Thursday, September 15, 2016
truTV Comedy Series Coming in 2017; FX's Atlanta Has Solid Start
truTV, a division of Turner, has greenlit the Andrea Savage-helmed comedy, I'm Sorry. Created by and starring Savage (Veep, Episodes, Sleeping with Other People), the half-hour series follows seemingly confident, together comedy writer, wife and mom Andrea (played by Savage), who comically exposes her inner immaturity and neuroses through unexpected life situations. Joining Savage in this 10-episode first season order are series regulars Tom Everett Scott (Southland) as Andrea's more straitlaced husband Mike and newcomer Olive Petrucci as Andrea and Mike's inquisitive daughter Amelia. I'm Sorry is set to launch on truTV in 2017 and will feature a supporting cast of characters that round out the various facets of Andrea's world, such as Jason Mantzoukas (The House, The League), Judy Greer (Arrested Development) and June Squibb (Nebraska) in guest-starring roles in the series' first episode. This greenlight marks truTV's third scripted comedy series, following Those Who Can't, the half-hour comedy starring the comedy troupe The Grawlix as trouble-making high school teachers, and the recently-announced comedy anthology series Bobcat Goldthwait's Messed Up Stories which will premiere on truTV in 2017.
Atlanta, the acclaimed new comedy series created by and starring Donald Glover, scored the best audience of any basic cable primetime scripted comedy in over three years in the key 18-49 demographic. On a Live+3 basis, the total audience delivery for the series premiere telecast and encore airings was 3 million Total Viewers and 1.9 million Adults 18-49. The premiere telecast (Tuesday, September 6, 2016; 10PM-10:35PM) was basic cable's most-watched scripted primetime comedy debut in Adults 18-49 (1.2 million) since the April 2013 series premiere of Inside Amy Schumer (Comedy Central). In Total Viewers, Atlanta was basic cable's second most-watched scripted primetime comedy series premiere in the last two years (1.8 million), behind only Wrecked (TBS) earlier this year. The premiere telecast was followed immediately by the second episode, which held 90% of Total Viewers (1.6 million) and 92% of Adults 18-49 (1.1 million).
Among FX Networks series, Atlanta is FX's most-watched original comedy series premiere in both Adults 18-49 and Total Viewers since Wilfred's premiere in June 2011. The Live+3 lift of the series premiere of Atlanta in Adults 18-49 (72%) and Total Viewers (68%) was one of the highest among FX comedy series premieres, behind Baskets in Adults 18-49 (80%) and Total Viewers (69%). In January, the series premiere of the FX comedy series Baskets was the most-watched basic cable primetime comedy series premiere since 2014 in both Adults 18-49 and Total Viewers on a Live+3 basis. In Atlanta, two cousins work through the Atlanta music scene in order to better their lives and the lives of their families. "Earn Marks" (Donald Glover) is a young manager trying to get his cousin's career off the ground. "Alfred Miles" (Brian Tyree Henry) is a new hot rapper trying to understand the line between real life and street life. "Darius" (Lakeith Lee Stanfield) is Alfred's right-hand man and visionary. "Van" (Zazie Beetz) is Earn's best friend and the mother of Earn's daughter.
Sitcoms Airing Tonight
Friday, December 8
CBS announced the new entertainment special Norman Lear: A Life on Television, to air tonight - Friday, Dec. 8 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on demand for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers, or on demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the special airs). Presented by Entertainment Tonight, this one-hour special features new interviews with stars of the long-running comedies Lear created, including Jimmie Walker from Good Times and Mackenzie Phillips from One Day at a Time, in addition to never-before-seen interviews from the ET vault. Also included with this new footage and interviews is an in-depth sit-down interview with Lear that ET host Kevin Frazier conducted when Lear celebrated his 100th birthday, in which he reflected on his lengthy, groundbreaking career.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of December 4)
Friday, December 8
- Eddie Murphy (The PJs) - Watch Eddie on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Da'Vine Joy Randolph (Only Murders in the Building/High Fidelity/People of Earth/Selfie) - Da'Vine appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- John Caponera (The Good Life) - John is a guest on a repeat of Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen on CBS between 12:37-1:37am.
- Robert Smigel (Let's Be Real) - Triumph the Insult Comic Dog aka Robert Smigel chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
- Noah Galvin (The Real O'Neals) and Molly Gordon (Ramy) - Noah and Molly talk about Theater Camp on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am.
- Eric Stonestreet (The Santa Clauses/Modern Family) - Eric talks about The Santa Clauses on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
- Kenan Thompson (Kenan/Kenan & Kel) - Kenan sits down with Sherri to talk about his new book, When I Was Your Age, on Sherri, so check your local listings.
- Sebastian Maniscalco (Bookie) - Sebastian appears on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
New on DVD/Blu-ray (September-December)
09/05 - Young Sheldon - The Complete Sixth Season
09/12 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Second Season
09/12 - Rick and Morty - The Complete Seasons 1-6 (Blu-ray) (DVD)
09/26 - Family Matters - The Complete Series
09/26 - Step by Step - The Complete Series
10/10 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Complete Season Thirteen / The Complete Season Fourteen
10/17 - ALF - The Complete Series (Deluxe Edition) (Shout! Factory Special Offers)
10/17 - Night Court (2023) - The Complete First Season
11/07 - South Park - The Complete Twenty-Sixth Season (Blu-ray) (DVD)
11/14 - Leave it to Beaver - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
12/05 - Father Knows Best - The Complete Series
12/05 - The Odd Couple - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
12/12 - The Dick Van Dyke Show - The Complete Series
12/12 - Looney Tunes Collector's Choice - Volume 2 (Blu-ray)
12/12 - That Girl - The Complete Series
12/19 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Official Restored Complete Series
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