Thursday, December 01, 2016

CBS Midseason 2017 Schedule; Remembering Grant Tinker

Ransom Doubt Training Day

CBS announced several winter and spring scheduling moves, including the series premieres of dramas Ransom, Training Day and Doubt. The Network will begin rolling out its new scripted programming on New Year's Day with the launch of Ransom, a crime drama about a world-renowned crisis and hostage negotiator whose team is brought in to resolve the most difficult kidnap and ransom cases. The new drama debuts on Sunday, Jan. 1 after a football doubleheader, and moves to its regular Saturday time period of 8:00PM ET/PT on Jan. 7. Luke Roberts, Sarah Greene, Brandon Jay McLaren and Nazneen Contractor star. CBS will launch two dramas in February, beginning with Training Day, premiering Thursday, Feb. 2 at 10:00PM, ET/PT after freshman drama Pure Genius completes its season order. The series is a crime thriller starring Bill Paxton and Justin Cornwell that begins 15 years after the events of the feature film, about a young, idealistic police officer who is tapped to go undercover in an elite squad of the LAPD where he partners with a morally ambiguous veteran detective. Katrina Law, Drew Van Acker, Lex Scott Davis, Julie Benz, Christina Vidal and Marianne Jean-Baptiste also star.

Doubt will premiere Wednesday, Feb. 15 at 10:00 PM ET/PT following the season finale of Code Black the week prior. The new drama stars Katherine Heigl as a brilliant attorney at a boutique firm who starts to fall for her charismatic client, an altruistic pediatric surgeon recently accused of murdering his girlfriend 24 years ago. Dulé Hill, Steven Pasquale, Elliott Gould, Dreama Walker, Laverne Cox and Kobi Libii also star. As previously announced, the new competition series Hunted premieres Sunday, Jan. 22, immediately following the NFL's AFC Championship game (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/7:00-8:00 PM, PT - time is approximate after post-game coverage). The series moves to Wednesdays on Jan. 25 with a special two-hour episode, 8:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT, and then in its regular 8:00PM ET/PT slot in subsequent weeks. Also, in the second half of the year, the eighth season of two-time Emmy Award-winning alternative series Undercover Boss will premiere with a special two-hour episode on Wednesday, Dec. 21 from 8:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT. It moves to Wednesdays at 8:00PM ET/PT) on Dec. 28, until the time period premiere of Hunted on Jan 25. The next season of Survivor debuts with a two-hour premiere on Wednesday, March 8 from 8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT, one week after the conclusion of Hunted. The series moves to its regular Wednesday at 8:00 PM ET/PT) time period on March 15. The reality series The Amazing Race returns on Friday, April 21 from 8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT, with a two-hour premiere one week after the season finale of MacGyver the week prior, then moving to its regular Friday at 8:00-PM ET/PT time period on April 28. The premieres of new comedy Superior Donuts and sophomore drama Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders will be announced at a later date.


Grant Tinker

Television producer and executive Grant Tinker, who served as Chairman and CEO of NBC from 1981 to 1986, has died. He died at his Los Angeles, California home on November 28. Mr. Tinker was 90.

Tinker married actress Mary Tyler Moore in 1962. They formed the television production company MTM Enterprises in 1969. Tinker hired James L. Brooks and Allan Burns to create and produce the company's first television series, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, in 1970. MTM produced hit series such as Rhoda, The Bob Newhart Show, Lou Grant, The White Shadow, WKRP in Cincinnati, Hill Street Blues and St. Elsewhere. Tinker left the company in 1981 after his divorce from Moore.

He became the Chairman and CEO of NBC in 1981. NBC was in last place in the ratings at the time. During his tenure from 1981 to 1986, NBC developed hits like The Cosby Show, Family Ties, The Golden Girls, Cheers, Night Court and Hill Street Blues.

He later formed GTG Entertainment (Grant Tinker-Gannett). They produced the syndicated newsmagazine USA Today: The Television Show and the CBS dramas TV 101 and WIOU.

Tinker was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 1997. He received a personal Peabody Award "for recognizing, protecting, and fostering creativity of the highest order" in 2004.

The Archive of American Television conducted an extensive interview with him in 1998.

Survivors include his wife, Brooke Knapp; his sons, Mark, John and Michael; his daughter, Jodie DiLella; his sister, Joan Swift; 10 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren. Mark and John Tinker work as television producers, directors and writers.

Mr. Tinker was a TV giant. He made NBC a ratings powerhouse in the 1980s. We thank him for the many great sitcoms he brought us during his career. He will be greatly missed.


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Friday, August 1

Happy's Place - "Ladies Night'" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
After Gabby's latest heartbreak, Bobbie and Isabella throw a Ladies' Night at the tavern to show Gabby she doesn't need a man to be happy, but things don't go as planned; Steve and Takoda tease Emmett about his sudden interest in dating apps.

Happy's Place - "Tapped Out" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Isabella starts trying to make changes to the tavern, Bobbie worries that this new partnership may not work out; Bobbie offers to take Isabella under her wing so she can learn about the tavern, but Happy's lawyer fumbles Bobbie's plan.

