Whining and Cancer Schmancer, will co-write the show alongside her real life ex-husband, Peter Marc Jacobson. Jacobson previously worked with Drescher as co-creator and writer on The Nanny.
Filmed in front of a live studio audience, Happily Divorced airs on Wednesday nights at 10:30pm ET/PT immediately following new episodes of Hot in Cleveland.

ABC Family's freshman sitcom State of Georgia starring Raven Symone premiered on Wednesday, June 29 at 8:30pm and thus far has aired four episodes of its twelve-episode order (upped from the originally reported ten). Episode 5 will air next Wednesday (July 27) at 8:30pm, but then ABC Family will be airing FOUR all-new episodes (episodes 6-9) during a special 9-11pm block on this night. Melissa & Joey will air two all-new episodes for the full hour at 8pm on this date leading-in. The following week (Aug. 10) is back to normal for a week with an all-new Melissa & Joey at 8 and an all-new State of Georgia at 8:30 (episode 10), but then on Wednesday, August 17, State of Georgia for its season finale will air two all-new episodes (episodes 11 and 12) from 9-10pm following an hour of all-new Melissa & Joey at 8pm. Melissa & Joey will air for a full hour every week hereafter starting Aug. 17, and will be all-new for the full hour. They have 18 episodes to air this summer and that series has aired four so far this summer (thru July 20). If two all-new episodes air from Aug. 17 and on, the season finale would air on Sept. 14 (which is convenient because ABC returns its Wednesday comedy line-up on Sept. 21), but this is just my guess for now. Melissa & Joey was already renewed for a second season, as we reported.
It's hard to tell what ABC Family is doing with State of Georgia, but the ratings for episode three weren't very good last week (July 13, a 0.2 18-49 rating). Perhaps the multiple-episode stunts will help on Aug. 3 and Aug. 17? It's still early, so hopefully ABC Family is not giving up already because the first four episodes have been pretty funny and is a nice throwback to comedies of the early '90s. We'll certainly keep an eye on State of Georgia and hope they stick with it and renew it.

Sitcoms Airing Tonight

Monday, August 26

The Neighborhood - "Welcome to the Camping Trip" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When the Johnsons invite the Butlers to go camping, Dave is taken aback by Calvin’s idea of roughing it. Also, Gemma and Tina cross paths with Maynard (Jim O’Heir), a general store proprietor who may not be as friendly as he seems.

The Big Bang Theory - "The Inspiration Deprivation" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
The concept of what it would mean for women everywhere if Amy were to win a Nobel Prize causes Amy to have a meltdown. Also, Koothrappali and Wolowitz try to relive the good old days after Wolowitz buys a scooter that looks like the one he had years ago. Oscar-winning actress Regina King returns as Janine.

The Big Bang Theory - "The Decision Reverberation" (CBS, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Koothrappali is worried people won’t take him seriously in his own field after publishing a paper that suggests he may have discovered alien life. Also, Leonard wants to be the principal investigator on a plasma physics study.

Mom - "Flamingos and a Dance-Based Exercise Class" (CBS, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Bonnie and the ladies help Tammy prepare for her first date since getting out of prison. Also, in order to take the edge off, Christy revisits one of her old vices. French Stewart returns as Chef Rudy.

I Ship It - "Superfans" (The CW, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Ella continues her job as a writer's PA on "Superstition," and Sasha is given an opportunity by being cast as a new character on the show; Winnie asks Ella for the latest details on "Superstition."

In The Cut - "Raging Bully" (Bounce TV, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Jay's sister visits with a new beau, who used to bully Jay; Smitty's barber's license expires, leaving him in jeopardy of losing it without Kenny's help.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of August 26)

Monday, August 26

Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Veep/The New Adventures of Old Christine/Seinfeld) - Watch Julia on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Dakota Johnson (Ben and Kate) - Dakota appears on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:34pm on NBC.
Jon Lovitz (Mr. Box Office/NewsRadio/Foley Square) - Jon is a guest on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:34pm on NBC.
Sofia Vergara (Modern Family/The Knights of Prosperity/Hot Properties) - Sofia appears on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
David Cross (Arrested Develpment/Running Wilde/Oliver Beene) - David is a guest on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Wanda Sykes (The New Adventures of Old Christine/Wanda at Large) - Wanda appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Jane Levy (Suburgatory) - Jane is a guest on a repeat of Last Call with Carson Daly at 1:35am on NBC.
Carly Craig (American Housewife/Burning Love) - Carly appears on a repeat of Last Call with Carson Daly at 1:35am on NBC.
Henry Winkler (Barry/Out of Practice/Monty/Happy Days) - Henry visits Conan at 11pm on TBS.
John Travolta (Welcome Back, Kotter) - John and his daughter Ella Bleu are guests on a repeat of The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
Jodie Sweetin (Fuller House/Hollywood Darlings/Full House) - Jodie guest co-hosts a repeat of The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
Portia de Rossi (Better Off Ted/Arrested Development/Nick Freno: Licensed Teacher/Too Something) - Portia appears on a repeat of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
Olivia Munn (Perfect Couples) - Olivia is a guest on a repeat of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
Finesse Mitchell (A.N.T. Farm) - Finesse appears on a repeat of The Real, so check your local listings.
Alysia Reiner (Better Things) - Alysia will be on New York Live on WNBC in New York at 11:30am ET.
Niecy Nash (Getting On/The Soul Man/Reno 911!) - Niecy talks about Black Girls Rock on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
Christina Milian (Grandfathered) - Christina talks about Falling Inn Love on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am.
Drake Bell (Drake & Josh) - Drake talks about Fuego Lento on People Now at 12pm.