SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

CBS All Access, CBS' digital subscription video on-demand and live streaming service, announced that production will resume on its new animated variety news series, Tooning Out the News, with the staff and crew working remotely. The series will launch on Tuesday, April 7 in the U.S. and Canada, exclusively on CBS All Access.

Tooning Out the News will feature a cast of animated characters, led by anchor James Smartwood, parodying top news stories and interviewing real-world guests, newsmakers and analysts. New five- to seven-minute segments will be available Tuesday through Friday, culminating in a weekly full episode. The series is executive produced by Stephen Colbert and Chris Licht of CBS' The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and RJ Fried and Tim Luecke from Showtime's Our Cartoon President. Confirmed guests for Tooning Out the News include Dan Abrams, Alan Dershowitz, Donny Deutsch, Thomas Friedman, Nicholas Kristof, Paul Krugman, Rep. Barbara Lee, Olivia Nuzzi, Rep. Donna Shalala and Rep. Eric Swalwell.

The CW Network announced premiere dates for four of its summer series, including scripted dramas Bulletproof and Burden of Truth, as well as the magical Masters of Illusion and Penn & Teller: Fool Us. First up, Masters of Illusion returns for more magical surprises on Friday, May 15 at 8:00pm ET/PT, with back-to-back original episodes on premiere night. Kristin Kreuk is back for season three of the legal drama Burden of Truth on Thursday, May 21 at 8:00pm ET/PT, paired with In the Dark at 9:00pm ET/PT. The second season of the action-packed drama series Bulletproof, starring Noel Clarke and Ashley Walters, will premiere on Wednesday, June 17 at 9:00pm ET/PT. The new season of The CW's hit summer series Penn & Teller: Fool Us debuts on Monday, June 22 at 9:00pm ET/PT, following an hour of improv from Whose Line Is It Anyway? 

Continuing to bulk up its slate of original summer programming, The CW Network has acquired the British action drama Bulletproof from Sky Vision and ordered second seasons of the legal drama Burden of Truth, starring Kristin Kreuk, and the fantasy-adventure series The Outpost; all are set to air in Summer 2019. The CW has also ordered new seasons of the hit magic series Penn & Teller: Fool Us and Masters of Illusion, and the classic improv comedy Whose Line Is It Anyway? for Summer 2019. Premiere dates and times will be announced later.

Mr Inbetween, the new Australian series created by and starring Scott Ryan as the criminal-for-hire "Ray Shoesmith", has been renewed for a second season by FX Networks and FOXTEL. The second season will premiere in 2019, broadcasting day-and-date on FX in the U.S. and FOXTEL, Australia's leading cable network. In Mr Inbetween, Ryan plays "Ray Shoesmith", a father, ex-husband, boyfriend and best friend: tough roles to juggle in the modern age. Even harder when you're a criminal for hire. The six-episode season, written by Ryan and directed by Nash Edgerton, stars Ryan, Damon Herriman, Justin Rosniak, Brooke Satchwell, Jackson Tozer, Nicholas Cassim, Chika Yasumura and Matt Nable. Mr Inbetween aired last night, Tuesday, October 9 on FX with the final two episodes of the first season at 11:14 p.m. ET/PT and concluding at 12:19 a.m.

Well kiss my grits! "There's a New Girl in Town" on the Logo TV network! Alice is now on Logo TV! The hit '70s sitcom joins the schedule beginning today (Monday, April 3, 2017). The series actually premiered this past weekend with a short-marathon, but you can watch it in order from the beginning starting today! Alice will air Mon-Sat in an afternoon stack, with times varying, but usually around 2:30-4:30pm. Alice joins recent addition One Day at a Time on the schedule, which also features Soap, The Facts of Life, Roseanne, Three's Company, Mama's Family, Married...with Children, Green Acres, and All in the Family. Logo is becoming a great network for classic sitcoms from the '60s-90s. In the premiere episode of Alice, settling into a new home in Phoenix with her son Tommy and a new job at Mel's Diner, Alice Hyatt hopes for a big break when a customer claiming to be a Hollywood agent visits the diner. Tune in starting today only on Logo! Remember, early to rise, early to bed...in and between you can cook and clean and watch Alice.

The CW Network has set its summer premiere dates for its returning improv comedy series and magic reality series Whose Line Is It Anyway?, Penn & Teller: Fool Us and Masters of Illusion, as well as the new action-adventure series Hooten & the Lady, which The CW acquired from Sky Vision. The CW's hit improv comedy series Whose Line Is It Anyway? returns beginning Monday, May 29, with all new episodes at 9:00pm ET, followed by an encore episode at 9:30pm ET. The hit series features host Aisha Tyler and cast members Ryan Stiles, Wayne Brady and Colin Mochrie. On Friday, June 30, Masters of Illusion returns with host Dean Cain (Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman) at 8:00pm ET and features astonishing feats of magic performed by cutting-edge illusionists and escape artists, and performers in each episode displaying skills ranging from perplexing interactive mind magic to hilarious comedy routines.

