SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

As you all know, Nick at Nite launched new comedy Wendell & Vinnie on Saturday, Feb. 16. It technically airs on Nickelodeon on Saturdays at 8pm, since Nick at Nite doesn't start programming on Saturdays until 10pm. The series was originally supposed to air Sundays at 8pm (which is part of the Nick at Nite line-up). Anyway, the premiere delivered 2.34 million viewers and a 0.51 18-49 rating on the Saturday at 8pm premiere and 1.91 million and a 0.32 18-49 rating the next day for the encore. In comparison, the series premiere of See Dad Run on Saturday, Oct. 6 did 1.64 million and a 0.34 18-49 rating. The return of See Dad Run at a new time of 8:30pm followed on Sunday, Feb. 17 with 1.46 million and a 0.26 18-49 rating (down a tad from its 1.53 million and 0.32 18-49 rating average in the fall). The late night encore actually did better with a 0.5 18-49 rating. In week two, the Saturday premiere of Wendell & Vinnie did 2.38 million viewers and a 0.49 18-49 rating, so virtually on par with its premiere ratings, which is a good sign. The encore the next night did 1.72 million and a 0.27 18-49 rating, slightly down from previous week. Week two of See Dad Run followed on Sunday, Feb. 24 with a series low 0.95 million and a 0.18 18-49 rating, while the late night encore once again fared better with a 0.34 18-49 rating. Perhaps it should be aired later like 9 or 10pm.

On to scheduling news, Nick at Nite has scheduled a week-long Friends stunt for the week of March 11. The stunt will air Monday, March 11 through Friday, March 15 from 8pm-6am each night (Thursday and Friday starts at 9pm). It's a week-long event with all your favorite friends, all-night! Meanwhile, the movies on Sundays at 9pm will continue in March with National Lampoon's European Vacation this Sunday at 9. Recent movies were Ferris Bueller's Day Off and The Brady Bunch Movie. Upcoming airings are Rugrats in Paris on March 10, Scooby-Doo on March 17, and The Last Airbender on March 31. Stay with us for continued updates.

On the next...1600 Penn:
By: Pavan

NBC's freshman comedy starring Josh Gad airs Thursday nights at 9:30pm and we have just watched the next episode, that airs tonight (Feb. 28). We also have a recap of the previous week's episode "Skip the Tour" below! In the episode airing tonight, "To The Ranch," when unable to make a decision about who to nominate to the Supreme Court, President Dale Gilchrist (Bill Pullman) decides to take a family trip to their ranch to clear his head. During their getaway, Skip (Josh Gad) finds himself moping over his failed relationship, while Becca (Martha MacIsaac) contemplates major flaws in her own relationship. Meanwhile, Emily (Jenna Elfman) attempts to spend some quality time with Marigold (Amara Miller) and Xander (Benjamin Stockham), who both struggle with their loss of technology while at the ranch.

If you have ever wondered what the President of the United States does on a weekend trip with the family, you know might want to check this episode out. OK, maybe it isn't a realistic take on what the President does (or is it? hmm) but it is good sitcom fun. It is probably a little too silly or over-the-top, though. So the first family heads to a ranch in Nevada because The President needs to relax to make an important decision on who to nominate for the Supreme Court. Everyone is really making an important decision when they head to the ranch. The President obviously has to make a decision on the Supreme Court, while Becca has to decide if baby daddy D.B. is worth staying with or start a relationship with Press Secretary Marshall Malloy. Skip is heartbroken over his crush Stacy kissing someone else at the White House and in a sub-plot Emily tries to connect with her step-kids Marigold and Xander by hiding their phones at the ranch. I think the best plot of the episode is really Becca, D.B. and Marshall's storyline. It overshadows everything else in the episode and has a lot of depth and frankly is more interesting. D.B. is so clueless he botches the expression "Hindsight is 20/20" by calling it "Hindsight is 50/50." I don't think Emily's story is that interesting, while the President and Skip don't really deliver in this episode with their storylines. It's just too over-the-top. However, their scenes together are decent in the episode and their chemistry is good (the Yoda impersonation was great!). And I liked Skip on the episodes I reviewed for the pilot review. B-

In the previous episode, "Skip the Tour," President Dale Gilchrist's (Bill Pullman) brother Doug (guest star Bruce Campbell) stops by the White House, initiating a long-standing rivalry which threatens their relationship and prompts Emily (Jenna Elfman) to take on the role of peacemaker. Meanwhile, Becca (Martha MacIsaac) prepares for an interview and Skip (Josh Gad) decides to offer his own special version of the White House tour after witnessing one from an official tour guide (guest star Rory O'Malley).

