CBS Announces Scheduling Maneuvers; The Soul Man Gets New Showrunners and Sherri Shepherd

Wednesday, November 05, 2014

CBS Announces Scheduling Maneuvers; The Soul Man Gets New Showrunners and Sherri Shepherd

As part of a year-round strategy of more original programming and fewer repeats, CBS announced the season premiere dates of The Mentalist and Undercover Boss. Both programs will bridge the time periods between the fall finales and the spring premieres of Survivor and The Amazing Race. The seventh and final season of The Mentalist will premiere Sunday, Nov. 30 at approx. 9:30PM ET/9:00PM PT, where it will air new episodes for five weeks through December. When The Good Wife returns on Sunday, Jan. 4 at 9:00PM ET/PT, The Mentalist will shift to its regular Wednesday at 8:00PM ET/PT time slot on Jan. 7. The series will conclude with a special two-hour finale on Wednesday, Feb. 18 beginning at 8:00PM ET/PT. Like The Good Wife, new drama Madam Secretary will also return Sunday, Jan. 4 at 8:00PM ET/PT. As for Undercover Boss, the sixth season will begin with three special Sunday broadcasts, Dec. 14 at 8:00PM ET/PT and Dec. 21 & 28 at 8:30PM ET/8:00PM PT. On Jan. 2, it will move to its regular Friday at 8:00PM ET/PT time period thru Feb. 20. And finally, the spring cycles of Survivor (30th edition) and The Amazing Race will both premiere on Wednesday, Feb. 25, each with a special 90-minute episode from 8:00-9:30PM ET/PT and 9:30-11:00PM ET/PT, respectively. The Amazing Race will then move to its regular time period on Friday, Feb. 27 at 8:00PM ET/PT).

Sherri Shepherd and Cedric the Entertainer - The Soul Man

TV Land announced that season four of the network's hit sitcom The Soul Man, starring Cedric "The Entertainer" and Niecy Nash, will be helmed by Bill Martin and Mike Schiff, who hail from the hit comedies 3rd Rock From The Sun and Grounded for Life. Also new for the upcoming season of The Soul Man is the return of the lively and lovely comedienne Sherri Shepherd, who is back for 10 of the season's 12 episodes as Nikki, Boyce Ballentine's (Cedric) unpredictable cousin. Nikki, who was last seen hawking sex toys to the elder ladies of Boyce and Lolli's (Nash) church, always has some new business that’s causing trouble and wreaking havoc in the Ballentines' lives. The Soul Man is set to return to TV Land in 2015. The Soul Man follows R&B super-star-turned minister Reverend Boyce "The Voice" Ballentine after he relocated from Las Vegas to St. Louis with his wife Lolli. While they're always adjusting to their new modest life, they have plenty of obstacles in their way, including Boyce’s brother Stamps (Wesley Jonathan), who is only just beginning to grow up and get his own place...finally.

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Friday, November 22

Happy's Place - "Happy's House" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Bobbie agrees to take Isabella to Happy's house in search of a connection to their late father, leading Bobbie to worry about what they may find; Gabby hopes to strike it rich by searching through Happy's penny collection looking for a rarity.

Lopez vs Lopez - "Lopez vs Orlando" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
When Rosie's spoiled nephew Orlando visits, Mayan sets out to expose Rosie's cultural gender bias; George wants to teach Chance the value of hard work, but, instead, helps him create a toxic work environment.

Bob Hearts Abishola - "Whacking the Mole" (The CW, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
After Abishola has a romantic dream about Bob, she tries to suppress her feelings for him and pays the price.

Bob Hearts Abishola - "Ralph Lauren and Fish" (The CW, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Bob and Abishola finally go on a proper date, which is interrupted by Dottie's medical emergency.

Bob Hearts Abishola - "Tough Like a Laundromat Washing Machine" (The CW, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Bob hires Abishola to take care of Dottie in his home while she recovers; Dottie has a hard time dealing with her limitations and takes it out on Abishola.

Bob Hearts Abishola - "Useless Potheads" (The CW, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
With Abishola only helping part-time, Bob, Douglas and Christina struggle to take care of Dottie.

Wizards Beyond Waverly Place - "Wiz-Taken Identity" (Disney Channel, 8:00PM ET/PT)
When Billie struggles with a spell, Roman says he could do it if he was a wizard: to prove him wrong, Billie uses a Power Glass to transfer her powers to Roman.

Wizards Beyond Waverly Place - " Ain't Gnome Party Like a Wizard Party" (Disney Channel, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Justin embraces mortality to live with his family; his new challenge arises when Alex introduces Billie, a wizard-in-training, seeking Justin's mentorship.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of November 18)

Friday, November 22

Kerry Washington (UnPrisoned) - Watch Kerry on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Jimmy O. Yang (Interior Chinatown/Space Force/Silicon Valley) - Jimmy is a guest on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Ariana Grande (Sam & Cat/Victorious) - Ariana appears on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Andy Richter (Andy Barker, P.I./Quintuplets/Andy Richter Controls the Universe), Thomas Lennon (The Odd Couple/Sean Saves the World/Reno 911!) and Aparna Nancherla (Lopez vs Lopez/Search Party/Corporate) - Andy, Thomas and Aparna are guests on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
Keke Palmer (Scream Queens/True Jackson, VP) - Keke talks about her new book Master of Me: The Secret to Controlling Your Narrative on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Andrew Rannells (Girls/The New Normal) - Drew is joined by the hilarious Andrew to celebrate all things Thanksgiving on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Rosie Perez (Human Resources/Search Party) - Rosie tells Sherri about her new Apple TV+ psychological thriller Before on Sherri, so check your local listings.
Candace Cameron Bure (Fuller House/Full House) - Candace will be on New York Living on WPIX in New York at 10:15am.