SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

Jenna Elfman is staying at NBC. She has been cast in the upcoming NBC comedy Growing Up Fisher (formerly titled as The Family Guide). Elfman will play the role of Joyce Fisher (replacing the previously cast Parker Posey), the wife of Mel Fisher (J.K. Simmons) - the proud family patriarch who does not let his blindness affect him as a father, husband and breadwinner. Elfman recently appeared on NBC's 1600 Penn this past season as the First Lady and is best known for her role on Dharma and Greg, for which she garnered a Golden Globe Award, three Emmy Award nominations. Elfman also starred on two short-lived CBS sitcoms: Courting Alex and Accidentally on Purpose. Growing Up Fisher is from Universal Television and Aggregate Films. It is executive produced by DJ Nash, Jim Garavente and Jason Bateman, who also serves as narrator. The series will premiere in midseason 2014 for NBC.

On Monday, July 29th, ABC Family launches "Summer Crush," the network's fifth annual 10-day long summer programming event filled with all-day marathons, movies and all-new episodes of its original series Switched At Birth, The Fosters, Pretty Little Liars, Twisted, The Vineyard, Melissa & Joey, Baby Daddy and upcoming series Spell-Mageddon. Plus, the network television premieres of films Prom and So Undercover and the ABC Family premiere of 17 Again. Among the storylines we will see are a new crush fo Mel on Melissa & Joey: When his apartment needs to undergo emergency renovations, Mel invites her new boyfriend Noah (guest star Justin Hartley) to temporarily move in with her, accelerating their relationship. While on Baby Daddy, Ben is doing whatever his girlfriend says: Ben dog-sits for his girlfriend, and the dog is stolen on his watch. Both of those episodes will air on the final day of the ABC Family event on Aug. 7.

NBC has announced a lot of changes for spring. First up, Smash will be moving to Saturdays at 9PM beginning April 6 through May 18. Smash's last Tuesday at 10pm airing will be on April 2, so there are three Tuesday airings left before it is delegated to Saturdays for its remaining seven episodes. NBC will be finishing up its Tuesday comedies in April as scheduled, but with The New Normal actually getting a two-episode finale from 9-10pm on April 2. It could be the last two episodes ever for this comedy. Meanwhile, Go On will air its final two episodes of the season on a special night and time on Thursdays, April 4 and 11, 2013 at 9:30pm, leading into new drama Hannibal at 10. NBC has not yet announced what will air at 9:30pm beginning April 18, but since it is only four weeks, NBC will likely air reruns of The Office. Don't forget the one-hour series finale of The Office is Thursday, May 16 at 9pm. Go On has two more Tuesdays at 9 airings left (March 19 and 26) before its two-week Thursday run. One more Thursday note, NBC will burn-off the remaining episodes of 1600 Penn quickly on March 21 and March 28 at a special time of 8:30pm and also its normal time of 9:30pm. Like The New Normal & Smash, this series has little chance of returning next season, but Go On has a 50/50 chance.

Replacing Smash essentially on Tuesdays will be new reality series Ready for Love, which will now air Tuesdays 9-11pm ET/PT beginning Tuesday, April 9 through Tuesday, May 28. The series was originally supposed to get a preview on Tuesday, March 26 and premiere on its normal night Sunday, March 31 from 8-10pm, but neither will now happen. Ready for Love will follow The Voice on Tuesdays, as that series will air in the Tuesdays at 8pm time period from March 26-June 11. The Voice also airs 8-10pm on Mondays from March 25-June 17. Onto Sundays, on March 31 and April 7 only, NBC will encore the previous week's Monday/Tuesday episodes of The Voice from 7-9pm ET/PT and 9-10pm ET/PT respectively into one-hour episodes of Celebrity Apprentice at 10. However, that series will now go back to two-hour episodes from April 14-May 19 from 9-11pm ET/PT following encores of The Voice from 7-9pm ET/PT. And onto Wednesdays, Whitney will now end a week earlier on Wednesday, March 27 with a two-episode season finale from 8-9pm. It was originally supposed to end its season on April 3, but now NBC will air Dateline in the hour beginning April 3 and not the planned move of Betty White's Off Their Rockers, as previously announced.

View a complete list of NBC spring changes in a list form. And stay with us for continued updates.



On the next...Parks & Recreation:
By: Skees

NBC's Thursday night comedy starring Amy Poehler airs Thursday nights at 8:30pm and we have just watched the next episode that airs tonight (March 14). In the episode airing tonight, "Bailout," Leslie (Amy Poehler) tries to help a local video store stay in business after the owner (guest star Jason Schwartzman) is hit by the bad economy. Chris (Rob Lowe) tries to give Tom (Aziz Ansari) some fatherly advice in dealing with a difficult employee (guest star Jenny Slate), while Ann (Rashida Jones) blackmails April (Aubrey Plaza) into being her friend.