We'll recap this episode since it didn't do well in the ratings, as in fact it was a series low. This episode was not all that great. The best thing about the episode is the phrase "Skip the Tour." Skip is actually going to the official White House tour and tells the tourists to...skip the tour (Pun intended!) and go on his tour. However, once again Skip is pretty crazy and he was kind of annoying in this episode, too. This was a sub=plot, so it wasn't the main plot of the episode really. The episode mainly dealt with the arrival of the President's brother Doug. They have a rivalry going on, as I'm sure many siblings do, but this might be a little too much. Without giving anything away (well I'm not really, since this already aired), even the Secret Service is a little late. Becca and D.B. prepare for an interview with Mary Hart, but D.B. is told not to say anything except to smile. This episode just doesn't click on all cylinders and since it already aired, you should skip it if you haven't seen it yet. Unless you have watched every episode so far, well then you might have to watch it. I think Becca, D.B. and Marshall saved this episode from a lower grade. C+

Stay tuned in two weeks for our review of the episode airing March 14: "Live from the Lincoln Bedroom," where they start an official podcast of the Gilchrist White House.

This series will mark the first original late night series in the time period since the cancelation of Lopez Tonight. Currently, the network is airing original encores in the time period and reruns of The Office. Stay with us for more news on this series and as we get closer to the date we'll give you scheduling updates on what will air following the series.

On the next...Guys with Kids:
By: Pavan

NBC's Jimmy Fallon produced sitcom starring Anthony Anderson airs Wednesday nights at 8:30pm and we have just watched the next episode that airs tonight (Feb. 27). It's the season finale and features a mini Cosby Show reunion with guest star Keshia Knight Pulliam! In the episode airing tonight, "Divorce Party," Chris (Jesse Bradford) and Sheila (Erinn Hayes) contemplate having another baby together despite being divorced, while Nick (Zach Cregger) vows to do whatever it takes to keep them from getting back together. Later, Nick and Emily (Jamie-Lynn Sigler) plan a divorce party to remind Chris of his horrible past with Sheila. Meanwhile, Marny's (Tempestt Bledsoe) younger sister Bridget (guest star Keshia Knight Pulliam) comes to town and is soon hired as Gary's (Anthony Anderson) assistant.

This is a solid episode. The main draw of the episode of course is the mini-Cosby Show reunion featuring Keshia Knight Pulliam guest starring with her former Cosby sister Tempestt Bledsoe. And they are playing sisters once again! Though they may not be Rudy and Vanessa, the chemistry between the two is certainly there. Their story is about Marny's sister Bridget coming to town. Bridget borrows money a lot and never pays back, so Marny's husband Gary really doesn't like her or trusts her. Marny is giving to her sister but promises Gary that she won't give her any money. And somehow she ends up giving Bridget a job as an assistant to Gary. Without giving too much away, Bridget kind of does well but Gary is skeptical. She's working on Gary's "rapkin" project. The other storyline is with Sheila wanting a baby with Chris, despite them being divorced now, or does she just want another baby? But Nick and Emily are working on a "divorce party" for Chris so he can meet with his high school sweetheart Sage. So does Sheila have a "master plan" to get back together with Chris by wanting another baby? Nick and Emily are trying to stop Chris from making a mistake he might later regret. The divorce party and the baby story kind of clash and we are left with a cliffhanger to end the season! B

Guys with Kids is a solid throwback style comedy, like we mentioned in our pilot review way back in September. It feels like a '90s sitcom but that may not be a bad thing. The guest appearance by Keshia Knight Pulliam is really good and her character probably brought Gary's "rapkin" project to another level instead of just being functional. It'll be interesting if she will be back next season, should the series be renewed for a second season. Their is nice balance with all of the storylines in the episode and there doesn't seem to be a main story, so each story seems vital to the episode. This is a solid cast, in particular Anthony Anderson, Jesse Bradford and Jamie-Lynn Sigler. All three of them shine in the season finale (the karaoke scene with Anthony Anderson is hysterical). Watch the season finale because Rudy is all grown-up and looks amazing! It's also funny and has mainstream laughs so everyone will laugh!

