Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Pivot Acquires Buffy, Veronica Mars; TV Guide's Annual Cheers & Jeers Issue, Kerry Washington and Mark Burnett Top Lists

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Pivot (which launched Aug. 1), Participant Media's TV network targeting Millennials (18-34), announced it has acquired all episodes of scripted series Buffy the Vampire Slayer (20th Century Fox) and Veronica Mars (Warner Bros.). These critically acclaimed shows have resonated with audiences around the world and are widely lauded for their positive portrayal of women and universal themes. They will join the programming roster as a "Buffy and Veronica Power Hours" block, celebrating the iconic, smart and powerful women at the center of each show. The block will feature back-to-back episodes Mondays through Fridays at 10:00PM ET/9:00PM CT and 11:00PM ET/10:00PM CT beginning January 13, 2014 joining other series on the schedule like Friday Night Lights and Farscape. Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated series, which ran for six seasons from 1997-2003 with 144 episodes, stars Sarah Michelle Gellar as Buffy Summers. Chosen to battle vampires, demons and other forces of darkness, Buffy is aided by a Watcher who guides and teaches her as she surrounds herself with a circle of friends called the "Scooby Gang." The series was created by Joss Whedon, under Mutant Enemy Productions, and with later with co-executive producers Jane Espenson, David Fury, David Greenwalt, Doug Petrie, Marti Noxon and David Solomon.

Veronica Mars

The award-winning series Veronica Mars, which aired from 2004-2007 with 64 episodes, stars Kristen Bell as a student who progresses from high school to college while moonlighting as a private investigator under the tutelage of her detective father. In each episode, Veronica solves a different stand-alone case while working to solve a more complex mystery. The series will be made into a feature movie and will be out soon. The Kickstarter campaign for the Veronica Mars movie raised $5.5 million from more than 90,000 contributors. The series was created by award-winning screenwriter Rob Thomas; produced by Warner Bros. Television, Silver Pictures Television, Stu Segall Productions, Inc. and Rob Thomas Productions. Stay with us for continued updates on both series and Pivot in general.


TV Guide Cheers & Jeers Issue

TV Guide Magazine highlights the highs and lows of television in the annual year-end "Cheers & Jeers" issue, which hits newsstands tomorrow (December 19). The 2013 cover and calendar insert were designed by iconic artist Peter Max, who has shared a 4-decade long relationship with TV Guide Magazine. The cover reflects the vibrancy and style for which Max is famous, adorned by television's most recognizable faces. Max also designed TV Guide Magazine covers in 1988, 1992 and 2001. TV Guide Magazine introduces two new and exciting distinctions in the year-end edition: TV Star of the Year, awarded to Scandal star Kerry Washington and Producer of the Year, awarded to Mark Burnett, whose hit series The Voice drew top ratings in 2013. Washington received Emmy, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild nominations for her role as Olivia Pope, making 2013 a break out year for the actress. Burnett's Survivor was just renewed for seasons 29 and 30. His epic 10-part miniseries The Bible drew 13.1 million viewers for History Channel and Friday night staple Shark Tank regularly wins the night in the ratings.

In a year of amazing TV moments from Breaking Bad's series finale to Miley Cyrus' antics at the VMAs to Michael Douglas as Liberace in Behind the Candelabra, TV Guide Magazine's Cheers & Jeers covered it all. As a salute to the best and worst of the year's television, Cheers & Jeers is one of the magazine's most popular annual editions. Always a fan favorite is Senior Critic Matt Roush's Top 10 shows of the year. This year Roush championed both old (Breaking Bad) and new (Orange is the New Black) in his list. 2013 also marked the 60th Anniversary of TV Guide Magazine. To celebrate, special "Top 60" lists have been published throughout the year. As a final nod to this milestone anniversary, TV Guide Magazine editors ranked the 60 Best TV Series of all time, with HBO's The Sopranos coming in at #1. Seinfeld sits in second place. I Love Lucy, All in the Family, The Twilight Zone, The Wire, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, M*A*S*H*, Breaking Bad and The Simpsons round out the top 10.


Sitcoms Airing Tonight

Sunday, June 4

The Simpsons - "My Life as a Vlog" (Fox, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Through a series of YouTube recommended videos, the story of the rise and fall of the Simpson family vlog is revealed.

Family Guy - "Oscars Guy" (Fox, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
The Griffins perform a retelling of three Oscar-winning stories: "Silence of the Lambs," "American Beauty" and "Forrest Gump."

HouseBroken - "Who's Nocturnal?" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT)
After Honey loses a clutch of baby possums she is supposed to be caring for, she and The Gray One set out to find them; Shel and Nibbles try to apprehend a critter that has been pooping on Shel's shell at night; Diablo gets abducted by an owl.