In "Bailout," Pawnee's only independent video store is about to go the way of Blockbuster… gone. Leslie is determined to use her power on the city council to save this treasure at any cost, and in a battle against the Pawnee libertarians (who consider her actions to be a "bailout"), successfully manages to get the store declared a Pawnee landmark. Unfortunately, Leslie's hopes and dreams for the landmark are a bit crushed when she finds out that the store would rather use landmark status to become a porn video store (in opposition of her hopes that they'd rent films like Finding Nemo). Meanwhile, Jean-Ralphio's sister (guest star Jenny Slate) has come to take a job at Rent-a-Swag, but she is really making Tom's life absolutely miserable. And that isn't all: Ann is using every means possible to blackmail April into being her friend.


This is another great episode of the NBC Thursday night sitcom, which has slowly become my favorite sitcom on TV. This is the series at its best: Leslie trying to do good for the city (even if it really isn't a huge thing) and facing opposition from Ron Swanson and other libertarians… and as often happens, it doesn't work out so well for Leslie, even if she does like to look at the positive side. One of the best scenes happens to be during the city council meeting… if you follow sitcom star views on politics at all, you'll notice that one of those speaking in opposition of the landmark status says something that is almost identical to a statement made by Craig T. Nelson. The subplot of the episode about Tom dealing with Mona Lisa (Slate) was a little lacking in the sense that there wasn't a whole lot of development, but I really did like the Mona Lisa character and her relationship with Tom, and hope that we get to see more of her in future episode. A-

As you all know, Nick at Nite launched new comedy Wendell & Vinnie on Saturday, Feb. 16. It technically airs on Nickelodeon on Saturdays at 8pm, since Nick at Nite doesn't start programming on Saturdays until 10pm. The series was originally supposed to air Sundays at 8pm (which is part of the Nick at Nite line-up). Anyway, the premiere delivered 2.34 million viewers and a 0.51 18-49 rating on the Saturday at 8pm premiere and 1.91 million and a 0.32 18-49 rating the next day for the encore. In comparison, the series premiere of See Dad Run on Saturday, Oct. 6 did 1.64 million and a 0.34 18-49 rating. The return of See Dad Run at a new time of 8:30pm followed on Sunday, Feb. 17 with 1.46 million and a 0.26 18-49 rating (down a tad from its 1.53 million and 0.32 18-49 rating average in the fall). The late night encore actually did better with a 0.5 18-49 rating. In week two, the Saturday premiere of Wendell & Vinnie did 2.38 million viewers and a 0.49 18-49 rating, so virtually on par with its premiere ratings, which is a good sign. The encore the next night did 1.72 million and a 0.27 18-49 rating, slightly down from previous week. Week two of See Dad Run followed on Sunday, Feb. 24 with a series low 0.95 million and a 0.18 18-49 rating, while the late night encore once again fared better with a 0.34 18-49 rating. Perhaps it should be aired later like 9 or 10pm.

On to scheduling news, Nick at Nite has scheduled a week-long Friends stunt for the week of March 11. The stunt will air Monday, March 11 through Friday, March 15 from 8pm-6am each night (Thursday and Friday starts at 9pm). It's a week-long event with all your favorite friends, all-night! Meanwhile, the movies on Sundays at 9pm will continue in March with National Lampoon's European Vacation this Sunday at 9. Recent movies were Ferris Bueller's Day Off and The Brady Bunch Movie. Upcoming airings are Rugrats in Paris on March 10, Scooby-Doo on March 17, and The Last Airbender on March 31. Stay with us for continued updates.

On the next...1600 Penn:
By: Pavan

NBC's freshman comedy starring Josh Gad airs Thursday nights at 9:30pm and we have just watched the next episode, that airs tonight (Feb. 28). We also have a recap of the previous week's episode "Skip the Tour" below! In the episode airing tonight, "To The Ranch," when unable to make a decision about who to nominate to the Supreme Court, President Dale Gilchrist (Bill Pullman) decides to take a family trip to their ranch to clear his head. During their getaway, Skip (Josh Gad) finds himself moping over his failed relationship, while Becca (Martha MacIsaac) contemplates major flaws in her own relationship. Meanwhile, Emily (Jenna Elfman) attempts to spend some quality time with Marigold (Amara Miller) and Xander (Benjamin Stockham), who both struggle with their loss of technology while at the ranch.

