LAFF Acquires Empty Nest, Night Court, Drew Carey, Ellen & Grace Under Fire; CW's 3rd Season of Beauty and the Beast Starts in May, Picked Up for 4th Season

Monday, February 16, 2015

LAFF Acquires Empty Nest, Night Court, Drew Carey, Ellen & Grace Under Fire; CW's 3rd Season of Beauty and the Beast Starts in May, Picked Up for 4th Season

LAFF, the country's first-ever, over-the-air broadcast television network devoted to comedy around-the-clock set to launch on April 15, 2015, made the first in what-will-be a series of programming acquisition announcements, landing the broadcast television rights to more than 800 episodes of some of the most popular sitcoms in contemporary television. In the three individual, multi-year licensing agreements, LAFF licenses: all nine seasons of both The Drew Carey Show (233 episodes) and Night Court (193 episodes) from Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution. Two series from The Disney/ABC Television Group: Ellen DeGeneres' first sitcom Ellen (109 episodes) and all seven seasons of Empty Nest (170 episodes). And finally, Grace Under Fire (112 episodes) starring Brett Butler from Carsey-Werner Productions. LAFF will feature a mix of contemporary off-network sitcoms and popular theatrical motion pictures, with a target audience of adults 18-49. The LAFF brand will cross multiple platforms, with the linear network carried on the signals of local broadcast television stations and corresponding cable carriage while a selection of companion digital content will be available at LAFF.com and via the LAFF app.

The newly-announced LAFF already has two major distribution agreements in place. The ABC Owned Television Stations will carry LAFF in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Houston, Raleigh and Fresno. The E.W. Scripps Company will also launch LAFF on its stations in Detroit, Phoenix, Tampa, Denver, Cleveland, Indianapolis, Baltimore, San Diego, Kansas City, Cincinnati, West Palm Beach, Buffalo and Tulsa. These initial agreements will make LAFF available to more than 35% of the country, with more distribution additions expected to be announced shortly. Stay with us for continued updates, along with a launch schedule!

Beauty and the Beast

Moving on to some network news. The third season of fan favorite drama Beauty and the Beast will begin its 13-episode run on Thursday, May 21 at 8:00pm ET on The CW Network, following the conclusion of The Vampire Diaries season. In addition, The CW announced that Beauty and the Beast has also been renewed a fourth season, which will air later the 2015-2016 season. As season three begins, Cat (Kristin Kreuk) and Vincent (Jay Ryan) are able to focus on their love, finally free from Muirfield, manhunts and beasts.

Sitcoms Airing Tonight

Thursday, June 30

Young Sheldon - "A Pink Cadillac and a Glorious Tribal Dance" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Sheldon attends his first comic book convention; Mary tries selling makeup.

United States of Al - "Punch / Musht" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Hazel gets in trouble at school, Riley and Vanessa disagree on how to handle the issue.

Ghosts - "Farnsby & B" (CBS, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
As Sam and Jay await the arrival of their first official bed-and-breakfast guests, they face obstacles triggered by a Norse curse placed upon them by Thorfinn; Isaac takes a huge, centuries-in-the-making step in his personal life.

B Positive - "Payroll, a Waterwall and Valley Forge" (CBS, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Gina struggles to keep Valley Hills running smoothly after Mrs. Ludlum quits and starts work at a rival assisted living facility. Also, Drew wonders whether he should go on another road trip adventure or stay close to Gina.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of June 27)

Thursday, June 30

Chelsea Handler (Are You There, Chelsea?) - Chelsea guest hosts Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Craig Robinson (Killing It/Ghosted/Mr. Robinson/The Office) - Craig chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Jim Carrey (Kidding/The Duck Factory) - Jim appears on a repeat of The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
Idris Elba (Turn Up Charlie) - Idris will be on a repeat of The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
The Jonas Brothers (Jonas) - The Jonas Brothers are guests on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
Dakota Johnson (Ben and Kate) - Dakota appears on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Kym Whitley (Young & Hungry/Animal Practice/Sparks) and Finesse Mitchell (Outmatched/A.N.T. Farm) - Kym and Finesse guest co-host a repeat of The Wendy Williams Show, so check your local listings.
Cedric the Entertainer (The Neighborhood/The O.G./The Soul Man/The Steve Harvey Show) - Cedric is a guest on a repeat of The Wendy Williams Show, so check your local listings.
Jason Biggs (Outmatched/Mad Love/Drexell's Class) - Jason appears on a repeat of Rachael Ray, so check your local listings.
Selena Gomez (Only Murders in the Building/Wizards of Waverly Place) - Selena is a guest on E!'s Daily Pop at 11am.
Steve Carell (Space Force/The Office/Come to Papa/Watching Ellie) - Steve appears on E!'s Daily Pop at 11am.
Michelle Buteau (Enlisted/China, IL) - Michelle will be on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
Cristela Alonzo (Cristela) - Cristela talks about Netflix's Middle Classy on Access Daily, so check your local listings.
Page Kennedy (Blue Mountain State) - Page is a guest on PIX11 Morning News on WPIX in New York at 9:40am.
Marsai Martin (black-ish) - Marsai talks about executive producing Saturdays on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.