Monday, February 11, 2019

Hallmark Channel Highlights at TCA Winter 2019 Press Tour; HBO's New Comedy Los Espookys and Final Season of Veep

Hallmark Channel

Hallmark Channel, the worldwide leader in celebrations, announces the 10th anniversary of America's favorite, most-watched holiday tradition, "Countdown to Christmas" at the bi-annual Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour. Hallmark Channel will honor the 10th anniversary of "Countdown to Christmas" with the biggest holiday season yet, featuring a programming extravaganza of a world record number of original premieres, celebrated talent, holiday specials and more! Currently, the network is in production on its first original holiday movie, The Christmas Song, starring Kristin Chenoweth, Scott Wolf and directed by Eric Close. Among the other MANY items they announced: Hallmark Channel will add "Countdown to Summer" to its lineup of programming events celebrating the seasons and special occasions with three new, original movie premieres in the month of May. As temperatures around the country begin to rise and people yearn for the longer days ahead, the network will offer a fresh slate of movies designed to transport viewers to the upcoming carefree days of summer and whet their appetites for the sun, sand and romance that populate the warmer months. This newest addition joins Hallmark Channel's popular "Winterfest," "Countdown to Valentine's Day," "Spring Fever," "June Weddings" "Fall Harvest" and the event that started it all, "Countdown to Christmas.

Hallmark Movies & Mysteries

Hallmark Movies & Mysteries announces it will launch Signature Mystery, the premiere Sunday night destination on television for thrilling mysteries featuring a slate of all-new mystery franchises and the return of the network's highest-rated mystery series. On the heels of successful ratings in Q4, the network unveils plans for new installments of returning, popular mystery franchises including Garage Sale Mysteries, starring Lori Loughlin; Aurora Teagarden Mysteries starring Candace Cameron Bure; Hailey Dean Mysteries, starring Kellie Martin and based on the books by Nancy Grace; and Morning Show Mysteries, starring Holly Robinson Peete and Rick Fox and based on the books by Al Roker and Dick Lochte. The returning hit franchises will be joined by all-new mysteries, Chronicle Mysteries, starring Alison Sweeney, Crossword Mysteries starring Lacey Chabert and Brennan Elliott and inspired by Will Shortz, crossword editor of The New York Times; and Picture Perfect Mysteries (wt) starring Alexa PenaVega and Carlos PenaVega.


Veep

The Emmy(R)-winning comedy series Veep kicks off its seven-episode, seventh and final season Sunday, March 31 at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT, exclusively on HBO. The show stars Emmy(R) and Screen Actors Guild Award winner Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Selina Meyer, who is hitting the campaign trail as she runs for president. The series is also available on HBO NOW, HBO GO, HBO On Demand and partners' streaming platforms. The ensemble cast of the show also includes two-time Emmy(R) winner Tony Hale as Gary, her devoted bodyman; Emmy(R) nominee Anna Chlumsky as Amy, her right hand; Emmy(R) nominee Matt Walsh as Mike, her former spokesperson; Reid Scott as the ultra-ambitious Dan; Timothy C. Simons as Jonah Ryan, a former hanger-on turned congressman; Kevin Dunn as Ben, her campaign manager; Emmy(R) nominee Gary Cole as analyst Kent; Sam Richardson as staffer Richard; and Sarah Sutherland as Catherine, Selina's daughter.

Los Espookys

From the minds of fresh, exciting talents Julio Torres and Ana Fabrega, alongside Fred Armisen and Lorne Michaels of Saturday Night Live, comes the primarily Spanish-language comedy series Los Espookys, which begins its six-episode season this June on HBO. The half-hour series follows a group of friends who turn their love for horror into a peculiar business, providing horror to those who need it, in a dreamy Latin American country where the strange and eerie are just part of daily life. Starring Bernardo Velasco, Cassandra Ciangherotti, Ana Fabrega, Julio Torres and Fred Armisen, Los Espookys was created by Fred Armisen & Ana Fabrega & Julio Torres, and executive produced by Fred Armisen, Lorne Michaels and Andrew Singer.

Renaldo (Bernardo Velasco), a horror and gore enthusiast, assembles his friends to form Los Espookys. Noble, kind, naïve, and always running out of cellphone minutes, he's joined by Ursula (Cassandra Ciangherotti), a tough, calm and collected dental assistant who handles the logistics and execution of Los Espookys' work, like making sure they get paid for their spooks. Also in the group is Ursula's sister, Tati (Ana Fabrega), who constantly juggles several odd jobs, such as breaking in other people's shoes and counting people's steps. She acts as Los Espookys' test dummy. Rounding out Los Espookys is Renaldo's best friend, Andres (Julio Torres), a dark and mysterious heir to a chocolate empire who longs to unlock the secrets to his past and avoid his beautiful boyfriend. Meanwhile, Renaldo's reliable uncle, Tico (Fred Armisen), is living his dream of parking cars as a prodigious valet driver in LA.


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Saturday, April 27

none scheduled

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of April 22)

Friday, April 26

  • Ernie Hudson (Grace and Frankie/The Last Precinct/Highcliffe Manor) - Ernie and Bill Murray are guests on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
  • Steve Buscemi (Miracle Workers) - Steve appears on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
  • Jerrod Carmichael (The Carmichael Show) - Jerrod is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Fred Armisen (Los Espookys/Forever/Final Space) - Fred sits in with The 8G Band on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Retta (Parks and Recreation) - Retta talks about HGTV's Ugliest House in America on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
  • Janet Jackson (Diff'rent Strokes/Good Times) - Drew and Ross are surprised by Janet whose telling them all about her new tour, some of her most iconic moments and fashion looks and more on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
  • Jessica Capshaw (Odd Man Out) and Camilla Luddington (Californication) - Jessica and Camilla are guests on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.


New on DVD/Blu-ray

Father Knows Best - The Complete Series Three's Company - The Official 40th Anniversary Collection Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) Too Close for Comfort - The Complete Series Check It Out! - The Complete Series

12/05 - Father Knows Best - The Complete Series
12/05 - The Odd Couple - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
12/12 - The Dick Van Dyke Show - The Complete Series
12/12 - Looney Tunes Collector's Choice - Volume 2 (Blu-ray)
12/12 - That Girl - The Complete Series
12/15 - Letterkenny - Season 11
12/19 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Official Restored Complete Series
12/22 - Three's Company - The Official 40th Anniversary Collection (includes The Ropers and Three's a Crowd)
01/09 - South Park - Seasons 11-15 (Blu-ray)
01/16 - Ghosts (UK) - Season Five
02/13 - Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/27 - The Really Loud House - Season One
03/12 - Ghosts (UK) - The Complete Series
03/12 - Looney Tunes Collector's Choice - Volume 3 (Blu-ray)
03/12 - Rick and Morty - Season 7 (Blu-ray Steelbook) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
04/03 - Too Close for Comfort - The Complete Series (VEI)
04/08 - Check It Out! - The Complete Series (VEI)

The Odd Couple - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) That Girl - The Complete Series The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Official Restored Complete Series

More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD Releases / DVD Reviews Archive / SitcomsOnline Digest


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