Fox Surprisingly Orders Full Season of The Mindy Project, More Ben and Kate Episodes; NBC Delays Whitney, Community Premieres

Tuesday, October 09, 2012

Fox Surprisingly Orders Full Season of The Mindy Project, More Ben and Kate Episodes; NBC Delays Whitney, Community Premieres

Despite struggling in the ratings for their first two airings, Fox has picked up six additional episodes of Ben and Kate and nine additional episodes of The Mindy Project, bringing both new Tuesday night comedies to full-season orders or close to it, after just two airings. Ben and Kate will get 19 total episodes, while The Mindy Project gets the full 22 episodes. Ben and Kate posted only 3.22 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating for its second episode last Tuesday, down more than 30% from its 2.1 18-49 rating premiere, which wasn't that great. Meanwhile, The Mindy Project posted just 3.68 million and a 1.9 18-49 for its second episode last Tuesday and that was down more than 25% from its 2.4 18-49 rating premiere, which was disappointing.

While this is surprising indeed, it is good to see networks give comedies a chance. NBC gave Go On and The New Normal full season pick-ups last week, and they haven't been that great in the ratings either, especially The New Normal. As for other new sitcoms, things look very bleak for NBC's Animal Practice, while Guys with Kids could go either way depending on how it does in the next few weeks (and if it continues to build solidly out of its lead-in). ABC's The Neighbors has aired twice so far and ABC is mulling ordering three more scripts, so that could be a good sign for more episodes...depending on how it does the next few weeks. New sitcom Malibu Country starring Reba McEntire will premiere on ABC in a few weeks. CBS has struggled with Partners on Monday nights, but in reality it is doing better than what Fox just picked-up, though CBS has a higher standard, especially on a better performing comedy block. I still don't think Partners will get more episodes ordered.

The Mindy Project is a new single-camera comedy from Emmy Award-nominated writer/producer and New York Times best-selling author Mindy Kaling (The Office) that follows a woman who, despite having a successful career, desperately needs to break bad habits in her personal life. A new episode airs tonight at 9:30/8:30c on Fox. Ben and Kate is a new single-camera young ensemble comedy that follows odd-couple siblings as they push each other out of their comfort zones and into real life. A new episode airs tonight at 8:30/7:30c on Fox.

Sticking with network comedy news, NBC has (thankfully) delayed the launch of new seasons of Whitney and Community (a match made in hell). Both comedies were set to move to Fridays starting October 19, airing back-to-back in the 8pm hour. Like we mentioned on our story above, new NBC comedy Animal Practice has struggled on Wednesdays at 8, so NBC might be waiting to see how it does in the next week or two. And if it continues to do poorly, you might see Whitney paired with new fellow multi-camera sitcom Guys with Kids on Wednesday nights. As for Community, it could move back to Thursdays replacing second year comedy Up All Night at 8:30pm, which has done awful so far this season. All of this is premature, but we do know that Whitney and Community will not be launching their new seasons on Friday, Oct. 19. Here is NBC's statement to the press:

Given the success we've had for the past four weeks – including winning the first week of the season in A18-49 – we've decided to continue to concentrate our promotional strength on our new NBC shows that are scheduled Monday through Wednesday and have therefore decided to hold Community and Whitney from their previously announced premieres of October 19. Without having to launch these comedies on Friday at this time, we can keep our promotion focused on earlier in the week -- plus we will have both comedies in our back pocket if we need to make any schedule changes on those nights. When we have a better idea of viewing patterns in the next few weeks, we will announce new season premieres of Whitney and Community.

As of now, NBC will stick with repeats on Fridays at 8pm. The Voice aired last week (Oct. 5) and Grimm is scheduled this Friday (Oct. 12). If NBC does pull Animal Practice and Up All Night from their current spot, perhaps those two comedies will be Friday bound instead of just being pulled? Still too early to speculate, but that could be an option. Or they will just be pulled without being re-scheduled. All we can is, stay with us...

Sitcoms Airing Tonight

Thursday, April 9

Young Sheldon - "A Slump, a Cross and Roadside Gravel" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Sheldon and Georgie mine for platinum in roadside gravel. Also, Mary is concerned when Missy misuses religion to help with a batting slump.

