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 / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows
Wednesday, October 30
Abbott Elementary - "Costume Contest" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT)
It’s Halloween at Abbott Elementary! Janine and Gregory proudly show off their couple’s costume, but it fails to translate. Meanwhile, Barbara faces pushback from parents concerned about hygiene and her beloved apple-bobbing tradition.
Wizards Beyond Waverly Place - "Saved by the Spell" (Disney Channel, 8:00PM ET/PT)
On her first day of school, Billie uses magic to impress Roman's best friend; when a jealous Roman steals Billie's wand, he falls into the grasp of a wizard-hunting phantomus.
Wizards Beyond Waverly Place - "Something Wizard This Way Comes" (Disney Channel, 8:30PM ET/PT)
On Halloween, Billie tells Roman about Pumpkin Belly, a ghoul who eats anyone whose house isn't spookily decorated; Justin, Milo and Giada defend the home from pranksters.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of October 28)
Wednesday, October 30
- Sheryl Lee Ralph (Abbott Elementary/Fam/Instant Mom/Moesha/It's a Living) - Watch Sheryl on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Salma Hayek Pinault (The Sinbad Show) - Salma appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
- Kieran Culkin (Solar Opposites/Go Fish) - Kieran is a guest on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
- Tom Hanks (Bosom Buddies) - Tom stops by Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Emily Osment (Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage/Young Sheldon/Young & Hungry/Hannah Montana), Tien Tran (How I Met Your Father) and Vinny Thomas (Platonic) - Emily, Tien and Vinny are guests on After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
- Ronny Chieng (Young Rock/Ronny Chieng: International Student) - Ronny hosts Comedy Central's The Daily Show at 11pm.
- Adam Pally (Mr. Throwback/Indebted/Making History/The Mindy Project/Happy Endings) - Adam appears on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 3:30am on Bravo.
- Keri Russell (Running Wilde/Daddy's Girls) - Keri talks about The Diplomat on ABC's Good Morning America some time between 7-9am and on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
- Matty Matheson (The Bear) - Matty talks about improvising scenes on the hit show The Bear and how he started his career in restaurants on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
- Anna Kendrick (Love Life) - Anna is chatting with Drew about directing her first film Woman of the Hour, the crazy serial killer case the movie is based on, finding boundaries in her life, turning 40 and more on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
- Mayan Lopez (Lopez vs Lopez) - Mayan discusses her sitcom Lopez vs Lopez on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
- Blair Underwood (Fatherhood/The New Adventures of Old Christine) - Blair is a guest on PIX11 Morning News on WPIX in New York at 9:30am.
- Marissa Jaret Winokur (What We Do in the Shadows/Retired at 35/Stacked) - Marissa appears on New York Living on WPIX in New York at 10:05am.
- Melissa Peterman (Happy's Place/Young Sheldon/Baby Daddy/Working Class/Reba) - Melissa talks about NBC's Happy's Place on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
New on DVD and Blu-ray
09/10 - Rick and Morty - The Complete Seasons 1-7
09/10 - The Ropers - The Complete Series (VEI)
09/10 - Ted - Season One (Blu-ray) (DVD)
09/17 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - Video Scrapbook
09/17 - Top Cat - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
09/24 - Friends - The Complete Series (4K Ultra HD)
09/24 - Young Sheldon - The Complete Seventh Season (DVD) / The Complete Series (DVD) (Blu-ray)
10/08 - Curb Your Enthusiasm - The Complete Twelfth Season / The Complete Series
10/22 - Veep - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
11/05 - I Love Lucy - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
11/19 - SpongeBob SquarePants - The Complete Fourteenth Season
02/04 - 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