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

Monday, June 22

The Neighorhood - "Welcome to Murder at Sea" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Gemma throws Dave an unforgettable murder mystery birthday party. Meanwhile, Malcolm uses the celebration to introduce Mercedes to his family.

The Neighorhood - "Welcome to the Two-Ring Circus" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
A change of plans sends Mercedes and Tina on a memorable night out that prompts several couples to take a closer look at what they truly want from their relationships. Meanwhile, Dave’s visit to Gemma’s school sparks an honest conversation about her feelings toward her job.

St. Denis Medical - "No Wonder His Kidney Wants Out" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Ron and Alex react very differently to a seemingly selfless patient; Joyce runs into an old flame; Matt helps Bruce find a new best friend.

St. Denis Medical - "I Left a Woman on the Table" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Matt struggles to deal with a patient from his past; Bruce tries to rekindle romance with a former flame; Joyce treats patients to cover a nursing shortage.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of June 22)

Monday, June 22

Jeremy Allen White (The Bear) - Watch Jeremy on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Amanda Peet (Brockmire/Togetherness/Bent) - Amanda appears on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Zoey Deutch (The Suite Life on Deck) - Zoey is a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Robert Smigel (Let's Be Real) - Robert stops by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Jesus Trejo (Mr. Iglesias/Sullivan & Son) - Jesus appears on Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen at 11:35pm on CBS.
Sabrina Carpenter (Girl Meets World) - Sabrina does day drinking on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Ryan O'Connell (Special) - Andy Cohen interviews Ryan on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 10pm on Bravo.
Danny McBride (The Righteous Gemstones/Vice Principals/Eastbound & Down) - Danny talks about Thrilling Tales of Modern Men: Stories on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
Milly Alcock (Sirens) - Milly talks about Supergirl on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am and in the 9am hour.
Matt Rogers (No Good Deed/I Love That for You) - Matt co-hosts NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
Henry Winkler (Barry/Arrested Development/Out of Practice/Monty/Happy Days) - Henry and his daughter Zoe talk about A&E's Hazardous History with Henry Winkler on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
Matt Cornett (Bella and the Bulldogs) - Matt talks about Prime's Every Year After on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/Cafe Americain/Sydney/One Day at a Time) - Drew is celebrating her pal Valerie and the launch of her book Getting Naked on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings. They're chatting all about the book and Drew has surprises for Valerie all show long.
Anthony Anderson (black-ish/Guys with Kids/All About the Andersons) and Cedric The Entertainer (The Neighborhood/The Last O.G./The Soul Man/The Steve Harvey Show) - Anthony and Cedric talk about AC Barbeque: The Husky and Handsome Guide to Grilling on ABC News Live Prime with Linsey Davis at 7pm.