Man with a Plan - "Adam's Big Little Lie" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Adam promises not to lie to Andi again but finds himself in a tough spot when he has to cover for Joe.

Mom - "Hot Butter and Toxic Narcissism" (CBS, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Christy regrets fleeing the scene after hitting a parked car. Also, Bonnie’s therapist, Trevor (Rainn Wilson), offers tools to help her better communicate with Adam.

Broke - "Jobs" (CBS, 9:30PM ET/PT)
When Jackie encourages Javier and Elizabeth to get jobs so they can contribute financially to the household, Javier gets work as a ride share driver, with Luis’ help, and Elizabeth is employed as a personal shopper. Also, Jackie worries Sammy will get hurt by becoming so close with his uncle Javier.

Last Man Standing - "Garage Band" (Fox, 8:00PM ET/PT)
A car restoration article throws Mike, Chuck, and Ed into the spotlight, while leaving Joe feeling unappreciated; Ryan overreacts after taking Kyle's psych test.

Last Man Standing - "A Bedtime Story" (Fox, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Mike tries to avoid hurting Vanessa's feelings due to her snoring; Mandy goes overboard preparing for the arrival of Kristin and Ryan's new baby.

Superstore - "" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)

Brooklyn Nine-Nine - "Valloweaster" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
The squad competes in an effort to determine who is the greatest human/genius.

Will & Grace - "We Love Lucy" (NBC, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Will claims living with Grace is like Ricky living with Lucy. When Karen and Jack hear this, they each claim that they are the Lucy of the group. Grace, Karen, and Jack each imagine themselves as Lucy (during “Vitameatavegamin,” “Chocolate Factory,” and “Grape-Stomping”), with Will as the Ricky to all of them. Lucie Arnaz and Leslie Jordan guest star.

Indebted - "Everybody's Talking About King and Queens" (NBC, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Debbie decides to become a certified life coach to help her and Stew get out of debt and immediately make waves in Dave and Rebecca’s lives. Stew rejects Joanna’s help while trying to come up with a great new as-seen-on-TV product.

Better Things - "High Man. Bye Man" (FX, 10:00PM ET/PT)
Sam goes to the weed store and visits her brother; Frankie and Sam eat ice cream.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of April 6)

Thursday, April 9

Don Cheadle (Black Monday/House of Lies/The Golden Palace) - Catch Don on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 12:05am on ABC.
Regina Hall (Black Monday/Grandfathered) - Regina appears on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 12:05am on ABC. She will also be on Access Daily, so check your local listings.
Jane Fonda (Grace and Frankie) - Jane is a guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Abby Elliott (Indebted/Odd Mom Out) and Adam Pally (Indebted/Making History/The Mindy Project/Happy Endings) - Abby and Adam are guests on A Little Late with Lilly Singh at 1:35am on NBC.
Tig Notaro (One Mississippi) - Tig will be on Conan at 11pm on TBS.
Casey Wilson (Marry Me/The Hotwives/Happy Endings) - Casey appears on Watch What Happens: Live at 11pm on Bravo.
Danielle Schneider (The Hotwives) - Danielle is a guest on Watch What Happens: Live at 11pm on Bravo.
Victor Rasuk (How to Make It in America) - Victor previews the new series The Baker and the Beauty on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
David Spade (Rules of Engagement/8 Simple Rules/Just Shoot Me!) - David appears on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
Rob Lowe (The Grinder/Parks and Recreation) - Rob is a guest on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
Kim Fields (The Facts of Life/Living Single) - Kim appears on a repeat of Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
Christine Baranski (Happy Family/Welcome to New York/Cybill) - Christine will be on CBS This Morning sometime between 7-9am.
Tim Robbins (The Brink) - Tim is a guest on a repeat of Access Daily, so check your local listings.
Busy Philipps (Vice Principals/Cougar Town) - Busy appears on a repeat of Access Daily, so check your local listings.
Daniella Monet (Baby Daddy/Victorious/Listen Up!) - Daniella cooks lentil soup on a repeat of Home & Family on Hallmark Channel at 10am ET/PT.