TVGN Acquires Cheers to Launch June 15; Tracy Morgan to Star in FX Comedy Pilot

Thursday, June 06, 2013

TVGN Acquires Cheers to Launch June 15; Tracy Morgan to Star in FX Comedy Pilot

One of television's most acclaimed comedies of all-time joins TVGN's (TV Guide Network) daytime line-up this summer with daily weekday episodes. That sitcom is Cheers and it will air beginning Monday, June 17, 2013 and air from 11:00AM-1:00PM ET/PT and 5:00–7:00PM ET/PT. To locate TVGN on cable or satellite, viewers can visit www.tvgn.tv for a channel finder. Leading up to the premiere, TVGN will air a one-hour original special The Cast of Cheers: Where Are They Now? on Monday, June 10 at 9:00PM ET/PT. The special catches up with the all-star cast including Ted Danson, John Ratzenberger, Shelley Long, Kristie Alley, Rhea Pearlman and many more, to see what they have been up to since they left their barstools behind. For a preview of The Cast of Cheers: Where Are They Now?, view the video clip below.

Back to the TVGN schedule, Cheers will replace an hour of Cybill and originals from 11am-1pm, while the 5-7pm block is replacing an hour each of Designing Women and Who's the Boss? The schedule will now be Ugly Betty still from 9-11am, Cheers from 11am-1pm, specials at 1pm, Designing Women from 2pm-4pm, Who's the Boss? 4-5pm, Cheers from 5-7pm, and more Who's the Boss? from 7-8pm. As of now, it looks like Cybill and Early Edition will be off the schedule. The network will add same day runs of Young & the Restless soon to weekdays at 7pm but first the special The Young & the Restless On-Set: inFANity will premiere Monday, June 17 at 9pm. Stay with us for updates.

Cheers will actually launch with a marathon prior to its June 17 regular schedule debut. On Saturday, June 15 from 12:00 Noon–8:00PM ET/PT, viewers can tune-in for "Cliff Notes," an eight-hour marathon of back-to-back fan favorite episodes hosted by John Ratzenberger, who of course played the role of Cliff Clavin on Cheers. John reminisces about his time on the long-running sitcom with insider stories and fun facts about the show. If you don't know, Cheers focuses on the colorful staff and off-beat patrons of a friendly Boston bar owned by a former Red Sox pitcher where "everybody knows your name." The sitcom starred Ted Danson as Sam Malone, Shelley Long as Diane Chambers, Kirstie Alley as Rebecca Howe, Nick Colasanto as Coach, Rhea Perlman as Carla Tortelli, George Wendt as Norm, John Ratzenberger as Cliff, Woody Harrelson as Woody and Kelsey Grammer as Dr. Frasier Crane. The sitcom will continue to air on the other networks it airs on (Hallmark Channel, ReelzChannel TV and USA Network).

Tracy Morgan

Actor and comedian Tracy Morgan has closed a deal to star in the FX Networks comedy series pilot, Death Pact, from Rob Long and Tad Safran. Production of the single-camera, half-hour pilot episode will take place this summer in New York or New Jersey. Death Pact was co-created by Rob Long (Sullivan & Son, Cheers) and Tad Safran (The Long Weekend), who also serve as Executive Producers/Writers. Eric Tannenbaum and Kim Tannenbaum (Two and a Half Men and the new CBS comedy We Are Men) of the Tannenbaum Company are Executive Producers. Death Pact is produced by FX Productions. In Death Pact, Morgan stars as a formerly lazy, pot-dealing assistant high school coach, who returns to his hometown as a decorated war hero. He runs across three down-on-their-luck friends and former students and sucks them into his new radical self-help philosophy, which involves harsh consequences for failure. Stay with us for continued updates and if this series gets picked-up to series or not. Right now it is just a pilot.

Sitcoms Airing Tonight

Wednesday, December 8

The Conners - "Sober Sex, Plastic Silverware, and Losing My Religion" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Part of Becky’s recovery program mandates she make amends with people she has lied to over the years, leading her to meet up again with former high school friend Mikey to apologize for lying to him about her living a successful life. Meanwhile, Darlene visits with Pastor Phil (Jason Alexander), and Louise continues planning her wedding.

Home Economics - "Bottle Service, $800 Plus Tip (25% Suggested)" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
The family is in for a wild night out when they accompany Connor to a club to help him jumpstart his dating life. When Tom steps up as Connor’s wingman, things don’t exactly go as planned.

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - "The Gang Buys a Roller Rink" (FXX, 10:00PM ET/PT)
In the past, an innocent Dennis learns the horrifying details of Frank's business; a truly sweet Dee is excited to head off for Hollywood while Charlie and Mac's jobs at the roller rink are in jeopardy.

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - " The Gang Replaces Dee With a Monkey" (FXX, 10:30PM ET/PT)
When the Gang suspects Dee is menopausal, they scramble to find a new employee for Paddy's Pub; Dee decides to put her acting career on hold in order to mentor young actors.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of December 6)

Wednesday, December 8

Rob McElhenney (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia/Mythic Quest) - Watch Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Ariana DeBose (Schmigadoon!) - Ariana appears on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Kristin Chenoweth (Schmigadoon!/Trial & Error/Kristin) - Kristin is a guest on Watch What Happens: Live at 3:30am on Bravo. She chats about her new album Happiness is…Christmas! on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Kimberly Williams-Paisley (According to Jim) and Ashley Williams (The Jim Gaffigan Show/Good Morning, Miami) - Kimberly and Ashley talk about Hallmark's Sister Swap on NBC's Today in the 9am hour and on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
Cynthia Nixon (And Just Like That.../Sex and the City) - Cynthia talks about And Just Like That... on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am and on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
Heather Graham (Californication/Emily's Reasons Why Not/Scrubs) - Heather talks about her role in the film The Last Son on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
Yvonne Orji (Insecure) - Yvonne is a guest on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
Eric André (Man Seeking Woman/2 Broke Girls/Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23) - Eric will be on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Vanessa Lachey (Truth Be Told/Dads) - Vanessa talks about living the island life with her kids and husband, Nick Lachey, her new role in NCIS: Hawai‘i and her new book on Rachael Ray, so check your local listings.
Michael J. Fox (Family Ties/Spin City/The Michael J. Fox Show) - Michael talks about No Time Like the Future: An Optimist Considers Mortality on CBS This Morning sometime between 7-9am.
Patricia Heaton (Carol's Second Act/The Middle/Back to You/Everybody Loves Raymond) - Patricia shares the moment that made her re-think her relationship with drinking on The Dr. Oz Show, so check your local listings.
Zachary Levi (Less Than Perfect/Telenovela) - Zachary talks about American Underdog on ABC's Good Morning America somtime between 7-9am.
Kal Penn (Sunnyside/Deadbeat/We Are Men) - Kal talks about Hot Mess Holiday on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.