Network Notes Includes Fox Thursday Sitcom Repeats in August; Remembering Television Producer Lee Rich

Thursday, May 31, 2012

Network Notes Includes Fox Thursday Sitcom Repeats in August; Remembering Television Producer Lee Rich

It's time for another round of network notes! First on CBS, after canceled sitcom How To Be A Gentleman concludes its burn-off, CBS will air burn-off episodes of canceled drama NYC 22 on Saturday nights starting July 7. CBS only aired four episodes of the drama on Sunday nights at 10pm, and will now the remaining nine episodes will air this summer on Saturdays at 8pm and 9pm most weeks through August 18. CBS planned on airing these episodes this summer in the Sunday at 10pm slot, but now will likely go with repeats of dramas instead, as CSI: Miami repeats have already been scheduled for last Sunday (May 27) and June 3. See the schedule for NYC 22.
On ABC, the schedule update is for two summer series from ABC News. First, the previously announced Final Witness for Tuesdays at 10 starting July 10, is being moved to Wednesdays at 10 starting June 27 for 7 episodes. ABC had not announced anything in that time period after the initial Apartment 23 and Modern Family repeats and then two special Duets airings (June 13 and 20). Airing now in the Tuesday at 10 slot where Final Witness was going to air will now be the reality medical series NY Med. This series follows the doctors of NY Presbyterian Hospital, similar to Boston Med in summer 2010. NY Med will air Tuesdays at 10 starting July 10 for likely 8 episodes. See the full information on both of these schedule changes.
Moving on to NBC, America's Got Talent will air its last Monday episode on July 2. The reality staple will move to Wednesdays at 9pm starting July 11 and Tuesdays will expand to two-hours to 8-10pm. In addition, a special three-night event will air Monday, June 25 8-9pm; Tuesday, June 26 9-10pm and Wednesday, June 27 9-11pm. And finally on Fox, they will have Hell's Kitchen and MasterChef on Mondays and Tuesday from 8-10pm starting next week, but the two shows will be cut to one night by end of July. Hell's Kitchen will air back-to-back on Monday nights starting July 30 and MasterChef will air back-to-back on Tuesday nights starting July 31. For both shows, it will be an encore leading into a new episode. And finally, after the Thursday reality series (which premiere next week) conclude, Fox will go with comedy encores of Raising Hope and New Girl in the 8pm hour starting August 2, as Take Me Out concludes July 26. Glee repeats will air at 9pm beginning July 19, as The Choice will conclude July 12.

Television and film producer Lee Rich, co-founder of Lorimar Productions who produced series including The Waltons, Eight is Enough and Dallas, has died. He died on May 24 of lung cancer at his home in Los Angeles. Mr. Rich was 93.

Rich's career began in advertising for Benton & Bowles as ad agency middleman between product company sponsors and television producers. He was involved with The Andy Griffith Show, Make Room for Daddy, The Edge of Night, Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. and The Dick Van Dyke Show. In 1965, he formed his own production company, Mirisch-Rich Productions. They produced The Rat Patrol and the short-lived sitcom Hey, Landlord. In 1969, he co-founded Lormiar Productions with Merv Adelson and Irwin Molasky. Rich served as an executive producer for The Waltons, Eight is Enough, Dallas and Flamingo Road. During his time at Lorimar, he received five Emmy nominations and won the 1973 Outstanding Drama Series for The Waltons. He also brought us TV movies including The Homecoming, The Homecoming: A Christmas Story (which served as the pilot for The Waltons), Sybil and Helter Skelter. After leaving Lorimar in 1986, Rich joined MGM/UA Communications as Chairman/CEO for two years. He later helped produce films including Passenger 57, Just Cause, Gloria and The Score.

The Archive of American Television has an extensive interview with him from 1999. Rich is survived by his longtime partner, actress Pippa Scott; five children, Michael Henes, Jessica Rich, Miranda Rich Tollman, Blair Rich and Anthony Rich; and seven grandchildren. We thank him for bringing us many quality hours of television. He will be missed.

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Thursday, June 12

Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - "Working for the Enemy" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Audrey’s past rears its head when Georgie leaves the tire store to work for Fred Fagenbacher (Matt Letscher), Jim’s longtime nemesis, and Mandy struggles to keep peace in the house.

Ghosts - "It’s the End of the World as We Know It and What Were We Talking About?" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Flower interferes with the opening of Jay’s restaurant based on a prophecy from her old cult leader.

Bob's Burgers - "The Place Beyond the Pinecones" (Fox, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Tina and the Thundergirls spend the night in the woods, and Tina faces something even scarier than her nemesis, Troop 257.

Grimsburg - "Loosey Goosey" (Fox, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Flute and Martinez butt heads as they're sent on a literal wild goose chase.

Family Guy - "Live, Laugh, Love" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Peter realizes Joe has never found him funny, he is determined to make Joe laugh; Lois chaperones Chris and Meg's school trip, where she strives to reunite the principal with his long-lost love.

The Great North - "MIB: Men in Belts Adventure" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Beef and Walt's best-friendship is put to the test; Wolf and Honeybee team up with the Tuntleys to catch some thieves.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of June 9)

Thursday, June 12

Sam Rockwell (F Is for Family) - Catch Sam on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Julianne Moore (Sirens) - Julianne appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Marc Maron (GLOW/Maron) - Marc is a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Jurnee Smollett (Cosby/On Our Own/Full House) - Jurnee stops by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Steve Buscemi (Miracle Workers) - Steve makes a special appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Cynthia Nixon (And Just Like That.../Sex and the City) and Ricki Lake (The King of Queens) - Cynthia and Ricki are guests on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 10:15pm on Bravo.
Jeff Hiller (Somebody Somewhere/Nightcap) - Jeff is a guest on Comedy Central's The Daily Show at 11pm.
Henry Winkler (Barry/Arrested Development/Out of Practice/Monty/Happy Days) - Henry guest co-hosts NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
James Marsden (Jury Duty/Dead to Me/30 Rock) and Ben Schwartz (The Afterparty/Space Force/Parks and Recreation) - James and Ben are telling Drew all about Sonic 3 on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Wilmer Valderrama (That '70s Show) - Wilmer is a guest on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.