SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

NBC has announced their 2013 primetime mid-season schedule. Three new series will be making their debuts. 1600 Penn, starring Bill Pullman and Jenna Elfman, is a comedy about a typical American family who just happen to live in the White House. It debuts on Thursday, January 10 at 9:30pm ET/PT. Deception (formerly Infamous) is an intriguing drama starring Meagan Good, Victor Garber, Tate Donovan and Katherine LaNasa. The dark family murder mystery premieres on Monday, January 7 at 10pm ET/PT. Ready for Love is an innovative and dramatic new relationship show about making real connections with executive producer Eva Longoria. It will debut on Sunday, March 31 at 8-10pm ET/PT. Returning favorites include The Biggest Loser, Betty White's Off Their Rockers, Smash, Community, The Celebrity Apprentice, Revolution and The Voice.

Mondays will have a new season of The Biggest Loser that will feature some innovative changes to the format and the return of trainer Jillian Michaels. It will return with a two-night premiere on Sunday, January 6 at 9-11pm ET/PT and Monday, January 7 at 8-10pm ET/PT. It will remain on Mondays until the return of The Voice on March 25. New drama Deception will follow The Biggest Loser at 10pm ET/PT. The fourth cycle of The Voice will debut on Monday, March 25 at 8-10pm ET/PT and Tuesday, March 26 at 8-9pm ET/PT. New coaches Usher and Shakira will be part of the show, which continues its two-night Monday/Tuesday schedule as it did this fall. Hit drama Revolution will return on March 25 at 10-11pm ET/PT. It will conclude its fall run in November, so that will be quite a long break for it.

Tuesdays will have the return of acclaimed musical drama Smash with a two-hour episode featuring Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson on February 5 at 9-11pm ET/PT. It will move February 12 to its regular day and time of 10-11pm ET/PT. A new season Betty White's Off Their Rockers will premiere on January 8 with back-to-back episodes at 8:00pm and 8:30pm ET/PT. Two episodes will air in that hour each week. The Voice will take that timeslot beginning March 26.

No changes for Wednesdays have been announced. As we previously mentioned, Whitney takes over for the canceled Animal Practice on November 14 at 8pm ET/PT. It will be followed by Guys with Kids, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Chicago Fire.

Moving on, Thursdays will have the premiere of the new White House comedy 1600 Penn on January 10 at 9:30pm ET/PT. It comes from co-creator and director Jason Winer, who is an Emmy-winning director of Modern Family. Critical favorite Community returns to its former timeslot of 8:00pm ET/PT on February 7. Parks and Recreation will be moving up one hour to 8:30PM ET/PT on January 17. As we mentioned yesterday, Up All Night is going on a winter break and will be switching to a multi-camera format for its final five episodes of the season. It will return in April/May.

Fridays and Saturdays have no schedule changes announced at the moment. Sundays will have the new relationship series Ready for Love from Eva Longoria. It will premiere on Sunday, March 31 at 8-10pm ET/PT. An "All-Star" edition of The Celebrity Apprentice will debut on March 3 at 9-11pm ET/PT. It will air for two hours for four weeks before shifting to one-hour episodes beginining March 31 at 10-11pm ET/PT.

Several shows will be wrapping up soon. 30 Rock will conclude its 13-episode season with an one-hour series finale. Parenthood is finishing its 15-episode season in January. Premiere dates haven't been announced for the Anne Heche comedy Save Me or the dramas Do No Harm and Hannibal. Stay with us for any updates.

What do you think of NBC's mid-season schedule? Discuss it on our message board.

ABC has given a full-season order to its freshman comedy The Neighbors. The series about a human family living in a neighborhood of aliens has performed decently in the ratings. It has been pretty consistent in its Wednesday timeslot by averaging 6.8 million viewers and beating NBC's new comedy Guys with Kids. Not surprisingly, it does well in the kids 2-11 and teens 12-17 demos.

Sophomore drama Scandal has been picked up for its first full season. The Shonda Rhimes political thriller starring Kerry Washington is doing solid ratings on Thursday nights at 10pm ET/PT. It averages around 8.1 million viewers and a 2.5 rating in the coveted 18-49 demo. DVR use boosts it 45 percent. ABC hasn't announced anything about Nashville, Last Resort or 666 Park Avenue yet. More scripts for Last Resort and 666 Park Avenue have recently been ordered. We'll keep you posted.

Look for our review of the pilot episode of Reba McEntire's Malibu Country tomorrow. It premieres on Friday at 8:30pm ET/PT on ABC.

NBC has ordered three additional episodes of Up All Night, which will bring their season two total to 16 episodes. The series will go on a winter break after episode 11 airs in December. When the show comes back in the spring 2013, it will return as a multi-camera sitcom for the final five episodes of the season. The sophomore comedy, which stars Christina Applegate, Will Arnett, Maya Rudolph, and Luka Jones, has struggled in the ratings on Thursday nights. It has averaged around only three million viewers.

