Friday, September 09, 2011

ION Television Acquires Leverage, Lifetime Acquires AMW; Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of September 12, 2011)

We have two pieces of acquired series news. One will be reruns, but the other will actually be new episodes on a new network! First, ION Television continues to expand its programming line-up with high-quality content with the acquisition of reruns of the popular TNT drama series, Leverage from Electric Entertainment. ION Television, a top-10 rated network, has licensed the off-network rights to all seasons of Leverage. The series will begin airing on ION Television in summer 2012.
The series will enter its fifth season on TNT by the time ION starts airing reruns. Before that, the fourth season will continue with the second batch of episodes starting Sunday, Nov. 27 on TNT. Leverage follows a five-person team: a thief, a grifter, a hacker, a retrieval specialist, and their leader, former insurance investigator Nathan Ford (Academy Award Winner(R) Timothy Hutton), who use their skills to right corporate and governmental injustices inflicted on ordinary citizens. The first half of season four has averaged more than 4.8 million viewers, up 10% over season three, with 1.9 million adults 18-49 (+6%) and 2.3 million adults 25-54 (+9%).
The Leverage deal comes on the heels of ION's recent acquisition of cable's other hit series Psych, Monk and House, signifying ION as a viable after-market platform for cable net productions. The hit series also joins ION Television's primetime schedule of the popular off-net series Without a Trace, Criminal Minds, Ghost Whisperer and ION's first original police drama Flashpoint, which will join the network soon.
We recently announced ION Television's Fall 2011 schedule, but we will have an update on that by hopefully next week, so stay tuned. We might see a sitcom or two added. Enticed now? Stay tuned!

Meanwhile, Lifetime has picked up all-new episodes of John Walsh's pioneering series America's Most Wanted, television's top crime-fighting show that will return for its 25th season later this year on Lifetime. Hosted and executive produced by Walsh, America's Most Wanted has become one of the most important programs on television, having played a major role in the capture of more than 1,100 fugitives in the U.S. and 30 countries, including 17 on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted List, and rescue of 61 children and missing persons since its launch in 1988.
The series was not placed on the Fox schedule this fall, but Fox had scheduled quarterly two-hour specials, the first of which is slated to air on Saturday, Oct. 29. As of now, that is still on the schedule on Fox, but it is unclear if there will be any other specials as originally planned. The series stopped airing as a regular on Fox this past June. Stay with us for scheduling updates on when Lifetime will start airing it. As of now, their September schedule will remain the same (that's why we haven't covered Lifetime yet), but if anything should change, we will of course be the first to let you know.


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, so this is for all sitcom fans of all eras!
For the week of September 12-16, 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, September 12, 2011
  • Christina Applegate (Up All Night/Samantha Who?/Married with Children) - Watch the lovely Christina on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno at 11:35pm on NBC.
  • Victoria Justice (Victorious/Zoey 101) - Victoria is a musical guest on The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
  • Ashton Kutcher (Two and a Half Men/That '70s Show) - Ashton stops by The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check listings.
  • Soleil Moon Frye (Punky Brewster/Sabrina, the Teenage Witch) - Soleil talks about her book, Happy Chaos, on Today between 10-11am on NBC.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
  • Ellen DeGeneres (Ellen) - Catch Ellen on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno at 11:35pm on NBC.
  • Will Arnett (Up All Night/Arrested Development) - Will visits Late Night with Jimmy Fallon at 12:37am on NBC.
  • Roseanne Barr (Roseanne) - Roseanne appears on Conan at 11pm on TBS.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
  • Alec Baldwin (30 Rock) - Watch Alec on a repeat of The Late Show with David Letterman at 11:35pm on CBS.
  • Danny DeVito (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia/Taxi) - Tune in to see Danny on Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Jon Cryer (Two and a Half Men) - Jon drops by The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check listings.
  • Will Arnett (Up All Night/Arrested Development) - Will talks about his new show, Up All Night, on Today on NBC between 7-9am.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
  • Kirstie Alley (Cheers/Veronica's Closet) - Catch Kirstie on a repeat of The Late Show with David Letterman at 11:35pm on CBS.
  • Louis C.K. (Louie) - Louis drops by on a repeat of The Late Show with David Letterman at 11:35pm on CBS.
  • Zooey Deschanel (New Girl) - Zooey appears on LIVE! with Regis & Kelly, so check your listings and later she will be on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon at 12:37am on NBC.
  • Kristin Davis (Sex and the City) - Kristin visits Late Night with Jimmy Fallon at 12:37am on NBC.
  • Ashton Kutcher (Two and a Half Men/That '70s Show) - Ashton continues to make the rounds on Conan at 11pm on TBS.
Friday, September 16, 2011
  • Ashton Kutcher (Two and a Half Men/That '70s Show) - Watch Ashton on a repeat of The Late Show with David Letterman at 11:35pm on CBS.
  • Kunal Nayyar (The Big Bang Theory) - Kunal stops by the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Sarah Jessica Parker (Sex and the City/Square Pegs) - Sarah chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
  • Jerry Ferrara (Entourage) - Jerry is a guest on The Gayle King Show at 10am on OWN.
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

Friday, February 21

Happy's Place - "Sisters Ink" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
When Isabella gifts Bobbie matching sister mugs, Bobbie is forced to quickly think of an equally thoughtful gift, resulting in Isabella expecting the sisters to get matching tattoos; Steve and Takoda investigate where Emmett has been sneaking off.