The hit magic competition series Penn & Teller: Fool Us returns with all new episodes Monday, July 10 at 8:00pm ET. Penn & Teller: Fool Us is a one-hour competition series celebrating magic and featuring the legendary duo Penn & Teller. And finally, premiering Thursday, July 13 at 9:00pm ET and spanning eight hour-long episodes, Hooten & the Lady tells the story of two globetrotting treasure hunters who set out to recover priceless legendary artifacts. Encores of Penn & Teller: Fool Us will lead-in at 8:00pm on Thursday nights.

COZI TV is inviting viewers to "get their Munster on" this Halloween season. The national multicast network launched the Munster Stomp, a new, original dance segment that will air on COZI TV and CoziTV.com through Halloween. The network also announced a special, two-day mini-marathon of The Munsters that kicks off Saturday, October 29 at 1 PM and continues to Sunday, October 30 (check local listings). Featuring 24 fan-favorite episodes, COZI TV's Munster-thon will offer fans a full, pre-Halloween dose of the legendary television family, The Munsters. Featuring Fred Gwynne as Herman Munster, Yvonne De Carlo as Lily Munster and Al Lewis as Grandpa Munster, The Munsters regularly airs Monday to Friday at 6 PM ET on COZI TV. The Munster-Thon also includes the first television rock opera, "Auto-Tune The Munsters." Recreating the episode "A Man for Marilyn" and using originally-composed songs, "Auto-Tune The Munsters" creates a first-of-its kind for TV, following in the tradition of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

The CW Network has ordered new seasons of the hit improvisational comedy series Whose Line Is It Anyway? as well as the hit magic series Penn & Teller: Fool Us and Masters of Illusion. The new seasons of these series will return as part of The CW's 2017 Summer schedule, with dates and times to be announced later. Returning for its fifth season on The CW, Whose Line Is It Anyway? features host Aisha Tyler and cast members Ryan Stiles, Wayne Brady and Colin Mochrie. Penn & Teller: Fool Us is a one-hour competition series celebrating magic and featuring the legendary duo Penn & Teller. The series is hosted by actress Alyson Hannigan. Hosted by actor Dean Cain, Masters of Illusion features amazing magic performed by cutting-edge illusionists and escape artists, and performers in each episode displaying skills ranging from perplexing interactive mind magic to hilarious comedy routines.

The CW has announced its summer plans. Continuing its commitment to more year-round original programming, The CW announced its schedule for Summer 2014, including the premieres of unscripted docuseries Famous in 12, comedies Backpackers and Seed, magic series Penn & Teller: Fool Us and Masters if Illusion, all-new episodes of Whose Line Is It Anyway? and the return of the fan-favorite drama Beauty and the Best. On Monday, June 2, the hilarious improv comedy Whose Line Is It Anyway? moves to its new night, with original episodes at 8:00pm ET, followed by an encore episode episode at 8:30pm ET. The romantic drama Beauty and the Best returns with original episodes at 9:00pm ET. All-new reality docuseries Famous in 12 premieres Tuesday, June 3 at 8:00pm ET, followed by repeats of Supernatural at 9. The original half-hour comedy Backpackers premieres Monday, July 14 at 8:30pm ET, following all-new episodes of Whose Line Is It Anyway?. The half-hour comedy Seed premieres Monday, July 14 at 9:30pm ET, following encore episodes of Whose Line Is It Anyway? at 9 when Beauty & the Beast wraps up its batch of new episodes.

On Penn & Teller: Fool Us, premiering Wednesday, July 30 at 8:00pm ET, aspiring magicians are invited to perform their best trick to try and fool the world-famous team of Penn & Teller. Encores of Arrow will follow a 9pm. Hosted by actor Dean Cain (Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman), Masters if Illusion premieres Friday, August 1 at 8:00pm ET with great escapes, fascinating sleight-of-hand and large scale illusions, all in front of a studio audience. Encore episodes of Whose Line Is It Anyway? will air at 8:30pm.


It's Friday, so it is time for "Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows" for the coming week. This is where we list what sitcom stars are appearing on talk shows for the coming week, the stars are both current and past sitcom stars, so this is for all sitcom fans of all eras!
For the week of April 21-25, 2014, we have many current sitcom stars and past sitcom stars on TV talk shows! All times listed are Eastern. So get your DVRs (or whatever you use) ready! Ready? Here is all what you need to know for the coming week!