NBC tried a switch like this before in 2003 with Watching Ellie. The series, which starred Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Lauren Bowles (Julia's real life half-sister) and Steve Carell, originally aired as a single-camera comedy from February-April 2002. When they returned almost a year later in April 2003, they switched to a multi-camera format. Unfortuntely, the format change didn't work for them as they had even lower ratings. A couple of other sitcoms made the switch from single-camera to multi-camera with much better success. The Odd Couple's first season was shot single-camera with a laugh track added. The other four seasons were shot with three cameras and in front of a studio audience. Happy Days is the best-known series to switch formats. Their first two seasons were shot single-camera with the laugh track added. When they made the switch to the multi-camera format in season three, they became a huge hit.

What do you think of NBC's decision? Discuss it on our Up All Night message board. They have a couple of other multi-camera sitcoms in Guys with Kids and Whitney. They had much success with multi-camera sitcoms like Friends and Seinfeld in their glory days, so this seems like a good move.

Paramount's Insurge Pictures and Yahoo! announced yesterday that Burning Love, the popular comedy series that spoofs reality dating shows, will return for two more hilarious seasons on Yahoo! Screen in 2013. The break-out video program premiered June 4 domestically on the Yahoo! Comedy Channel to critical acclaim.

Burning Love is a web spoof of the series The Bachelor and The Bachelorette. The series follows fireman Mark Orlando (Ken Marino) in his search for the perfect woman to marry or at least be engaged. Many familiar actors from film and television have appeared in the scripted comedy series. Michael Ian Black appears as the host, Bill Tundle. Other characters are played by Ben Stiller, Christine Taylor, Adam Scott, Mo Gaffney, Mather Zickel, Kerri Kenney-Silver, Ryan Hansen and Paul Scheer. The contestants on the show include Kristen Bell, June Diane Raphael, Ken Jeong, Malin Akerman, Natasha Leggero, Abigail Spencer, Noureen DeWulf, Jennifer Aniston, Beth Dover and Janet Varney.

The series is written by Erica Oyama (Children's Hospital) and directed by Ken Marino. Seasons two and three will feature returning cast members Ken Marino, June Diane Raphael and Natasha Leggero as well as new characters in their quest to find true love. Season Two, which is coming in January 2013, will follow Julie (June Diane Raphael), who failed to capture Mark Orlando's heart in Season One of Burning Love, as she searches for love in a group of guys who are hopefully all there for the right reasons. In Season Three, Burning Down the House reunites our favorite rejected guys and girls as they return to the Burning Love mansion to compete for a hefty prize and for each other's affection.

Other ABC Family December 2012 highlights includes the ABC Family premiere of the Eric Bana movie Hulk on Thursday, Dec. 27 at 8pm and the ABC premiere premiere of Spy Kids on Saturday, December 29 at 9:30am.
View the FULL 2012 ABC Family 25 Days of Christmas schedule. You won't want to miss anything, so print out and enjoy!

A Cheers reunion maybe? Rhea Perlman will reunite with longtime friend and former Cheers co-star Kirstie Alley in the sitcom pilot Giant Baby. Perlman will play Thelma, Maddie's (Alley) long-suffering assistant and best friend, who encourages her boss to form a relationship with the son she gave up for adoption, Arlo (previously known as Owen). The network originally announced the Alley-headlined project as a presentation last month. Giant Baby revolves around Madison "Maddie" Banks, a Broadway star who finds her life turned upside down when Arlo, her long-lost son, turns up looking to connect after his adopted mother has died. However, Maddie doesn't exactly see nerdy and schlubby Arlo fitting in with her luxurious lifestyle. When her attempt to change Arlo backfires, Maddie finds that perhaps they both could use a little change in their lives.
Giant Baby is written and executive produced by Marco Pennette and is also executive produced by Kirstie Alley and Jason Weinberg. Larry W. Jones and Keith Cox serve as executive producers for TV Land. Both Alley and Perlman were in the ABC pilot The Manzanis last season but it never made it past pilot. Stay with us to see if this pilot goes past the pilot stage and gets a series order. There is a good chance it will and it will join Hot in Cleveland, Happily Divorced and The Exes. But stay tuned...

• The Simpsons (Fox) - preempted for MLB NLCS.
• The Cleveland Show (Fox) - preempted for MLB NLCS.
• Bob's Burgers (Fox) - preempted for MLB NLCS.
• Family Guy (Fox) - preempted for MLB NLCS.
• American Dad! (Fox) - preempted for MLB NLCS.

• How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - preempted.
• Partners (CBS) - preempted. 
• The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - A special Monday repeat at 8 did 7.72 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating. Amazing how it can just come in and repeat well anywhere.
• 2 Broke Girls (CBS) - A repeat at 8:30pm because of the final debate did 6.76 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, which is on par with a new Partners, ouch.
• Mike & Molly (CBS) - preempted.