Happy's Place - "Fish Fry Monday" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Emmett sees Bobbie drowning in work, he devises a clever ruse to give her a much-needed day off fishing, all under the guise of reviving the tavern's Fish Fry Mondays; Isabella dives into the world of bartending with Gabby.

Wizards Beyond Waverly Place - "When You Wish Upon A Squonk" (Disney Channel, 8:00PM ET/PT)
After finding out about the prophecy, Billie avoids using magic, but when a magical creature causes mayhem in the Russo house, Billie worries it's still her fault.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of February 17)

Friday, February 21

  • Anthony Mackie (Twisted Metal) - Watch Anthony on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Lizzy Caplan (Party Down/The Class/The Pitts) - Lizzy appears on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Tina Fey (Only Murders in the Building/30 Rock) and Amy Poehler (Duncanville/Parks and Recreation) - Tina and Amy are guests on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
  • Keke Palmer (Scream Queens/True Jackson, VP) - Keke appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Jane Fonda (Grace and Frankie) - NBC's Today catches up with Jane sometime between 7-9am.
  • Alan Ritchson (Blue Mountain State) - Alan talks about Reacher on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
  • Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/CafĂ© Americain/Sydney/One Day at a Time) - Valerie appears on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.


New on DVD and Blu-ray

Veep - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) I Love Lucy - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) Seinfeld - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray) The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series

10/08 - Curb Your Enthusiasm - The Complete Twelfth Season / The Complete Series
10/22 - Veep - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
11/05 - I Love Lucy - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
11/12 - The King of Queens - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (2024 Release)
11/19 - SpongeBob SquarePants - The Complete Fourteenth Season
11/26 - Looney Tunes Collector's Choice - Volume 4 (Blu-ray)
12/03 - Angel (1960-1961) - The Complete Series, Volume 1
12/17 - Seinfeld - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (4K UHD)
01/28 - Wait Till Your Father Gets Home - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/04 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
02/04 - The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series

More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD and Blu-ray Releases / TV Shows on DVD, Blu-ray and Prime Video / DVD Reviews Archive


Recent SitcomsOnline.com News Blog Posts

02/21 - CBS Renews 9 Additional Series for 2025-26; Hulu Picks Up Paradise for Season 2
02/20 - 31st Annual SAG Awards Pre-Show Hosts; Hulu's Ellen Pompeo Series Trailer Released
02/19 - Hulu's Am I Being Unreasonable? Returns for Season 2; Apple TV+ New CG Animated Comedy Series
02/18 - Cartoon Network's Iyanu Debuts April 5; Chelsea Handler: The Feeling Premieres March 25 on Netflix
02/17 - Netflix Renews XO, Kitty for Season 3; The Pitt to Return on Max
02/16 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of February 17, 2025)
02/15 - SitcomsOnline Digest: CBS Sets Cast for Potential Backdoor Spinoff of The Neighborhood; Martha Stewart to Co-Host New NBC Cooking Competition
02/14 - FX's Dying for Sex Premieres in April on Hulu; BET+ Announces Lil Kev, Adult Animated Comedy
02/13 - Antenna TV and Rewind TV Celebrate Valentine's Day; The Handmaid's Tale Returns for Final Season
02/12 - Official Trailer for Hulu's Deli Boys; Doctor Odyssey Returns with a 2-Part Event
02/11 - Trailer for Shoresy Season 4; More Stars for SNL50: The Anniversary Special
02/10 - First Ever SNL Episode This Saturday on NBC; FX Renews English Teacher for Season 2
02/09 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of February 10, 2025)
02/08 - SitcomsOnline Digest: English Teacher Renewed at FX; MeTV Toons to Launch House of Hanna-Barbera Programming Block
02/07 - SNL50's Star-Studded Lineup; Adult Swim Presents Oh My God... Yes! A Series of Extremely Relatable Circumstances
02/06 - Prime Video Iliza Shlesinger Special; Kate Hudson Stars in Netflix Comedy
02/05 - Fox Midseason Tuesday Change; 2025 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game Rosters
02/04 - NBC Summer Staples Return in Summer 2025; Gronk Guests on Animal Control
02/03 - The Conners Final Season Premieres March 26; Tyler Perry Gets 2nd Comedy Series for Netflix
02/02 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of February 3, 2025)
02/01 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Little House on the Prairie Reboot Headed to Netflix; George Sr. Set to Return on Georgie and Mandy's First Marriage
01/31 - Final Season of The Righteous Gemstones; Kenya Barris and Malcolm Gladwell's Audible Original
01/30 - Netflix's New Little House on the Prairie Series Coming Soon; Sabrina Brier Gets Awesomeness TV Series
01/29 - MGM+ Orders Comedy Series; Peacock's Amanda Seyfried Series Premieres March 13
01/28 - Ellen Pompeo's Hulu Series Gets Premiere Date; The White Lotus Season 3 Launches February 16
01/27 - Hulu's Deli Boys Adds Tan France; Joel McHale Taking Over The 1% Club
01/26 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of January 27, 2025)
01/25 - SitcomsOnline Digest: The Righteous Gemstones to End After Upcoming Season; Mid-Century Modern to Pay Tribute to Linda Lavin
01/24 - Prime Video George Lopez Special; Netflix Renews The Lincoln Lawyer for Season 4
01/23 - Tubi's New Comedy The Z-Suite Launches February 6; The White Lotus Renewed for Season 4
01/22 - Fox Announces Animation Domination 2025 Schedule; Abbott Elementary Renewed for Season 5
01/21 - Fox Renews Murder in a Small Town; O.J. Simpson Netflix Docuseries