Monday, February 11, 2013

TBS Orders Sitcom Pilot; Episodic Review: Rules of Engagement - "Taking Names" Airing Tonight on CBS

TBS has ordered a pilot for Do It Yourself, a new multi-camera sitcom from executive producers and creators Walt Becker (Wild Hogs, Van Wilder) and Rob Long (Cheers, TBS's Sullivan & Son). The pilot is being produced by TBS. If it gets picked-up to series, it will join other TBS original comedies Cougar Town, Men at Work, Sullivan & Son, King of the Nerds, Deon Cole's Black Box and Who Gets the Last Laugh?. The first three are obviously sitcoms, while the latter three are reality comedies and improv/sketch series. Who Gets the Last Laugh? premieres in April, Men at Work returns for a second season also in April (as we mentioned last week), while Cougar Town and King of the Nerds are currently on the schedule. Sullivan & Son returns later this season (probably in June), while sketch comedy Deon Cole's Black Box will premiere later this year.

As for the new pilot, Do It Yourself is the story of Nick, a 20-something laid-off math teacher who finds himself thrust into the blue collar world when he gets a job at that most American of retail institutions: the big box home supply store. Nick quickly becomes the de facto leader of his band of misfit coworkers while also figuring out ways to redefine what it means to be a teacher. We'll of course let you know if this pilot is picked-up to series. So stay tuned if this show is indeed joining TBS or not. It might be a nice fit for Sullivan & Son, we think.


On the next...Rules of Engagement:
By: Todd

CBS' Monday night ensemble sitcom starring Patrick Warburton & David Spade is back and airs Mondays at 8:30pm and we have just watched the next episode that airs tonight (Feb. 11). Baby names are being thought of tonight! In the episode airing tonight, "Taking Names," Jeff (Patrick Warburton) and Audrey (Megyn Price) ask Russell (David Spade) to provide a list of the names of women he has slept with so they can avoid using that name for their baby. Meanwhile, Adam (Oliver Hudson) humiliates himself after he spends a lot of money on a new bicycle and gear.

Tonight's episode begins with Jeff, Audrey and Jen talking at the diner. Jen tells them that Adam is doing research on bicycles. Jeff and Audrey tell her that they have agreed on a name for their baby. Russell arrives and talks about sleeping with Madison. Audrey asks him for a list of every girl he's ever been with. Jen meets Adam at the bike shop where they talk to Javier. Later at the office, Russell asks Timmy for help in compiling the list of names. Jen makes fun about Adam's bicycling clothing and helmet. Audrey reads Timmy a list of names that were all used. Adam returns hobbling and with a tear in his clothing. Jen plays the video from the helmet camera and finds out how it really happened. Jeff suggests names after bottles of liquor and boys' names. Timmy brings Russell a huge binder of names. Jen tells Adam that she watched the video and knows what really happened to him. Jeff and Audrey talk about when they first met. Jeff suggests a name that they both agree on. Jeff calls Timmy to see if the name is on the list.

Both of tonight's storylines are funny. The gender of the baby was revealed in last season's finale. Tonight Jeff and Audrey finally agree on a name. They are one of TV's funniest couples. I think their relationship is very relatable to people. Jen and Adam are the less interesting couple, but they still have their moments like in this episode. The helmet video scenes of what really happened to Adam's bike are hilarious. Russell and Timmy's interactions are always fun to watch. It will be interesting to see when Jeff and Audrey finally have the baby. That will change the whole dynamic of the show. Overall, tonight's episode is just a solid effort from the entire cast and funnier than last week's season premiere. They are the most underrated and underappreciated sitcom on the air today.B.

Rules of Engagement had a successful mid-season debut last week. The show returned with 9.4 million viewers and a respectable 3.1 18-49 rating. They seem to perform well wherever CBS puts it on the schedule. It has been often been put on the mid-season schedule or been called out of the bullpen to replace a canceled sitcom. They seem to have an extremely loyal fan base. Despite being moved around a lot on the schedule over the years, they will reach 100 episodes at the end of the season. It seems like this could be the final season of the show. CBS has ordered a pilot with Patrick Warburton about a retired baseball player. If they wrap things up this season, hopefully there will be a marriage or two. Not many sitcoms reach 7 seasons or 100 episodes these days, so they have quietly put together a very nice run.


Sitcoms Airing Tonight

Thursday, September 28

none scheduled

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of September 25)

Thursday, September 28

  • George Clooney (Roseanne/The Facts of Life/ E/R (1984-1985) - Catch George on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC. He joins Drew for the entire show opening up about meeting the love of his life Amal, revealing the sweet thing they still do for each other to this day, their engagement story and more on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
  • Eva Longoria (Telenovela) - Eva appears on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
  • Hank Azaria (The Simpsons/Brockmire/Free Agents/Herman's Head) - Hank is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Diane Morgan (After Life) - Diane appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Sebastian Maniscalco (How to Be a Bookie) and Baron Vaughn (Grace and Frankie/Corporate) - Sebastian and Baron are guests on repeats of Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen on CBS between 12:37-1:37am.
  • Garcelle Beauvais (Survival of the Thickest/The Jamie Foxx Show) - E! News has an interview with Garcelle at 11pm on E!.
  • Kerry Washington (Unprisoned) - Kerry is a guest on Watch What Happens: Live at 10pm on Bravo.
  • Ed Begley Jr. (Young Sheldon/Your Family or Mine/Gary Unmarried/Wednesday 9:30 (8:30 Central)) - Ed talks about his new book To the Temple of Tranquility...And Step On It! A Memoir on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
  • Tiffani Thiessen (Saved by the Bell/Alexa & Katie/Good Morning, Miami/Saved by the Bell: The College Years) - Tiffani discusses her latest cookbook, Here We Go Again: Recipes and Inspiration to Level Up Your Leftovers, on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
  • Sam Jay (Bust Down) - Sam talks about her just-released HBO comedy special, Salute Me or Shoot Me, on Sherri, so check your local listings.