HouseBroken - "Who's Married?" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT)
A new playmate upends Honey and Chief's relationship; Tabitha helps Chico find the perfect anniversary gift for Kevin; Nibbles goes searching for her special someone.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of May 29)

Saturday, June 3

  • Ronald Gladden (Jury Duty) - Ronald can be heard on SiriusXM's Ben +1 at 9am.


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

Cheers - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) Gimme a Break! - The Complete Series (VEI) Kate & Allie - The Complete Series (VEI) Mayberry R.F.D. - The Complete Series Night Court (1984-1992) - The Complete Series

01/03 - Andy Richter Controls the Universe - The Complete Series (2023 Release)
01/27 - Master of None - Season Three / The Complete Series
02/21 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Complete Season Nine / The Complete Season Ten
02/28 - Growing Pains - The Complete Series
03/28 - Rick and Morty - Season 8 (Blu-ray) (DVD)
04/04 - South Park - The Complete Twenty-Fifth Season (Blu-ray) (DVD)
04/18 - Blondie - The Complete 1957 Television Series (Blu-ray)
04/25 - Cheers - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
05/23 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Complete Season Eleven / The Complete Season Twelve
05/23 - Go On - The Complete Series
05/23 - Kate & Allie - The Complete Series (Universal)
05/29 - Gimme a Break! - The Complete Series (VEI)
05/29 - Kate & Allie - The Complete Series (VEI)
05/30 - Looney Tunes Collector's Choice - Volume 1 (Blu-ray)
06/13 - Mayberry R.F.D. - The Complete Series
06/13 - Night Court (1984-1992) - The Complete Series
More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD Releases / DVD Reviews Archive / SitcomsOnline Digest


Recent SitcomsOnline.com News Blog Posts

06/03 - SitcomsOnline Digest: ABC Declares Rating Victories for 22-23 Season; Australian Version of The Office in the Works
06/02 - HBO Renews Somebody Somewhere for a Third Season; Remembering Marlene Clark of Sanford and Son and Other Sitcom Stars We Recently Lost
06/01 - MeTV's Marry Me Block on June 4; TBS Sets Miracle Workers: End Times Premiere Date for July 10
05/31 - Amazon Freevee's Jury Duty Gets Special Release; Stars on Mars Fan Experience
05/30 - 75th Emmy Awards Nominations on July 12; Final Season of HBO's How to with John Wilson
05/29 - Memorial Day 2023 TV Sitcom Marathons
05/28 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of May 29, 2023)
05/27 - SitcomsOnline Digest: CBS Wins 2022-2023 Ratings Game; Netflix Ends Sharing of Passwords
05/26 - Prime Video Renews Priyanka Chopra Series; Sex and the City 25th Anniversary Event in NYC
05/25 - Brady Bunch House on the Market; The Family Stallone Gets 2nd Season
05/24 - Antenna TV's Father Knows Best Father's Day Fest Marathon; Netflix Gets Glamorous This June
05/23 - CBS Summer 2023 Reality Schedule; Apple TV+ Announces Peanuts Programming
05/22 - More Details on Zoey 102; New Lifetime Movie Series Coming July 8
05/21 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of May 22, 2023)
05/20 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Showtime Looking to Bring Back Two Old Favorites; Disney+ Removing Content
05/19 - Futurama Triumphantly Returns July 24; Final Season of Physical Drops August 2; Primo Premieres May 19 on Amazon Freevee
05/18 - The CW Upfront 2023-24: Fall 2023 Schedule; Netflix Upfront 2023
05/17 - Warner Bros. Discovery Upfront 2023; Sarah Silverman HBO Special Premieres May 27
05/16 - ABC Upfront 2023-24: Fall 2023 Schedule; FX's Summer 2023 Slate
05/15 - FOX Announces 2023-24 Programming Slate; iCarly Season 3 Premieres June 1
05/14 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of May 15, 2023)
05/13 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Night Court Season Finale Brings Back a Familiar Face; Comedy Central Renews Digman! for Second Season
05/12 - NBC Upfront 2023-24: Fall 2023 Schedule; Hulu Orders Deli Boys from Onyx Collective
05/11 - CBS Upfront 2023-24: Fall 2023 Schedule; The CW Summer Lineup Has Comedies
05/10 - Minx Returns in July on STARZ; Never Have I Ever Final Episodes Premieres June 8, Trailer Drops
05/09 - The CW Acquires Son of a Critch; FX's The Bear Returns June 22
05/08 - NBC's Hot Wheels Gets Celeb Judges; Zooey Deschanel's Max Series Premieres May 23
05/07 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of May 8, 2023)
05/06 - SitcomsOnline Digest: First Week of Writers' Strike Already Sees Early Casualties; Fox Cancels Call Me Kat
05/05 - BUZZR's Classic TV Moms Week; Fox's Stars on Mars Celebs Announced
05/04 - Dancing with the Stars Returning to ABC in Fall; Conan O'Brien Producing New Podcast Miniseries
05/03 - Roku 2023 NewFront; Peacock Schedules Kaley Cuoco Series