• Raising Hope (Fox) - A new episode at 8pm did only 4.1 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, on par with previous week. This is as good as this show will get, around a 1.7 or 1.8 rating among adults 18-49.
• Ben & Kate (Fox) - Week five of this new comedy did just 2.99 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating, but up two tenths in 18-49 from the previous week's series low...yet Fox still picked-up six more episodes. Very strange!
• New Girl (Fox) - A new episode at 9 against two other comedies did 5.16 million (for third against the other comedies) but a solid 2.7 18-49 rating (beating the other two comedies).
• Go On (NBC) - A new episode did 6.12 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, still losing to the competing Fox comedy despite the large lead-in from The Voice.
• Happy Endings (ABC) - The season premiere posted 5.57 million, for second against the comedies but third with a 1.8 18-49 rating. Don't think the Dancing lead-in are the same viewers for this show, so it's not a good match.
• The Mindy Project (Fox) - preempted.
• The New Normal (NBC) - The battle of comedies continued, with a new episode of this posting just 4.33 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, tying the competing ABC comedy despite a better lead-in.
• Don't Trust the B---- In Apartment 23 (ABC) - Season premiere posted only 4.2 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, but skewed very young, as the Dancing viewers were long gone.

• The Middle (ABC) - Week five did 8.8 million and a 2.6 18-49 rating, up a tenth from previous week again. Solid Halloween showing, and up once again.
• Animal Practice (NBC) - Week five in the timeslot did only 3.68 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating, but up a tenth in 18-49 from previous week. It has one more airing left this week, as Nov. 7 it is not airing and Whitney takes over Nov. 14. That show is not much better.
• The Neighbors (ABC) - Week five of this new series at 8:30pm did 6.96 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating, up a tenth in 18-49 week-to-week. It continues to consistent in this slot. Could be better, but everyone expected much worse. And it's turning out to be a decent show.
• Guys with Kids (NBC) - Week five of this comedy in the timeslot did only 3.84 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating again, on par in 18-49 from previous week once again.Will Whitney help in a few weeks?
• Modern Family (ABC) - A new episode at 9pm did 12.52 million and a 4.9 18-49 rating, which was up two tenths from the previous week. It has been an outstanding season so far in quality. No doubt it will continue to win Emmy's. Very deserving.
• Suburgatory (ABC) - The Halloween episode at 9:30 did 7.37 million and a 2.7 18-49 rating, down a tenth in 18-49 week-to-week. Its lead-in is heavily DVRed for same day, so the retention is better than it seems, but it is hard for any show to follow Modern Family because of that.
  

• The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - Week five did 15.82 million and a 5.0 18-49 rating, up two tenths in 18-49 from the previous week, like Modern. #1 sitcom of the week for the second straight week, just getting by Modern Family by a tenth.
• Two and a Half Men (CBS) - Week five of this comedy did 12.94 million and a 3.7 18-49 rating, down three tenths in 18-49 from the previous week's season high. Solid!
• 30 Rock (NBC) - A new episode aired at 8pm and did just 3.13 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating, on par in 18-49 from previous week's series low. Terrible and NBC is probably glad this is the last season.
• Up All Night (NBC) - A new episode did only 3.21 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating, actually up a tenth in 18-49 from the previous week. Could by this show more time and Community will likely not come in until January. But still terrible!
• The Office (NBC) - A new airing did only 4.0 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating, down two tenths from previous week and another series low in 18-49. Season 9 was a mistake.
• Parks & Recreation (NBC) - A new episode at 9:30 followed with 3.34 million and just a 1.7 18-49 rating, up a tenth in 18-49 from previous week...and yes The Neighbors still does better! In fact that show did higher than any of these NBC comedies. Must Not See Thursday.

• Last Man Standing (ABC) - Season premiere this Friday at 8!
• Malibu Country (ABC) - Series premiere this Friday ta 8:30!

• None

Then, keep the scary spirits alive all day long on Halloween, Wednesday, October 31 with the chilling Jurassic Park movie trilogy starting at 8am and your favorite Halloween-themed episodes from sitcoms M*A*S*H, The Cosby Show, Everybody Loves Raymond, and The King of Queens!

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 October 29-November 2, 2012, we have many current sitcom stars and past sitcom stars on TV talk shows! All times listed are Eastern. So get your DVR's (or whatever you use) ready! Ready? Here is all what you need to know for the coming week!

