Thursday, March 15, 2012

Comedy Central Acquires Community For Fall 2013; Hallmark Channel Upfront: The Middle Coming March 2014


Community
Today we have some new sitcom acquisition news for cable TV! Greendale Community College's most famous study group will have a new member beginning in Fall 2013 (and it's not Beetlejuice) as Comedy Central has reached a multi-year deal with Sony Picture Television to license the critically-acclaimed comedy series Community. The all-comedy channel will launch the series with three seasons beginning in the fall of 2013. Currently in its third season on NBC, Community stars Joel McHale as a fast-talking lawyer whose degree has been revoked and who now attends Greendale Community College sitting at the center of a study group comprised of a band of misfits who, adventure-by-adventure, learn more about themselves than their course work. Also among the series stars who comprise the study group are comedy legend Chevy Chase as "Pierce," a man whose life experience has brought him infinite wisdom; Gillian Jacobs as "Britta," the 20-something dropout with something to prove; Yvette Nicole Brown as "Shirley," a sassy middle-aged divorcee; Danny Pudi as "Abed," a pop culture junkie; Alison Brie as "Annie," a high-strung perfectionist; Donald Glover as "Troy," a former high school football star trying to find his way; Jim Rash as "Dean Pelton," the Dean of Greendale Community College; and Ken Jeong as Senor Chang.
NBC has not yet renewed the sitcom for a fourth season, but the sitcom returns to finish off its third season starting tonight at 8/7c. Comedy Central doesn't air many sitcoms, but they air Scrubs which is a long time staple for the network. The network also airs reruns of comedies 30 Rock, Futurama, Entourage and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Looking at that list of comedy styles, Community will feel right home on Comedy Central. Who knows if NBC does cancel it, maybe Comedy Central will revive it? For now, the story is reruns are coming to Comedy Central in fall 2013, so stay with us for further information!


The Middle will be coming to another cable network when it hits syndication! Hallmark Channel is proud to announce it has acquired the popular comedy series as the newest member in its programming family and will begin airing the first 88 episodes beginning March 2014. Additional seasons will join the rotation as they become available. The first-run, off-network comedy is a perfect fit in Hallmark Channel's line-up of family-friendly programming. The Middle joins ranks with such modern-day classics as The Golden Girls and Frasier, which are already tremendous ratings successes for Hallmark Channel. The Middle is Hallmark's first ever acquisition of a current series but I think it will fit right home as it has a modern classic feel to it.
Hallmark Channel will have rights to the series six months after it debuts in local syndication in Fall 2013 and on ABC Family (both of which we mentioned last week). Hallmark Channel will share the cable rights with ABC Family. We're not sure yet if there are any daypart restrictions between the two, but if both networks have no restrictions on times, then I could see Hallmark Channel airing the sitcom in the early evenings. If there is a restriction, I think ABC Family would have the evening/primetime rights over Hallmark, with Hallmark probably having daytime rights. But this is still a long way away, so stay with us for further information as we get it!

The Hallmark Channel announced this acquisition as part of their annual upfront presentation. They also announced a groundbreaking new original Daytime Series, Home & Family and it will launch in fourth quarter 2012 as part of the network's robust Lifestyle block. Home & Family is 220 original two-hour shows over 44 weeks from award-winning production company Woody Fraser Productions (Good Morning America, Nightline, The Dick Cavett Show). The hosted series is the ultimate destination for innovative home ideas and improvements, as well as, being the place for the latest information, trends and products for everyone in the home. Hosts for the new daytime talker will be announced shortly.
Also coming to the Lifestyle block is a new talk show, since The Martha Stewart Show is being canceled. Hallmark Channel and international super star Marie Osmond announce the start of production on a new one-hour talk show, Marie!, hosted by the popular entertainer. Production commences shortly for a fourth quarter 2012 premiere on the network. Associated Television International will produce the new lifestyle series which will air weekday afternoons on Hallmark Channel. Marie! is an inspirational journey to help people make a difference in their own lives. The segments will feature celebrity and non-celebrity guests who drop by for everything from revelatory discussion, lifestyle tips and trends, socially important issues, and breakthroughs that empower families. Marie's potential guests include everyone from the publicly famous to everyday people with out-of-the-ordinary experiences, to the star's famous family, her closest girlfriends, and the nation's leading experts in diverse fields designed to revolutionize lives.
In addition, Hallmark Channel, the industry's undisputed leading producer of original movies for television, announced for the first time in the network's young history that it is in active development on two Hallmark Channel Original Series for premiere in 2013. The potential series are based on concepts from authors whose books have been previously adapted into highly-successful original movies for Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movie Channel. Movie pilots for these two series, Cedar Cove and When Calls the Heart, will be produced in 2012 for broadcast during the 2012-2013 season. Should they move forward you'll seem them on air in 2013, so stay tuned for info on if and when that happens. They also announced that 28 Hallmark Channel Original Movies will premiere on the network Q4 2012 - Q3 2013. Among the new offerings: Patricia Heaton's The Christmas Heart, starring Teri Polo and Tess Harper; Annie Potts in The Music Teacher, Hallmark Channel's first-ever musical drama with original songs penned by former Madonna composer, Allan Ett; Tom, Dick & Harriett stars Steven Weber; Meddling Mom features Latin sensations Sonia Braga and Tony Plana; The Confession, is the second story in Beverly Lewis' popular book series Heritage of Lancaster County and stars Sherry Stringfield, Katie LeClerc and Cameron Stewart; and Hallmark Channel's ratings blockbuster "Countdown to Christmas" featuring more original holiday films than any other network.
That's about it from the notables at the Hallmark Channel upfront. Stay with us for any further information!


