WGN America Orders First Original Series; Episodic Review: Baby Daddy - "There's Something Fitchy Going On" - Airing Tonight on ABC Family

Wednesday, June 05, 2013

WGN America Orders First Original Series; Episodic Review: Baby Daddy - "There's Something Fitchy Going On" - Airing Tonight on ABC Family

WGN America has ordered the drama series Salem from award-winning producers Brannon Braga (24, Star Trek: TNG, Voyager & Enterprise) and Adam Simon. The series hails from Fox 21 (Homeland, Sons of Anarchy), the prolific cable production division of Twentieth Century Fox Television, and marks the first original scripted series for WGN America as it begins to aggressively expand its programming slate. Set in the volatile world of 17th century Massachusetts, Salem explores what really fueled the town's infamous witch trials and dares to uncover the dark, supernatural truth hiding behind the veil of this infamous period in American history. In Salem, witches are real, but they are not who or what they seem. The show, which centers on an epic romance wrapped around this explosive revelation, delivers a bold new vision of Salem – and an even bolder new vision of witches.

WGN America has ordered 13 episodes entering production this fall in for a 2014 premiere. The series was created and written by Brannon Braga and Adam Simon, who will serve as executive producers alongside Prospect Park's Josh Barry and Jeff Kwatinetz. The series will be produced by Fox 21. Stay with us for continued updates and maybe soon an original sitcom will make its way to WGN America in the future?

On the next...Baby Daddy:
By: Pavan

ABC Family's New Comedy Wednesday sitcom starring an ensemble young cast lead by Jean-Luc Bilodeau and Chelsea Kane, airs Wednesday nights at 8:30pm and we have just the next episode that airs tonight (June 5). And it's a Kyle XY reunion with Matt Dallas guest starring! In the episode airing tonight, "There's Something Fitchy Going On," Ben (Jean-Luc Bilodeau) discovers a shocking secret about Riley's (Chelsea Kane) new beau, Fitch (guest star Matt Dallas, Kyle XY), and tries to warn her. Meanwhile, Bonnie (Melissa Peterman) accidentally sends a revealing message from Danny (Derek Theler) to Riley's cell phone. Things heat up between Danny and his new model girlfriend, Milena, and Tucker (Tahj Mowry) pounces on an opportunity to shine with his boss, Chase (guest star Wayne Brady).

What the "fitch" is going on? Last week on the season premiere we ended the episode with Riley meeting a new guy at a law firm party and both Ben and Danny were too late. We continue that arc in this episode but it doesn't seem it is literally right away because Riley and Fitch have started a relationship. It's probably at least a few days or a week after the law firm party, we're guessing. It's unclear but the episode is still good. We have a lot of laughs and a lot of crazy antics. Obviously the main storyline is for Riley and Fitch and what Ben thinks about it and what he will do. Ben learns a secret about Fitch by accidentally seeing something he shouldn't have seen (a classic sitcom device). Is Fitch really a good guy? We also have a comical storyline with Danny and Bonnie regarding Riley's cell phone. He left her a voicemail by accident and they try to get a hold of Riley's phone before she sees it. Will they succeed? It's a lot of fun. And the final storyline is with Tucker and his new "hands-on" celebrity boss Chase. Wayne Brady is very funny as Chase and he can't keep his hands off of women. Looks like we might see more of him, but in this episode we don't have much of him.

Riley is going to be torn again by love by the end of the episode. It always turns out that it is something that you think would never happen. Matt Dallas is great as the "perfect" Fitch. Hopefully we see more of him this season. This episode is more fun than last week's premiere but I don't think it has good as the premiere. This episode is more silly fun but we need that on sitcoms. It makes them more fun and these multi-camera sitcoms do that. Like I said before, this is a Boy Meets World style show and I could definitely see all of these plotlines for this episode on that show. I think Bonnie gets more funnier with each episode, as Melissa Peterman plays her perfectly. It's another great episode and the story arc continues! It's the "Life of Riley" and who is going to win her over? B+

Sitcoms Airing Tonight

Friday, July 3

The Dick Van Dyke Show - Now in Living Color! - (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
CBS will honor the memory of legendary actor, producer, director, writer, comedian and Emmy Award winner Carl Reiner with THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW – NOW IN LIVING COLOR! A SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO CARL REINER, featuring two colorized back-to-back classic episodes of the beloved 1960s series, Friday, July 3 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. As series creator and co-star, Carl Reiner personally supervised the original colorization of the episodes.

The special features “Coast to Coast Big Mouth,” which ranked #8 on TV Guide’s list of the “100 Greatest TV Episodes of All-Time,” and “October Eve,” which Mr. Reiner considered to be one of the series’ funniest episodes. Both were written by Bill Persky and Sam Denoff.

In “Coast to Coast Big Mouth,” Laura Petrie blurts out a top secret on a national television quiz show, revealing that comedian Alan Brady wears a toupee. The episode, which was the show’s fifth and final season premiere, was originally broadcast on Sept. 15, 1965. “Coast to Coast Big Mouth” won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series in 1966.

In “October Eve,” a painting of Laura returns to haunt her when, despite her having posed fully clothed, the artist (played by Carl Reiner) takes the liberty of “undraping” her. The episode was first presented on April 8, 1964, during season three.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of June 29)

Friday, July 3

Kevin Hart (The Big House/Undeclared) - Watch Kevin on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 12:35am on ABC.
Tina Fey (30 Rock) - Tina appears on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Laura Dern (Enlightened) - Laura is a guest on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Mark Duplass (Togetherness/The Mindy Project/The League) - Mark appears on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Melissa McCarthy (Mike & Molly/Samantha Who?) - Melissa guest hosts a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Brett Gelman (Camping/Fleabag/Love/Married/Go On) - Brett appears on a repeat of A Little Late with Lilly Singh at 1:35am on NBC.
Tika Sumpter (mixed-ish/The Game) - Tika talks about the season finale of mixed-ish and her latest project helping new moms on a repeat of Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
Peter Gallagher (Grace and Frankie/The Secret Lives of Men) - Peter talks about Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist and Grace and Frankie on a repeat of Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.