Thursday, July 25, 2013

TCA Summer 2013 Press Tour: Cable Day 1 - Hallmark Channel, TV One, Adult Swim, NatGeo

The TCA Summer 2013 press tour has begun and yesterday was day one for cable networks. First up were Nat Geo, Hallmark, ESPN, TV One, and Turner networks. We'll cover the notable news information from day one today. Hallmark Channel announced a lot of movies and even some original series productions. A privileged society lady is a true pioneer woman in the World Premiere of When Calls the Heart, a Hallmark Channel Original Primetime Series, premiering October 5 at 9pm ET/PT with a two-hour special extended pilot of Hallmark Channel's second original primetime series, premiering January 2014. Based on Janette Oke's bestselling Canadian West book series, the two-hour pilot stars three-time Emmy(R) Award-winner Jean Smart (Designing Women), Lori Loughlin (Full House), Maggie Grace (Lost), Stephen Amel, Daniel Sharman and newcomer Poppy Drayton. Erin Krakow (Army Wives) and Daniel Lissing (Last Resort) star in the original primetime series set to premiere January 2014. Smart and Loughlin have the possibility to reprise their roles when the series returns in January. Another possible series: Two best friends and unlikely business partners team up, using their talent for detection and unorthodox ways to solve crimes in Hallmark Channel's The Mystery Cruise. The World Premiere of the two-hour backdoor pilot and the network's newest potential primetime series, is Saturday, October 19 at 9pm ET/PT and will air on the network in 2014, should the pilot be greenlit to series.

Then, a whole bunch of Hallmark Channel movies were announced with many stars on board. Some movies include: Tricia Helfer stars as a single mother who finds Christmas romance when an online home exchange brings a new man into her life in the World Premiere of Christmas Share, a Hallmark Channel Original Movie premiering Holiday 2013. Sarah Lancaster (Chuck) stars as a marketing exec turned reluctant Christmas tree peddler in Fir Crazy, a Hallmark Channel Original Movie World Premiere for Holiday 2013. Eric Johnson (Rookie Blue) and Colin Mochrie also star in this holiday film, part of Hallmark Channel's Countdown to Christmas, the #1 most treasured holiday destination by television viewers. Next, an ambitious development executive is sent from sunny Arizona to frigid Maine to overhaul a charming old lodge, never expecting a warm Christmas welcome will melt away her frosty attitude in the World Premiere of Let It Snow, a Hallmark Channel Original Movie premiering Holiday 2013. The film stars Candace Cameron Bure (Full House), Emmy(R) nominee Alan Thicke (Growing Pains) and Jesse Hutch. There will be many other movies to air as well that we are not listing that has stars like Victor Garber, James Brolin, Chyler Leigh and Catherine Bell.

NatGeo highlighted the upcoming Killing Kennedy movie they are doing, airing in November. Starring Rob Lowe as JFK, Ginnifer Goodwin as Jacqueline Kennedy, Will Rothhaar as Lee Harvey Oswald and Michelle Trachtenberg as Marina. TV One will go into the morning news game with News One Now starting in September, hosted by Roland S. Martin. And for Turner, it was Adult Swim presenting giving reporters a preview of its new animated comedy Rick and Morty, set to premiere in December. The show was created by Justin Rioland and Dan Harmon (Community). Rick and Morty is a show about a sociopathic scientist who drags his unintelligent grandson on insanely dangerous adventures across the universe. Spencer Grammer (Greek) and voice actress Kari Wahlgren star.

And that's a wrap for day one, stay tuned for more coverage tomorrow for day two.


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Thursday, May 14

Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - "Splurges and Secrets" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
A financial windfall leads Georgie to make a questionable purchase. Meanwhile, Audrey and Jim butt heads over old secrets.

Ghosts - "Polar Opposites" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
When a Hollywood producer comes to scout Woodstone as a filming location, Sam is prompted to take a creative leap that draws unexpected support from the ghosts. Meanwhile, changing roles among the ghosts spark a heartfelt effort to honor someone special.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of May 11)

Thursday, May 14

  • John Mulaney (Mulaney) - Catch John on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Geena Davis (The Geena Davis Show/Sara/Buffalo Bill) and Nathan Fillion (Two Guys and a Girl) - Andy Cohen interviews Geena and Nathan on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 9pm on Bravo. Geena also talks about The Boroughs on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
  • Lisa Ann Walter (Abbott Elementary/Emeril) - Lisa chats about ABC's Abbott Elementary on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
  • John Lithgow (Trial & Error/Twenty Good Years/3rd Rock from the Sun) - John chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
  • Lena Waithe (Master of None) - The Chi Creator Lena Waithe alongside stars Jason Weaver, Jacob Latimore, Birgundi Baker, Hannah Hall and Luke James join the Tam Fam on Tamron Hall, so check your local listings. The cast sits down to reflect on the show's cultural impact, their journey together, and what viewers can expect as the final season begins.
  • Mariska Hargitay (Can't Hurry Love) - NBC's Today catches up with Mariska sometime between 7-9am.