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

Mayberry R.F.D. - The Complete Series Night Court (1984-1992) - The Complete Series Family Matters - The Complete Series Step by Step - The Complete Series ALF - The Complete Series (Deluxe Edition)

06/13 - Mayberry R.F.D. - The Complete Series
06/13 - Night Court (1984-1992) - The Complete Series
07/18 - South Park - Seasons 21-25 (Blu-ray) (DVD)
07/25 - The Neighborhood - Season Five
07/25 - Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin - Season One
07/25 - Superstore - The Complete Series
08/22 - Back to Life - Season 1 / Season 2
08/29 - Smiling Friends - Season 1 (Blu-ray) (DVD)
09/05 - Young Sheldon - The Complete Sixth Season
09/12 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Second Season
09/12 - Rick and Morty - The Complete Seasons 1-6 (Blu-ray) (DVD)
09/26 - Family Matters - The Complete Series
09/26 - Step by Step - The Complete Series
10/10 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Complete Season Thirteen / The Complete Season Fourteen
10/17 - ALF - The Complete Series (Deluxe Edition) (Shout! Factory Special Offers)
10/17 - Night Court (2023) - The Complete First Season
More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD Releases / DVD Reviews Archive / SitcomsOnline Digest


Recent SitcomsOnline.com News Blog Posts

09/27 - Moonlighting Coming to Hulu; Showtime Announces Date for The Curse
09/26 - Rick and Morty Season 7 Trailer; Fox's Krapopolis Debuts Well
09/25 - Laff Fall 2023 Schedule with Last Man Standing and Man with a Plan; Upload Returns October 20
09/24 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 25, 2023)
09/23 - SitcomsOnline Digest: An End on the Horizon for WGA Strike?; Hallmark Ready for Christmas
09/22 - The Santa Clauses Season 2 Launches November 8; CBS Alters Fall Schedule
09/21 - Penn & Teller: Fool Us Gets New Return Date; Netflix's Unicorn Academy Premieres November 2
09/20 - Paramount+ Announces Colin from Accounts; The Really Loud House Gets Halloween Movie
09/19 - The Simpsons Season 34 Streams October 11 on Disney+; Good Burger 2 Set for Holiday Season
09/18 - Hulu's Huluween and Disney+'s Hallowstream Line-Up; Shining Vale Returns October 13 on STARZ
09/17 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 18, 2023)
09/16 - SitcomsOnline Digest: ABC Cancels Wonder Years Reboot; Byron Allen Makes $10 Billion Offer to Buy ABC
09/15 - Antenna TV's Bewitched Halloween Marathon; Rewind TV's Sabrina the Teenage Witch-O-Ween Marathon
09/14 - Dancing with the Stars Season 32 Cast; BUZZR Celebrates 40 Years of Press Your Luck
09/13 - TBS Acquires Modern Family; The Frasier Awards on COZI TV
09/12 - Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen Gets CBS Late Night Run; Unsolved Mysteries: Behind the Legacy Special
09/11 - Matt Rife Gets Netflix Special; Star Trek Day and Kid Cudi Join Forces
09/10 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 11, 2023)
09/09 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Warner Bros. Television Suspends Deals with Top Creators; Fran Drescher Re-Elected President of SAG-AFTRA
09/08 - CBS Announces Hosts of Game Show; New Goosebumps Premieres Friday the 13th This October on Disney+ and Hulu
09/07 - MeTV Presents Svengoolie's Halloween BOOnanza!; The CW Moving Fall Comedies to Thursdays
09/06 - CBS to Air NCIS: Sydney This Fall; Fox Makes Fall Change
09/05 - TBS and TNT September Stunts Include Big Bang Theory Batman Day Marathon; Netflix UK Produced Series Updates
09/04 - TV Marathons on Labor Day 2023 Include Three's Company
09/03 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 4, 2023)
09/02 - SitcomsOnline Digest: No Third Season for How I Met Your Father; Spectrum Dispute with Disney Could Spell End of Cable
09/01 - September Is Anniversary Month on Hulu; Freeform's 31 Nights of Halloween Returns for Its 25th Anniversary
08/31 - Max's Original Comedy Series Starstruck Season 3 and Our Flag Means Death Season 2 Premiere Dates; AXS TV Announces Fall Programming Lineup
08/30 - The Partridge Family Coming to AXS TV Starting Oct. 2; CBS to Air A Tribute to Bob Barker Special Aug. 31, Marathon of Match Game Episodes to Air Sept. 2 on Game Show Network
08/29 - Once Upon a Time Coming to Hulu; Young Love Launches on Max in September
08/28 - Remembering TV Legend Bob Barker; Wolf Like Me Returns in October on Peacock
08/27 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of August 28, 2023)