Monday, April 21, 2014

• Courteney Cox (Cougar Town/Friends) - Watch Courteney on The Late Show with David Letterman at 11:35pm on CBS.
• Jimmie "J.J." Walker (Good Times) - Jimmie appears on The Late Show with David Letterman at 11:35pm on CBS.
• Billy Bob Thornton (Hears Afire) - Billy Bob is a guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
• George Lopez (Saint George/George Lopez) - George stops by The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson at 12:37am on CBS.
• Ari Graynor (Bad Teacher) - Ari visits The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson at 12:37am on CBS.
• Marlon Wayans (The Wayans Bros.) - Marlon is a guest on @midnight at midnight on Comedy Central.
• Bob Saget (How I Met Your Mother/Full House) - Bob is part of the guest panel on Chelsea Lately on E! at 11pm.
• Joseph Gordon-Levitt (3rd Rock from the Sun) - Joseph appears on a repeat of Conan at 11pm on TBS.
• Gillian Jacobs (Community) - Tune in to see Gillian on Watch What Happens: Live at 11pm on Bravo.
• Paul Scheer (The League) - Paul is a guest on a repeat of The Pete Holmes Show at midnight on TBS.
• Christopher Meloni (Surviving Jack/The Fanelli Boys) - Christopher drops by The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
• Brooklyn Decker, Majandra Delfino and Zoe Lister-Jones (Friends with Better Lives) - The women of Friends with Better Lives are guests on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT. Zoe will also be on Pop Sugar Now on TV Guide Network at 6pm and on the next day on their website at noon.
• Drew Carey (The Drew Carey Show/The Good Life) - Drew visits The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
• Andre Braugher (Brooklyn Nine-Nine) - Andre will be on New York Live on WNBC in New York at 12:30pm ET.
• Kirstie Alley (Kirstie/Veronica's Closet/Cheers) - Kirstie throws down a figure-friendly chicken dinner on Rachael Ray, so check your local listings.
• Ted Lange (The Love Boat) - Ted is a guest on a repeat of The Better Show, so check your local listings.
• Brittany Daniel (The Game/That '80s Show) - Brittany shares her story of triumph over non-Hodgkins lymphoma on Home & Family on Hallmark Channel at 10am ET/PT.
• Beau Bridges (The Millers) - Beau appears on The Queen Latifah Show at 12am on BET or on your local stations.
• Toni Collette (United States of Tara) - Toni will be on HuffPost Live.
• Thomas Haden Church (Wings) - Thomas is a guest on HuffPost Live.
• Sofia Vergara (Modern Family/Hot Properties/The Knights of Prosperity) - Sofia visits ABC's Good Morning America between 7-9am.
• James Van Der Beek (Friends with Better Lives/Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23) - James will be on Access Hollywood Live, so check your local listings.
• Holly Robinson Peete (Hangin' with Mr. Cooper/For Your Love) - Holly hosts the Plugged In panel on Access Hollywood Live, so check your local listings.
• Christine Lakin Step by Step) - Christine will be on Big Morning Buzz Live on VH1 at 10am all this week.

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

• Don Rickles (C.P.O. Sharkey/Daddy Dearest) - Mr. Warmth is a guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
• David Duchovny (Californication) - David stops by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:34pm on NBC.
• Cedric the Entertainer (The Soul Man/The Steve Harvey Show) - Cedric visits The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson at 12:37am on CBS.
• Sofia Vergara (Modern Family/Hot Properties/The Knights of Prosperity) - Sofia appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
• Jessica St. Clair and Lennon Parnham (Playing House/Best Friends Forever) - Jessica and Lennon are guests on @midnight at midnight on Comedy Central.
• T.J. Miller (Silicon Valley/The Goodwin Games/Carpoolers) - T.J. guest co-hosts Chelsea Lately on E! at 11pm.
• Ellie Kemper (The Office) - Ellie appears on a repeat of Conan at 11pm on TBS.
• Marlon Wayans (The Wayans Bros.) - Marlon drops by The Arsenio Hall Show, so check your local listings.
• Reno Wilson (Mike & Molly) - Reno discusses his passion for indoor cycle training on Home & Family on Hallmark Channel at 10am ET/PT.
• Wendie Malick (Hot in Cleveland/Just Shoot Me!) - Wendie is a guest on The Queen Latifah Show at 12am on BET or on your local stations.
• Betty White (Hot in Cleveland/The Golden Girls/The Mary Tyler Moore Show) - Betty will be on Larry King Now at 2/5pm PT/ET on Ora.tv and Hulu.
• Gillian Jacobs (Community) - Gillian appears on HuffPost Live.
• Christine Lakin Step by Step) - Christine will be on Big Morning Buzz Live on VH1 at 10am all this week.

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

• Sally Field (Gidget/The Flying Nun) - Watch Sally on The Late Show with David Letterman at 11:35pm on CBS.
• Timothy Simons (Veep) - Timothy drops by The Late Show with David Letterman at 11:35pm on CBS.
• Jim Gaffigan (My Boys/Welcome to New York) - Jim appears on on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:34pm on NBC.
• Tim Allen (Last Man Standing/Home Improvement) - Tim visits Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
• Paul Scheer (The League) - Paul is a guest on @midnight at midnight on Comedy Central.
• Wilmer Valderrama (That '70s Show) - Wilmer stops by The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT. He will also be on Access Hollywood Live, so check your local listings.
• Sarah Hyland (Modern Family) - Sarah chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
• Chris Messina (The Mindy Project) - Chris will be on Pop Sugar Now on TV Guide Network at 6pm and on the next day on their website at noon.
• Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Modern Family/The Class) - Jesse is a guest on Rachael Ray, so check your local listings.
• David Alan Grier (Bad Teacher/Life with Bonnie/DAG) - David appears on The Queen Latifah Show at 12am on BET or on your local stations.
• William Shatner ($#*! My Dad Says) - William will be on Larry King Now at 2/5pm PT/ET on Ora.tv and Hulu.
• Ari Graynor (Bad Teacher) - Ari is a guest on The Couch on WLNY 10/55 in New York between 7-9am.
• Max Charles (The Neighbors) - Max will be on The Couch on WLNY 10/55 in New York between 7-9am.
• Christine Lakin Step by Step) - Christine will be on Big Morning Buzz Live on VH1 at 10am all this week.

