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 / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Sunday, December 21

Krapopolis - "Society of Swords" (Fox, 7:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Before Deliria can become goddess of another city, she and Shlub must win over its exasperating king and queen; Ty gets dating advice from Viscera.

The Simpsons - "Keep Chalm and Gary On" (Fox, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Homer gets Superintendent Chalmers a job at the power plant; Chalmers discovers huge mutated snails that produce valuable slime, launching his new career.

Universal Basic Guys - "Skyboys" (Fox, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Mark buys a jetpack; David wants to serve omakase at a soup kitchen.

Krapopolis - "Plague and Fury" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Tyrannis gets a new girlfriend whose job becomes a problem for him; Deliria and Hippocampus deal with a plague.

Bob's Burgers - " Dog Christmas Day After Afternoon" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
A family trip to see Christmas lights turns into a rescue mission, in more ways than one.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of December 15)

Friday, December 19

Regina Hall (Black Monday/Grandfathered/Married/Second Generation Wayans) - Watch Regina on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Tom Hanks (Bosom Buddies) - Tom is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Matt Rogers (No Good Deed/I Love That for You) - Matt appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Rickey Smiley (The Rickey Smiley Show) - Rickey is a guest on a repeat of Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen at 12:37am on CBS.
Bradley Cooper (Kitchen Confidential) and Will Arnett (Murderville/Arrested Development/Flaked/The Millers/Up All Night/Running Wilde) - Bradley and Will discuss Is Thing On? on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm. Will tells Drew about playing a dramatic role in new film Is This Thing On? working with Bradley Cooper, and his podcast with pals Sean Hayes and Jason Bateman on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Kumail Nanjiani (Bless the Harts/Silicon Valley) - Kumail chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
James Van Der Beek (Friends with Better Lives/Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23) - James opens up on his cancer battle on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am.
Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother/Star Raving Mad/Doogie Howser, M.D.) - NBC's Today catches up with Neil in the 9am hour.
Paul Rudd (The Shrink Next Door/Living with Yourself/Wild Oats) - Paul and Jack Black talk about Anaconda on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
Robby Hoffman (Hacks) - Robby covers the news with Drew on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Zooey Deschanel (New Girl) - Zooey and Charlie Cox talk about their new film Merv with the doggie star of the film on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.