As we announced on Friday on Twitter, NBC has announced that Betty White's Off Their Rockers will move to Wednesdays at 8:00pm & 8:30pm beginning April 10. The hijinks comedy is currently airing Tuesdays at 8:00pm & 8:30pm, but once The Voice returns Tuesday. March 26, the comedy will have to move. Its Tuesday finale is March 19 before it returns April 10 and will air new episode at 8 and repeats at 8:30pm. The hour will be replacing Whitney, which will have its season finale the week prior on Wednesday, April 3 at 8pm. The sitcom has a 16 episode order and will be done with it by April 3. Whitney will be doubled up with repeats at 8:30pm beginning next Tuesday (March 6), as freshman sitcom Guys with Kids is having its season finale this Wednesday at 8:30pm (with guest star Keshia Knight Pulliam for a mini-Cosby Show reunion!). That sitcom has a 17 episode order and will already be finished with it by this week. Both Whitney and Guys with Kids are struggling heavily in the ratings, so these could be their final episodes ever but we won't know that for sure until this May during upfronts. Possibly one (Whitney) could return (a very slight chance), but there is no chance really both are returning.

Moving on to Fox, they also announced a few special sitcom airing plans. First up on Thursday, April 7, Tuesday comedies New Girl and The Mindy Project will both receive a special Thursday airing following American Idol at 9:00pm & 9:30pm. In the all-new "Date Night" episode of New Girl, Jess (Zooey Deschanel) and Nick (Jake Johnson), who are caught between friendship and something more, try to break out of relationship limbo by going on a "first" date. Once Schmidt (Max Greenfield) and Winston (Lamorne Morris) realize a full-on Jess/Nick romance might be happening, they swoop in to try to sabotage the date. And in the all-new "Mindy's Birthday" episode of The Mindy Project, Morgan (Ike Barinholtz) throws Mindy (Mindy Kaling) a surprise birthday party, but when her two worlds collide - personal and professional - it's nothing to celebrate. Meanwhile, Jeremy (Ed Weeks) and Danny (Chris Messina) fight over the same girl (guest star Kelen Coleman, Newsroom). Both comedies have 24-episode orders and New Girl is airing episode 18 this coming Tuesday (so six episodes will remain from March-May) and The Mindy Project is airing episode 16 this Tuesday (so eight episodes will remain from March-May). Now one less episode will air on a Tuesday with this special Thursday airing on April 7.
Elsewhere on Fox, The Cleveland Show will be doubling up for a few weeks. It is all-new next Sunday (March 3) at 7:30pm and 8:30pm, all-new on March 10 at 8:30pm and March 17 all-new at both 7:30 and 8:30, and on April 7 it will be all-new at 9:30pm. Yes, a little confusing, but the comedy was preempted a lot this fall during the NFL season. The Cleveland Show regularly airs Sundays at 7:30pm, while Bob's Burgers airs at 8:30pm but Bob's Burgers is preempted March 3, 10 and 17 at 8:30pm but it will air at 9:30pm on all of those nights. It will air in place of American Dad! those three weeks. Confused? Don't be yet, because American Dad will air at a special time with a new episode on March 10 at 7:30pm, before returning to 9:30pm on March 24. Yeah, now we're confused, too.

Character actor Lou Myers, best known as the ornery Vernon Gaines in A Different World, has died. He died on February 19 at the Charleston Area Medical Center in West Virginia after battling pneumonia for several months. Mr. Myers was 77.

Myers played the feisty Vernon Gaines, who ran the campus eatery and hangout, The Pit, in A Different World. He joined the cast in the second season and appeared in 65 episodes of the series. In 1987, he guest starred as Mr. Davis in 2 episodes of The Cosby Show, which was the parent series of A Different World. He appeared in 6 episodes of The WB sitcom All About the Andersons in 2003. He had a recurring role as T.C. in the NBC sitcom My Parents, My Sister & Me in 2009-2010. His other sitcom guest appearances included Bagdad Cafe, Thea, The Sinbad Show, Living Single, The Jamie Foxx Show, Malcolm & Eddie, Eve and Lucky Louie. Some of his other television credits included The Sentinel, JAG, ER and NYPD Blue. Myers' film credits included Cobb, Tin Cup, Volcano, How Stella Got Her Groove Back, The Wedding Planner and The Fighting Temptations.

Survivors include his mother, Dorothy Jeffries, 95, a son, Melvin Myers, and two grandsons, Brayden and Christian. We loved his Mr. Gaines character on A Different World. He always gave sound advice. We thank him for bringing us many laughs. He will be greatly missed.

A Different World can currently be seen on TV One. Share your memories of Mr. Myers on our message board. View photos in our galleries.