Thursday, April 24, 2014

• Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother/Doogie Howser, M.D.) - Catch Neil on The Late Show with David Letterman at 11:35pm on CBS.
• Sarah Hyland (Modern Family) - Sarah appears on The Late Show with David Letterman at 11:35pm on CBS.
• Julie Bowen (Modern Family) - Jim is a guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
• James Van Der Beek (Friends with Lives/Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23) - James stops by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:34pm on NBC. He will also be on Big Morning Buzz Live on VH1 at 10am.
• Zoe Lister-Jones (Friends with Better Lives/Whitney) - Zoe visits The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson at 12:37am on CBS.
• Tom Lennon (Sean Saves the World/Reno 911!) - Tom is a guest on @midnight at midnight on Comedy Central.
• Mary McCormack (Welcome to the Family) - Mary guest co-hosts Chelsea Lately on E! at 11pm.
• Mario Lopez (Saved by the Bell) - Mario appears on Watch What Happens: Live at 11pm on Bravo.
• Brandy Norwood (The Game/Moesha) - Tune in to see Brandy on Watch What Happens: Live at 11pm on Bravo.
• The Cast of Bad Teacher - Sara Gilbert, Ari Graynor, David Alan Grier and Ryan Hansen are guests on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
• Candace Cameron-Bure (Full House) - Candace guest co-hosts The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
• Molly Ephraim (Last Man Standing) - Molly shares behind-the-scenes stories from her show on Home & Family on Hallmark Channel at 10am ET/PT.
• Max Greenfield (New Girl/Modern Men) - Max shares his passion for teaching kids the love of reading and the value of giving back on Home & Family on Hallmark Channel at 10am ET/PT.
• William Shatner ($#*! My Dad Says) - William chats and performs on The Queen Latifah Show at 12am on BET or on your local stations.
• Timothy Simons (Veep) - Timothy will be on HuffPost Live.
• Mayim Bialik (The Big Bang Theory/Blossom) - Mayim is a guest on Access Hollywood Live, so check your local listings.
• Christine Lakin Step by Step) - Christine will be on Big Morning Buzz Live on VH1 at 10am all this week.
• B.J. Novak (The Office) - B.J. is a guest on NBC's Today between 7-9am.
• Jamie Foxx (The Jamie Foxx Show and Sally Field (Gidget/The Flying Nun) - Jamie, Sally and the rest of the cast The Amazing Spider-Man 2 will be on ABC's Good Morning America between 7-9am.

Friday, April 25, 2014

• Michael J. Fox (The Michael J. Fox Show/Spin City/Family Ties) - Watch Michael on The Late Show with David Letterman at 11:35pm on CBS.
• Jamie Foxx (The Jamie Foxx Show) - Jamie is a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:34pm on NBC. He will also be on 106 & Park at 6pm on BET.
• Seth MacFarlane (Family Guy/American Dad!) - Seth appears on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
• Denis Leary (The Job) - Denis is a guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
• Billy Bob Thornton (Hearts Afire) - Billy Bob visits The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson at 12:37am on CBS.
• Brooklyn Decker (Friends with Better Lives) - Brooklyn is part of the guest panel on a repeat of Chelsea Lately on E! at 11pm. She will also be on The Queen Latifah Show at 12am on BET or on your local stations.
• Christine Baranski (Cybill/Happy Family) - Christine visits LIVE! with Kelly and Michael, so check your listings.
• Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen (Full House/So Little Time) - Mary-Kate and Ashley are guests on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
• Kunal Nayyar (The Big Bang Theory) - Kunal visits The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
• James Van Der Beek (Friends with Better Lives/Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23) - James talks about his new CBS sitcom Friends with Better Lives on The Wendy Williams Show at 12am on BET or on your local stations.
• Sally Field (Gidget/The Flying Nun) - Sally chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
• B.J. Novak (The Office) - B.J. talks about his new book, One More Thing: Stories and More Stories, on The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
• Tony Shalhoub (We Are Men/Stark Raving Mad/Wings) - Tony will be on New York Live on WNBC at 12:30pm ET.
• Benjamin Stockham (About a Boy) - Benjamin talks about his career making role on Katie, so check your local listings.
• Wendi McClendon-Covey (The Goldbergs/Rules of Engagement/Reno 911!) - Wendi is a guest on a repeat of The Better Show, so check your local listings.
• Marlon Wayans (The Wayans Bros.) - Marlon appears on The Queen Latifah Show at 12am on BET or on your local stations.
• Zachary Levi (Less Than Perfect) - Zachary will be on Larry King Now at 2/5pm PT/ET on Ora.tv and Hulu.
• Connie Britton (Spin City/The Fighting Fitzgeralds) - Connie is a guest on Access Hollywood Live, so check your local listings.
• Sharon Lawrence (Ladies Man/Fired Up) - Sharon appears on Access Hollywood Live, so check your local listings.
• Christine Lakin Step by Step) - Christine will be on Big Morning Buzz Live on VH1 at 10am all this week.
• Candace Cameron Bure (Full House) - Candace is a guest on Big Morning Buzz Live on VH1 at 10am.
• Suzanne Somers (Three's Company/Step by Step) - Suzanne appears on NewsNation on MSNBC at 11am.

