Tuesday, December 07, 2021
Freeform Acquires The Office Starting January 2022; 27th Annual Critics Choice Awards Nominees

Freeform announced that it has licensed all nine seasons of The Office from NBCUniversal Global Distribution in a non-exclusive deal and will begin airing the series beginning on Jan 1, 2022. Comedy Central will continue to air on cable through 2025. To celebrate this new addition, Freeform will air two marathons over New Year's weekend, starting with a countdown of the 30 Best Episodes, as determined by fans and multiple publications, on Saturday, Jan 1, from 1 p.m.-12 a.m EST/PST. On Sunday, Jan. 2, Freeform will air a second marathon of episodes showcasing cast favorites, based on interviews with the cast of The Office, from 1 p.m.-11 p.m EST/PST. In celebration of the news, The Office star Melora Hardin recorded a video announcement as well.
The addition of the beloved show also signals a change in Freeform's weekday program lineup. The Office will air Monday-Thursday from 6:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. EST/PST. The network will continue airing its originals throughout the week (such as grown-ish/Single Drunk Female on Thursdays from 10-11pm), as well as episodes of Family Guy on Fridays from 1pm-1am and movies now airing exclusively on weekends. This updated program schedule reflects Freeform's shift toward more irreverent, adult comedy and content while still providing family favorites on the weekends. The rest of the schedule on weekdays has black-ish from 7-9am, The Middle from 10:30am-2pm (Fridays it is 10:30am-1pm), Movies from 2pm-6pm, and The Simpsons from 12am-2am.
The Critics Choice Association (CCA) announced the TV category nominees for The 27th Annual Critics Choice Awards. The winners will be revealed at the star-studded Critics Choice Awards gala, which will broadcast LIVE on The CW and TBS on Sunday, January 9 from 7:00 - 10:00 pm ET (delayed PT). HBO's Succession leads this year's TV contenders with eight nominations. In addition to Best Drama Series the show racked up a slew of acting nominations including nods for both Brian Cox and Jeremy Strong for Best Actor in a Drama Series. Several of their co-stars also find themselves vying with each other, as Nicholas Braun, Kieran Culkin and Matthew Macfadyen all scored nominations for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, while J. Smith-Cameron and Sarah Snook are both up for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. Mare of Easttown (HBO) and Evil (Paramount+) impressed with five nominations each. Mare of Easttown is up for Best Limited Series, with Kate Winslet nominated for Best Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television, Evan Peters for Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television, and both Julianne Nicholson and Jean Smart nominated for Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television. Evil is nominated for Best Drama Series, Mike Colter for Best Actor in a Drama Series, Katja Herbers for Best Actress in a Drama Series, and both Andrea Martin and Christine Lahti are up for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. Several programs earned four nominations each, Only Murders in the Building (Hulu), Ted Lasso (Apple TV+), The Good Fight (Paramount+), This Is Us (NBC), and WandaVision (Disney+).
Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows
Wednesday, August 20
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - "The Golden Bachelor Live" (FXX and FX, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Host Jesse Palmer walks the audience through Frank's journey up until his final rose ceremony in the "Golden Bachelor" finale.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of August 18)
Wednesday, August 20
- Tiffany Haddish (The Last O.G./The Carmichael Show) - Tiffany guest hosts Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Andy Samberg (Digman!/Brooklyn Nine-Nine) - Watch Andy on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Harvey Guillén (What We Do in the Shadows/The Thundermans) - Harvey stops by Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Ronny Chieng (Young Rock/Ronny Chieng: International Student) - Ronny appears on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
- Billy Crystal (The Comedians/Soap) - Billy is a guest on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
- Amy Sedaris (No Activity/Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt/Strangers with Candy) - Amy appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Pete Holmes (How We Roll/Crashing) and Echo Kellum (Grand Crew/Sean Saves the World/Ben and Kate) - Pete and Echo are guests on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
- Ron Howard (Arrested Development/Happy Days/The Andy Griffith Show) - Ron talks about Eden on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on ABC News Live Prime with Linsey Davis at 7pm.
- Kumail Nanjiani (Bless the Harts/Silicon Valley) and Michael Urie (Shrinking/Krapopolis/Partners) - Kumail and Michael talk about Broadway's Oh, Mary! on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
- Marsai Martin (black-ish) - Marsai appears on a repeat of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
- Ariana Grande (Sam & Cat/Victorious) - Ariana is joining Drew to chat all about her role in the iconic new musical Wicked on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
New on DVD and 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)
08/26 - The Huckleberry Hound Show - The Complete Original Series (Blu-ray)
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