• The Simpsons (Fox) 2 airings - A new episode at 8 did 4.57 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating, which was on par with previous week in 18-49 and still below normal. A repeat at 7 did 2.21 million and a 0.9 18-49 rating, down two tenths in 18-49 from previous week's Bob's Burgers repeat in the same time period.
• The Cleveland Show (Fox) - A new showing at 7:30pm did only 2.63 million and a bad 1.1 18-49 rating, down three tenths in 18-49 from previous week. Not good.
• Bob's Burgers (Fox) - At 8:30, a new episode did 3.93 million and 1.8 18-49 rating, nearly holding all of its lead-in's ratings and on par in 18-49 with previous week.
• Family Guy (Fox) - A new airing at 9 did 4.87 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, the best of the block but down a tenth in 18-49 from previous week when it faced the Grammys.
• American Dad! (Fox) - A 9:30pm airing was new and did 4.15 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating, also down a tenth in 18-49 from previous week when it faced the Grammys. I guess the NBA All-Star game had more of an affect on these comedies than the Grammys.

• How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - A new episode at 8 did 8.86 million and a 3.4 18-49 rating, which was up two tenths in 18-49 from previous week. Solid.
• Rules of Engagement (CBS) - Week three at 8:30pm did 8.19 million and a 2.9 18-49 rating, solid and up a tenth in 18-49 from the previous week. 
• 2 Broke Girls (CBS) - A new episode at 9 did 10.25 million and a 3.5 18-49 rating, as it was down another tenth in 18-49 from previous week. This has been one of the disappointments of the season, I think. I really thought it would easily be doing 4's right now without Dancing/Voice.
• Mike & Molly (CBS) - A new episode at 9:30pm did 10.33 million and a 3.2 18-49 rating, which is solid and up two tenths in 18-49 from previous week. It did better than its lead-in in total viewers and it was up in 18-49 over previous week despite its lead-in going down. This was the CBS winner of the night.

• Raising Hope (Fox) - A new episode at 8 pulled 3.65 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, which could be better.
• New Girl (Fox) 2 airings - A new episode at 9 did 4.31 million and a below normal 2.2 18-49 rating. A special repeat at 8:30pm did 2.7 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating, up a tenth in 18-49 from previous week.
• Go On (NBC) - A new episode did a series low 3.3 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating, as this series has completely tanked.
• The Mindy Project (Fox) - A new airing at 9:30pm did 3.05 and a 1.6 18-49 rating, yes low but this is about what it has done all season.
• The New Normal (NBC) - A new episode at 9:30pm was clobbered with just 2.8 million and a 0.9 18-49 rating, as now I don't think this comedy will be back next season.

• The Middle (ABC) - A new episode at 8 did 8.27 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating, which is good and back up four tenths in 18-49 from previous week's strange season low.
• Whitney (NBC) - A new episode at 8 did 3.14 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating, which is down a tenth in 18-49 from previous week. This show isn't worth bringing back anymore. No point.
• The Neighbors (ABC) - A new showing of this new comedy did 6.34 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating, up two tenths in 18-49 from previous week. It WILL be back next season folks, whether it's here or on Friday. It's doing well creatively, too.
• Guys with Kids (NBC) - At 8:30pm, a new episode of this series did 2.83 million and a 1.0 18-49 rating, which is terrible and on par in 18-49 with previous week's series low. Can a mini Cosby Show reunion help this Wednesday, which is the season finale? We've watched it already and look for our review of the episode posting on Wednesday!
• Modern Family (ABC) - A new episode at 9 did 10.62 million and a 4.0 18-49 rating, #1 for the block as usual and up two tenths in 18-49 from previous week. Good sign of climbs the past few weeks.
• Suburgatory (ABC) - A new episode at 9:30pm did 5.74 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating, which is down a tenth in 18-49 from previous week. Such a good show but might be better suited for 8:30.

• The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - At 8pm, a new episode did 17.62 million and a 5.6 18-49 rating, which is excellent and up a tenth in 18-49 from previous week. I thought it would be back over a 6 again.
• Two and a Half Men (CBS) - A new airing did 13.41 million and a 3.9 18-49 rating, which is also up a tenth in 18-49 week-to-week.
• Community (NBC) - Week three did not do well doing 3.08 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating, which is down a tenth in 18-49 from previous week. It needs to do better if it wants another season on NBC. Hello TBS or Comedy Central next season?
• Parks & Recreation (NBC) 2 episodes - A new episode at 8:30pm did 3.07 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating, which is down a tenth in 18-49 from previous week. Not good, but it got worse at 9pm when a special new episode did 2.95 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating, down six tenths in 18-49 from previous week's The Office in the same slot. Just not mass appealing.
• The Office (NBC) - preempted.
• 1600 Penn (NBC) - A new episode at 9:30pm did only 2.34 million and a 1.0 18-49 rating. So many comedy duds on NBC this week. This show doesn't even fit the tone of the other NBC Thursday comedies. Bad scheduling.

