SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

Classic Universal Dramas Coming to iTunes

First ABC & Apple announced Desperate Housewives and Lost on iTunes now, classic Universal dramas are among the new shows coming to iTunes! You can buy episodes of many TV series on iTunes for $1.99 per episode. Now you can enjoy Knight Rider, Adam-12, Dragnet, Alfred Hitchcock Presents and many more at your own lesiure. Current NBC series are now also available including Law & Order and The Office. Let's hope we get some classic Universal sitcoms, too! Click here to read the full story.

While that is good, what we are really looking forward to here at SitcomsOnline is In2TV -- which of course is six new TV channels coming to AOL.com featuring over 30 classic Warner Bros. owned series, such as Perfect Strangers and Lois & Clark. We hope to have more information on it, such as the launch date and what episodes of each series.

And finally, as you all probably noticed we will not continue our Sony TV DVD news this week. We also removed the last two news items from this week, as Sony did not want us posting far in advance. The two we posted were not that far in advance so you will indeed have official news very soon. Sorry we can't bring you the rest of the shows, but we can all of course wait for the official announcements in the coming weeks.

Benson Coming to TV Land in June

TV Land has finally made a mention that '80s sitcom Benson is coming! This is the fourth new sitcom that will make its debut since this past July. Benson will premiere on TV Land in June, 2006. I have said many times that TV Land had bought six sitcoms for 2005 and 2006, and now only two sitcoms remain to be announced. TV Land will launch the sitcom with a 48-hour marathon. June is still far away, so more details will follow in the coming months. But this is very good news as Benson has been rarely seen in recent years. It last aired briefly on the syndicated one-hour block The Screen Gems Network a few years back. Share your thoughts and find more information when available right here.

Benson, the popular butler from Soap, takes on a new, challenge—maintaining order in the household of a widowed governor—and the result is a hilarious. Benson has agreed to help Gov. Gatling and his young daughter, Katie, settle into the executive mansion as a favor to Jessica Tate, the governor's cousin. In effect, Benson, who for years has been the only thoroughly sane adult in the Tate household, moves from one very mixed up family to another.

In his new position, Benson, as always, will be his own man and, besides coping with the wild and wonderful interrelationships in the executive mansion, will have time for a personal life of his own. Benson even falls in love. He confronts a lot of bureaucracy, and because of his close friendship with the governor, he often will have the enviable opportunity to cut through overwhelming red tape. By season six, Benson is being elected lieutenant governor, Gretchen Kraus becoming his aide, noted character actress/comedienne Billie Bird joining the cast, and the filming of a special two-part episode in Hong Kong. Although Benson will became the lieutenant governor, he still remains involved in the uproarious activities of the state chief executive's household.

Robert Guillaume stars as Benson. Other stars are James Noble as Gov. Gatling; Missy Gold as his precocious daughter, Katie; Inga Swenson as the formidable housekeeper, Ms. Gretchen Kraus; and Caroline McWilliams as the governor's secretary, Marcy. Rene Auberjonois as Clayton, Ethan Phillips as Pete, Didi Conn as Denise, and Billie Bird as Mrs. Cassidy also star later in the series.

Now that Benson has been announced. As I said before, two other sitcoms remain for 2006. What do you think they will be? I will only give one hint. It will be in the same era as the four that have already been announced (Good Times, Night Court, What's Happening!!, Benson). To share what you think will be coming, click here. Now if Sony can only bring on the DVD of Benson, all will be be even more well!

TV One Sitcom Holiday Week; Kate & Allie Heads on to DVD

TV One will be getting into the Christmas spirit with a week-long event featuring Christmas episodes of sitcoms Amen, 227, Good Times, Martin and In the House. They will air every Christmas episode for those series from Monday, December 19 through Friday, December 23. They will repeat them several times if you miss them. And if you still miss them, then catch an all-day Christmas Eve marathon. Will Reginald VelJohnson spoil Christmas for the Jenkins family on 227? Will Janet Jackson's Penny be fully adopted by Christmas on Good Times? And will there be a miracle on 134th Street on Amen? For that and more tune in to TV One's Sitcom Holiday Showcase! To see the times and episodes of the shows click here.

As we all know Universal is releasing two classic '80s sitcoms on Feb. 14--Charles in Charge and Gimme a Break! And on the Gimme a Break! set we will be getting a season one episode of Kate & Allie. Fans have asked and wondered if this means that Kate & Allie Season 1 is on its way or not? We have found out and the answer is YES! We can expect the first season of Kate & Allie by "late spring 2006." The classic '80s CBS sitcom starred Susan Saint James and the hilarious Jane Curtin. Stay tuned for more information right here and of course on TVShowsonDVD.com when it is official.

