Wednesday, January 11, 2017

TCA 2017 Winter Press Tour: ABC and Freeform, Includes ABC Mid-Season 2017 Schedule and Freeform Spring Premieres

ABC

ABC and Freeform were up yesterday at the TCA 2017 Winter Press Tour and lots of info was given. The ABC Television Network has announced midseason premiere dates for the mini-series When We Rise and series premiere dates for the one-hour drama Time After Time, half-hour comedy Imaginary Mary and the event movie Dirty Dancing, as well as returning series The Catch and American Crime, and the spring returns of Once Upon a Time and Designated Survivor. New comedy Downward Dog will premiere in Summer 2017. In addition, previously announced The Toy Box premieres Friday, April 7, 8:00-9:00 p.m. and TGIT returns Thursday, January 26. The full new dates are below:

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27 - THURSDAY, MARCH 2
9:00-11:00 p.m. When We Rise

SUNDAY, MARCH 5
8:00-9:00 p.m. Once Upon a Time
9:00-11:00 p.m. Time After Time (Two-Hour Premiere)

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8
10:00-11:00 p.m. Designated Survivor

THURSDAY, MARCH 9
10:00-11:00 p.m. The Catch (Season Two Premiere)

SUNDAY, MARCH 12
9:00-10:00 p.m. Time After Time (Time-Period Premiere)

SUNDAY, MARCH 12
10:00-11:00 p.m. American Crime (Season Three Premiere)

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29
8:30-9:00 p.m. Imaginary Mary (Sneak Peek)

TUESDAY, APRIL 4
9:30-10:00 p.m. Imaginary Mary (Time-Period Premiere)

WEDNESDAY, MAY 24
8:00-11:00 p.m. Dirty Dancing


Freeform

Freeform made some key announcements at TCA for its 2017 schedule with the series pickup of drama The Bold Type (formerly Issues); The Bachelor spin-off Happily Ever After? franchise returns and will feature fan favorite twins Emily and Haley Ferguson, premiering March 20; and a fifth season order for The Fosters, which will bring the show to a landmark 100 episodes. It was also announced that Freeform's original hit comedies Young & Hungry and Baby Daddy will return with all-new episodes on a new night - Monday, March 13. Inspired by the life of Joanna Coles, chief content officer of Hearst Magazines, the pilot The Bold Type (formerly Issues) has been picked up to series and is set to premiere in summer 2017. The Bachelor spin-off Happily Ever After? franchise franchise will continue with a new unscripted series, titled The Twins: Happily Ever After?, and will follow the fan favorite twins Emily and Haley Ferguson from Season 20 of The Bachelor and Season 3 of Bachelor in Paradise. The series will premiere on Monday, March 20, at 9:00 p.m. EDT, on Freeform.

Freeform's critically acclaimed family drama The Fosters has been greenlit for a fifth season, which will bring the series to the momentous 100-episode mark. The network will premiere all-new episodes from the fourth season on Tuesday, January 31, at 8:00 p.m. EST. Young & Hungry will premiere season five on Monday, March 13, at 8:00 p.m. EDT. In the fourth season finale, Gabi and Josh decided to be "friends with benefits," much to the group's chagrin, after their previous attempts at a relationship went awry. During the new season, Gabi and Josh try to prove to everyone that they won't let feelings get in the way of their new arrangement, Sofia continues on the path to a career in journalism, and Josh faces an unexpected reunion with his estranged father. Comedy legend Betty White guest stars this season as neighbor Ms. Wilson. The season six premiere of Baby Daddy will air on Monday, March 13, at 8:30 p.m. EDT. The premiere picks up three months after the finale, and Ben is still enthusiastically searching for the mysterious Elle. Danny and Riley are hunting for a good doctor to help with the pregnancy, and Bonnie desperately wants to be involved. Tucker is back from Los Angeles, but refuses to tell anyone what happened while he was there. The hit comedy series will reach the coveted milestone of 100 episodes during this season. And finally, in celebration of viewership that has gone above and "beyond," Freeform has given a second season order to its newest hit series Beyond. Tom Ascheim, president, Freeform, surprised the cast and executive producers with the announcement during their TCA panel in Pasadena, California. Beyond launched on January 2, and in a network first, Freeform rewarded its digital-savvy audience by making available its highly anticipated new drama for binge-viewing across key digital platforms, featuring reduced ad loads to enhance the viewing experience and drive higher ad engagement. In its first week alone, Beyond has already amassed over 14 million views, including 7.0 million across digital platforms and reaching an additional 7.2 million Total Viewers on linear TV.


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Sunday, January 25

Shifting Gears - "Dog" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Matt refuses to let Carter bring a dog into “his” house, Riley starts to wonder if it’s time for her and the kids to find their own place. Meanwhile, Gabe seeks Riley’s advice amid second thoughts about moving in with Amelie.

Shifting Gears - "Friend" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Matt’s reunion with a high school friend stirs up more than nostalgia when he meets their equally opinionated spouse. Meanwhile, Riley spirals when Klatch gets a negative Yelp review. Tuc Watkins, Jim Rash and Jesse Williams guest star.

Shifting Gears - "License" (ABC, 10:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When he finds out Carter’s getting driving lessons, Matt’s plan to prove he’s the better teacher hits a snag when he learns his license is expired. Meanwhile, Riley’s two worlds collide as she struggles to keep both her business and family afloat.

