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

Wednesday, April 14

The Goldbergs - "Who's Afraid of Bree Bea?" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
After realizing there may be trouble in lovers’ paradise for Erica and Geoff, Beverly involves herself in their relationship as well as Barry and Joanne’s to make sure everyone stays together. Meanwhile, Adam and Brea are cast opposite of each other in the school play, but their excitement for one another’s success grows dim when one starts to outshine the other onstage.

Home Economics - "Mermaid Taffeta Wedding Dress, $1,999" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
The Hayworth family is invited to the wedding of longtime family friend Spags. When Connor enlists Tom’s help to write and re-write a wedding toast, things take an unexpected turn between the brothers. Sarah realizes Denise is upset they never had a real wedding, while Marina meticulously plans her drinking schedule for a night out without the kids.

The Conners - "Regrets, Rehabs and Realtors" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Dan encounters a surprise visitor who shares some unsolicited advice, leaving him feeling guilty. Meanwhile, Darlene welcomes a new employee to Wellman Plastics.

Call Your Mother - "The Prime of Miss Jean Raines" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Before Sharon leaves town, she and Jean decide to plan a trip to Vegas. Meanwhile, Celia and Freddie have a serious conversation about whether or not they want kids.

United States of Al - "Pilot" (CBS, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Marine veteran Riley, home at last after serving in Afghanistan, is happily reunited with his friend Awalmir, who goes by Al, the interpreter with his unit, after a long struggle to get him a visa to travel to the United States from Afghanistan.

United States of Al - "Repair/Tarmim" (CBS, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Al uses his skills as a translator to try and repair the tense relationship between Riley and his estranged wife, Vanessa. Also, Lizzie is heartbroken when she is at a party and loses her late fiancé’s dog tags.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of April 12)

Wednesday, April 14

Terry Crews (Brooklyn Nine-Nine/Are We There Yet?/Everybody Hates Chris) - Watch Terry on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Allison Janney (Mom/Mr. Sunshine) - Allison appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Mary Lynn Rajskub (How to Be a Gentleman/Veronica's Closet/The Larry Sanders Show) - Mary is a guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Margaret Cho (All-Americna Girl) - Margaret will be on A Little Late with Lilly Singh at 1:35am on NBC.
Topher Grace (Home Economics/That '70s Show) - Topher chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Dylan McDermott (No Activity/LA to Vegas) - Dylan appears on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
Jonh Corbett (Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll/United States of Tara) - John talks about Rebel on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
Jason Biggs (Outmatched/Mad Love/Drexell's Class) - Jason will be on a repeat of The Wendy Williams Show, so check your local listings.
Kyra Sedgwick (Call Your Mother) - Kyra appears on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Emma Kenney (The Conners/Roseanne) - Emma talks about Shameless on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
Nicole Byer (Loosely Exactly Nicole) - Nicole talks about Netflix's Nailed It and TBS' Wipeout on Access Daily, so check your local listings.