Week 11 Ratings Numbers Through Thursday; How the Sitcoms Did

Week 11 numbers (first four nights, Mon-Thu):
Households: CBS: 9.8/14.9; ABC: 8.1/12.4; NBC: 7.9/12.0; FOX 5.0/7.5; The WB: 2.3/3.5; UPN: 2.3/3.5
Total Viewers: CBS: 15.7 million; ABC: 12.49 million; NBC: 12.17 million; FOX 7.98 million; The WB: 3.5 million; UPN: 3.45 million.
Adults 18-49: CBS: 5.2/13.0; NBC: 4.5/11.2; ABC: 4.4/11.1; FOX 3.4/8.4; UPN: 1.5/3.6; The WB: 1.3/3.1.

Analysis: These four days include the last three days of the November sweeps period and the first day of the post-sweeps period. Through Wednesday ABC was on top in all three categories but after a weak showing from the Pope John Paul II Movie, the numbers went down, but still had enough to be second place in households and total viewers over NBC. The Pope movie did terrible, especially in adults 18-49 with only a 1.4 rating, which was on par or even lower than the most recent Night Stalker episode. CBS did better than normal on Monday with its sitcoms thanks to Ray Romano's guest appearance on The King of Queens. The Colts were back on Monday Night Football and gave another very strong performance with over 22.6 million viewers and a very impressive 9.1 adult 18-49 rating. The Colts can draw a crowd! Will they go 16-0? Keep watching! NBC had a ratings suprising on Tuesday with a big crowd for The Biggest Loser 2. No one expected it to be that high. It drew 15.95 million viewers and even more impressive 6.7 adult 18-49 rating. The other big surprise was the classic holiday special on CBS called Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. Yes, I'm sure everyone has seen it at least once. CBS had its best showing for this special in 5 years. 15.8 million tuned in and even a 5.8 adult 18-49 rating. Everything else this week was on par with normal levels.
Days 5 and 6: Friday saw ABC winning in total viewers and adults 18-49 thanks to holiday magic from the classic special Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town and an original holiday episode of AFV. CBS's normal dramas were either in repeats or pre-empted by the Knots Landing Reunion, which only averaged a 5.1 household rating. CBS should have aired that on Thursday instead since the series originally aired on Thursday nights (CSI and Without a Trace were reruns anyway!). Saturday saw NBC winning in total viewers and FOX in A18-49. ABC will come back and win the week in adults 18-49 even after the Thursday bomb. CBS will for sure win by a wide margin in total viewers for the week. Look for ABC of course winning big tonight with some new Home makeovers, some new Housewives and some new Grey. Pope will lose again tonight--this time on CBS.


Monday Sitcoms

• The King of Queens (CBS) - Raymond is back...and he gave this sitcom its highest ratings of the season with 12.92 million and an impressive 4.4 adult 18-49 rating.
  
• How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - Thanks to a better than normal lead-in, this sitcom did very well with 12.27 million and retained 100% of its A18-49 lead-in.
  
• Two and a Half Men (CBS) - 16.53 million tuned in. Not bad because the Colts were on MNF this week.
  
• Out of Practice (CBS) - This sitcom has remained consistent. CBS will remove it for a few months starting in January for The Jenna Elfman Show. If that show does similar numbers or better than OoP, then I'd suggest CBS move this show to Wednesdays at 8 or 8:30.
  
• One on One (UPN), All of Us (UPN), Girlfriends (UPN), Half and Half (UPN) - What NBC had in the '80s on Thursdays is what UPN has now on Mondays--just kidding. But this block is very consistent each week.
  

Tuesday Sitcoms

• According to Jim (ABC) - Only 7.63 for Jim. With American Idol coming next month, Jim better shape-up.
  
• Rodney (ABC) - Say what you want about this show, but the numbers don't lie. Whatever ABC tried after Jim this season, has not worked, except Rodney. It built on Jim with 7.88 million. And as I say that, ABC will try another show here on Dec. 13 (Hope & Faith) for a one time airing.
  

Wednesday Sitcoms

• George Lopez (ABC) - Up against Rudolph on CBS, the vet sitcom still did decent with 7.93 million, but not so decent in A18-49 with probably a season low of a 2.5 rating.
  
• Freddie (ABC) - 8.05 million tuned in with a 3.0 A18-49 rating.
  
• That '70s Show (FOX) -Winning its slot in adults 18-49 among sitcoms with a 3.1 rating, but only 6.58 million overall.
  
• Stacked (FOX) - And Thursdays will help this sitcom? Gimme a break!
  

Thursday Sitcoms

• Joey (NBC) - Finally the day has come! Joey will be gone by January! A repeat this week had 7.32 million.
  
• Will & Grace (NBC) - Can this show jump start a line-up in January? I doubt it but it will slightly be better than what Joey did. 7.63 million tuned in this week for a repeat.
  
• Everybody Hates Chris (UPN) - 4.43 tuned in for a repeat.
  
• Love, Inc. (UPN), Eve (UPN), Cuts (UPN) - It was repeats all around tonight. 2.44-2.62 million was the range here.
  

