Network Upfronts Canceled But Will Go on Digitally

Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Network Upfronts Canceled But Will Go on Digitally

ViacomCBS announced the company's plan for the 2020 Advertising Upfront season in light of continuing concerns about COVID-19 and guidelines from public health officials. CBS Television Network will forego its live presentation to the advertising community at Carnegie Hall. Instead, network executives and CBS talent will unveil the new 2020-2021 primetime lineup and unique content from CBS Entertainment, CBS News, CBS Sports and CBS All Access in a video Upfront special to be posted to digital platforms on Wednesday, May 13. Additional details regarding the Upfront special will be announced at a future date.

Important information and insights normally shared during ViacomCBS client dinners and presentations scheduled for March and April will instead be delivered digitally via video and other formats. These communications will highlight the valuable opportunities for advertisers across the combined company, featuring the ViacomCBS cable networks and the [largest] premium digital video inventory in the industry, including the leading free streaming television service in the U.S., Pluto TV.

NBCUniversal announced the cancelation of its live Upfront event on May 11th due to health concerns. The company will instead televise and stream the Upfront Presentation for the 2020-21 season to ensure the safety of all participants while also reflecting the increasingly direct relationship between NBCUniversal, its fans and its partners. This will now allow all audiences to tune in for a sneak peek at the future of NBCUniversal's programming. NBCUniversal's new Upfront Presentation will feature talent from across its portfolio and platform, and will preview new programming announcements, trailers and more, from Entertainment to Sports to News. Tune-in and programming details will be announced at a later date.

ABC, Fox and CW Upfronts are likely going the same route as actual live presentations will not be happening. On the cable front, Discovery, Inc. announced that it has canceled its live Upfront presentation in New York scheduled for May 12 at Jazz at Lincoln Center's Frederick P. Rose Hall. The decision was made out of an abundance of caution and care for the health and safety of employees, talent and business partners. Discovery has prepared an alternative digital experience to showcase the company, portfolio, and advanced advertising products to its valued clients and agency partners, with details to be announced at a later date.

Sitcoms Airing Tonight

Friday, July 3

The Dick Van Dyke Show - Now in Living Color! - (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
CBS will honor the memory of legendary actor, producer, director, writer, comedian and Emmy Award winner Carl Reiner with THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW – NOW IN LIVING COLOR! A SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO CARL REINER, featuring two colorized back-to-back classic episodes of the beloved 1960s series, Friday, July 3 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. As series creator and co-star, Carl Reiner personally supervised the original colorization of the episodes.

The special features “Coast to Coast Big Mouth,” which ranked #8 on TV Guide’s list of the “100 Greatest TV Episodes of All-Time,” and “October Eve,” which Mr. Reiner considered to be one of the series’ funniest episodes. Both were written by Bill Persky and Sam Denoff.

In “Coast to Coast Big Mouth,” Laura Petrie blurts out a top secret on a national television quiz show, revealing that comedian Alan Brady wears a toupee. The episode, which was the show’s fifth and final season premiere, was originally broadcast on Sept. 15, 1965. “Coast to Coast Big Mouth” won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series in 1966.

In “October Eve,” a painting of Laura returns to haunt her when, despite her having posed fully clothed, the artist (played by Carl Reiner) takes the liberty of “undraping” her. The episode was first presented on April 8, 1964, during season three.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of June 29)

Friday, July 3

Kevin Hart (The Big House/Undeclared) - Watch Kevin on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 12:35am on ABC.
Tina Fey (30 Rock) - Tina appears on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Laura Dern (Enlightened) - Laura is a guest on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Mark Duplass (Togetherness/The Mindy Project/The League) - Mark appears on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Melissa McCarthy (Mike & Molly/Samantha Who?) - Melissa guest hosts a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Brett Gelman (Camping/Fleabag/Love/Married/Go On) - Brett appears on a repeat of A Little Late with Lilly Singh at 1:35am on NBC.
Tika Sumpter (mixed-ish/The Game) - Tika talks about the season finale of mixed-ish and her latest project helping new moms on a repeat of Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
Peter Gallagher (Grace and Frankie/The Secret Lives of Men) - Peter talks about Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist and Grace and Frankie on a repeat of Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.