Electric Bloom - "How to (Not) Make a Music Video" (Disney Channel, 8:00PM ET/PT)
While planning Electric Bloom's first music video, Jade and Posey overlook Tulip as a potential leader of the band, causing her alter ego 'Trixie' to emerge and wreak havoc.

Electric Bloom - "How We Danced the Night Away" (Disney Channel, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Posey, Jade, and Tulip's pact to not let a boy come between them is tested when it comes to finding dates for the school dance.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of July 28)

Friday, August 1

  • Chris Distefano (Benders) - Chris guest hosts a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Julie Bowen (Modern Family/Ed) - Watch Julie on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Owen Wilson (Stick) - Owen takes "The Colbert Questionert" on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
  • Mary Beth Barone (Overcompensating) - Mary appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Thomas Lennon (The Odd Couple/Sean Saves the World/Reno 911!) - Thomas is a guest on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Pamela Anderson (Stacked/Home Improvement) - Pamela talks about The Naked Gun on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
  • Nicole Ari Parker (And Just Like That.../Second Time Around) - NBC's Today catches up with Nicole in the 10am hour.
  • Sheryl Lee Ralph (Abbott Elementary/Fam/Instant Mom/Moesha/It's a Living) - Sheryl and her husband, Pennsylvania State Senator Vincent Hughes, sit down for an EXCLUSIVE conversation about their choice to live in separate cities, which set off the internet on a repeat of Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
  • Brooke Shields (Suddenly Susan) - Brooke is sharing the secrets behind her shiny and bouncy hair and why she decided to create he own haircare line in her 50s on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
  • Michael Jai White (Tyler Perry's For Better or Worse) - Michael is a guest on a repeat of Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.


New on DVD and Blu-ray

The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series Frasier (2023) - Season Two Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* (missing 4 episodes and some music has been replaced or altered) Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)

01/28 - Wait Till Your Father Gets Home - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/04 - The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series
03/11 - Frasier (2023) - Season Two
04/01 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season
05/13 - The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* (missing 4 episodes and some music has been replaced or altered)
06/06 - Shoresy - Season 2
06/17 - Looney Tunes - Collector's Vault - Volume 1 (Blu-ray)
07/22 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)

More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD and Blu-ray Releases / TV Shows on DVD, Blu-ray and Prime Video / DVD Reviews Archive


Recent SitcomsOnline.com News Blog Posts

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07/31 - Solar Opposites Final Season on Hulu; Snoopy Presents: A Summer Musical
07/30 - FETV Acquires The Jeffersons, Uncut; BET+ Comedy Churchy Returns August 21, BET Greenlights Sketch Comedy Series
07/29 - NBC Fall 2025 Premiere Dates; Fox Fall 2025 Premiere Dates
07/28 - Events Planned for The Golden Girls 40th Anniversary; Family Guy Holiday Specials Return to Hulu
07/27 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of July 28, 2025)
07/26 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Paramount/Skydance Merger Approved; CBS Orders New Comedy From Producers of Ghosts
07/25 - TV One Honors Malcolm-Jamal Warner; Comedy Central Season 3 of Mike Judge's Beavis and Butt-Head; Remembering Kenneth Washington of Hogan's Heroes
07/24 - Only Murders in the Building Season 5 Premieres September 9; Apple TV+ Stick Renewed for Season 2
07/23 - Apple TV+ Ted Lasso Season 4 Details; NBC Orders Stumble to Series
07/22 - Remembering Malcolm-Jamal Warner of The Cosby Show and Malcolm & Eddie; Futurama Season 13 Drops September 15
07/21 - Hallmark Channel Acquires Gilmore Girls; Freida Pinto to Star in Netflix Series
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07/19 - SitcomsOnline Digest: CBS Cancels The Late Show; Gilmore Girls Headed to Hallmark
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07/16 - Antenna TV's Still Dreaming of Jeannie 60th Anniversary Marathon; 77th Primetime Emmy Nominations
07/15 - Shark Tank Season 17 Guest Sharks; Tubi YA Comedy Film with Paris Berelc
07/14 - CBS Fall 2025 Premiere Dates; HBO and Larry David Team Up Again
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07/11 - The Office Spinoff The Paper Premieres September 4; Upload Season 4 Returns August 25
07/10 - The Big Bang Theory's Stuart Spinoff Ordered by HBO Max; Long Story Short Premieres August 22 on Netflix
07/09 - New Girl Summer on Hulu; Vir Das Gets Brand New Netflix Special
07/08 - Tubi Comedy Series Demascus Premieres in August; LEGO Masters Jr. Lines Up Celebs for 4-Week Event
07/07 - Digman! Season Premiere Moved to July 23; Hulu's Reasonable Doubt Returns September 18
07/06 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of July 7, 2025)
07/05 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Comedy Central Delays South Park and Digman! Season Premieres; Jackée to Appear in Guest Role in Netflix Series
07/04 - Happy 4th of July; Antenna TV's McHale's Navy Red, White and Navy Independence Day Marathon
07/03 - The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder Season 3 Premieres August 6; South Park New Season Moves by Two Weeks
07/02 - FETV Acquires The Rookies; Hulu Renews The Bear for Season 5
07/01 - Bert Kreischer Gets Netflix Sitcom; NBC Gets Into Survival Mode This Summer