Monday, October 29, 2012

• Chris Rock (Everybody Hates Chris) - Watch Chris on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 12am on ABC. Jimmy goes back to his hometown Brooklyn this week to tape the shows. Pavan will be attending Monday. Stay with us for updates.
• Kelly Ripa (Hope and Faith) - Kelly drops by Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 12am on ABC.
• Billy Gardell (Mike & Molly) - Billy appears on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno at 11:35pm on NBC.
• Tom Hanks (Bosom Buddies) - Tom visits The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson at 12:37am on CBS.
• John Goodman (Roseanne) - John is a guest on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon at 12:37am on NBC. Flight opens in theaters on November 2.
• Krysten Ritter (Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23) - Krysten stops by Conan at 11pm on TBS.
• Jennie Garth (What I Like About You) - Jennie chats about her new Lifetime movie, The Eleventh Victim, on ABC's Good Morning America between 7-9am.
• Reba McEntire (Malibu Country/Reba) - Reba talks about her new show on LIVE! with Kelly and Michael, so check your listings. Malibu Country premieres on ABC on Friday, November 2 at 8:30/7:30c.
• Florence Henderson (The Brady Bunch) - Florence appears on Joy Behar: Say Anything! at 6pm on Current TV.
• Lisa Whelchel (The Facts of Life) - Lisa is a guest on The Jeff Probst Show, so check your local listings.

• Tracy Morgan (30 Rock/The Tracy Morgan Show) - Catch Tracy on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 12am on ABC.
• John Goodman (Roseanne) - John continues to make the rounds on Comedy Central's The Daily Show with Jon Stewart at 11pm.
• Katey Sagal (Married with Children/8 Simple Rules) - Katey appears on Conan at 11pm on TBS.
• Steve Harvey (The Steve Harvey Show) - Steve is a guest on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check listings.
• Jennie Garth (What I Like About You) - Jennie talks about how she's starting over at age 40 on Katie, so check your local listings. She will also be on NBC's Today between 10-11am.
• Joey Lawrence (Melissa & Joey/Brotherly Love/Gimme a Break) - Joey visits The Jeff Probst Show, so check your local listings.
• Julie Bowen (Modern Family) - Tune in to see Julie on The Doctors, so check your local listings.
• Lily Tomlin (Malibu Country) - Lily appears on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
• Lisa Whelchel (The Facts of Life) - Lisa guest co-hosts The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.

• Demi Lovato (Sonny with a Chance) - Watch Demi on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson at 12:37am on CBS.
• Sarah Silverman (The Sarah Silverman Program) - Sarah appears on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon at 12:37am on NBC.
• Chelsea Handler (Are You There, Chelsea?) - Chelsea visits Conan at 11pm on TBS.
• Jennifer Coolidge (2 Broke Girls) - Jennifer drops by The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
• Vicki Lawrence (Mama's Family) - Vicki is a guest on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
• Challen Cates (Big Time Rush) - Challen chats on Hallmark Channel's Home & Family at 10am-12pm ET/PT.

• Joel McHale (Community) - Catch Joel on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson at 12:37am on CBS.
• Maggie Elizabeth Jones (Ben and Kate) - Maggie visits The Tonight Show with Jay Leno at 11:35pm on NBC.
• Casey Wilson (Happy Endings) - Casey drops by Conan at 11pm on TBS.
• Tim Allen (Last Man Standing/Home Improvement) - Tim chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT. Last Man Standing returns to ABC on Friday, November 2 at 8/7c.
• Wanda Sykes (The New Adventures of Old Christine/Wanda at Large) - Wanda stops by to talk about how she's balancing her busy life on Katie, so check your local listings.
• Sarah Silverman (The Sarah Silverman Program) - Sarah chats on Watch What Happens: Live at 11pm on Bravo.
• Jane Kaczmarek (Malcolm in the Middle) - Jane is a guest on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
• Brandon Routh (Partners) - Brandon appears on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
• Reba McEntire (Malibu Country/Reba) - Reba performs the Malibu Country theme song on ABC's Good Morning America between 7-9am.

• Jenna Fischer (The Office) - Watch Jenna on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check listings.
• Sarah Silverman (The Sarah Silverman Program) - Sarah drops by ABC's Good Morning America between 7-9am. She will also be on LIVE! with Kelly and Michael, so check your listings.
• Candace Cameron Bure (Full House) - Candace talks about her new romantic comedy, Puppy Love, on Marie on Hallmark Channel at 12pm ET/PT.
• Amanda Peet (Bent) - Amanda visits The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
• Jennie Garth (What I Like About You) - Jennie continues to make the rounds on The Jeff Probst Show, so check your local listings.
• John Goodman (Roseanne) - John wraps up his appearances this week on ABC's Good Morning America between 7-9am. He will also be on Anderson Live, so check your local listings.

Fox has announced its winter line-up for midseason 2013 with series premiere dates for new and returning series, including the returns of American Idol and Touch, and the debut of new thriller The Following. Featuring host Ryan Seacrest and new judges Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj and Keith Urban, along with returning judge Randy Jackson, the 12th season of American Idol begins with the exciting two-night premiere Wednesday, Jan. 16 from 8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT and Thursday, Jan. 17 from 8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT. The reality show will try to help promote their new midseason drama, The Following, a psychological thriller created by Kevin Williamson (The Vampire Diaries, Dawson's Creek, Scream franchise) and starring Golden Globe Award-winning actor Kevin Bacon (Frost/Nixon) and James Purefoy (Rome). The new launches Monday, Jan. 21 at 9:00 PM ET/PT. The intense, spellbinding drama follows Ryan Hardy (Bacon), an ex-FBI agent called out of retirement to track down Joe Carroll (Purefoy), a devious and diabolical serial killer, and the mastermind behind an ever-growing web of killers.

