Networks Scramble for Delayed State of the Union Address; Freeform Gets Comedy Pilot from Laurence Fishburne

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

Networks Scramble for Delayed State of the Union Address; Freeform Gets Comedy Pilot from Laurence Fishburne

The State of the Union Address was supposed to be last night, but as we all know it didn't happen and is delayed to next Tuesday (Feb. 5) instead. So the networks have to reschedule yet again. NBC is adjusting original episodes of This Is Us, The Village and New Amsterdam to accommodate. It's the finale dates that get affected. On Tuesday, April 2, the season finale of This Is Us will now air on this date at 9:00pm ET/PT followed by an original episode of The Village. The Village will move to its 9pm ET time period the following week for the remainder of the season which was already announced. And now the season of New Amsterdam will now air a week later through Tuesday, May 21. For Fox, Tuesday dramas Lethal Weapon and The Gifted will now have their season finales a week later on Tuesday, February 26. And this means MasterChef Junior and Mental Samurai will now launch yes, a week later, on Tuesday, March 5. ABC and CBS have not released what the impact will be for their Tuesday series, but ABC's American Housewife is still premiering its new night and time Tuesdays at 8pm slot on Tuesday, Feb 5, followed by an original episode of The Kids Are Alright. But black-ish, Splitting Up Together and The Rookie could likely end their season a week later, or a week of less reruns. ABC aired repeats of its Tuesday comedies and The Rookie last night.

Freeform

Freeform announced that it has signed a script to series deal for Party Girls, a half-hour, single-camera dramedy inspired by the true story of Ericka Suzanne, daughter of the first female leader of the Black Panther Party, Elaine Brown. Set in Oakland in the '70s, Party Girls will follow Ericka's attempt to survive her adolescence as her mother rises in the Party. The plot explores an unconventional mother-daughter relationship, balancing the stakes of the movement with the humor inherent in coming-of-age, and asking the question how do you rebel when your mom is leading a rebellion? From Platform One Media, headed by CEO Katie O'Connell Marsh, Party Girls will be executive produced by Elisa Ellis of Platform One Media (Narcos), Laurence Fishburne and Helen Sugland of Cinema Gypsy Productions (grown-ish, black-ish), and Lance Krall and Peter Siaggas of Picture It Productions, with Dayna Lynne North (Insecure) set to write the pilot script and serve as executive producer/showrunner, should it go to series. Ericka Suzanne is repped by the Law Office of Adia Z. May, P.C.

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Wednesday, October 30

Abbott Elementary - "Costume Contest" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT)
It’s Halloween at Abbott Elementary! Janine and Gregory proudly show off their couple’s costume, but it fails to translate. Meanwhile, Barbara faces pushback from parents concerned about hygiene and her beloved apple-bobbing tradition.

Wizards Beyond Waverly Place - "Saved by the Spell" (Disney Channel, 8:00PM ET/PT)
On her first day of school, Billie uses magic to impress Roman's best friend; when a jealous Roman steals Billie's wand, he falls into the grasp of a wizard-hunting phantomus.

Wizards Beyond Waverly Place - "Something Wizard This Way Comes" (Disney Channel, 8:30PM ET/PT)
On Halloween, Billie tells Roman about Pumpkin Belly, a ghoul who eats anyone whose house isn't spookily decorated; Justin, Milo and Giada defend the home from pranksters.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of October 28)

Wednesday, October 30

Sheryl Lee Ralph (Abbott Elementary/Fam/Instant Mom/Moesha/It's a Living) - Watch Sheryl on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Salma Hayek Pinault (The Sinbad Show) - Salma appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Kieran Culkin (Solar Opposites/Go Fish) - Kieran is a guest on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Tom Hanks (Bosom Buddies) - Tom stops by Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Emily Osment (Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage/Young Sheldon/Young & Hungry/Hannah Montana), Tien Tran (How I Met Your Father) and Vinny Thomas (Platonic) - Emily, Tien and Vinny 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.
Adam Pally (Mr. Throwback/Indebted/Making History/The Mindy Project/Happy Endings) - Adam appears on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 3:30am on Bravo.
Keri Russell (Running Wilde/Daddy's Girls) - Keri talks about The Diplomat on ABC's Good Morning America some time between 7-9am and on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
Matty Matheson (The Bear) - Matty talks about improvising scenes on the hit show The Bear and how he started his career in restaurants on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Anna Kendrick (Love Life) - Anna is chatting with Drew about directing her first film Woman of the Hour, the crazy serial killer case the movie is based on, finding boundaries in her life, turning 40 and more on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Mayan Lopez (Lopez vs Lopez) - Mayan discusses her sitcom Lopez vs Lopez on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
Blair Underwood (Fatherhood/The New Adventures of Old Christine) - Blair is a guest on PIX11 Morning News on WPIX in New York at 9:30am.
Marissa Jaret Winokur (What We Do in the Shadows/Retired at 35/Stacked) - Marissa appears on New York Living on WPIX in New York at 10:05am.
Melissa Peterman (Happy's Place/Young Sheldon/Baby Daddy/Working Class/Reba) - Melissa talks about NBC's Happy's Place on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.