Wednesday, October 24, 2012

ABC Celebrates Halloween With Sitcom Episodes; CBS Picks Up Full Seasons of Vegas, Elementary

ABC Comedy Wednesday
ABC starts the Halloween season tonight (Oct. 24) with a night of spooky laughs. There'll be a little something for everyone when ABC celebrates the scariest night of the year with Halloween-themed programming. Haunting highlights (Oct. 24-31) include deliciously spooky recipes featured on The Chew, frightening laughs when the Bird-Kersees feel threatened by trick-or-treating kids on The Neighbors tonight at 8:30/7:30c, an entertaining costume party hosted by Mitch and Cam on Modern Family, and a chilling night of drama on 666 Park Avenue on Sunday, as Olivia puts the finishing touches on the Drake's annual costume gala.

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.

Suburgatory - Tessa - Daphne
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.


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Thursday, October 23

Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - "Fan Mail and Old-Timey Organ Music" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Georgie’s upset when Mandy’s new role as weekend weather girl gets her more attention from the men in town, and Connor turns to Jim for help when he’s asked to play the organ at the high school baseball game.

Ghosts - "Viking Wedding" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Sam and Jay try to impress their trendy city friends while a misplaced bookcase threatens Thor’s ability to deliver an important speech. Also, Isaac rallies the ghosts to help the couple navigate a tough customer service ordeal.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of October 20)

Thursday, October 23

  • Jeremy Allen White (The Bear) - Catch Jeremy on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC. He also talks about Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
  • Kristen Bell (Nobody Wants This/Central Park/The Good Place) - Kristen appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
  • Dave Franco (The Afterparty/Scrubs/Do Not Disturb) - Dave is a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC. He also talks about Regretting You on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
  • Ben Stiller (Arrested Development) - Ben stops by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS. He also talks about Stiller and Meara: Nothing Is Lost on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am and with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
  • Tig Notaro (One Mississippi) - Tig appears on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
  • Garcelle Beauvais (The Other Black Girl/Survival of the Thickest/The Jamie Foxx Show/Merry Happy Whatever) - Andy Cohen interviews Garcelle on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 3:30am on Bravo. She also talks about “Taken at a Truck Stop: A Black Girl Missing Movie on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
  • Timothy Simons (Nobody Wants This/HouseBroken/Veep) and Jackie Tohn (Nobody Wants This/GLOW) - Timothy and Jackie talk about Nobody Wants This on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
  • Laura Benanti (Life & Beth/Younger/The Detour/Go On/Starved) - NBC's Today catches up with Laura in the 9am hour.
  • Erika Alexander (Run the World/Living Single/The Cosby Show) - Erika discusses Season 3 of Invasion and her ReLiving Single podcast with Kim Coles on Sherri, so check your local listings.
  • Adam Pally (Mr. Throwback/Indebted/Making History/The Mindy Project/Happy Endings) - Adam talks about his new HBO special An Intimate Evening with Adam Pally on Sherri, so check your local listings.
  • Allison Williams (Girls) - Allison joins Drew to talk about her new movie Regretting You on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
  • Tamera Mowry-Housley (Sister, Sister/Roommates) - Tamera is a guest on New York Living on WPIX in New York at 10:10am.


New on DVD and Blu-ray

Frasier (2023) - Season Two Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* (missing 4 episodes and some music has been replaced or altered) Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray) Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - The Complete First Season

01/28 - Wait Till Your Father Gets Home - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/04 - The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series
03/11 - Frasier (2023) - Season Two
04/01 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season
05/13 - The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* (missing 4 episodes and some music has been replaced or altered)
06/06 - Shoresy - Season 2
06/17 - Looney Tunes - Collector's Vault - Volume 1 (Blu-ray)
07/22 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
08/26 - The Huckleberry Hound Show - The Complete Original Series (Blu-ray)
10/07 - Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - The Complete First Season

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

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10/04 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Fox Cancels The Great North; Everybody Loves Raymond Cast Set to Reunite for 30 Year Anniversary
10/03 - MeTV Acquires Everybody Loves Raymond; Hazbin Hotel Season 2 Trailer
10/02 - CBS Presents Everybody Loves Raymond: 30th Anniversary Reunion; Apple TV+ Renews Peanuts Specials Through 2030
10/01 - The CW's Six Brand New Movies Starting November 16; Hulu's Family Guy Halloween Special Details
09/30 - Sarah Sherman HBO Comedy Special in December; Huluween Programming for 2025
09/29 - Netflix Renews Haunted Hotel for Season 2; Christmas Comedy Series Sicilia Express
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09/26 - Netflix Adds to Cast for Running Point Season 2; Stiller & Meara Apple TV+ Documentary
09/25 - Adam Pally HBO Comedy Special; Jimmy Kimmel Live! Returns with Huge Ratings
09/24 - Weigel's Newest Diginet WEST Launches Monday, September 29; New Baywatch Coming to Fox in 2026-27
09/23 - DMV Trailer for CBS; Mo Amer Returns to Netflix
09/22 - SNL Season 51 Guests for First Episodes; Prime Video's Bat-Fam Series