Thursday, February 28, 2013

Nick at Nite Updates, Includes Week-Long Friends Stunt; Episodic Review: 1600 Penn "To The Ranch" Airing Tonight on NBC

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.


Sitcoms Airing Tonight

Friday, June 2

none scheduled

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of May 29)

Friday, June 2

  • Will Ferrell (The Office/The Oblongs) - Watch Will on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Francia Raisa (How I Met Your Father/grown-ish) - Francia appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Rose Byrne (Platonic/Physical) - Rose is a guest on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother/Star Raving Mad/Doogie Howser, M.D.) - Neil and David Burtka chat with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT. They will also be on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
  • Alex Borstein (Family Guy/Bordertown/Getting On and Tony Shalhoub (We Are Men/Stark Raving Mad/Wings) - Alex and Tony are guests on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
  • Abbi Jacobson (Broad City) - Abbi opens up about her recent engagement, her bestie Ilana Glazer, what it was like co-creating, writing, producing and starring in A League of Their Own and more on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
  • Jerry O'Connell (We Are Men/Do Not Disturb/Carpoolers/My Secret Identity) - Jerry and his wife Rebecca Romijn talk all about their show The Real Love Boat on a repeat of Rachael Ray, so check your local listings.
  • Jodie Sweetin (Fuller House/Hollywood Darlings/Full House) - NBC's Today catches up with Jodie in the 9am hour. She talks about Hallmark Channel's The Jane Mysteries: Lost Inheritance on a repeat of Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
  • Dulé Hill (The Wonder Years) and Jazmyn Simon (Ballers) - Dulé and Jazmyn discuss their children's book Repeat After Me: Big Things to Say Every Day on a repeat of Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
  • Michael Urie (Shrinking/Younger/Partners) - Michael sits down to talk about his new projects, including Apple TV+’s comedy series, Shrinking, on Sherri, so check your local listings.
  • Sara Bareilles (Girls5eva) - NBC's Today catches up with Sara in the 9am hour.


New on DVD/Blu-ray (January-June)

Growing Pains - The Complete Series Cheers - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Complete Season Twelve Gimme a Break! - The Complete Series (VEI) Kate & Allie - The Complete Series (VEI)

01/03 - Andy Richter Controls the Universe - The Complete Series (2023 Release)
01/27 - Master of None - Season Three / The Complete Series
02/21 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Complete Season Nine / The Complete Season Ten
02/28 - Growing Pains - The Complete Series
03/28 - Rick and Morty - Season 8 (Blu-ray) (DVD)
04/04 - South Park - The Complete Twenty-Fifth Season (Blu-ray) (DVD)
04/18 - Blondie - The Complete 1957 Television Series (Blu-ray)
04/25 - Cheers - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
05/23 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Complete Season Eleven / The Complete Season Twelve
05/23 - Go On - The Complete Series
05/23 - Kate & Allie - The Complete Series (Universal)
05/29 - Gimme a Break! - The Complete Series (VEI)
05/29 - Kate & Allie - The Complete Series (VEI)
05/30 - Looney Tunes Collector's Choice - Volume 1 (Blu-ray)
06/13 - Mayberry R.F.D. - The Complete Series
06/13 - Night Court (1984-1992) - The Complete Series
More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD Releases / DVD Reviews Archive / SitcomsOnline Digest


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05/18 - The CW Upfront 2023-24: Fall 2023 Schedule; Netflix Upfront 2023
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05/16 - ABC Upfront 2023-24: Fall 2023 Schedule; FX's Summer 2023 Slate
05/15 - FOX Announces 2023-24 Programming Slate; iCarly Season 3 Premieres June 1
05/14 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of May 15, 2023)
05/13 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Night Court Season Finale Brings Back a Familiar Face; Comedy Central Renews Digman! for Second Season
05/12 - NBC Upfront 2023-24: Fall 2023 Schedule; Hulu Orders Deli Boys from Onyx Collective
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05/10 - Minx Returns in July on STARZ; Never Have I Ever Final Episodes Premieres June 8, Trailer Drops
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05/05 - BUZZR's Classic TV Moms Week; Fox's Stars on Mars Celebs Announced
05/04 - Dancing with the Stars Returning to ABC in Fall; Conan O'Brien Producing New Podcast Miniseries
05/03 - Roku 2023 NewFront; Peacock Schedules Kaley Cuoco Series
05/02 - COZI TV's Little House Mother's Day "Ma-A-Thon"; Human Resources Returns June 9 on Netflix
05/01 - Peacock's Twisted Metal Drops in July; IFC Dark Comedy SisterS Launching May 17