If you have ever wondered what the President of the United States does on a weekend trip with the family, you know might want to check this episode out. OK, maybe it isn't a realistic take on what the President does (or is it? hmm) but it is good sitcom fun. It is probably a little too silly or over-the-top, though. So the first family heads to a ranch in Nevada because The President needs to relax to make an important decision on who to nominate for the Supreme Court. Everyone is really making an important decision when they head to the ranch. The President obviously has to make a decision on the Supreme Court, while Becca has to decide if baby daddy D.B. is worth staying with or start a relationship with Press Secretary Marshall Malloy. Skip is heartbroken over his crush Stacy kissing someone else at the White House and in a sub-plot Emily tries to connect with her step-kids Marigold and Xander by hiding their phones at the ranch. I think the best plot of the episode is really Becca, D.B. and Marshall's storyline. It overshadows everything else in the episode and has a lot of depth and frankly is more interesting. D.B. is so clueless he botches the expression "Hindsight is 20/20" by calling it "Hindsight is 50/50." I don't think Emily's story is that interesting, while the President and Skip don't really deliver in this episode with their storylines. It's just too over-the-top. However, their scenes together are decent in the episode and their chemistry is good (the Yoda impersonation was great!). And I liked Skip on the episodes I reviewed for the pilot review. B-

In the previous episode, "Skip the Tour," President Dale Gilchrist's (Bill Pullman) brother Doug (guest star Bruce Campbell) stops by the White House, initiating a long-standing rivalry which threatens their relationship and prompts Emily (Jenna Elfman) to take on the role of peacemaker. Meanwhile, Becca (Martha MacIsaac) prepares for an interview and Skip (Josh Gad) decides to offer his own special version of the White House tour after witnessing one from an official tour guide (guest star Rory O'Malley).

We'll recap this episode since it didn't do well in the ratings, as in fact it was a series low. This episode was not all that great. The best thing about the episode is the phrase "Skip the Tour." Skip is actually going to the official White House tour and tells the tourists to...skip the tour (Pun intended!) and go on his tour. However, once again Skip is pretty crazy and he was kind of annoying in this episode, too. This was a sub=plot, so it wasn't the main plot of the episode really. The episode mainly dealt with the arrival of the President's brother Doug. They have a rivalry going on, as I'm sure many siblings do, but this might be a little too much. Without giving anything away (well I'm not really, since this already aired), even the Secret Service is a little late. Becca and D.B. prepare for an interview with Mary Hart, but D.B. is told not to say anything except to smile. This episode just doesn't click on all cylinders and since it already aired, you should skip it if you haven't seen it yet. Unless you have watched every episode so far, well then you might have to watch it. I think Becca, D.B. and Marshall saved this episode from a lower grade. C+

Stay tuned in two weeks for our review of the episode airing March 14: "Live from the Lincoln Bedroom," where they start an official podcast of the Gilchrist White House.

NBC kicked off the broadcast portion of the TCA Winter 2013 press tour yesterday. It started off with breakfast with the cast of the upcoming Celebrity Apprentice: All-Stars, which includes Trace Adkins, Stephen Baldwin, Gary Busey, Penn Jillette, Marilu Henner, Lil Jon, Omarosa and Lisa Rinna, premieres March 3. Then it was the all-important executive session with Robert Greenblatt (Chairman, NBC Entertainment) and Jennifer Salke (President, NBC Entertainment). Among the things we learned was that NBC has picked-up a new drama for summer called Camp. In the tradition of Meatballs and Dazed and Confused, Little Hawk Family Camp is a wicked slice of lake-side heaven. In the one-hour drama, parents decompress with gin while teenagers make gleeful mischief and fall in and out of love. Little Hawk Family Camp – where mother nature and human nature collide. Casting will be named at a later date. Production is scheduled to begin in Australia in March.
Among the other notes, NBC still is keeping Jay Leno for the foreseeable future (no surprise, I guess) and that Community, which returns in February for its fourth season, could still come back next season depending on ratings. The Office will have a one-hour series finale in May, but no exact date has been announced and likely will not feature a return of Steve Carell. Still no word on an exact date for the return of Up all Night, which is now going to be a multi-camera sitcom and now has lost its creator, Emily Spivey. Also, like canned before it aired comedy Next Caller, reality series Surprise with Jenny McCarthy has been canned before it even premieres. And finally, NBC still hasn't announced plans for Hannibal or comedy Save Me, but both could be saved for summer or just before that and NBC has already a few shows that are being scheduled for next fall including Michael J. Fox's new comedy and Dracula, while Crossbones could be late summer.

After that session, it was time for panels with cast and crew of NBC series. First up was Revolution, which returns on March 25. The series will only be 20 episodes now instead of 22 episodes since NBC doesn't have room to air 22. This means the series will air for 10 weeks when it returns. Then it was time for lunch with the cast of upcoming comedy 1600 Penn, which previewed on Dec. 17 but the ratings were not so presidential so far. New series Deception, which premieres tonight at 10, was the next series to have a panel. NBC announced it has cut its order from 13 to 11 as well,so they can fit every episode and have a seamless transition into Revolution when it returns. Then the next panel was for sophomore drama Grimm, which also is on a hiatus and won't return until March 8. It seems like all of NBC's series that do well are on hiatus this winter. However, the next panel was for a new NBC drama that premieres Jan. 31: Do No Harm. NBC has 12 episodes of this series to air on Thursdays at 10. Up next, there was a panel for The Biggest Loser, which returned last night with part one of its season premiere, along with the return of Jillian Michaels. And the final panel for the day was for NBC's Smash, which returns Feb. 5 at 10pm with guest stars like Jennifer Hudson, to take the place of Parenthood. Then finally, it was time for the reception to close the day's schedule.