Leave us comments on our message board or Tweet/Facebook us to let us know what you think of this Friday feature! We do listen!

Today we have a special "Seven Questions" interview with the very likeable & nice Lisa Whelchel, who of course played Blair Warner on the hit '80s sitcom The Facts of Life from 1979-88. In 2012, she tied for second place and was voted fan favorite on Survivor: Philippines. This month (Dec. 13), she now co-stars in Tyler Perry's A Madea Christmas, in theatres nationwide. She is also promoting a new workout DVD: Lisa Whelchel's Everyday Workout for the Everyday Woman. It is the first workout DVD from the popular Facts of Life star, Survivor runner-up, author, and mom of three. With the help of her trainer, Lisa leads two inspiring and accessible total-body workouts geared towards beginners with a friendly, encouraging vibe and modifications for ALL levels plus useful personal training tips. The DVD is from Acacia and can be ordered today (since Dec. 3).

We talked to her about the The Facts of Life experience obviously, her Survivor experience, what motivated her to make this workout DVD, if she keeps in touch with her Facts of Life co-stars, how she almost took a role on Hello, Larry instead, and getting back in the acting game, including wanting to get back on a sitcom. Calling all studios and networks, Lisa wants to be on a sitcom! TV Land? ABC? Anyone? Lisa is busier than ever, so let's get right to another installment of "Seven Questions!"

"Seven Questions with Lisa Whelchel of The Facts of Life"



SitcomsOnline: Hello Lisa! Thanks for talking to us. We're longtime fans of yours and The Facts of Life is one of our favorite sitcoms ever! You look amazing at age 50 (which you don't look AT ALL, by the way), so what is your secret of staying and looking young?
Lisa Whelchel: I love it (about Facts of Life)! Thank you very much (about looking great)! I don't think I can take credit for it. I just have good genes. My mom looks young, my grandmother looked young. That's pretty much it (laughs).



SitcomsOnline: And now you have this workout DVD out in stores since Dec. 3! Can you tell us how the idea came about for your workout DVD (Lisa Whelchel's Everyday Workout for the Everyday Woman)?
Lisa Whelchel: Yeah, I was approached by Acacia after being on Survivor. I guess they figured I was in pretty good shape for my age and that maybe I can help other women my age get in shape but I wasn't initially interested in the idea because I thought I was the last person in the world who should make an exercise DVD because I don't enjoy exercise. Then I thought maybe I can make an exercise DVD for women's who don't enjoy exercising then maybe I could pull it off.



SitcomsOnline: You were incredible on Survivor: Philippines as well last year (we thought you were going to win it!). America fell in love with you all over again it seems after watching you on Survivor! If you didn't participate on that show, do you think you still would have worked on making the workout DVD?
Lisa Whelchel: Thank you. Probably not, yeah I think that's how they approached me. I did really work hard to get in shape for Survivor. That show was a million times harder than it looks and that I thought it would be. The elements were tougher...the 17 days of straight rain, the rats, and the bugs...you know, the hunger, all that was harder and even more than that just the emotional conflict of playing the game once you really care about people was a lot tougher than I thought it was going to be as well. And I do think Denise deserved it (to win). She played a good game!



SitcomsOnline: You know we're a sitcom website so we have to mention The Facts of Life! What was it about Blair Warner that you liked the most? And what qualities did you two share and didn't share?
Lisa Whelchel: Well I think the thing I liked about her the most was probably the qualities we didn't share and yet I got an opportunity to (laughs) act that way. You know, I think I would have gotten into trouble if I acted like Blair. My mother would've just punished me (laughs) or grounded me in some way but I got to...let all that kind of, you know, spoiled attitudes come out in the part and it was actually really fun.

SitcomsOnline: Would Blair Warner actually make a fitness DVD you think? I just don't see her working out like that. Are the types of workouts on your DVD so easy that even Blair can do them?
Lisa Whelchel: No, I don't think so (making a fitness DVD)...although she might be more inclined to do my DVD than Jillian Michaels because I think Jillian Michaels actually makes you sweat to the point that your mascara might run and my workout DVD doesn't. So you can grip it and glow, without sweating.



SitcomsOnline: The Facts of Life cast has reunited a few times (a TV movie in 2001 and at the 2011 TV Land Awards), but other than that - do all of you still keep in touch regularly? If you had to pick one person, who is the one that you're the closest to? Can you also share with us how you almost passed on Facts of Life originally for Hello, Larry? You made the right call!
Lisa Whelchel: I keep in touch with all of them, although we're spread out all over the country, so we rarely all get together at the same time and since Nancy McKeon and I have both been living in Texas for the last, you know many years, I've had more opportunities to spend time with her. Yeah, I guess in the second season of Hello, Larry the older sister was let go because of a drug problem so they had to recast her and I auditioned and got the part but it was the same time that I also auditioned for the pilot of The Facts of Life so I had to choose. And I chose the Facts of Life. I think so, too (about her decision). I agree.



