Wednesday, April 09, 2014
The CW Schedules Sitcom This Summer from Online World; NBC's Comedy Playground Initiative: You Decide The Next Sitcom
A digital sitcom goes to TV. In a first for the network's digital studio, CW Seed, the original digital series Backpackers will make the jump from online-only to the broadcast network, with brand new original episodes of Backpackers set to premiere on The CW Television Network this summer. Backpackers will premiere with ten original half-hour episodes on The CW Network later this summer, with a date and time to be announced at a later date. The first four episodes contain material previously released as digital episodes on CW Seed; the final six wholly original episodes will be specifically written and produced for The CW Network.
In Backpackers, best friends Ryan (Noah Reid) and Brandon (Dillon Casey, Nikita) race across Europe in search of Ryan's missing bride-to-be, while also struggling with the eternal twenty-something question of what to do with their lives. When Ryan's lost journal suddenly gets posted online and explodes across the internet, Ryan's life dream of becoming a published author becomes real - if only he can track down the jerk who stole the journal. With Brandon's slacker brother Andrew (Giacomo Gianniotti, Reign) in tow, they travel from Thailand to Canada in search of the missing journal, while also seeking the ultimate answers to life, love and partying. Backpackers is produced by Shaftesbury U.S. and Smokebomb Entertainment, Shaftesbury's award-winning digital media arm, in association with The CW Television Network. Developed for television and produced by Jay Bennett, Backpackers is executive produced by Maggie Murphy, Christina Jennings, Scott Garvie and Tom Mazza.
In an unprecedented effort to discover fresh comedic voices, NBC Entertainment President Jennifer Salke announced "NBC Comedy Playground," a grassroots initiative designed to invest in new cutting-edge comedy through a groundbreaking national campaign that offers aspiring comedy writers from across the country the opportunity to take their concepts from pitch to broadcast. An all-star comedy Advisory Board comprised of A-list talent, including Aziz Ansari, Jason Bateman, Robert Carlock, Sean Hayes, Mindy Kaling, Jason Katims, Josh Lieb, Eva Longoria, Adam McKay, Seth Meyers, Todd Milliner, Will Packer, Amy Poehler, Craig Robinson, Maya Rudolph, Mike Schur, Adam Scott and Mike Shoemaker will help the network ultimately select two winners to create original shows intended for telecast during summer 2015 on NBC. Through "NBC Comedy Playground," the network aims to uncover additional sources of talent and open the door for aspiring comedy writers - reaching beyond the traditional talent labs of film schools and NY/LA comedy clubs -- in a grassroots effort to find and nurture new creative voices and expand and enrich the traditional television development model.
Beginning May 1, aspiring comedy writers are asked to submit their ideas to be considered for both digital and network comedy shows. Entrants may submit up to two video samples (5-10 minutes each) of their pre-existing work, along with up to two video pitches (2-5 minutes per pitch), each describing a unique, original show idea, to www.nbccomedyplayground.com. The Official Rules, including all eligibility requirements, are available at www.nbccomedyplayground.com. Up to 10 finalists will be chosen by the NBC Selection Panel, and NBC will provide funding for each finalist to produce a full pilot presentation based on his/her original pitch. Two winners will be selected by the all-star comedy Advisory Board, in consultation with NBC. Each of the winners will have their show broadcast on NBC. The remaining finalist presentations that aren't selected will be posted to the "NBC Comedy Playground" website where the public will vote for their favorites - and the one receiving the most votes will then be developed as a digital show.
Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows
Tuesday, February 18
St. Denis Medical - "Buffalo Bruce and Matty the Kid" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
An emotional support animal is loose in the halls of St. Denis; Alex goes big for Serena's birthday to mixed results.
Night Court - "Pension Tension" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Abby is thrilled when Roz temporarily returns to her job as bailiff, but must make things right when Roz starts ruffling everyone's feathers; Dan co-opts Gurgs' assistant to help realize his dream of becoming a best-selling author.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of February 17)
Tuesday, February 18
- Joe Manganiello (How I Met Your Mother) - Catch Joe on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
- George Clooney (Roseanne/The Facts of Life/ E/R (1984-1985) - George is a guest on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
- Alan Ritchson (Blue Mountain State) - Alan appears on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
- Danny Pudi (Going Dutch/Mythic Quest/Powerless/Community), Jessie Ennis (Mythic Quest) and Ashly Burch (Final Space) - Danny, Jessie and Ashly are guests on After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
- Harry Hamlin (Movie Stars) - E! News has interviews with Harry and Lisa Rinna at 11pm on E!.
- Nicole Ari Parker (And Just Like That.../Second Time Around) - Nicole will be on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am and on CBS Mornings Plus in the 9am hour.
- F. Murray Abraham (Mythic Quest) - F. Murray talks about Beckett Briefs: From the Cradle to the Grave on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
- Connie Britton (SMILF/Lost at Home/The Fighting Fitzgeralds/Spin City) - Connie discusses Zero Day on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
- Halle Berry (Living Dolls - NBC's Today catches up with Halle sometime between 7-9am and in the 10am hour.
- Zachary Levi (Less Than Perfect/Telenovela) and Patricia Heaton (Carol's Second Act/The Middle/Back to You/Everybody Loves Raymond) - Zachary and Patricia talk about The Unbreakable Boy on NBC's Today in the 9am hour.
- Lizzy Caplan (Party Down/The Class/The Pitts) - NBC's Today catches up with Lizzy in the 10am hour.
- Mekki Leeper (St. Denis Medical/Jury Duty) - Mekki is chatting with Drew about the hit new comedy of the season, his stand up, how he met his girlfriend and more on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
- Luke Wilson (No Good Deed/Enlightened) - Luke is a guest on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
- Leighton Meester (Single Parents/Making History) - Leighton appears on PIX11 Morning News on WPIX in New York at 9:30am.
New on DVD and 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)
11/12 - The King of Queens - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (2024 Release)
11/19 - SpongeBob SquarePants - The Complete Fourteenth Season
11/26 - Looney Tunes Collector's Choice - Volume 4 (Blu-ray)
12/03 - Angel (1960-1961) - The Complete Series, Volume 1
12/17 - Seinfeld - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (4K UHD)
01/28 - Wait Till Your Father Gets Home - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/04 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
02/04 - The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series
More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD and Blu-ray Releases / TV Shows on DVD, Blu-ray and Prime Video / DVD Reviews Archive
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