Up today at the TCA Winter 2013 press tour will be cable networks for NBC Universal. Among the networks going are USA Network, Oxygen, Golf Channel, E!, CNBC and Syfy. Stay tuned for any updates, if anything is of note for us. And tomorrow we will have Fox up at the TCA Winter 2013 press tour, as they will be second among broadcast to go.

Sticking with the NBC Universal theme, we have some news on cable network Chiller. Chiller kicks off a new year of scary good programming with the debut of its first original special of 2013, Chiller 13: Most Horrifying Hookups. In addition, this winter the network will feature two new-to-Chiller debuts with R.L. Stine's The Nightmare Room and cult favorite Pushing Daisies, which marks the first re-air of this series since its original run on ABC in 2007-09. First up R.L. Stine's The Nightmare Room, this 2001-02 anthology series from Goosebumps author R.L. Stine proves that our childhood fears never quite leave us. Three episodes air back-to-back every Monday in January beginning tonight (Jan, 7) at 8pm. 13 episodes were produced for Kids' WB and featured stars like Amanda Bynes, Shia LaBeouf, Kaley Cuoco, Dan Byrd, Frankie Muniz and Danielle Fishel popping in.

As for Pushing Daisies, the critically acclaimed series premieres Tuesday, March 5 at 9:00pm. This dark comedy centers on a pie-maker (Lee Pace), with the power to bring dead people back to life. He solves mysteries with his alive-again childhood sweetheart (Anna Friel), a cynical private investigator (Chi McBride), and a lovesick waitress (Kristin Chenoweth). Pushing Daisies was nominated for 12 Primetime Emmy Awards, winning three. Chiller brings both seasons (22 total episodes) back for the first time since the series' original run with two back-to-back episodes airing Tuesdays at 9pm, starting March 5. And finally, the special Chiller 13: Most Horrifying Hookups, premieres Friday, February 8 at 8:00pm. Chiller's popular countdown franchise returns with this newest installment, just in time for Valentine's Day! CJ Thomason (Harper's Island), Colin Ferguson (Eureka), Magda Apanowicz (Caprica, Kyle XY) and Judah Friedlander (30 Rock) count down Hollywood's most fatal attractions of all time. Chiller 13 is produced by Emmy Award-winning company Associated Television International.

1600 Penn - Thursdays 9:30PM ET/PT on NBC
Sneak Peek Monday, December 17, 2012 at 9:30PM ET/PT and
Premieres Thursday, January 10, 2013 at 9:30PM ET/PT

By Pavan

The Gilchrists are an American family that deals with ordinary problems under extraordinary circumstances. Sure, we all make mistakes, but theirs just happen to make the evening news. They're loving, fun and a little crazy. In other words, just like everybody else. With one exception: they live in a very special house -- the White House.

President Dale Gilchrist (Bill Pullman, Independence Day) is trying to perform the important duties of his job while also doing right by his family -- not an easy task when his place of work just happens to be the Oval Office. First Son Skip (Josh Gad, star of Broadway sensation The Book of Mormon) is one of the administration's biggest liabilities and his clumsy attempts to earn his father’s respect often go awry. Yet, despite his many well-intentioned yet misguided efforts, he is the glue that holds this family together. Stepmom Emily (Jenna Elfman, Dharma and Greg, Accidentally on Purpose) is desperately trying to win over the affections of the kids -- including overachieving daughter Becca (Martha MacIsaac, Superbad), who is facing her first lapse of judgment, and twins, Xander (Benjamin Stockham, Sons of Tucson) and Marigold (Amara Miller, The Descendants) -- but the brood somehow manages to stay one step ahead of Emily.

Always in the president's corner is Marshall Malloy (Andre Holland, Friends with Benefits), the savvy and loyal White House Press Secretary, whose biggest challenge is cleaning up after the Gilchrists. Whether it's entertaining foreign dignitaries or sneaking away for a night out, dealing with middle-school crushes or putting out fires, figuratively and sometimes literally, there's never a dull moment inside the Gilchrist White House. It is Modern Family meets The West Wing in this election-year comedy from Emmy-winning executive producer/director Jason Winer (Modern Family). The executive producers are Winer, Josh Gad and Jon Lovett (former White House speechwriter).