• Last Man Standing (ABC) - A new episode did a prelim 6.01 million and a prelim 1.3 18-49 rating, which was down a tenth in 18-49 from previous week's preliminaries.
• Malibu Country (ABC) - A new airing of this new comedy did a prelim 5.05 million and a prelim 1.1 18-49 rating, also down a tenth in 18-49 from previous week's prelim ratings.

• None.

• Alec Baldwin (30 Rock) - Watch Alec on The Late Show with David Letterman at 11:35pm on CBS.
• Zooey Deschanel (New Girl) - Zooey appears on Conan at 11pm on TBS.
• Felicity Huffman (Sports Night) - Felicity is a guest on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check listings.
• Wendi McLendon-Covey (Reno 911!/Rules of Engagement) - Wendi visits Watch What Happens: Live at 11pm on Bravo.
• Brooke Shields (Suddenly Susan) - Brooke guest co-hosts The View on Monday and Tuesday on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.

• Kevin Nealon (Weeds/Hiller and Diller/Champs) - Catch Kevin on Conan at 11pm on TBS.
• Wendi McLendon-Covey (Reno 911!/Rules of Engagement) - Wendi is a guest on The Wendy Williams Show at 12am on BET or on your local stations.
• Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Modern Family/The Class) - Jesse chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.

• Tina Fey (30 Rock) - Watch Tina on The Late Show with David Letterman at 11:35pm on CBS.
• Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Modern Family/The Class) - Jesse appears on The Late Show with David Letterman at 11:35pm on CBS.
• David Duchovny (Californication) - David is a guest on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno at 11:35pm on NBC.
• J.B. Smoove (Curb Your Enthusiasm/'Til Death) - J.B. visits The Tonight Show with Jay Leno at 11:35pm on NBC.
• Tom Lennon (Reno 911!) - Tom stops by The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson at 12:37am on CBS.
• Johnny Galecki (The Big Bang Theory/Roseanne) - Johnny appears on Conan at 11pm on TBS.

• Charlie Sheen (Anger Management/Two and a Half Men) - Catch Charlie on a repeat of The Late Show with David Letterman at 11:35pm on CBS.
• Steve Carell (The Office) - Steve drops by The Tonight Show with Jay Leno at 11:35pm on NBC.
• Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory) - Jim appears on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
• David Duchovny (Californication) - David continues to make the rounds on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson at 12:37am on CBS.
• Zach Braff (Scrubs) - Zach visits The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check listings.

• Jerry Seinfeld (Seinfeld) - Watch Jerry on a repeat of The Late Show with David Letterman at 11:35pm on CBS.
• David Duchovny (Californication) - David wraps up his appearances this week on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check listings.
• Regina King (227) - Co-host Clinton Kelly teams with Regina to create cowboy rice and fried eggs on The Chew on ABC at 1pm ET/12pm PT/CT.
• Terry Crews (Are We There Yet?/Everybody Hates Chris) - Terry guest co-hosts "Guy Day Friday" on The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.

TV One has acquired the classic funky '70s sitcom What's Happening!! for its Friday night classic comedy line-up! The sitcom will begin airing on Friday, March 1, with a special two-hour block of episodes centered on Rerun (played by the late Fred Berry) from 8-10pm, as part of TV One's Friday night classic comedy block. Episodes airing on this night are all from season two: "Rerun Get's Married," "Give Me Odds," "Going Going Gong," and "Rerun Sees the Light." The special launch will encore the following day (Saturday, March 2) from 12-2pm. The What's Happening!! launch will lead into the season finale of original comedy Belle's on Friday at 10pm. TV One usually airs a block of classic comedies from 8-10pm, with series such as The Jeffersons, Good Times, A Different World all filling in. But wait, there's more! What's Happening!! will be airing on a regular basis beginning the following week. Effective Friday, March 8, the Friday night classic comedy block will have a set regular schedule and What's Happening!! will air Fridays at 11:00pm & 11:30pm ET! The Friday night classics schedule begins with That's My Mama at 8:00pm & 8:30pm, followed by back-to-back The Jeffersons at 9:00pm & 9:30pm, and Good Times at 10:00pm & 10:30pm leading into What's Happening!! It's a time warp back to the '70s on Friday nights! The What's Happening!! episodes will be going in order from the first episode and will encore on Saturdays at 2:00pm & 2:30pm beginning March 9. The Saturday morning schedule will have four episodes of That's My Mama from 6-8am, then a block of Good Times from 8am-12pm and Martin from 12-2pm leading into What's Happening!!