Season Two of Touch, starring Emmy Award winner Kiefer Sutherland (24), kicks into gear on a new night starting Friday, Feb. 1 at 9:00 PM ET/PT. As the action shifts dramatically from New York to Los Angeles, single father Martin Bohm (Sutherland) and his gifted son, Jake (David Mazouz), find themselves at the center of a global conspiracy involving a mother in search of her missing teenage daughter, a mathematical genius and a religious zealot assassinating others with abilities like Jake's. Joining the cast this season are Maria Bello (ER), Lukas Haas (24), Said Taghmaoui (G.I. Joe: The Rise of The Cobra) and newcomer Saxon Sharbino. And finally, the premiere date for new midseason comedy The Goodwin Games will be announced at a later date, so stay tuned.

Last week we mentioned that NBC is coming out with a digital subchannel on their ten owned stations that will have some classic TV...now we have the official announcement. NBC Owned Television Stations announced the introduction of COZI TV, a new 24x7 national network designed to deliver an easy-to-watch, comfortable and familiar viewing experience to audiences nationwide. COZI TV will combine many of America's most beloved and iconic television series, hit movies and original programming with a warm and welcoming vibe that engages viewers. It will launch early next year on the digital channels of the 10 NBC-owned stations, which serve the nation's biggest markets, and is available to local stations across the country.

COZI TV will be programmed around the clock, while offering local stations conveniently scheduled daily blocks of time that can be preempted for programming of interest to viewers, such as local news, sports and special events. This sought after format – designed by local broadcasters – will enable stations to air companion local programing to their primary channel. Drawing from the vast NBCUniversal library of movies and TV shows as well as from other top studios, including Sony Pictures, COZI TV will bring viewers access to some of America's favorite entertainment. Well-known shows like Magnum, P.I., The Bionic Woman, Charlie's Angels, Highway to Heaven, Lone Ranger and The Six Million Dollar Man will be featured on the network. COZI TV will also air a wide range of movies, showcasing iconic actors spanning generations, including legends Rock Hudson and Doris Day and modern day actors George Clooney and Drew Barrymore.

Additionally, COZI TV will be home to exclusive original programming that is currently under development by various partners. The network will also feature fresh, fun content that will air as interstitial programming to create an environment where people feel connected and comfortable. At the same time, it will incorporate innovative online and social media initiatives to engage the audience and enhance the viewing experience.
The official launch schedule is still not ready, so as soon as we can share that with you, we will. So stay with us!

The fun begins TONIGHT with ABC Comedy Wednesday. We've seen three of the four episodes tonight and they are hilarious and great Halloween episodes! On an all-new The Middle at 8/7c, as Halloween approaches, the Hecks get quite the scare when Sue receives her learner's permit, and it's time for Frankie and Mike to teach her how to drive. But when a freaked-out Sue loses her nerve, she ends up running over Axl's foot, which could put an end to his high school football career and his hopes for a scholarship. Meanwhile, Axl looks forward to voting in his first election, and Brick undergoes an unexpected transformation when he eats too much Halloween candy. Then on the new comedy The Neighbors, since arriving on Earth, the aliens - led by the Bird-Kersees - have viewed Halloween as a threat and have set up a barrier at the gates of Hidden Hills to prevent children dressed in costumes from entering the community. The Weavers, on the other hand, are excited about their first Halloween in the suburbs and want to open the gates of the community to celebrate. They do their best to explain the ritual of trick-or-treating to the aliens. Meanwhile, Marty and Debbie's fears are realized when Amber, Max and Abby reject their family costume plans.

On TV's #1 comedy Modern Family at 9/8c, Claire has overdone it in Halloweens past and the neighbors definitely don't share her enthusiasm, so this year she's being forced to tone it down and keep it "kid-friendly," and Phil has an idea to hold an open house on Halloween night. Meanwhile, Mitch and Cam host a costume party while contending with Lily wondering who her real mom is, and Gloria's pregnancy hormones are on overdrive, making her even more hotheaded than usual. And then on Suburgatory, when Tessa convinces Dalia and the KKK (Kimantha, Kaitlyn and Kenzie) to come up with feminist inspired Halloween costumes, she finds herself the interest of the infamous East Chatswin witch (aka Paula), played by guest star Rachel Dratch. As it turns out Paula isn't exactly what she seems. Meanwhile George and Noah dress up as each other, and Dallas invites George to be "Ken" to her "Barbie" -- but he declines, not realizing that she is asking him out. And next week on the Tuesday comedies, on Happy Endings, Dave and Alex go apartment hunting, but their inability to commit to a place puts their real estate agent (guest star Rachael Harris) to the ultimate test. Meanwhile, Jane takes negotiations to crazy levels when she helps Penny shop for a car; professional freeloader Max shows a cash-strapped Brad how to spend the perfect Saturday in Chicago with no money at all; and the gang celebrates Halloween dressed as the legendary Jacksons. Rob Corddry guest stars as the Car Czar. And next Tuesday on Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23, Halloween is June's favorite holiday, and even more so this year now that she is single! However when she discovers that Chloe plays elaborate Halloween "tricks" every year, June becomes consumed with stopping her before Chloe really hurts someone she might actually care about. Meanwhile due to a deep-rooted childhood fear of Halloween, James throws his annual Halloween "Positivity" Party.