Cast Details:

* Josh Gad as Skip Gilchrist
* Jenna Elfman as Emily Nash-Gilchrist
* Martha MacIsaac as Becca Gilchrist
* Andre Holland as Marshall Malloy
* Amara Miller as Marigold Gilchrist
* Benjamin Stockham as Xander Gilchrist
* Bill Pullman as President Dale Gilchrist

Josh Gad (Skip) also serves as an executive producer and co-creator of this series. Gad brings wit, humor and depth to the small and large screens and to theater. He began his career in theater after graduating from the Carnegie Mellon School of Drama. He then turned his sights to comedy and co-created his own comedy group – The Lost Nomads Comedy Troupe. His television credits include Back to You, and ABC's Modern Family, as well as the animated series Good Vibes, where he voiced the character of Mondo. Gad also starred in the title role in Gigi: Almost American. He also recently guest starred on Fox's hit show New Girl. Gad took Broadway by storm starring as Elder Cunningham in the Tony Award-winning comedy musical Book of Mormon, written by the creators of South Park, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, and Tony winner Robert Lopez. Gad was nominated for a Tony, Drama League and Astaire Award, and won the Outer Critic Circle Award for his performance. On the big screen, he will next be seen starring as Steve Wozniak in the highly anticipated Steve Jobs biopic, Jobs, opposite Ashton Kutcher and co-starring in Fox's film The Internship, opposite Will Ferrell and Owen Wilson, which will be released on June 7, 2013.

Jenna Elfman (Emily) is best known for her role as Dharma in the hit sitcom Dharma and Greg, for which she garnered a Golden Globe Award, three Emmy Award nominations and two TV Guide Awards. Other notable television appearances include guest-starring roles on Two and a Half Men, My Name is Earl and Brothers and Sisters. She also starred in short-lived CBS sitcoms Courting Alex and Accidentally on Purpose in recent years. This series marks Elfman's return to situation comedy after critically-acclaimed guest appearances on Shameless and the final season of the award-winning drama Damages, with Glenn Close and Rose Byrne. She appeared in the hit comedy film Friends with Benefits, starring Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis, and her film credits also include Keeping the Faith, opposite Ben Stiller and Edward Norton and Ron Howar's Edtv, opposite Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson.

Martha MacIsaac (Becca) is perhaps best known for her role in Judd Apatow's hit movie comedy Superbad, where she starred alongside Michael Cera. Additional feature film credits include the remake of Wes Craven's The Last House on the Left, the sci-fi thriller The Thaw opposite Val Kilmer, as well as the recently completed Faith, Fraud and Minimum Wage and Dead Before Dawn 3D. She was born and raised in Canada. She began her acting career at the age of 11 on television in the title role in Emily of New Moon. MacIsaac had a recurring arc on Greek and starred opposite Kelly Rowan in the CTV telefilm In God's Country. Additionally, she has lent her voice to numerous animated series including Family Guy, Spyburbia, Friends and Heroes, Magi-Nation and Di-Gata Defenders.

Andre Holland (Marshall) is a veteran of stage. Holland's recent stage credits include All's Well That Ends Well and Measure for Measure at the Public Theatre's Shakespeare in the Park, and The Whipping Man at the Manhattan Theatre Club. Among his television credits are Damages, Burn Notice, Friends with Benefits, Law & Order, and The Black Donnellys.

Amara Miller (Marigold) got her start as an actress as George Clooney's daughter in the Oscar-nominated film The Descendants. Miller enjoys dancing, swimming and riding her bike to school. She is a purple belt in karate and a talented illustrator. Her current project is to organize a fundraiser with classmate Mackenzie Mangan to benefit the Plastic Pollution Coalition to help raise awareness and spark ideas to reduce single use plastics at home and in school lunches.

Benjamin Stockham (Xander) is perhaps best recognized for his role as Robby Gunderson, opposite Frank Dolce and Matthew Levy, on Sons of Tucson. His other television credits include guest-starring appearances on CSI: New York, Criminal Minds and Rizzoli and Isles. From his very first audition for the feature film Quarantine, where he later earned a small but memorable role, Stockham impressed the director with his drive and desire to work. He appeared in a commercial for the investment firm Fidelity, which still airs today. Since then, he has appeared in numerous commercials that have aired nationally.

Bill Pullman (President Gilchrist) is perhaps best known for his role as Jack Callaghan in While You Were Sleeping. His numerous feature films include Spaceballs, Independence Day, where he starred as President Thomas Whitmore opposite Will Smith, Mr. Wrong, Casper, alongside Ellen DeGeneres, The Last Seduction, Singles, Nervous Ticks, A League of Their Own, Sleepless in Seattle, Lost Highway, Lake Placid, Ignition and Scary Movie 4. His television credits include The Tracey Ullman Show, Revelations and Torchwood. He has also appeared in several television movies including Home Fires Burning, Crazy in Love, Mistrial, Merry Christmas George Bailey and Tiger Cruise.


Pilot Plot:

We received three episodes for review. This review will be based on these three episodes.