Shifting Gears - "Loyalty" (ABC, 10:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Matt’s dream build turns into a nightmare when controversy between Stitch and the client threatens to derail everything. Meanwhile, Riley hires Carter at her coffee business and quickly learns that working with family brews more tension than drinks.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of January 19)

Friday, January 23

  • Chris Pratt (Parks and Recreation) - Watch Chris on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Dulcé Sloan (The Great North) - Dulcé is a guest on a repeat of Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Michael Urie (Shrinking/Krapopolis/Partners) - Michael talks about Shrinking on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
  • Anthony Anderson (black-ish/Guys with Kids/All About the Andersons) - Anthony chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
  • Kim Fields (The Upshaws/Living Single/The Facts of Life/Baby, I'm Back) - Kim is back with the Tam Fam as she closes out a huge chapter as Regina Upshaw in Netflix's hit comedy The Upshaws on Tamron Hall, so check your local listings. She shares more about her next journey with her new global wellness brand “Refresh by KF” and guides the Tam Fam through a wellness exercise designed to help you slow down, reset and refocus.
  • Jennette McCurdy (Sam & Cat/iCarly) - Jennette tells Drew about her latest book Half Her Age on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.


New on DVD and Blu-ray

Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray) Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - The Complete First Season (DVD) St. Denis Medical - Season One (Blu-ray) Happy's Place - Season One (Blu-ray) Two and a Half Men - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)

07/22 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
08/26 - The Huckleberry Hound Show - The Complete Original Series (Blu-ray)
09/30 - Touché Turtle and Dum Dum - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
10/07 - Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - The Complete First Season (DVD)
10/14 - Curb Your Enthusiasm - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (DVD)
10/28 - St. Denis Medical - Season One (Blu-ray) (DVD)
11/04 - Happy's Place - Season One (Blu-ray) (DVD)
11/11 - Rick and Morty - Season 8 (Blu-ray) (DVD)
11/11 - SpongeBob SquarePants - The Complete Fifteenth Season (DVD)
11/11 - Two and a Half Men - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
12/02 - Tom and Jerry - The Golden Era Anthology (1940-1958) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
12/16 - Lippy the Lion and Hardy Har Har - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
12/16 - Wally Gator - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
01/20 - The Woody Woodpecker and Friends Golden Age Collection (Blu-ray)
01/27 - The New Fred and Barney Show - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/11 - Tom and Jerry - The Complete CinemaScope Collection (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

01/24 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Kenan and Kel Back Together for Upcoming Movie; Amazon Barbershop Series Adds to Cast
01/23 - CBS Renews 10 More Series for 2026-27; Shifting Gears and Abbott Elementary Return Big in January
01/22 - Dancing with the Stars Live Tour Starts TODAY; Beef Returns April 16
01/21 - Prime Video's Bait Premieres March 25; Production Underway for Season 2 of Arctic-set Comedy North of North
01/20 - Baywatch Casting Call for Reboot on Fox; Mike Epps Netflix Special Trailer
01/19 - MGM+ Comedy Series American Classic; Taylor Tomlinson Returns to Netflix
01/18 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of January 19, 2026)
01/17 - SitcomsOnline Digest: The Rockford Files Reboot at NBC; Daniel Stern Fired From ABC Comedy Pilot
01/16 - Ted Season 2 Trailer Released; Remembering T.K. Carter of Punky Brewster, TV Director Tom Cherones, and Others We Recently Lost
01/15 - The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins Gets Special Preview; ABC Midseason Changes for Monday and Tuesday Night Lineups
01/14 - NBC Orders Pilots, Including The Rockford Files; The CW to Premiere Celebrity Series
01/13 - 83rd Golden Globe Winners; Tubi's Upcoming YA Film Slate
01/12 - Peacock's The 'Burbs Trailer; The Jeff Foxworthy Show Launch Back on COZI TV
01/11 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of January 12, 2026)
01/10 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Henry Winkler to Star in NBC Legal Comedy Pilot; First Look at Peacock's The 'Burbs
01/09 - HBO's Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man! Documentary with Interviews Including Rob Reiner; 83rd Annual Golden Globes Presenters
01/08 - Netflix Orders Nick Kroll Comedy Series; Saturday Night Live January 2026 Hosts and Music Guests
01/07 - Saturday Night Live Bobbleheads from the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum; Fox Entertainment Signs Tracee Ellis Ross to Deal
01/06 - Emily in Paris Renewed for Season 6; Audible's New Comedy Series Starring Jenifer Lewis, Cedric the Entertainer, and Niecy Nash-Betts
01/05 - Trailer for The Muppet Show Special Event; Season 3 of Genndy Tartakovsky's Primal on Adult Swim
01/04 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of January 5, 2026)
01/03 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Premiere Date Set for Malcolm in the Middle Reboot; NBC Pulls The Paper
01/02 - Bridgerton Season 4 Details and Live Premiere Event; NBC Pulls The Paper from Mondays
01/01 - Happy New Year; Shrinking Season 3 Trailer
12/31 - In Memoriam: Remembering the Sitcom Stars We Lost in 2025
12/30 - Antenna TV and Rewind TV's New Year's Eve and Day Marathons; Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair Premieres April 10
12/29 - COZI TV Postpones The Jeff Foxworthy Show Launch; Netflix Releases Free Bert Trailer
12/28 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of December 29, 2025)
12/27 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Chevy Chase "Hurt" By Not Being Invited to SNL 50th Anniversary; New Lineups for Antenna TV and Rewind TV
12/26 - GET Acquires Psych for January 2026; Details on Netflix's A Different World Sequel
12/25 - Merry Christmas from Sitcoms Online; Interviews from 2025 Christmas Con in Edison, NJ
12/24 - 2025 Christmas Eve and Christmas Day TV Marathons