What's Happening!! has aired on TV One in the past, but only for Black History Month back in 2010 and not as a regular series. The series hasn't aired regularly on cable since it aired on TV Land from 2005-07. TV Land also aired select episodes from the follow-up series What's Happening Now!! but TV One does not have the rights to air that series, as of now. No other schedule changes will occur on TV One, so the classic Friday night comedy block will now have a set schedule and a new addition, while Saturday mornings will also get a bit of a makeover. Stay with us for continued updates, as we can tell you that there could be another classic addition to the TV One line-up soon. What will it be? Stay tuned!

Tyler Perry's popular sitcom For Better or Worse is coming to OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network with a third season of all new episodes debuting in the fall of 2013. In addition, the network has garnered the encore rights for the first two seasons of the sitcom's 45 episodes that originally aired on TBS. The series, which was basic cable's #1 sitcom of 2011 and the #1 show on all of television with African-American adults, follows three couples who are at various stages of their relationships as they weather the ups-and-downs of married life and dating. The original cast is set to return in their starring roles including Tasha Smith, Michael Jai White, Crystle Stewart, Kent Faulcon, Kiki Haynes and Jason Olive. Production will begin in Atlanta in April.

For Better or Worse will mark OWN's third scripted series from Perry who has an exclusive deal with the network to produce brand new television series and projects. The first two original series - the sitcom Love Thy Neighbor and the ensemble drama The Haves and the Have Nots - are set to premiere Wednesday, May 29. The original series mark the network's first venture into scripted programming and now they will have an established comedy to pitch in the fall in For Better or Worse. The series wrapped up its TBS-run in December with all-new episodes and repeats were airing on Friday nights through the end of January. Before it moves to OWN, TBS is still airing the series Tuesday and Wednesdays at 4am.
As for Love Thy Neighbor, it is a half-hour comedy set at Love's Diner, where every day the menu serves up good food, great laughs, valuable life lessons and a whole lot of love for its zany neighbors. Jonathan Chase, Palmer Williams, Patrice Lovely, Kendra C. Johnson, Andre Hall and Darmirra Brunson star.

National cable network WGN America has acquired the off-network rights to the NBC comedy Parks and Recreation and will begin airing it this September, 2013. The sitcom has not been cleared for local broadcast syndication and was being pitched for Fall 2014 at NATPE. So the series will likely premiere on cable first in syndication rather than the normal local broadcast five-days-a-week syndication. The comedy has more than enough episodes for syndication but NBCUniversal is likely going more after a SVOD (subscription video-on-demand) play. The series is currently airing in its fifth season and by this fall it will have 90 episodes in the can, which is just enough for syndication and weekday play. The series has not yet been renewed for a sixth season on NBC, but with NBC losing The Office and 30 Rock after this season, it is more than likely Parks will be back. It is unclear how WGN America will schedule the series, but currently WGN America airs comedies 30 Rock, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Rules of Engagement, How I Met Your Mother, Old Christine, Futurama and Scrubs. WGN America will not have exclusive cable rights like usual, as all of those series above can also be found elsewhere. WGN America will share the cable rights for Parks and Recreation with G4, but more on that below (including a name change for G4).

From Emmy Award-winning executive producers Greg Daniels (NBC's The Office, King of the Hill) and Michael Schur (NBC's The Office, Saturday Night Live), Parks and Recreation is a hilarious ensemble comedy that follows Leslie Knope (Emmy nominee Poehler, NBC's Saturday Night Live) a mid-level bureaucrat in the Parks and Recreation Department of Pawnee, Indiana, and her tireless efforts to make her quintessentially American town just a little bit more fun. The series also stars Adam Scott, Aubrey Plaza, Aziz Ansari, Chris Prat, Jim O'Heir, Nick Offerman, Rashida Jones and Rob Lowe.

We haven't talked about this yet, but the G4 network will be rebranding again and this time the new name will be the Esquire Network (yep, like the magazine). And they will also air off-network cable runs of Parks and Recreation this fall. Beginning April 22, 2013, the G4 network will be rebranded the Esquire Network. The network is a strategic partnership between NBCUniversal and Hearst Magazines to create the only television network aimed at the full, multi-faceted lives of today's modern men. Esquire Network will expand on G4's foundation of games, gear and gadgets to reflect the broad range of interests, passions and aspirations that define men today. Appealing to men's intelligence as well as their sense of adventure, Esquire Network's programming will capture the classic voice, impeccable style and unmistakable wit that have come to define Esquire, the original men's magazine and premier authority on contemporary man. Diverse program categories and genres will feature not only gaming and technology, but also entertainment, food, fashion, women, humor, travel, competition, danger and more.