#1 "Putting Out Fires" (aka "Meet the Parent," Airs Monday, December 17, 2012)
Following a public mishap, Skip (Josh Gad), the First Son of President Gilchrist (Bill Pullman), is ushered back to the White House so he can be kept under careful watch. Meanwhile, President Gilchrist attempts to keep a cool atmosphere when South American leaders visit to discuss a trade agreement. Elsewhere, Emily (Jenna Elfman) tries to make peace with her stepdaughter Becca (Martha MacIsaac), who has a surprise in store for everybody.

The episode was written by Peter A. Knight and directed by Jason Winer.

#2 "Pilot" (Airs Thursday, January 10, 2013)
This episode deals with the aftermath of Becca's "surprise" and the President (and the rest of the world) find out what it is.

The episode was written by Jon Lovett and based on a story by Josh Gad, Jason Winer and Jon Lovett, and directed by Jason Winer.

#3 "Everything's Nice in the Pool" (Airs TBD)
The President tracks down Becca's "baby daddy." Rene Auberjonois guest stars.

The episode was written by Mike Royce and directed by Jason Winer.

Analysis:

The show is about your average family, but they happen to be living inside the White House. The plots are really about family matters and the White House is just a nice backdrop. This is a comedic look at what a large family would do if they were living in the White House. Every family has their ups and downs, and we see that here. We have basically two pilot episodes for this series. The actual pilot will not air until the second airing because NBC made a decision to have a "sneak peek" premiere following the Monday finale of The Voice, so the pilot episode will air as the timeslot premiere in January. Thus, it seems the producers made another episode that sets-up like a pilot in the episode "Putting Out Fires" (aka "Meet the Parent"). I actually like this episode better than the pilot episode itself. It explains everything better and we actually get to know who the characters are. I didn't see this episode before the actual "Pilot" so I was a bit confused on why we are going backwards. But after watching "Putting Out Fires" first, the "Pilot" makes more sense. We get to see how first-son Skip came to the White House from college, where he has been the last seven years. We also get a better sense who the two younger kids are. I also had no idea that Emily is actually the President's second wife, so she is the step mother of all four kids. "Putting Out Fires" makes that more clear. The "Pilot" episode revolves a lot around Becca's pregnancy, and "Putting Out Fires" shows us how it got "leaked." And that episode shows the comedic skills of Josh Gad better.

There is another episode we got for review as well titled "Everything's Nice in the Pool." I assume this will be aired third. It continues the central plot of Becca's pregnancy and we see the President having tracked down the "baby daddy" (that's two words). Rene Auberjonois guest stars in this episode and I kept thinking of his character from Benson, where he worked at the Governor's mansion...now he is working at the White House, but unfortunately he isn't playing Clayton Endicott III. He plays an aide to First Lady Gilchrist in this episode and as always he does a fine job. I really like the performances of Josh Gad as Skip and Martha MacIsaac as Becca in this series so far. Gad steals every scene he is and is very wacky. I just can't imagine a first-son being like this. Fortunately the second son Xander is more sane. Anyhow, Gad is definitely the funniest on this show and you can tell it is more about him than the President. He is especially funny in "Putting Out Fires" and "Everything's Nice in the Pool." Since I saw the "Pilot" first I kept thinking 'who is this guy and why is he so weird?' but he will grow on you. And since you all will see "Putting Out Fires" first, you'll love him at first sight.

I would like to see more chemistry between The President and First Lady. They don't have much interaction yet, which doesn't seem that realistic. We see the President interacting with the kids more and the same goes for The First Lady. Jenna Elfman is however doing a good job in this series so far and Bill Pullman looks exactly like a President type (come on he was also President in Independence Day!). I also think the press secretary Marshall Malloy (one episode said his name was Marshall Mathers through) is very good on this show. He is funny, smart and gets things done. Hopefully the actual press secretary we have at the White House in real life is like him!


Conclusion:

First off, today is Bill Pullman's 59th birthday, so Happy Birthday, Mr. President! This series is NBC's answer to Modern Family but I just don't think it will do anywhere near that series in ratings. It will have a solid sampling following The Voice tonight, but come January it is getting the low-rated and tired The Office as its lead-in. This comedy is going for more of a broad audience and nothing on NBC Thursday goes after a broad audience. NBC would have been better off launching this in September after Go On rather than The New Normal. It would have had a nice two months or so of great press thanks to the Election. I think that was a missed opportunity. Now it is likely going to get lost in NBC's dead schedule this winter, which is a shame.

As for the Modern Family meets The West Wing, that is a fair tagline. However, the show is not there yet in quality of those shows and rightfully so. It has potential but it could get tiresome really quick (think That's My Bush!). Right now the best series dealing with the White House is Scandal and probably Veep. The latter is a comedy so that is more of a fair comparison, but I don't think this show is going after awards like those shows. This show is more broad and wackier. This show knows what it is and NBC is banking on it being a broad success. It is much better than the first-run syndicated sitcom The First Family by a lot, though. I personally did like the show a lot, especially the episodes "Putting Out Fires" and "Everything's Nice in the Pool." The "Pilot" is a little confusing at first, but still had solid laughs. Josh Gad is a star in the making on television and it will be nice to see him shine on this vehicle. I loved his performance last season on the Modern Family episode "Punkin Chunkin" and he will bring that type of energy on this show. The First-Son is front and center of this show! Skip for President!


