The Hub Alters Sitcom Line-Up Next Few Weeks; GSN Acquires Minute to Win It and Premiering New Version of Pyramid

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

The Hub Alters Sitcom Line-Up Next Few Weeks; GSN Acquires Minute to Win It and Premiering New Version of Pyramid

With ALF Week going on right now on The Hub, the network has altered its primetime line-up again for next week. Before we get into that, let's recap the ALF Week. ALF, the beloved, wise-cracking alien is hosting the network's primetime programming lineup for a week-long event (thru this Thursday), featuring his unique, brow-raising, sense of humor as he gives his take on favorite episodes of his own series and other classic shows on The Hub including Mork & Mindy, Sabrina, The Teenage Witch and The Facts of Life (yes, Happy Days was scrapped this week for Sabrina). Viewers are learning what ALF has to say about life since his popular series was produced in the late 1980's while he was living with the Tanner clan.
Anyway, back to what will happen starting next week. We mentioned last week that Sabrina, the Teenage Witch would only be airing Sunday nights 3-4am after its July 26 marathon from 9am-2pm (all that will remain still, though). Well, The Hub has changed their primetime schedule again. For next week only, the week of July 23-26, primetime will look like this from 8-10pm: Lois & Clark (two-hour pilot) on Monday, Sabrina the Teenage Witch on Tuesday, The Facts of Life on Wednesday and ALF on Thursday. So Monday and Tuesday has been changed and will not feature the regular Mork & Mindy and Happy Days next week. No reason was given for this change. The following two weeks will feature animated series in primetime from 8-10pm, like Batman: The Animated Series. The Hub is clearly testing to see what works best in primetime for them. As of now, the sitcoms will return regularly in primetime the week of August 13. We just don't know what shows will air when. The good news is that the 10pm-12am block will remain every week with back-to-back The Wonder Years and an episode each of Laverne & Shirley and Batman. Also remaining on the schedule will be Lois & Clark on Sunday nights from 8pm-2am, followed by an episode each of Doogie Howser and Family Ties and a double shot of Sabrina. The only other show of note for us is back-to-back Batman on Friday and Saturday nights from 5-6am, following Honey I Shrunk the Kids: The Series at 4am.
Stay with us for further updates. Let's hope all the sitcoms they air will return regularly starting Aug. 13, but for now enjoy ALF Week this week and sitcoms in primetime next week.

In TV acquisition news, GSN announced it has acquired off-network rights to 68 one-hour episodes of the hit game show Minute to Win It from NBCUniversal Cable & New Media Distribution. Hosted by All-American chef and television personality Guy Fieri, the game features competitors participating in a series of simple, yet nerve-wracking, games that can lead to a $1 million prize. Minute to Win It will air in four-hour blocks on Tuesday nights from 7pm to 11pm (ET) on GSN beginning on Tuesday, July 24 at 7pm (ET). The series only aired from 2010-11 on NBC but had 69 episodes in just two seasons.
GSN has also announced the premiere date for its original series, The Pyramid, a contemporary take on one of television's most beloved game shows, hosted by television executive producer and Beauty and the Geek host Mike Richards. The Pyramid is a daily strip show airing Monday through Friday at 6pm ET, and will premiere on Monday, September 3 at 6pm ET. The Pyramid is back in an all-new, half-hour version of the fast-paced word guessing game. The celebrities, the Pyramid game board, the Winner's Circle: everything viewers know and love about the iconic format is returning in GSN's lively new version. The series, a winner of nine Daytime Emmy® Awards during its storied 40-year run, brings a contemporary sensibility, tone and style to a beloved franchise and will accompany the hit show, The Newlywed Game in GSN's "Iconic Game Reinvented" category.
The Pyramid joins the previously announced new shows on GSN this fall: The American Bible Challenge and Beat the Chefs, which are the first of GSN's "Shiny Floor Game" category - contemporary studio-based game shows that focus on themes prevalent in pop culture. The American Bible Challenge, an original one-hour game show hosted by comedian Jeff Foxworthy, will premiere on Thursday, August 23 at 8pm ET/PT, while Beat the Chefs, an hour-long cooking competition show with host Matt Rogers, will also premiere on Thursday, August 23 at 9pm ET/PT.

