ABC to Air Match Game, To Tell the Truth in January; Freeform Announces Casting for Indian Sitcom Pilot

Monday, November 21, 2016

ABC to Air Match Game, To Tell the Truth in January; Freeform Announces Casting for Indian Sitcom Pilot

Alec Baldwin and Anthony Anderson are returning for new episodes of their successful game shows, both produced by FremantleMedia North America, Match Game and To Tell the Truth. This summer's game-show darlings are warming up winter with an expanded list of celebrity guest panelists. The new episodes of Match Game begin on January 4, 2017, and To Tell the Truth on January 1, 2017. Both will be giving short winter breaks to ABC dramas like Designated Survivor and Once Upon a Time. Match Game returns for season two on Wednesday, January 4 at 10:00pm EST, with Golden Globe and Emmy Award-winning actor Alec Baldwin. The series features four contestants each week vying for the chance to win $25,000, as they attempt to match the answers of six celebrities in a game of fill-in-the-missing-blank. Celebrities for the new season are still to be announced, as tapings for the winter edition just wrapped a few weeks ago.

Two-time Emmy Award-nominee Anthony Anderson is back to host a second season of ABC's hit series To Tell the Truth, premiering Sunday, January 1 at 9:00pm EST and then on Sundays from 8:00-10:00pm EST, on the ABC Television Network. The game show is a clever and funny re-imagination of the beloved game show of the same name. In its second season the show will feature a new celebrity panel for each episode. In each round, the celebrity panel is presented with three people who all claim to be the same person with the same incredible talent, job or achievement. One is sworn to tell the truth while the others are not. Anderson's mother, Doris, is also part of the fun, returning as a commentator and bringing their playful family dynamic to the stage. Panelists for season two include Tom Bergeron, Lara Spencer, Rachel Platten, Ashley Graham, Craig Robinson, David Arquette, Cheryl Burke, Jalen Rose, Iliza Shlesinger and many more.

Both shows are expected to get a short winter run and then return in the summer with other ABC hit game shows such as Celebrity Family Feud and $100,000 Pyramid.

Hina Abdullah Punam Patel

Freeform announced the cast of scripted comedy pilot Brown Girls from writers Shilpi Roy and Nastaran Dibai. The pilot will go into production in early 2017. Hina Abdullah (The Last Ship, Young & Hungry) portrays Rimmi, a fashion-forward young woman, who's trying hard to ignore her heritage and launch her own makeup vlog. Told by her mother that she needs to connect with family friend Devi, Rimmi is put off by someone who seems to be her complete opposite. Punam Patel (Kevin From Work) stars as Devi, a traditional young woman who is new to LA. Confident, yet content with her traditional values, Devi reaches out to Rimmi upon arriving in town and is not impressed with Rimmi's quest for Internet fame. Additional cast for Brown Girls will be announced at a later date.

The pilot centers on the relationship between Rimmi, an Indian-American aspiring beauty vlogger, and Devi, a young woman who has recently emigrated from India. Brought together by family, Rimmi and Devi instantly clash over their different views on modern life and love while slowly realizing they both have something to learn from one another. Brown Girls is written by co-executive producer Shilpi Roy (Hipsterhood) and executive producer Nastaran Dibai (According to Jim), and is executive produced by Tracy Katsky, Aaron Kaplan and Dana Honor.

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Thursday, May 7

Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - "Little Schmoozin’ and a Nose for the News" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Georgie’s plan to get on the news sparks a feud between Mandy and a rival weathergirl. Meanwhile, Mandy tries to use the conflict to help her career.

Ghosts - "Gate-gate" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
When an emotion‑driven decision puts Woodstone at risk, Sam and Jay step up to defend what they’ve built. Meanwhile, Isaac struggles to adjust to new surroundings, only to realize that some connections are too important to leave behind.

Animal Control - "Roosters and Moles" / "Donkeys and Weasels" (Fox, 9:02PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Templeton is nominated for Animal Control officer of the year, Frank sets out to rescue 24 animals in 24 hours; Victoria and Patel try to find ways to replace pet food that was destroyed in a fire.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of May 4)

Thursday, May 7

Molly Gordon (The Bear/Ramy) - Catch Molly on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
John Krasinksi (The Office) - John appears on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Jenny Slate (The Great North/Big Mouth/Married/Bob's Burgers) - Jenny makes a special appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Lisa Kudrow (The Comeback/No Good Deed/HouseBroken/Web Therapy/Friends/Mad About You) - Lisa stops by Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC. She also talks about The Comeback on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Casey Wilson (The Righteous Gemstones/Black Monday/The Hotwives/Marry Me/Happy Endings) and Andrew Rannells (Girls/The New Normal) - Andy Cohen interviews Casey and Andrew on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 9pm on Bravo.
Garcelle Beauvais (The Other Black Girl/Survival of the Thickest/The Jamie Foxx Show/Merry Happy Whatever) - NBC's Today catches up with Garcelle in the 9am hour.
Julie Bowen (Modern Family/Ed) - NBC's Today catches up with Julie in the 10am hour.
Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/Cafe Americain/Sydney/One Day at a Time) - Valerie talks about Lifetime's Love, Again on NBC's Today in the 10am hour. She is covering the news sunny-side up with Drew and Ross on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Kellee Stewart (My Boys) - Kellee shares her fertility journey on Sherri, so check your local listings.
Regina Hall (Black Monday/Grandfathered/Married/Second Generation Wayans) - Regina tells Drew all about her action-packed film One Battle After Another on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Teri Hatcher (The Odd Couple/Sunday Dinner/Karen's Song/The Love Boat) - Teri is whipping up a delicious meal in the kitchen with her Desperately Devoted Podcast Co-Hosts onscreen daughter Andrea Bowen and real-life daughter Emerson Tenney on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Fabrizio Guido (Running Point) - Fabrizio talks about Netflix's Running Point on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
Jessica Hecht (Special/Red Oaks/What About Joan?/The Single Guy) - Jessica is a guest on New York Living on WPIX in New York at 10:05am.