Final Numbers (out of 5 stars):

Watchability: 3.5/5
Funniness: 3.5/5
Overall: 3.5/5

Discuss the show after you watch it on Monday, December 17 on our message board.

Related Links:

NBC.com Official Site

TV.com

epguides.com

Internet Movie Database

Wikipedia

1600 Penn Photo Gallery

Preview:

From the Gotham Bus Company depot to the Raccoon Lodge, WPIX11 is NY's home for The Honeymooners. New Yorkers have been ringing in the New Year with Ralphie Boy on WPIX11 since 1996, when The Honeymooners Marathon (which began airing on the station in 1976) moved to New Year's Eve. This year, the WPIX11 Honeymooners Marathon of 26 classic episodes begins Monday, December 31, 2012 at 11pm and runs until 4am – with a break for WPIX11 Morning News – then resumes at 9am and runs until 5pm on January 1, 2013 for a total of 13 total hours.

The WPIX11 Honeymooners Marathon featuring our favorite Brooklyn residents Ralph Kramden (Jackie Gleason), Ed Norton (Art Carney), Alice Kramden (Audrey Meadows) and Trixie Norton (Joyce Randolph) will include the following episodes in order of airing: "T'was the Night Before Christmas, "Man From Space," "Pal O'Mine," "Brother Ralph," "Hello Mom," "The Baby Sitter," "A Dog's Life, "Pardon My Glove," "Head of the House," and Alice and the Blonde" from 11pm-4am. Then a five-hour break for the PIX11 Morning News from 4am-9am before more classic episodes air: "TV or Not TV," "Funny Money," "The Golfer," "A Woman's Work is Never Done," "A Matter of Life and Death," "The Sleepwalker," "Better Living Through TV," "A Matter of Record," "The $99,000 Answer," "Mama Loves Mambo," "Please Leave the Premises," "The Worry Wart," "Unconventional Behavior," "Dial J for Janitor," "A Man's Pride," and "Young at Heart." So ring in the new year with Ralphie Boy, New York! The Honeymooners regularly airs on WPIX every Sunday night (early Monday mornings) from 2-4am and the sitcom just had a marathon on Thanksgiving Day.

Gee Wally! This year, the best part of Thanksgiving isn't the turkey, but the 'Beaver' when Antenna TV airs a 27-hour Leave it to Beaver marathon on Thursday, November 22, 2012. Beginning at Midnight ET (9pm PT on Wednesday), Antenna TV - which airs on 70 affiliates across the U.S. reaching 61% of TV households - will air 54 back-to-back episodes of the classic sitcom Leave it to Beaver, featuring America's most traditional family on the day we spend time with our families the most--Thanksgiving!
This quintessential sitcom defines the "golly gee" wholesomeness of 1950s and '60s TV, where dad Ward Cleaver always gets home in time for dinner, mom June cleans the house wearing a dress and pearls, and kids Wally and Theodore (aka the Beav) always learn a lesson by the end of the episode. Wally's friend, Eddie Haskell, causes trouble while kissing up to Mr. and Mrs. Cleaver.

In addition, on Thanksgiving Eve (Wednesday, November 21), Antenna TV will run Thanksgiving themed episodes of Hazel, Father Knows Best, Good Times and All in the Family beginning at 8pm ET through 10pm ET, followed by the famous WKRP in Cincinnati "Turkeys Away" episode, not once, not twice, but FOUR times in a row from 10pm-12am ET!

View an episode list for the entire Leave it to Beaver marathon, plus also a list of the Thanksgiving episodes marathon on Thanksgiving Eve! Stay tuned for information on further holiday Antenna TV marathons as we get closer to Christmas and New Year's! More classic TV is to come, including a brand new addition to the line-up this January!

NBC is giving an upcoming new mid-season comedy a sneak peek next month after the final performance show of the season for NBC's The Voice. That show concludes its third season with a live two-hour finale on Tuesday, December 18 from 9-11 p.m. ET, but the finale also will be preceded with a live, 90-minute final performance episode on Monday, December 17 from 8-9:30 p.m. ET -- which will be followed by a sneak preview of NBC's new comedy series 1600 Penn at 9:30 p.m. ET. We gave you the NBC mid-season 2013 schedule a few weeks ago and none of that is changing, just that we're getting a sneak peek premiere of 1600 Penn on Dec. 17.
1600 Penn stars Bill Pullman (Independence Day), Jenna Elfman (Dharma and Greg) and Josh Gad (Broadway's The Book of Mormon) – and concerns a typical American family who just happen to live in the White House. The series will premiere in its regular day and time a little over three weeks later on Thursday, January 10, 2013 at 9:30 p.m. ET. The sneak peek episode that airs on Dec. 17 will also re-air the night of the premiere (Jan. 10) at 8:30pm.