SitcomsOnline: Finally, you're back in the acting game! We can't wait to see you in Tyler Perry's A Madea Christmas! Tell us about your experience on that movie and returning to acting in general. We need you back on our TV screens weekly, preferably on a sitcom (TV Land would be good). Any word on that? And thanks for your time--we truly appreciate it! Best of luck!
Lisa Whelchel: I agree totally! You know what, yesterday, my whole family went out to dinner and I went around the table and I said, 'if we were sitting here this time next year, Christmas 2014, you know, what would you like to say that you're thankful that happened?' So everyone went around and some of them said different things and I said 'I would like to say I'm thankful that I finally got to be on another sitcom' so that's probably my biggest thing on my Christmas wish list this year. You know what, I certainly consider anything that looks it was going to be funny and good quality and not terribly filthy (laughs). But I love being on the Tyler Perry movie because it is kind of like a 90-minute '80s sitcom. It is a lot of broad humor and so much fun and it has a good message at the end. And would you tell everybody at Sitcoms Online how much I appreciate, you know, their love and support and I'm very grateful for them!



We definitely appreciate Lisa for taking the time to give us an interview to talk about her workout DVD, her sitcom experience and what she is up to now. She is so very nice and as everyone can tell from reading this interview, she's so humble. We wish her the best and we will continue to see her on TV/movies for many years to come. That'll do it for this installment of "Seven Questions," stay tuned next time for another brand new interview! But first, don't forget to check out Lisa Whelchel all over the web and social media. Follow her everywhere!

• Lisa Whelchel Official Website
• Lisa Whelchel on Twitter
• Lisa Whelchel on Facebook
• Lisa Whelchel on IMDb
• Lisa Whelchel on Wikipedia

Purchase Lisa Whelchel's Everyday Workout for the Everyday Woman on DVD from Amazon.com .

The CW announced its midseason schedule, including the premiere of two new dramas, Star-Crossed and The 100, and the second cycle of the hit comedy/improv series Whose Line Is It Anyway? In February, the futuristic story of an alien/human romance begins with the premiere of Star-Crossed on Monday, February 17 at 8:00pm ET, leading into another epic romance, Beauty and the Beast. The current Monday 8pm timeslot holder, Hart of Dixie, following a brief hiatus will return with a new night and time on Fridays at 9:00pm ET, beginning March 21. In March, the human race returns to planet Earth in the post-apocalyptic adventure drama, The 100, which will premiere on Wednesday, March 19 at 9:00pm ET, following hit drama Arrow. As a result, The Tomorrow People will transport to its new night and time on Mondays at 9:00pm ET, beginning March 17, following fellow new series Star-Crossed. After the March 10 telecast, Beauty and the Beast will go on hiatus and will return to the schedule with original episodes at a date to be announced.

The hit comedy/improv series Whose Line Is It Anyway? will be back with a second cycle on Friday, March 21 with new episodes at 8:00 and 8:30pm ET. Subsequent weeks will feature original episodes at 8:00pm and encore episodes at 8:30pm. Encore episodes from the first season of Whose Line Is It Anyway? will air Fridays at 8:00pm and 8:30pm from February 14 through March 14 to get ready for the new season. Currently airing in the Friday at 8pm slot is The Carrie Diaries, but that will end its season on Jan. 31 after its 13th episode. No word yet if that will be back after this season, so stay tuned. Stay with us for any continued updates on The CW in midseason!

We continue our look at the fall 2013 cable and digital TV schedules today with Comedy Central. They will be adding reruns of Community to its line-up, as we all know. We now have the premiere date and airtimes. The comedy will launch on Comedy Central with a marathon on Sunday, Sept. 15 from 12pm-5pm. Its regular airings will begin on Friday, Sept. 20 with a block from 9-11pm starting with season one. It will air Tuesdays-Fridays as well starting with season three episodes at 4:30pm beginning Sept. 24, replacing one airing of Futurama. So, Tues-Fri at 4:30pm and Fridays 9-11pm. On late Sunday nights (early Monday mornings), Community will air from 3-4am (a replay of one of the Friday hours). Community will also be airing on local broadcast syndication this fall, so check your listings. Leading up to the premiere of Community, Comedy Central will air "Community Fridays" with themed shows and movies. On Friday, Sept. 6, there will be a block of South Park and on Sept. 13 the film Hot Tub Time Machine will air.

Elsewhere, 30 Rock, It's Always Sunny and Philadelphia, South Park and Futurama are among the series that air during weekdays. The network no long is airing Scrubs and 30 Rock has been relegated to just Thursdays from 11:30am-1pm. Originals wise, The Comedy Central Roast of James Franco special will premiere on Monday, Sept. 2 at 10. Tosh.0 and Brickleberry will air new episodes on Tuesdays beginning Sept. 3 at 10. Key & Peele will have its third season premiere on Wednesday, Sept. 18 at 10:30pm. Comedy Central will present a 21-hour South Park marathon beginning at 9pm on Saturday, Sept. 21 and ending at 9pm on Sunday, Sept. 22 (there is only a break from 5-8am). The marathon is to promote the season 17 premiere on Wednesday, Sept. 25 at 10pm.