And finally, the Halloween mania concludes on Halloween night with the best of them all, It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. In the classic 1966 animated Halloween-themed special, created by late cartoonist Charles M. Schulz, the gang celebrates Halloween with Linus hoping that, finally, he will be visited by The Great Pumpkin, while Charlie Brown is invited to a Halloween party.

CBS has picked up full seasons for two rookie dramas: Tuesday drama Vegas and Thursday drama Elementary. Only the fate of new comedy Partners remains to be seen after the initial 13 episodes, as new drama Made In Jersey was already canned (it was the first new series canceled on any network). As for the other networks, NBC is likely going to give five more scripts to Guys with Kids, while ABC's new dramas 666 Park Avenue and Last Resort is looking to have two more scripts ordered as well. As for actual episode orders, The CW picked-up the back nine for new drama Arrow, so it will have a full season. Fox ordered two more Mindy Project episodes, so now it will be 24 episodes, as that is a vote of confidence since the series has only aired three times to not so great ratings.
Stay with us for any further updates on full season pick-ups and cancelations.

View the episode info for Antenna TV's "Election Day Selection" marathon! And as we said before, stay with us in the coming week's for more Antenna TV holiday stunts like Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's!

ABC Family will kick off the New Year with all new episodes of returning original hit series and fan favorite dramas Switched at Birth, Bunheads, Pretty Little Liars and The Lying Game, all set to premiere the second week of January 2013, with two nights of original programming. Viewers can also catch up on all their favorite shows leading up to the January premieres on abcfamily.com. The second season of ABC Family's award-winning drama series, Switched at Birth, begins Monday, January 7 at 8:00PM ET/PT. This season sees dramatic changes in the lives of the Kennish and Vasquez families as a result of the verdict in the baby switch trial. Gilles Marini joins the cast in season two as a series regular. ABC Family will air a special Switched at Birth marathon on Monday, January 7th, from 11:00AM-8:00PM ET/PT, leading up to the season two premiere. The season one finale aired last night (Monday, October 22) at 8:00PM ET/PT on ABC Family. ABC Family's critically-acclaimed series, Bunheads, from Executive Producer Amy Sherman-Palladino, starring two time Tony Award-winning actor Sutton Foster, will return with all-new episodes on Monday, January 7 at 9:00PM ET/PT.

In all-new episodes of ABC Family's hit original series Pretty Little Liars, returning on, Tuesday, January 8, 8:00PM ET/PT, Radley Sanitarium has given Mona a clean bill of health and she is headed back to the halls of Rosewood High, much to the Liars' dismay. ABC Family will air a special Pretty Little Liars marathon on Tuesday, January 8, from 11:00AM-8:00PM ET/PT, leading up to that night's premiere episode. A special all-new Pretty Little Liars Halloween-themed episode with musical guest star Adam Lambert (American Idol) will premiere tonight (Tuesday, October 23rd) at 8:00PM ET/PT, bitches, as part of ABC Family's "13 Nights of Halloween" programming event. The Lying Game will return with all-new episodes on Tuesday, January 8 at 9:00PM ET/PT. As the twins' saga continues in season two, there are more surprises, secrets and lies. The girls' recently revealed birth mother Rebecca (Charisma Carpenter) lures Sutton (Alexandra Chando) into her plans for the Mercer family.

Stay tuned for more original series premiere dates, as sitcoms like Melissa & Joey and Baby Daddy will be returning in spring.

SitcomsOnline: One of your first roles on TV was on the almost completely forgotten The Nancy Walker Show in 1976. How did you manage to find this first role, and what were you doing in your career at that time to lead up to this role?
Beverly Archer: Well, I wasn't doing much. I considered myself an actor and I was doing commercials and whatever else and I ran into a fellow that I had done a little theater production with up in northern California, and it turned out that he was an agent. He signed me, and not too long after he got this call for someone to play the daughter on The Nancy Walker Show. Now they had a great deal of trouble casting it, and later I learned it was because they were stuck on the physicality. Nancy was a little thing, and they were having trouble casting it. So he got me this audition, and the only thing I remember about it really was that I went there and was given the script and sat there with six or seven other gals and I was reading this thing and I thought "oh, this is so funny!" I really thought it was a funny scene, and I was listening to the conversation in the room, and three of the other women were talking about how bad it was. They were talking about how bad the writing was, how it wasn't funny. I thought there was something wrong with me because I thought it was really funny. It turned out that I got it. I read right away with the producers and they got Nancy in to read with me. Then I think it dawned on them that the weird physicality would probably be an asset. So I was just lucky, in the right time and the right place.