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Saturday, January 18

none scheduled

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of January 13)

Friday, January 17

  • Jamie Lee Curtis (The Sticky/Anything But Love/Operation Petticoat) - Watch Jamie Lee on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
  • Billy Crystal (The Comedians/Soap) - Billy is a guest on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
  • Quinta Brunson (Abbott Elementary) - Quinta appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Matt Rogers (No Good Deed/I Love That for You) - Matt is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Susie Essman (Curb Your Enthusiasm/Broad City/Baby Boom) - Susie chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
  • Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation) - Nick will be on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
  • Phylicia Rashad (The Cosby Show/Cosby) - NBC's Today catches up with Phylica in the 10am hour.
  • Zach Cherry (Duncanville/I Feel Bad/Crashing) - Zach is a guest on New York Living on WPIX in New York at 9:40am.


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

01/17 - Remembering Bob Uecker of Mr. Belvedere, Punky Brewster Creator David W. Duclon, and Others We Recently Lost
01/16 - Apple TV+ Prime Target Trailer; Apple Cider Vinegar Premieres in February on Netflix
01/15 - My Three Sons to Join FETV Lineup Starting February 3; St. Denis Medical Renewed for Season 2
01/14 - Game Show Network Acquires The Wall; NBC's The Hunting Party to Premiere After NFL Divisional Playoff Game
01/13 - Antenna TV February 2025 Schedule; SNL First Two 2025 Episodes Before 50th Anniversary Event
01/12 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of January 13, 2025)
01/11 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Saturday Night Live Hosts Announced; The West Wing Returns to Max After Brief Disappearance
01/10 - The Jeffersons 50th Anniversary Marathon on Antenna TV; FETV to Air Uncut Episodes of Most Series
01/09 - Trailer for Apple TV+ Comedy Mythic Quest; Upcoming Season of Harlem Is Final Season
01/08 - Roy Wood Jr. Comedy Special on Hulu; The Late Show Gets Post AFC Championship Game Airing
01/07 - HGTV's Celebrity IOU New Season; Joey King and Cooper Koch to Announce 31st Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards Nominations
01/06 - 82nd Golden Globe Winners; Shoresy Returns in February on Hulu
01/05 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of January 6, 2025)
01/04 - SitcomsOnline Digest: HBO Cancels The Franchise; Alice Actress Linda Lavin Dies
01/03 - Antenna TV Pays Tribute to Linda Lavin with Alice Marathon; Catchy Comedy Recreates Classic CBS Saturday Night Lineup from the 1970s
01/02 - Abbott Elementary and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Crossover Event; The Night Agent Returns January 23 on Netflix
01/01 - Happy New Year; Antenna TV's New Year's Day Fresh Start Marathon; ABC's Shifting Gears Official Trailer
12/31 - In Memoriam: Remembering the Sitcom Stars We Lost in 2024
12/30 - Remembering Linda Lavin of Alice; Hulu Releases Chad Powers Teaser
12/29 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of December 30, 2024)
12/28 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Cable Networks No Longer a Priority for Paramount; Paramount+ Removes Vintage Nickelodeon Series
12/27 - Max Renews Creature Commandos for Season 2; Fox's Denis Leary Comedy Gets First Look
12/26 - Cobra Kai Final Episodes in February on Netflix; HBO Slates 13th Bill Maher Comedy Special
12/25 - Merry Christmas from Sitcoms Online; The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series Coming to DVD in February
12/24 - 2024 Christmas Eve and Christmas Day TV Marathons
12/23 - Christmas Con Celebrates 5 Year Anniversary; Deli Boys Premieres in March on Hulu
12/22 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of December 23, 2024)
12/21 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Creative Team Put in Place for Big Bang Theory Spinoff; Girls5eva Canceled at Netflix
12/20 - Netflix Announces You and Sweet Magnolias Details; Tell Me Lies Renewed for Season 3 on Hulu
12/19 - Apple TV+ Bad Monkey Renewed for Season 2; Norman Lear's Clean Slate Comedy to Premiere on Prime Video in February
12/18 - Netflix Renews A Man on the Inside; Silo Gets 2 Season Renewal for Apple TV+
12/17 - Paramount Adds The Big Bang Theory to Nick at Nite and MTV Lineups; The White Lotus Season 3 in February