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

Wednesday, July 23

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - " Thought Leadership: A Corporate Conversation" (FXX and FX, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Desperate to stave off a public relations nightmare, the Gang embraces their newfound corporate professionalism to strategically scapegoat one Paddy's employee to fall on the proverbial sword.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of July 21)

Wednesday, July 23

  • Fortune Feimster (FUBAR/Kenan/Bless the Harts/Champions) - Fortune guest hosts on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Arnold Schwarzenegger (FUBAR) - Watch Arnold on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Freddie Prinze Jr. (Freddie) - Freddie appears on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Anthony Mackie (Twisted Metal) - Anthony is a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC. He also talks about Twisted Metal on NBC's Today in the 9am hour.
  • Steve Buscemi (Miracle Workers) - Steve stops by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
  • Molly Gordon (The Bear/Ramy) - Molly appears on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
  • Keyla Monterroso Mejia (Abbott Elementary/Curb Your Enthusiasm) and Brandon Kyle Goodman (Human Resources) - Keyla and Brandon are guests on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Christopher McDonald (Hacks/Mr. Iglesias/Good Advice/Walter & Emily) - Christopher talks about Happy Gilmore 2 on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
  • Sterling K. Brown (Starved) - Sterling talks about Washington Black on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
  • Stephanie Beatriz (Twisted Metal/Brooklyn Nine-Nine) - Stephanie talks about Twisted Metal on NBC's Today in the 9am hour.
  • Kevin Bacon (I Love Dick) - Kevin is playing a round of Behind-the-Scenes and dishing on some of his biggest projects on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
  • Tichina Arnold (The Neighborhood/Survivor's Remorse/Happily Divorced/Everybody Hates Chris/Martin) - Tichina is telling Drew about being single and using dating apps, her daughter turning 21, and filming the last season of The Neighborhood on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
  • Max Greenfield (The Neighborhood/New Girl) - Max and Tess Sanchez are telling Drew all about how they make their marriage work in an all new Drew Love on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.


New on DVD and Blu-ray

The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series Frasier (2023) - Season Two Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* (missing 4 episodes and some music has been replaced or altered) Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)

01/28 - Wait Till Your Father Gets Home - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/04 - The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series
03/11 - Frasier (2023) - Season Two
04/01 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season
05/13 - The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* (missing 4 episodes and some music has been replaced or altered)
06/06 - Shoresy - Season 2
06/17 - Looney Tunes - Collector's Vault - Volume 1 (Blu-ray)
07/22 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (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

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07/03 - The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder Season 3 Premieres August 6; South Park New Season Moves by Two Weeks
07/02 - FETV Acquires The Rookies; Hulu Renews The Bear for Season 5
07/01 - Bert Kreischer Gets Netflix Sitcom; NBC Gets Into Survival Mode This Summer
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06/27 - The White Lotus Star Teams Up with Netflix; Remembering Bobby Sherman, Lynn Hamilton, and Rick Hurst
06/26 - The CW's Fall Movie of the Week; First Look at New York Comic Con 2025
06/25 - Netflix Renews Ransom Canyon for Season 2; My Life with the Walter Boys First Look for Season 2
06/24 - Marc Maron Gets Second HBO Comedy Special; Outlander Prequel Renewed for Season 2 Ahead of Series Premiere
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06/22 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of June 23, 2025)