SitcomsOnline: In 1986, you first appeared in what is probably your most memorable role as Iola Boylan on Mama's Family when it debuted in first run syndication, partially filling the void left by Betty White and Rue McClanahan who went on to The Golden Girls after NBC had originally canceled Mama's Family a year earlier. Did you have any clue at the time that essentially "replacing" two already well-known actresses in a series would lead to you creating a character who ended up being more enjoyed and remembered than those who had previously been among the main cast? What were some of your favorite moments from your years on Mama's Family? 
Beverly Archer: Well, that was a very individual circumstance, because the network version, as you know, was canceled, and it was only because Joe Hamilton was the businessman he was, and he decided to recreate it in syndication. And at at that time, nobody even knew what syndication was. He was really a pioneer in making it syndicated. The cast that I came in with really had nothing to do with the NBC series. They were completely separate entities. It is not as if they thought "oh, Betty and Rue aren't working right, let's do something different." They canceled that show and Betty and Rue moved on to bigger and better things. They basically recreated Mama's Family for the version that I came in to. I don't think I can exactly iterate exact moments, but there wasn't a week that went by that Ken Berry didn't make me goof off. Ken Berry is like the funniest person on the planet. There was almost always something that ended up on camera, but he is just intrinsically a hilarious guy.

SitcomsOnline: So right after Mama's Family ended, you went almost directly into Major Dad. How did you manage to go from one series to the next so quickly?
Beverly Archer: That was because of Rick Hawkins. Rick Hawkins produced Mama's Family and he left Mama's Family with Jim Evering to produce Major Dad, and he produced the first year that I wasn't in. Then, they made major changes and got rid of a couple of characters and brought in new characters, and that was when he came on board to produce the second season that I was in. So he created the role of Gunny and the others. Gunny really wasn't quite out of the blue as it seems. I did a very short-lived series called Washingtoon, it aired on Showtime and it was one of the first cable sitcoms. It didn't last long, but it was this political thing where there was a senator who was kind of an idiot and I played his secretary. That is really where I created the role, and Rick had seen a clip of that and he liked the character, so he tried to recreate that.

SitcomsOnline: Later, in the '90s, you had a lot of memorable roles as tough as nails librarians and teachers in series like Married… with Children, Full House, and of course a very memorable role in The Brady Bunch Movie. These were great roles, but they were much different than the character you played on Mama's Family just a few short years earlier. Do you feel that you were somewhat typecast in the 90s?
Beverly Archer: Oh sure. Most character actors are, especially ones as tall as I am, and I was no exception.

SitcomsOnline: You tell us that you are retired, so how exactly are you spending the free time that is available to you these days?
Beverly Archer: I'm very involved in my study. I'm studying sculpting, and that is what I was doing in Italy. I do a lot of traveling. I did have my shop in upstate New York. That was the first thing I did after I retired. It was an antique store in the Catskills. And that was what I did for about eight years, and I was bi-coastal, spending May through October up there and the rest of the year here, but the bi-coastal thing began to be too much. I gave that up and did the same thing here. I had the antique store for a short time, but the more I got involved with clay, the more I wanted to spend time with it, so I gave up the shop. And now, my focus really is the clay.

SitcomsOnline: Finally, we know that you are retired by choice and intend to stay retired… and that is a perfectly fine choice. But if you hadn't retired, have you considered what type of work or what type of roles you'd like to see yourself in these days? 
Beverly Archer: (laughs) Whatever kind of role they'd give me a paycheck for! That was the only kind of role I ever sought, was the one I got paid for. I certainly enjoyed doing comedy, but I would have enjoyed doing dramatic roles as well. But in our version of Hollywood, people who look like me don't do that. So, once you get into comedy, that is where you stay, which was fine with me. I loved doing comedy, and there is no greater gift than coming to work laughing everyday.

We definitely appreciate Ms. Archer for taking the time to give us an interview, especially considering that she was willing to do this interview for her fans, and not for publicity for herself. And of course, we would like to Ms. Archer and her fans once again apologize for spreading the hoax, but in the end, I think that we can all say that we are glad to know that she is not only still with us, but is in fact doing well and enjoying life to the fullest... and probably will be for decades to come. She very much appreciates the love and admiration that her fans have for her work over the years, and told us that she was pleased and surprised (although we don't know why, she was one of TV's funniest neighbors of all time in Mama's Family) to know how many of her fans out there truly care about her. And finally, as a side note, we certainly do respect her decision to stay retired and enjoy life as she sees fit... but if she should ever decide to change her mind, her fans would certainly support her.

