Monday, January 07, 2013

TCA Winter 2013 Press Tour: NBC; Chiller Acquires Pushing Daisies, R.L. Stine's The Nightmare Room

NBC kicked off the broadcast portion of the TCA Winter 2013 press tour yesterday. It started off with breakfast with the cast of the upcoming Celebrity Apprentice: All-Stars, which includes Trace Adkins, Stephen Baldwin, Gary Busey, Penn Jillette, Marilu Henner, Lil Jon, Omarosa and Lisa Rinna, premieres March 3. Then it was the all-important executive session with Robert Greenblatt (Chairman, NBC Entertainment) and Jennifer Salke (President, NBC Entertainment). Among the things we learned was that NBC has picked-up a new drama for summer called Camp. In the tradition of Meatballs and Dazed and Confused, Little Hawk Family Camp is a wicked slice of lake-side heaven. In the one-hour drama, parents decompress with gin while teenagers make gleeful mischief and fall in and out of love. Little Hawk Family Camp – where mother nature and human nature collide. Casting will be named at a later date. Production is scheduled to begin in Australia in March.
Among the other notes, NBC still is keeping Jay Leno for the foreseeable future (no surprise, I guess) and that Community, which returns in February for its fourth season, could still come back next season depending on ratings. The Office will have a one-hour series finale in May, but no exact date has been announced and likely will not feature a return of Steve Carell. Still no word on an exact date for the return of Up all Night, which is now going to be a multi-camera sitcom and now has lost its creator, Emily Spivey. Also, like canned before it aired comedy Next Caller, reality series Surprise with Jenny McCarthy has been canned before it even premieres. And finally, NBC still hasn't announced plans for Hannibal or comedy Save Me, but both could be saved for summer or just before that and NBC has already a few shows that are being scheduled for next fall including Michael J. Fox's new comedy and Dracula, while Crossbones could be late summer.

After that session, it was time for panels with cast and crew of NBC series. First up was Revolution, which returns on March 25. The series will only be 20 episodes now instead of 22 episodes since NBC doesn't have room to air 22. This means the series will air for 10 weeks when it returns. Then it was time for lunch with the cast of upcoming comedy 1600 Penn, which previewed on Dec. 17 but the ratings were not so presidential so far. New series Deception, which premieres tonight at 10, was the next series to have a panel. NBC announced it has cut its order from 13 to 11 as well,so they can fit every episode and have a seamless transition into Revolution when it returns. Then the next panel was for sophomore drama Grimm, which also is on a hiatus and won't return until March 8. It seems like all of NBC's series that do well are on hiatus this winter. However, the next panel was for a new NBC drama that premieres Jan. 31: Do No Harm. NBC has 12 episodes of this series to air on Thursdays at 10. Up next, there was a panel for The Biggest Loser, which returned last night with part one of its season premiere, along with the return of Jillian Michaels. And the final panel for the day was for NBC's Smash, which returns Feb. 5 at 10pm with guest stars like Jennifer Hudson, to take the place of Parenthood. Then finally, it was time for the reception to close the day's schedule.

Up today at the TCA Winter 2013 press tour will be cable networks for NBC Universal. Among the networks going are USA Network, Oxygen, Golf Channel, E!, CNBC and Syfy. Stay tuned for any updates, if anything is of note for us. And tomorrow we will have Fox up at the TCA Winter 2013 press tour, as they will be second among broadcast to go.


Pushing Daisies

Sticking with the NBC Universal theme, we have some news on cable network Chiller. Chiller kicks off a new year of scary good programming with the debut of its first original special of 2013, Chiller 13: Most Horrifying Hookups. In addition, this winter the network will feature two new-to-Chiller debuts with R.L. Stine's The Nightmare Room and cult favorite Pushing Daisies, which marks the first re-air of this series since its original run on ABC in 2007-09. First up R.L. Stine's The Nightmare Room, this 2001-02 anthology series from Goosebumps author R.L. Stine proves that our childhood fears never quite leave us. Three episodes air back-to-back every Monday in January beginning tonight (Jan, 7) at 8pm. 13 episodes were produced for Kids' WB and featured stars like Amanda Bynes, Shia LaBeouf, Kaley Cuoco, Dan Byrd, Frankie Muniz and Danielle Fishel popping in.

As for Pushing Daisies, the critically acclaimed series premieres Tuesday, March 5 at 9:00pm. This dark comedy centers on a pie-maker (Lee Pace), with the power to bring dead people back to life. He solves mysteries with his alive-again childhood sweetheart (Anna Friel), a cynical private investigator (Chi McBride), and a lovesick waitress (Kristin Chenoweth). Pushing Daisies was nominated for 12 Primetime Emmy Awards, winning three. Chiller brings both seasons (22 total episodes) back for the first time since the series' original run with two back-to-back episodes airing Tuesdays at 9pm, starting March 5. And finally, the special Chiller 13: Most Horrifying Hookups, premieres Friday, February 8 at 8:00pm. Chiller's popular countdown franchise returns with this newest installment, just in time for Valentine's Day! CJ Thomason (Harper's Island), Colin Ferguson (Eureka), Magda Apanowicz (Caprica, Kyle XY) and Judah Friedlander (30 Rock) count down Hollywood's most fatal attractions of all time. Chiller 13 is produced by Emmy Award-winning company Associated Television International.