The network will feature a blend of unscripted and scripted series, and movies and specials that appeal to today's man. Partnering with the industry's top producers and talent, the Esquire Network team is developing a slate of engaging all-new original series such as Knife Fight, a passionate celebration of food, executive produced by Drew Barrymore, Flower Films and Authentic Entertainment. Hosted by "Top Chef" winner Ilan Hall, Knife Fight is an underground, after-hours cooking competition where talented chefs go head to head in front of a rowdy crowd of celebrities, critics and die-hard foodies. Another original series, The Getaway (working title), is executive produced by Anthony Bourdain and Zero Point Zero and features travel-loving, well known personalities - people deservedly famous for excellence in their fields - who take viewers to their favorite city on the planet, giving the insiders' track on their top spots to eat, drink, shop and hang out.

Fan favorite competition series American Ninja Warrior will return for its fifth season, to air this summer on Esquire Network and NBC. Additionally, Esquire Network will complement its slate of original programming with ambitious and witty scripted series that include reruns of NBC's Emmy-nominated comedy, Parks and Recreation, and the critically acclaimed series from STARZ, Party Down, which aired in 2009-10. Additional programming announcements will be made in the coming weeks. We hope we have some more comedies to go along with Parks and Recreation and Party Down. Stay with us!

As part of its growing aggressive program strategy, TV One has added the half-hour sitcom Family Time to its Friday night classic comedy block. The half-hour comedy created by Bentley Kyle Evans (The Jamie Foxx Show, Martin, Love That Girl) and produced by Evans and partner Trenten Gumbs, airs Fridays at 7:30PM/ET since earlier this month. The sitcom is a Bounce TV original sitcom and six episodes were produced and aired last summer. No word if the series has been picked-up for a second season and if TV One will take over, but for now TV One is just airing repeats. TV One also airs original episodes of original comedy Belle's, every Friday at 10pm since Feb. 1. It is TV One's newest scripted comedy that centers around widower William "Big Bill" Cooper who owns and operates his family's upscale soul food restaurant and stars Emmy(R) Award-winning actor Keith David (Crash), Elise Neal (All of Us, The Hughley's), Tami Roman, Ella Joyce (Roc) and Miguel Núñez, and introduces young actress Nadja Alaya. The half-hour series is co-created and executive produced by legendary Emmy(R) Award-winning producer Ed. Weinberger (Taxi, The Cosby Show), Belle's co-star Miguel Núñez and Oscar Turner for Gallery Road Productions. The season finale is slated for March 1 and a marathon of all six episodes from the first season will air Saturday, March 2 from 4-7pm. Ans for Love That Girl, TV One has not yet renewed it for a third season. The second season ended last year.

As for Family Time, it centers around the life and times of the Stallworths, a working class African American family who get lucky with a scratch-off lottery ticket and makes the leap to middle class status overnight. Starring Omar Gooding and Angel Conwell as parents Anthony and Lisa Stallworth, and Jayla Calhoun and Bentley Kyle Evans, Jr as their children, the Stallworths represent a true-to life African American family working to pursue the American dream. The series follows the family as they move to a middle class community in southern California resulting in classic comedic moments tinged with humorous drama. TV One airs the series Fridays at 7:30pm, followed by a classic TV block of sitcoms from 8-10pm, then Belle's at 10.

Stay with us for continued updates on TV One, including Family Time and Belle's, and we might have some classic TV news for TV One later this week...so come on back!

On the next...New Girl:
By: Todd

Fox's Tuesday adorkable sitcom starring Zooey Deschanel airs Tuesday nights at 9:00pm and we have just watched the next episode that airs tonight (Feb. 19). In the episode airing tonight, "Parking Spot," Schmidt (Max Greenfield) discovers a previously unknown, yet highly-coveted parking spot, prompting Jess (Zooey Deschanel) and the roommates to fight over who will get to use it. The situation gets even more complicated when Schmidt discovers that Nick (Jake Johnson) and Jess kissed, as he fears it will trigger the "no nail" clause the guys signed when Jess moved in. Meanwhile, Winston (Lamorne Morris) has a hard time finding an essential item when he gets an impromptu invitation from Daisy (guest star Brenda Song).