Before we move on completely, we have this video message that Ms. Archer provided to us with a message to her fans:

Moving on to other news, WLNY TV-10/55 in New York City will have another classic TV marathon for a holiday. Back on 4tgh of July and I Love Lucy marathon was featured followed by an Andy Griffith Show marathon on Labor Day, and now another classic sitcom will be featured! The spooky 1964-66 sitcom The Munsters will have a marathon on WLNY-TV on Sunday, October 28, 2012 from 1pm-7pm. Unlike the other two, this won't be on the holiday itself, but it's still good enough! Every since CBS bought the station, it seems marathons are airing on each holiday. We can't wait to see what is up their sleeve for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Eve. If anything should surface, we'll let you know.

Not in New York, well you can watch The Munsters all this month on Boomerang, as we mentioned. And of course the new version of The Munsters is getting a test on NBC this coming Friday at 8pm.

• The Simpsons (Fox) - preempted for MLB NLCS.
• The Cleveland Show (Fox) - preempted for MLB NLCS.
• Bob's Burgers (Fox) - preempted for MLB NLCS.
• Family Guy (Fox) - preempted for MLB NLCS.
• American Dad! (Fox) - preempted for MLB NLCS.

• How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - Week four did 7.93 million and a 3.2 18-49 rating, which is up a tenth in 18-49 from the previous week. It finally went up, but still way down from last season.
• Partners (CBS) - Week four of this freshman sitcom finally went up  as well but did 6.08 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, up two tenths in 18-49 from previous week. It bought another week, I think.
• 2 Broke Girls (CBS) - 9.3 million and a 3.4 18-49 rating is solid and on par in 18-49 from its previous week. Again...was it too early for this series to be moved to an anchor spot?  I really think it was.
• Mike & Molly (CBS) - The fourth episode of the season did 9.1 million and a 3.0 18-49 rating, up two tenths in 18-49 from the previous week.

• Raising Hope (Fox) - A new episode at 8pm did only 4.23 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, so it was down a tenth from its previous week. Still just OK.
• Ben & Kate (Fox) - Week four of this new comedy did just 2.7 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating, down three tenths in 18-49 from the previous week for another series low...yet Fox still picked-up six more episodes. Very strange!
• New Girl (Fox) - preempted for debate.
• Go On (NBC) - preempted for debate.
• Happy Endings (ABC) - Season premiere this Tuesday! It's hilarious...does not sook.
• The Mindy Project (Fox) - preempted for debate.
• The New Normal (NBC) - preempted for debate.
• Don't Trust the B---- In Apartment 23 (ABC) - Season premiere this Tuesday! Look for a Dawson's Creek reunion.

• The Middle (ABC) - Week four did 8.39 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, up a tenth from previous week. Solid, and up once again.
• Animal Practice (NBC) - Week four in the timeslot did only 3.85 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating, on par in 18-49 from previous week. It has three more airings left and then NBC will pull it for good. Whitney takes over Nov. 14. That's not much better.
• The Neighbors (ABC) - Week four of this new series at 8:30pm did 6.35 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating, down a tenth in 18-49 week-to-week.  It has been consistent in this slot. Could be better, but everyone expected much worse.
• Guys with Kids (NBC) - Week four of this comedy in the timeslot did only 4.41 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating, also on par in 18-49 from previous week.
• Modern Family (ABC) - A new episode at 9pm did 12.28 million and a 4.7 18-49 rating, which was down just a tenth from the previous week's first airing. It has been an outstanding season so far in quality. No doubt it will continue to win Emmy's. Very deserving.
• Suburgatory (ABC) - Season premiere at a new time of 9:30 did 7.54 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating! Was doing better at 8:30 last fall, but better than what it was doing in the spring. I think it will do better soon.  Halloween episodes on Wednesday this week for all four ABC comedies could see a nice bump.
  

• The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - Week four did 15.73 million and a 4.8 18-49 rating, up three tenths in 18-49 from the previous week. #1 sitcom of the week, just getting by usual #1 Modern Family.
• Two and a Half Men (CBS) - Week four of this comedy did 13.6 million and a 4.0 18-49 rating, up a solid five tenths in 18-49 from the previous week for a season high.   Maybe it has some legs left after all?
• 30 Rock (NBC) - A new episode aired at 8pm and did just 3.04 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating, down a tenth in 18-49 from previous week for a series low. Terrible and NBC is probably glad this is the last season.
• Up All Night (NBC) - A new episode did only 2.99 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, actually up two tenths in 18-49 from the previous week. But still terrible!
• The Office (NBC) - A new airing did only 4.26 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, tying a series low in 18-49.
• Parks & Recreation (NBC) - A new episode at 9:30 followed with 3.46 million and just a 1.6 18-49 rating. The Neighbors does better!

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