New on DVD and Blu-ray

Happy's Place - Season One (Blu-ray) Two and a Half Men - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) Abbott Elementary - The Complete Fourth Season (DVD) I Love Lucy - The Complete Series - 75th Anniversary Edition (DVD) The Office - The Complete Series - Superfan Extended Episodes (Blu-ray)

11/04/25 - Happy's Place - Season One (Blu-ray) (DVD)
11/11/25 - Rick and Morty - Season 8 (Blu-ray) (DVD)
11/11/25 - SpongeBob SquarePants - The Complete Fifteenth Season (DVD)
11/11/25 - Two and a Half Men - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
12/02/25 - Tom and Jerry - The Golden Era Anthology (1940-1958) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
12/16/25 - Lippy the Lion and Hardy Har Har - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
12/16/25 - Wally Gator - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
01/20/26 - The Woody Woodpecker and Friends Golden Age Collection (Blu-ray)
01/27/26 - The New Fred and Barney Show - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/11/26 - Tom and Jerry - The Complete CinemaScope Collection (Blu-ray)
03/24/26 - Looney Tunes Collector's Vault - Volume 2 (Blu-ray)
04/11/26 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Fourth Season (DVD)
04/21/26 - Famous Studios Champion Collection (Blu-ray) (DVD)
05/19/26 - I Love Lucy - The Complete Series - 75th Anniversary Edition (DVD)
07/14/26 - The Office - The Complete Series - Superfan Extended Episodes (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

05/13 - Prime Video 2026 Upfront; BET Announces Lot Patrol
05/12 - ABC Upfront 2026-27: Fall 2026 Schedule; ABC Summer 2026 Schedule
05/11 - NBC Upfront 2026-27: Fall 2026 Schedule; Fox Upfront 2026-27: Fall 2026 Schedule
05/10 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of May 11, 2026)
05/09 - SitcomsOnline Digest: NBC Picks Up The Rockford Files and Two Comedies; King of the Hill Season 15 Premiere Date Set
05/08 - Hulu's Hannah Berner: None of My Business Special; Survival of the Thickest Returns July 2
05/07 - Highway to Heaven Reboot Coming to Fox in 2027-28; Hulu's Deli Boys Trailer
05/06 - King of the Hill Season 15 Premieres July 20; The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins Renewed for Season 2
05/05 - Son of a Critch Renewed for Final Season; The Four Seasons Trailer for Season 2
05/04 - Hulu's Lisa Ann Walter: It Was An Accident Trailer; Netflix Announces Season 2 of Bad Thoughts
05/03 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of May 4, 2026)
05/02 - SitcomsOnline Digest: NBC Cancels Stumble; Do You Want Kids? Not Going Forward at ABC
05/01 - ABC Renews Shifting Gears and Scrubs for 2026-27; AMC Upfront 2026
04/30 - Apple TV Season 5 of Trying; Netflix Announces Dad's House
04/29 - Ted Lasso Season 4 Premieres August 5; Heads Will Roll to Return on Audible
04/28 - The Big Bang Theory Spinoff Stuart Fails to Save the Universe Premieres in July on HBO Max; The CW Revives Private Eyes
04/27 - Hulu's Alice and Steve Premieres June 8; Prime Video Renews Hazbin Hotel for a Fifth and Final Season
04/26 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of April 27, 2026)
04/25 - SitcomsOnline Digest: First Look at Scooby-Doo: Origins; Clueless Sequel Series Not Going Forward at Peacock
04/24 - A Different World Sequel Wraps Production and Adds More Cast Members; Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro Coming to ABC and Hulu in July
04/23 - Antenna TV's One Day at a Time and Rewind TV's 227 Mother's Day Marathons; Valerie Bertinelli's Lifetime Movie Love, Again Premieres May 9
04/22 - Stavros Halkias Returns to Netflix; CNN to Air Matt Friend Comedy Special Friday
04/21 - COZI TV Acquires Two and a Half Men and Hangin' with Mr. Cooper This May; Deli Boys Season 2 First Look
04/20 - Pluto TV Spring Slate Includes My Wife and Kids; Hulu Adding Podcasts with New Girl, Prison Break and This Is Us Stars
04/19 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of April 20, 2026)
04/18 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Law & Order: Organized Crime Ending After Five Seasons; Price Is Right to Get Live Primetime Episode in December
04/17 - Great Entertainment Television Acquires Community; Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Stars Reuniting
04/16 - CBS Fall 2026-27 Schedule; The White Lotus Season 4 Filming Commences
04/15 - Audible Series with Kevin Hart This Father's Day; Pop Culture Jeopardy! Returns May 11
04/14 - Peacock Renews The 'Burbs; ABC's Drama Hits Get 2026-27 Renewals
04/13 - FETV Acquires Car 54, Where Are You?; Hacks Events Ahead of Final Season