It's Garage Wars on tonight's all-new episode. The episode begins with Jess and Nick brushing their teeth and talking about how things are not weird between them and they are just roommates. Schmidt finds a hidden parking spot in the garage behind a dumpster. Jess suggests that they share the spot, but everybody else has a different idea. Winston receives a text from Daisy. In a flashback scene, Jess has to deal with outside Dave in her parking spot. Later, Jess tries to flirt with Nick in his hoodie in order to sway his vote. Winston finally arrives at Daisy's apartment, but he has forgotten a condom. Schmidt gives Nick a beer to try and get his vote. Jess and Nick reveal to Schmidt that they have kissed. Meanwhile, Winston goes to the store, but he doesn't have any money with him. Everybody makes a frantic rush to be the first car parked in the spot to win it. Jess' discovers some feral cats in her current parking spot. Cece talks to Shrivang at her apartment before Winston arrives and asks her for a condom. Schmidt goes to great lengths to stay in the spot. He talks about the "no nail" oath they agreed to when Jess moved in. Winston finally locates a condom, but he has problems finding Daisy's building. The winner of the parking spot is revealed as the episode closes.

This episode continues to build the momentum from the big kiss between Jess and Nick a few weeks ago. Jess and Nick are very funny and awkward together. They have some hilarious facial expressions and interactions tonight. There is some real sexual tension between them. The secondary story of Winston trying to find a condom is pretty short but funny. It was nice that they added Brenda Strong in a recurring role, but I wish they gave her more screen time. She appears in only one quick scene in the episode. There's also another big kiss between two characters in this episode that will only add to the tension and cause more sparks to fly in future episodes. Overall, it's just a funny outing that is full of win. Who will ultimately claim the parking spot? Tune in to find out. B

Kirstie Alley's TV Land sitcom pilot has now been picked-up to series! Multiple Emmy® Award-winner Kirstie Alley is lighting up the stage on TV Land as the network picks up Kirstie's New Show (previously titled Giant Baby), a new sitcom revolving around Alley as Broadway star Madison Banks. The sitcom reunites the actress with longtime friend and former Cheers co-star Rhea Perlman and pairs them with famed Seinfeld actor Michael Richards, both of whom have won multiple Emmy® Awards as well. Kirstie's New Show also stars Eric Petersen (Shrek: The Musical) and will premiere in Fall 2013 with 12 episodes and will join other TV Land original comedies like Hot in Cleveland, The Exes, Happily Divorced and The Soul Man.

Kirstie's New Show revolves around Madison "Maddie" Banks, a renowned Broadway star who finds her life turned upside down when Arlo (Petersen), the son she gave up at birth, suddenly appears hoping to connect after his adoptive parents have died. However, Maddie doesn't exactly see nerdy and schlubby Arlo fitting in with her luxurious lifestyle. But when Maddie's assistant and best friend, Thelma (Perlman), and outlandish driver Frank (Richards) encourage her to give Arlo a chance, Maddie is shocked to find that perhaps she has motherly instincts after all. The pilot 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. We hope to see her Dancing with the Stars dance partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy guest star, along with host Tom Bergeron. Stay with us for continued updates and a premiere date and time in the coming months! Go Kirstie!
See a video preview of the series as Kirstie Alley takes to the streets of New York City to announce the series:

On Tuesday, Feb. 26, the hilarious night of live comedy Worst Audition Ever is back with the Worst Breakup Ever edition for some post Valentine's Day hijinks! The show recently had a three-month/six-show run in the fall (Sept-Nov)and is back this winter and spring (Feb-April)! Let's face it, opening your heart up isn't easy and there are a lot of bumps (and humps) along the way. Come and commiserate at Worst Breakup Ever! Laugh along with an evening of real people opening their souls with hilarious stories of awkward and crushing breakups with lovers, co-workers and friends! Laugh and cringe as you relive some of your own agonizing experiences - because pain is best served funny and with cocktails. The festivities will be hosted by Deanna Pappas (The Bachelorette) and will feature real-life breakup stories from Andy Dick (NewsRadio, Less than Perfect), Sarah Collette-Wagner, Alex Fanuele, Larry Poindexter, and Danielle Thorpe! Sounds like a lot of fun and if Andy Dick is in the house, you know you'll be in store for some comedy!

Tickets are only $20 as usual and I promise you from experience that you'll have a great time! Go and order your ticket if you are in L.A. or will be in the L.A. area next Tuesday! It will be at the Cavern Club Theater on 1920 Hyperion Ave. in Los Angeles, CA. This will be the first of a three-month show, with another one slated for Tuesday, March 26, which is in the regular format of Worst Audition Ever and on Tuesday, April 30 for Worst Vacation Ever! Stay with us for info on the hosts and celebs for those two shows in the near future! But for now order your tickets for next week's show and you'll even get to meet these cool stars after the show and also the awesome producers: Christine Lakin (Step by Step, Lovin' Lakin), Alec Ledd (Internet Icon), Daniel A. Miles and Corri English (Holliston)! It's a night of fun!