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

Sunday, July 25

Where Have All the Theme Songs Gone? (CNN, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Don Lemon reviews the most popular TV theme songs in history with Gary Portnoy of "Cheers", Christopher Knight from "The Brady Bunch", Fran Drescher from "The Nanny", and composer Kurt Farquhar.

History of the Sitcom - "Working for Laughs" (CNN, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Work families can be even funnier than our biological ones, since the endless array of wacky sitcom characters on the job offers hilarious insights into the state of the American workplace.

Duncanville - "Crimes and Misters Demean Her" (Fox, 7:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Jack coaches Jing's little league soccer team, but when he feels he's too easy on the kids he calls on Duncan to yell at the team to get them to win; Annie takes Kimberly to work with her after she has a falling out with her friends.

HouseBroken - "Who's Going to the Vet?" (Fox, 7:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
After Chief eats Jill's vibrator, he's taken to the vet and ends up leading his own version of group therapy; Tabitha goes to live with The Gray One and learns she has to sing and dance if she wants to survive.

The Simpsons - "The 7 Beer Itch" (Fox, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Marge and the kids take a seaside vacation, Homer is unwittingly tempted by a British femme fatale.

The Great North - "My Fart Will Go on Adventure" (Fox, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
While the family prepares for Wolf and Honeybee's wedding, an unexpected guest RSVPs.

Bob's Burgers - "Y Tu Tina También" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Tina is forced to listen to Spanish audio lessons in the library to improve her grade, she develops an unexpected crush; Louise and Gene want to dunk Mr. Frond at the Wagstaff Spring Fair.

Family Guy - "The Marrying Kind" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Stewie gets a mail order bride and experiences domestic life; Peter and Chris become addicted to free hotel breakfast buffets.

Wellington Paranormal - "She-Wolf" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Officers O'Leary and Minogue investigate what they believe are dog attacks, but stumble upon something more mysterious.

Dead Pixels - "The Chair" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Alison becomes concerned over Meg's physical downturn and tries to sway her to a healthier regime; everyone worries about Nicky.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of July 19)

Friday, July 23

Wanda Sykes (The Upshaws/The New Adventures of Old Christine/Wanda at Large) - Wanda guest hosts a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Kim Fields (The Upshaws/Living Single/The Facts of Life/Baby, I'm Back) - Watch Kim on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Jason Sudeikis (Ted Lasso/Son of Zorn/The Cleveland Show) - Jason will be on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Christine Baranski (Happy Family/Welcome to New York/Cybill) - Christine appears on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Minnie Driver (Speechless/About a Boy) - Minnie is a guest on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Sarah Levy (Schitt's Creek) - Sarah appears on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
Leah Remini (Kevin Can Wait/The Exes/Family Tools/The King of Queens) - Leah is a guest on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.