Discuss the Comedy Central Fall 2013 schedule on our message board.


The TCA Summer 2013 press tour continues and The CW was up yesterday, so we will give you a recap of their announcements. The CW Network has shifted some premiere dates of its 2013 fall season schedule, allowing for additional exposure and time to launch. The series premiere of The Originals will now debut on a special night and time on Thursday, October 3 at 9:00pm ET. The Originals series premiere will follow the season premiere of The Vampire Diaries, which is now bowing one week earlier than previously announced, now on Thursday, October 3 at 8:00pm ET giving The Originals the additional exposure of premiering behind the network's highest-rated series. The following week, The Originals will then move to its regularly scheduled night and time Tuesday, October 8 at 8:00pm ET, followed by the 9th season premiere of Supernatural at 9:00pm ET, also a week earlier than previously announced. An encore of The Originals second episode will air Thursday, October 10 at 9:00pm ET, again following an original episode of The Vampire Diaries. The CW will launch the highly anticipated premiere of its Mary, Queen of Scots drama, Reign, on Thursday, October 17 at 9:00pm ET, a week later than previously announced, allowing for even more time and opportunity to promote the series. In other news, The CW will keep the laughs coming, giving its hit improvisational comedy series, Whose Line Is It Anyway?, a second season order of 24 all-new, half-hour episodes. The premiere date and time for the second season will be announced at a later date. The series returned to the airwaves with a bang this summer, with its premiere delivering The CW's most watched show (2.9 million viewers) in its time period (Tuesday, 8 pm) in nearly five years, and was the network's most watched unscripted series premiere in six years.

There were show panels with the casts and producers of the following series: Whose Line Is It Anyway?, Reign, The Originals, , and The Tomorrow People. Today there will be set visits and Hulu is presenting. The broadcast portion continues tomorrow with Fox up.

ABC and The CW have announced most of their summer 2013 schedules. First up for ABC, three new series are joining the schedule, the innovative procedural Motive, which will have a special debut following the performance finale of Dancing with the Stars on Monday, May 20 at 9:00pm, before moving to its regular night on Thursday, May 23 at 9:00pm; sexy new drama Mistresses (pictured), starring Alyssa Milano, Yunjin Kim, Rochelle Aytes and Jes Macallan, will premiere a week later than initially announced, on Monday, June 3 at 10:01pm; and Whodunnit?, a new mystery reality competition show from Anthony E. Zuiker, the creator of the CSI franchise, which will premiere Sunday, June 23 at 9:00pm. Motive was previously set to have its series preview on Tuesday. May 21 at 10pm following the real Dancing finale, but now Dancing with the Stars: The Finale will be 9-11pm (after a special recap at 8pm) leading into local news (which affiliates love).

These series join returning shows Celebrity Wife Swap, which has its summer premiere on Sunday, June 23 at 8:00pm; Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition, which debuts a new season on Tuesday, May 28 at 8:00pm; season four of Rookie Blue on Thursday, May 23 at 10:00pm; the summer season of What Would You Do? on Wednesday, May 29 at 10:00pm; and an all-new season of Wipeout on Thursday, May 9 at 8:00pm. The Bachelorette will now premiere on Monday, May 27 at 8:00pm instead of the previously announced Monday, May 20 9-11pm premiere. 10:00pm programming for May 20 will be announced soon. New comedy Family Tools, which premieres Wednesday, May 1, is likely going to spill into summer with its 10 episode order, but if it does well, ABC will likely only air 4 in May sweep and hold on to the remaining episodes for a second season. New game show Bet On Your Baby, premiering this Saturday at 8pm, will spill over into summer as well through June 1. Stay tuned for more summer programming updates (including burn-off news for series like Zero Hour and 666 Park Avenue) as ABC might have some more summer series including Nightline Primetime and possibly Secret Millionaire.

For The CW, continuing its commitment to more original year-round programming, The CW has set premiere dates for its new summer 2013 primetime series. The CW's summer slate officially kicks off on Tuesday, July 16 with two all–new half hour shows, including the return of the hit improv comedy series Whose Line Is It Anyway? and the new dating competition Perfect Score. Premiere night will feature back-to-back original episodes of Whose Line Is It Anyway? (8:00-9:00pm ET) and Perfect Score (9:00-10:00pm ET). Starting the next Tuesday, original episodes of Whose Line Is It Anyway? will air from 8:00-8:30pm ET (with encores at 8:30pm), and Perfect Score original telecasts will air at 9:00-9:30pm ET (with encores at 9:30pm ET). You all know what Whose Line is, but Perfect Score puts a unique twist on dating game shows by not only giving players a chance to win a date, but also the opportunity to win cold hard cash -- IF they can successfully identify their perfect match. On Monday, July 29 at 9:00pm ET, the acclaimed reality series Breaking Pointe returns for a second season. And finally, new reality The Hunt will premiere on Wednesday, July 31 at 9:00pm ET. In this intense new wilderness competition, 12 teams of 2 will enter "The Arena," a fenced-in enclosure in the middle of the wild, where they must live for one month and compete against each other for scarce resources.

