TCA 2018 Winter Press Tour: Cable Roundup of IFC, AMC, Hallmark, Pop and More

Monday, January 15, 2018

TCA 2018 Winter Press Tour: Cable Roundup of IFC, AMC, Hallmark, Pop and More

Saddle up, it's time to give you the most noteworthy news from this past weekend for the TCA 2018 Winter Press Tour for many cable networks. IFC announced that horror-comedy series Stan Against Evil has been picked up for a third season slated to air in Fall 2018. Created by Dana Gould (The Simpsons, Parks and Recreation) and starring John C. McGinley (Scrubs) and Janet Varney (You're the Worst), Stan Against Evil has grown its dedicated fan base since originally debuting in 2016, with The New York Times calling it a "gruesome, deadpan delight." IFC's critically acclaimed comedy Brockmire is returning for its second season on Wednesday, April 25 at 10PM. Starring Critics' Choice Awards nominee Hank Azaria (The Simpsons) as Jim Brockmire, the boozy baseball announcer trying to make a comeback in the major leagues, Brockmire is produced by Funny Or Die and written and developed by Joel Church-Cooper (Undateable). Returning to star alongside Azaria are Tyrel Jackson Williams (Lab Rats) and Amanda Peet (Togetherness). Season 2 will consist of eight episodes, airing weekly on Wednesday nights.

AMC

AMC made a number of announcements related to The Walking Dead, including the series is being renewed for a ninth season, to premiere in late 2018. FOX and National Geographic announced the highly anticipated return of the Emmy Award-winning worldwide phenomenon Cosmos, from executive producer/writer/director Ann Druyan (who won an Emmy Award for writing the 2014 series and a Peabody Award for producing it) and executive producers Seth MacFarlane, Brannon Braga and Jason Clark. Neil deGrasse Tyson, the famed pop-culture icon, astrophysicist and host of the Emmy Award-nominated StarTalk, returns as host of the series, scheduled to premiere globally in Spring 2019. SundanceTV announced that it has picked up the acclaimed modern day psychological thriller Liar for a second season. Golden Globe(R)-winner Joanne Froggatt (Downton Abbey) and BAFTA's Sian Phillips Award recipient Ioan Gruffudd (Fantastic Four) will both return for season two of Liar.

Hallmark Channel

On to Hallmark Channel, Good Witch returns for more magical adventures in the bucolic burb of Middleton when season four premieres Sunday, April 29 (9 p.m. ET/PT), on Hallmark Channel. Hallmark Channel announced it has renewed the network's hit, original series Chesapeake Shores for a third season. Airing on Sunday nights at 9 p.m. ET/PT, Chesapeake Shores was one of Hallmark Channel's most-watched original series. Production on 10 episodes for season three is scheduled to commence this year for a season three premiere Summer 2018. Hallmark Movies & Mysteries network further solidifying the network's compelling mystery line-up with the addition of Psych, long-running dramedy starring James Roday, Dule Hill, Timothy Omundson, Corbin Bernsen and Maggie Lawson. The series follows young police consultant Shawn Spencer (Roday) who solves crimes with powers of observation so acute that Santa Barbara PD detectives think he's psychic. Beginning today (Monday, January 15), three episodes air every weekday from 6-9 p.m. ET/PT, leading out of three episodes of Monk.

Pop

Finally, Pop went yesterday. The Demons of Dorian Gunn, Pop's supernatural comedy pilot executive produced by Krysten Ritter and JAX Media, will star Jeffery Self (Search Party), Chrissie Fit (Pitch Perfect films), H. Jon Benjamin (Archer), Lateefah Holder (Disjointed, Transparent) and Kyle Harris (Stitchers, High Maintenance). The pilot follows disgraced New York socialite Dorian Gunn who discovers he’s descended from a long line of demon hunters and is forced to abandon his life of leisure to protect humanity from monsters as they emerge from the gates of hell. Pop also announced a Wednesday, April 18, 2018 premiere date for the second season of Hollywood Darlings starring Jodie Sweetin, Christine Lakin and Beverly Mitchell. In addition, the network also unveiled a trailer for the one-hour scripted drama Clique from the creative team behind the cult smash hit Skins, as well as a season two pick-up of the provocative series. A co-production between Pop and the BBC in the U.K., Clique will premiere on Pop in Summer 2018. The series will go into production on its second season this Spring.

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Thursday, March 12

Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - "A Big Birthday and Tequila Shots" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Mandy struggles to celebrate Georgie’s 21st birthday after hitting a rough patch in her career.

Ghosts - "St. Hetty’s Day 2: The Help" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
A St. Patrick’s Day staffing emergency gives Hetty the chance to step into an unlikely role at the restaurant as she regains her once-a-year ability to be seen and heard by the living. Meanwhile, Kyle returns to watch over the ghosts and finds himself caught in an amusing supernatural dynamic.

Animal Control - "Squirrels and Fat Cats" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Frank uncovers Emily and Shred's secret romance during a break-in at city supply; Victoria and Patel confront his daughter's school bully.

Going Dutch - "Tinker, Tailor, Colonel, Spy" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Rick takes a sabbatical from the CIA and returns to the base, hoping to rekindle his strained relationship with Capt. Maggie; paranoia runs high when a mole is suspected to be operating inside the base.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of March 9)

Thursday, March 12

Will Forte (The Four Seasons/HouseBroken/MacGruber/The Last Man on Earth/The Cleveland Show) - Catch Will on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Minnie Driver (Emily in Paris/Speechless/About a Boy) - Minnie is a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Wanda Sykes (The Upshaws/The New Adventures of Old Christine/Wanda at Large) - Wanda appears on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Robert Smigel (Let's Be Real) - Robert stops by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Kristin Chenoweth (Stumble/Trial & Error/Kristin) - Kristin is a guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Jennifer Tilly (Out of Practice) - Andy Cohen interviews Jennifer on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 10pm on Bravo.
Nathan Lane (Mid-Century Modern/Only Murders in the Building/Modern Family/Charlie Lawrence/Encore! Encore!/One of the Boys) - Nathan talks about Broadway's Death of a Salesman with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Ariana DeBose (Schmigadoon!) - Ariana joins Tamron to talk about her fashion evolution and her role in the all-star cast of the new series Scarpetta on Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
Lauren Graham (The Z-Suite/M.Y.O.B./Conrad Bloom/Townies/Good Company) - Lauren talks about Reminders of Him on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/Cafe Americain/Sydney/One Day at a Time) - NBC's Today catches up with Valerie in the 10am hour.
Phil Rosenthal (Creator of Everybody Loves Raymond) - Phil and Lily Rosenthal join Drew for a taste test of weird foods and talk about their children's book Just Try It! Someplace New! (A Phil & Lil Book) on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.