NBC has announced their 2013 primetime mid-season schedule. Three new series will be making their debuts. 1600 Penn, starring Bill Pullman and Jenna Elfman, is a comedy about a typical American family who just happen to live in the White House. It debuts on Thursday, January 10 at 9:30pm ET/PT. Deception (formerly Infamous) is an intriguing drama starring Meagan Good, Victor Garber, Tate Donovan and Katherine LaNasa. The dark family murder mystery premieres on Monday, January 7 at 10pm ET/PT. Ready for Love is an innovative and dramatic new relationship show about making real connections with executive producer Eva Longoria. It will debut on Sunday, March 31 at 8-10pm ET/PT. Returning favorites include The Biggest Loser, Betty White's Off Their Rockers, Smash, Community, The Celebrity Apprentice, Revolution and The Voice.

Mondays will have a new season of The Biggest Loser that will feature some innovative changes to the format and the return of trainer Jillian Michaels. It will return with a two-night premiere on Sunday, January 6 at 9-11pm ET/PT and Monday, January 7 at 8-10pm ET/PT. It will remain on Mondays until the return of The Voice on March 25. New drama Deception will follow The Biggest Loser at 10pm ET/PT. The fourth cycle of The Voice will debut on Monday, March 25 at 8-10pm ET/PT and Tuesday, March 26 at 8-9pm ET/PT. New coaches Usher and Shakira will be part of the show, which continues its two-night Monday/Tuesday schedule as it did this fall. Hit drama Revolution will return on March 25 at 10-11pm ET/PT. It will conclude its fall run in November, so that will be quite a long break for it.

Tuesdays will have the return of acclaimed musical drama Smash with a two-hour episode featuring Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson on February 5 at 9-11pm ET/PT. It will move February 12 to its regular day and time of 10-11pm ET/PT. A new season Betty White's Off Their Rockers will premiere on January 8 with back-to-back episodes at 8:00pm and 8:30pm ET/PT. Two episodes will air in that hour each week. The Voice will take that timeslot beginning March 26.

No changes for Wednesdays have been announced. As we previously mentioned, Whitney takes over for the canceled Animal Practice on November 14 at 8pm ET/PT. It will be followed by Guys with Kids, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Chicago Fire.

Moving on, Thursdays will have the premiere of the new White House comedy 1600 Penn on January 10 at 9:30pm ET/PT. It comes from co-creator and director Jason Winer, who is an Emmy-winning director of Modern Family. Critical favorite Community returns to its former timeslot of 8:00pm ET/PT on February 7. Parks and Recreation will be moving up one hour to 8:30PM ET/PT on January 17. As we mentioned yesterday, Up All Night is going on a winter break and will be switching to a multi-camera format for its final five episodes of the season. It will return in April/May.

Fridays and Saturdays have no schedule changes announced at the moment. Sundays will have the new relationship series Ready for Love from Eva Longoria. It will premiere on Sunday, March 31 at 8-10pm ET/PT. An "All-Star" edition of The Celebrity Apprentice will debut on March 3 at 9-11pm ET/PT. It will air for two hours for four weeks before shifting to one-hour episodes beginining March 31 at 10-11pm ET/PT.

Several shows will be wrapping up soon. 30 Rock will conclude its 13-episode season with an one-hour series finale. Parenthood is finishing its 15-episode season in January. Premiere dates haven't been announced for the Anne Heche comedy Save Me or the dramas Do No Harm and Hannibal. Stay with us for any updates.

What do you think of NBC's mid-season schedule? Discuss it on our message board.

ABC has given a full-season order to its freshman comedy The Neighbors. The series about a human family living in a neighborhood of aliens has performed decently in the ratings. It has been pretty consistent in its Wednesday timeslot by averaging 6.8 million viewers and beating NBC's new comedy Guys with Kids. Not surprisingly, it does well in the kids 2-11 and teens 12-17 demos.

Sophomore drama Scandal has been picked up for its first full season. The Shonda Rhimes political thriller starring Kerry Washington is doing solid ratings on Thursday nights at 10pm ET/PT. It averages around 8.1 million viewers and a 2.5 rating in the coveted 18-49 demo. DVR use boosts it 45 percent. ABC hasn't announced anything about Nashville, Last Resort or 666 Park Avenue yet. More scripts for Last Resort and 666 Park Avenue have recently been ordered. We'll keep you posted.

Look for our review of the pilot episode of Reba McEntire's Malibu Country tomorrow. It premieres on Friday at 8:30pm ET/PT on ABC.