Sitcoms Airing Tonight

Wednesday, June 29

The Conners - "Patriarchs and Goddesses" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Darlene continues to navigate her breakup with Ben, and when she and Becky head to the movies and see Ben on a date, Darlene can’t stop herself from interfering and making everyone uncomfortable. Meanwhile, Dan offers to talk with Aldo’s dad, Jesse (Joe Walsh), when he doesn’t approve of Harris and Aldo’s relationship.

The Goldbergs - "The William Penn Years" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Never a sports enthusiast, Adam finds himself in a pickle with his peers when he’s recruited to film his high school’s highly awaited last football game of the year and fails to capture his team’s winning touchdown. Meanwhile, Beverly discovers her neighbor Arnie Wolfy (Dan Lauria) is moving and she’s determined to buy his spacious home and move the family in. Murray’s long-standing and unresolved conflict with Arnie challenges Beverly’s plans, but the family comes to appreciate home is where the heart is.

Abbott Elementary - "Student Transfer" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
After a negative teacher review, Janine gets a confidence boost when a student gets transferred from Melissa’s class into hers, but it turns out the student proves to be too much to handle. While trying to forge a friendship with an uninterested Gregory, it is revealed that Jacob is constantly getting roasted by his students. The two bond after Gregory unintentionally gives Jacob the idea to incorporate the roasts in an educational way.

Home Economics - "Box of King-Size Candy Bars, $48.99)" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Trick or treat is not the only question on the Hayworths’ minds as they debate the best neighborhood for a spooktacular Halloween. Meanwhile, Connor navigates sharing the holiday with his ex-wife, Emily.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of June 27)

Wednesday, June 29

Chelsea Handler (Are You There, Chelsea?) - Chelsea guest hosts Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Steve Carell (Space Force/The Office/Come to Papa/Watching Ellie) - Watch Steve on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Minnie Driver (Speechless/About a Boy) - Minnie appears on The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Garcelle Beauvais (The Jamie Foxx Show) - Garcelle is a guest on Watch What Happens: Live at 3:30am on Bravo.
Simu Liu (Kim's Convenience) - Simu chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Sophia Bush (Partners) - Sophia will be on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
Raven-Symoné (Raven's Home/That's So Raven/Hangin' with Mr. Cooper/The Cosby Show) - Raven-Symoné appears on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
Ed Helms (The Office) and Randall Park (Fresh Off the Boat) - Ed and Randall are guests on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
Chelsa Handler (Are You There, Chelsea?) - Chelsea appears on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
Charlie Day (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia/Luis) - Charlie will be on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
Ron Howard (Arrested Development/Happy Days/The Andy Griffith Show) and Clint Howard (Gung Ho) - Ron and Clint are guests on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
Jason Biggs (Outmatched/Mad Love/Drexell's Class) - Jason appears on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Kym Whitley (Young & Hungry/Animal Practice/Sparks) and Finesse Mitchell (Outmatched/A.N.T. Farm) - Kym and Finesse guest co-host a repeat of The Wendy Williams Show, so check your local listings.
Wendi McLendon-Covey (The Goldbergs/Rules of Engagement/Reno 911!) - Wendi is a guest on a repeat of The Wendy Williams Show, so check your local listings.
Joey King (Bent) - Joey appears on E!'s Daily Pop at 11am.
Mira Sorvino (Shining Vale) - Mira talks about the film Most Guys Are Losers on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am and on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
Michelle Buteau (Enlisted/China, IL) - Michelle will be on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
Kim Fields (The Upshaws/Living Single/The Facts of Life/Baby, I'm Back) - Kim talks about Netflix's The Upshaws on Access Daily, so check your local listings.