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Tuesday, May 6

Night Court - "Funniest Judge in the City" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Abby suspects the courthouse's new "fun judge" may not be as fun as he seems; Gurgs must regain control when her new courthouse welcome video, starring Roz, takes on a life of its own.

Night Court - "A Decent Proposal" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Abby finds herself in charge of two runaway teens; Dan and Julianne balk at the idea that they've become friends; a surprise appearance by a mysterious stranger turns Abby's world upside down.

Tyler Perry's House of Payne - "No Bueno" (BET, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Jazmine reminds a forgetful C.J. about his first wedding anniversary; Curtis and Ella bring over a cake called No Bueno to celebrate, only to learn there is no celebration to be had; Calvin prepares to attend Pookie's wedding solo.

Tyler Perry's Assisted Living - "One Drop" (BET, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Efe's foundation offers free D.N.A. tests, Karen participates and finds out a shocking discovery; Leah employs Two Hunks and a Trunk to spur Jeremy into action to complete his honey-do list.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of May 5)

Tuesday, May 6

  • Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation) - Catch Nick on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Reba McEntire (Happy's Place/Malibu Country/Reba), Jenny McCarthy (Two and a Half Men/Jenny) and Jason Priestley (Call Me Fitz/Sister Kate) - E! News has interviews with Reba, Jenny and Jason at 11pm on E!.
  • Kelsey Grammer (Frasier/Partners/Hank/Back to You/Cheers) - It’s a DAYTIME EXCLUSIVE with Emmy®-winning TV icon Kelsey Grammer on Tamron Hall, so check your local listings. For the first time, Kelsey gets raw and honest about the effect his sister's murder had on him. He revisits it all in his powerful new book, Karen: A Brother Remembers.
  • Lisa Kudrow (No Good Deed/HouseBroken/Web Therapy/The Comeback/Friends/Mad About You) - Lisa is telling Drew about her first audition ever, her thirty-year wedding anniversary and whether his son has seen Friends on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings. Plus, she's dishing on her thrilling new show No Good Deed.
  • Carol Kane (Taxi/All Is Forgiven/Amerian Dreamer/Pearl/Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt) - Carol is joining Drew and they're reminiscing on meeting at SNL in 1982 and talking about Carol's fifty-year career including projects like The Princess Bride and Taxi on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.


New on DVD and Blu-ray

The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series 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)

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)
07/08 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)

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

05/06 - Netflix's Long Story Short Announces Cast; NBC Renews All Chicago Series for 2025-26
05/05 - Antenna TV's The Partridge Family Mother's Day Marathon; Rewind TV's 227 40th Anniversary Marathon
05/04 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of May 5, 2025)
05/03 - SitcomsOnline Digest: CBS Cancels The Equalizer; Wisteria Lane Offshoot of Desperate Housewives in the Works
05/02 - USA and SYFY Announce Summer Premieres; CBC in Canada Renews 5 Series, Including Wild Cards
05/01 - ABC Summer 2025 Schedule; Audible Scripted Comedy Podcasts for Summer
04/30 - The Carol Burnett Show Mother of All Marathons; Netflix Renews North of North
04/29 - Lifetime Adds New Ripped from the Headlines Movie; BET+ Orders Season 2 of Series
04/28 - Fox Summer 2025 Schedule; Final Guest Hosts for Saturday Night Live 50th Anniversary Season
04/27 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of April 28, 2025)
04/26 - SitcomsOnline Digest: CBS Cancels Poppa's House; Final Season 50 Hosts for Saturday Night Live Set
04/25 - Classic TV's Biggest Auction; Remembering Will Hutchins and Wink Martindale
04/24 - Jerrod Carmichael's 4th HBO Comedy Special; HBO's Pee-wee as Himself Premieres May 23
04/23 - Apple TV+ Announces Comedy Series Prodigies; ABC Renews Unscripted Series Slate
04/22 - Hallmark Channel's May For Moms Month; Prime Video Gets Korean Comedy Action Series
04/21 - Peacock's Twisted Metal Returns July 31; Poker Face Lines Up Big Guests for Season 2
04/20 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of April 21, 2025)
04/19 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Clueless Reboot in the Works at Peacock; King of the Hill Cast Reunion and Revival Preview at ATX TV Festival Next Month
04/18 - 2025 TIME100 on ABC; Atsuko Okatsuka: Father Premieres June 13 on Hulu
04/17 - BET+ Orders Martin Spinoff Varnell Hill; It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Returns in July
04/16 - And Just Like That... Season 3 on Max This May; MGM+ Comedy Series Adds Big Stars
04/15 - HBO's Harry Potter Series; Classic TV Comes to Life in NYC
04/14 - TV Stars Lineup for Summer of 69 Hulu Film; Jessica Kirson Comedy Special
04/13 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of April 14, 2025)
04/12 - SitcomsOnline Digest: FX Sets Premiere Date for Adults; Netflix Picks Up Monopoly Themed Reality Competition Series
04/11 - Bounce TV Renews Mind Your Business; AMC Networks 2025 Upfront Highlights
04/10 - David Spade's Prime Video Comedy Special; Brett Goldstein's HBO Comedy Special Filmed in New Jersey
04/09 - Paramount+ Orders Season 3 of Colin from Accounts; FX's Adults Premieres May 28
04/08 - Prime Video's New Comedy Overcompensating; Nine Perfect Strangers Returns on Hulu in May
04/07 - NBC Celebrates Joan Rivers with Special; Remembering Jay North of Dennis the Menace
04/06 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of April 7, 2025)