FEARnet adds a cult favorite to its Tuesday night Twisted Comedy Block with the wildly popular ABC Studios one-hour comedy series Reaper, licensing both seasons of the hour-long series for a complete 31 episode order that ran on The CW from 2007-09. Reaper will be the lead-in program at 9:00 PM ET/6:00 PM PT to FEARnet's original half-hour comedy series Holliston, which premieres its second season that same night at 10:00 PM ET/7:00 PM PT. But wait, reruns are not the only item acquired! In addition to airing the series, FEARnet is producing a half-hour special reuniting some of the original cast and crew in which they will discuss the series' popularity, its finale and their rabid community of fans in a round-table format. Set to appear in the special are series stars Bret Harrison (Sam Oliver), Tyler Labine (Sock) and Ray Wise (The Devil), among others. Hopefully Miss Peregrym (Andi) as well! The quirky series focuses on the life of Sam Oliver (Harrison), a college drop-out who, on his 21st birthday, learns that he now must work as a bounty hunter for the Devil (Wise), as part of a deal made many years ago when Sam's parents offered up their firstborn son in exchange for good health for the ailing father. Tyler Labine (Invasion, Mad Love) and Rick Gonzalez (Coach Carter) play Sam's slacker friends who help him in his new secret double-life of 'reaping' souls, using a Dirt Devil vacuum cleaner as well as other modern household items. Often noted by TV fan websites as a series that was cancelled too soon, Reaper continues to enjoy a thriving community of devoted viewers who have rallied for the series to come back in syndication since its last network broadcast. Stay with us for continued updates!

The Hallmark Channel continues tinkering with their daytime lifestyle block on the schedule. The sitcom reruns are doing fine but their original daytime lifestyle block has struggled. Beginning Monday, March 11, 2013, Home & Family will move from 8-10am to 10am-12pm once again, while Marie and Mad Hungry will move to 12-2pm again instead of 10-12am. The original daytime lifestyle block was airing 8am-12pm but now it will be back to 10am-2pm, so The Golden Girls daytime block is moving back to 8-10am rather than 12-2pm. Hallmark has struggled with the original block since it started with The Martha Stewart Show. Earlier this week they announced another new partnership anchored by an exclusive cable syndication agreement bringing award-winning lifestyle program The Better Show to Hallmark Channel's lineup of daytime lifestyle programming. The Better Show (aka Better TV) currently airs every weekday in more than 160 markets reaching 80 percent of U.S. television households, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Philadelphia, the country's top four television markets. The Better Show consistently ranks No. 1 in its time period in many markets and, as a result of its continuing success, Meredith recently renewed The Better Show for a seventh season. Beginning this fall, The Better Show will air every weekday on the Hallmark Channel during its daytime programming block, which also includes Home & Family and Marie. Each episode will air on the Hallmark Channel a day following the original nationally syndicated show. It is the first cable network distribution agreement for Meredith Video Studios.

With the addition of The Better Show this Fall, it doesn't look like the daytime lifestyle block is going anywhere anytime soon, despite all this tinkering on the schedule. Back to the current schedule, no other changes will be made, so Happy Days, The Brady Bunch, Frasier, Cheers, and I Love Lucy will remain in their current time periods. Only the daytime block of The Golden Girls is moving earlier, as mentioned. As for stunts, look for an I Love Lucy 24-hour marathon on Saturday, April 20, 2013 starting bright and early at 6am! Stay with us for continued updates on The Hallmark Channel's schedule.

The CW is going for laughs this summer by ordering a new take on the hit improvisational comedy series, Whose Line Is It Anyway?, hosted this time by comedian Aisha Tyler (The Talk). Premiere information will be announced at a later time. The CW's Whose Line Is It Anyway? features the return of original improv stars Ryan Stiles, Wayne Brady and Colin Mochrie, who along with a special guest each episode, must put their comedic skills to the test through a series of spontaneous improv games. Prompted only by random ideas supplied by the studio audience and host Aisha Tyler, our four performers must use the little information they have and their wild imaginations to depict different characters and an array of scenes, as well as perform songs. After each round of improvisation, Aisha will dole out points to our four performers and declare a winner at the end of every episode. Based on the wildly successful U.K. format, which also spawned a previous incarnation in the US that ran for eight seasons on ABC, Whose Line Is It Anyway? is executive produced by Dan Patterson, Mark Leveson, Jimmy Mulville, Ryan Stiles and Wayne Brady.

The original Whose Line Is It Anyway? on ABC was hosted by Drew Carey from 1998-2007 and also started as a summer show in August 1998. Last summer, ABC aired a similar series hosted by Fred Willard called Trust Us With Your Life, that had Wayne Brady and Colin Mochrie, but was canceled after 6 episodes. The CW has ordered 10 episodes of this revival of Whose Line Is It Anyway? We'll have premiere date news soon, but can it do better than last summer's Trust Us With Your Life?