Thursday, December 01, 2016
CBS Midseason 2017 Schedule; Remembering Grant Tinker
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.
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
Wednesday, March 26
The Conners - "It's Gonna Be a Great Day" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Darlene celebrates her promotion, hoping it will allow her to spend more time with Ben. Meanwhile, Jackie stumbles upon an opportunity to sue the pharmaceutical company responsible for Roseanne’s addiction, which sparks a family debate.
Abbott Elementary - "Music Class" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Barbara and Gregory are in over their heads when they find themselves in new roles at Abbott Elementary.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of March 24)
Wednesday, March 26
- Seth Rogen (The Studio/Platonic/Undeclared) - Watch Seth on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
- Kaitlin Olson (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia/The Mick) - Kaitlin appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Anna Camp (Perfect Harmony/Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt/The Mindy Project) and Milana Vayntrub (Other Space) - Anna and Milana are guests on After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
- Ronny Chieng (Young Rock/Ronny Chieng: International Student) - Ronny hosts Comedy Central's The Daily Show at 11pm.
- Steve Coogan (Happyish) - Steve appears on Comedy Central's The Daily Show at 11pm.
- Lunell (Lopez), Pete Davidson (Bupkis) and Henry Winkler (Barry/Arrested Development/Out of Practice/Monty/Happy Days) - Luenell, Pete and Henry are guests on Everybody's Live with John Mulaney at 10pm on Netflix.
- Michelle Buteau (Survival of the Thickest/Bless the Harts/Enlisted) - Michelle talks about Survival of the Thickest on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
- Krysten Ritter (Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23) - Tamron Hall has a DAYTIME EXCLUSIVE sitdown with actress/director/author Krysten Ritter who recently released her new thriller/mystery novel Retreat, so check your local listings.
- Chase Sui Wonders (The Studio/Bupkis) - Chase talks about The Studio on ABC News Live Prime with Linsey Davis at 7pm.
- Kathryn Hahn (The Studio/Tiny Beautiful Things/Central Park/Happyish/Transparent/Free Agents) - NBC's Today catches up with Kathryn in the 9am hour.
- Eva Longoria (Only Murders in the Building/Telenovela) - Eva talks about Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Road Trip on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
New on DVD and Blu-ray
11/05 - I Love Lucy - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
11/12 - The King of Queens - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (2024 Release)
11/19 - SpongeBob SquarePants - The Complete Fourteenth Season
11/26 - Looney Tunes Collector's Choice - Volume 4 (Blu-ray)
12/03 - Angel (1960-1961) - The Complete Series, Volume 1
12/17 - Seinfeld - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (4K UHD)
01/28 - Wait Till Your Father Gets Home - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/04 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
02/04 - The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series
03/11 - Frasier (2023) - Season Two
04/01 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season
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