Friday Sitcoms

• Bernie Mac (FOX) - A new episode, at least I think, did nothing for FOX with just a 2.3 overall rating.
  
• Malcolm in the Middle (FOX) - 2.2 overall rating for an all-new episode. This is WB/UPN territory.
  
• What I Like About You (The WB) - A repeat was dead last. Even when a new episode is on, it is dead last. So what is the difference?
  
• Reba (The WB) - A repeat at 8:30 improved on its lead-in and another repeat episode at 9 p.m. did better.
• Twins (The WB) - The r word again--repeat.
  

Summing it up. Out of Practice, How I Met Your Mother, Two and a Half Men, and The King of Queens were the only impressive sitcoms this week. Everything else was OK (such as Freddie, Rodney) or just plain old terrible (such as Stacked, Bernie Mac, Malcolm in the Middle).

Network Holiday Programming: UPN; Other Notes & News

UPN decks the halls and counts down to the New Year during the month of December for several special holiday themed episodes of its popular comedies and dramas. From Monday, December 19 through Thursday, December 22, UPN will present Everybody Hates Chris-mas week with a favorite episode of Everybody Hates Chris each night at 8:00 p.m.

Holiday episodes include:
Veronica Mars: Called to jury duty over Christmas break, Veronica must sit on a difficult, polarizing case against a pair of affluent 09'er defendants accused of assaulting a young Hispanic woman. Airs Wednesday, December 7 from 9 to 10 p.m. ET/PT

One on One: Stuck in Los Angeles for the holidays, Breanna and Arnaz try to get their roommates into the Christmas spirit whether they like it or not. Airs Monday, December 12 8 to 8:30 p.m. ET/PT

All of Us: Filled with the Christmas spirit, Robert invites Neesee's recently paroled brother to stay with them, but Neesee suspects him of being up to no good. Airs Monday, December 12 from 8:30 p.m. to 9 p.m ET/PT

Girlfriends: After agreeing to share the holidays, Todd offers Toni full custody of Morgan on the condition that she's raised Jewish, but Toni must decide which is more important, custody or religion. Airs Monday, December 12 from 9 to 9:30 p.m. ET/PT.

Half and Half: To boost her spirits from her failing acting career, Big Dee Dee decides to throw herself a big holiday legends ball. Airs Monday, December 12 from 9:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET/PT.

Everybody Hates Chris Christmas Episode: In order to afford a new water heater, Rochelle and Julius must break it to Chris that he won't be getting a Christmas gift. Meanwhile, Tanya finds out there is no Santa Claus. Airs Thursday, December 15 from 8 to 8:30 p.m. ET/PT.

Eve: Arriving home for the holidays, Shelly discovers that one of her mom's favorite students has taken over Shelly's old room and life. Meanwhile, the guys decide to skip Christmas and watch football instead. Airs Thursday, December 15 from 9 to 9:30 p.m. ET/PT.

Cuts: When the salon must stay open for New Year's Eve, Kevin and Tiffany ditch the staff to attend a fabulous party. Meanwhile, the employees left back at the salon get a surprise when Bobby Brown (guest star as himself) stops in to get a haircut. Airs Thursday, December 15 from 9:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Everybody Hates Chris-mas Week:

Monday, Dec. 19 -- In order to afford a new water heater, Rochelle and Julius must break it to Chris that he won't be getting a Christmas gift. Meanwhile, Tanya finds out there is no Santa Claus. Airs at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Tuesday, Dec. 20 -- When Chris befriends Fat Mike, one of the cool kids in his neighborhood, he gets some relief from the area thugs, but their bond is quickly tested when Mike disappears with Chris' bike. Airs at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Wednesday, Dec. 21 -- When Julius and Rochelle decide to have a "date night," they hire a babysitter to watch the kids, but when she keeps leaving to take care of personal business, Chris is forced to cover for her. Airs at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Thursday, Dec. 22 -- Chris must endure a Saturday at the local Laundromat with Drew and Tonya in tow, but he finds his patience tested by the competitive patrons and his siblings' uncooperative behavior. Airs at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Fellow New Yorkers might like to know what local channel won in sweeps in the number one market? Well, of course that would be WABC--the highest rated channel in the country. Eyewitness News, Oprah, Live! With Regis & Kelly, Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy!, and Good Morning America were among the winners in their respective timeslots. Click here to view the full ratings report for New York! It has information on how the evening sitcoms do, such as Seinfeld, The Simpsons, and more.

Anchor Bay passed on information on the Three's Company Season 6 DVD to us late on Thursday and we will share that with you today, if you have not already seen it. As of now, the only bonus material will be an optional audio commentary track on the season premiere episode from director Dave Powers. Also, the Lucille Ball Retrospective on Three's Company will also be included in its original one-hour format. More details here.

Stay tuned next week for some DVD news from Sony! We have a returning sitcom title to announce and a few brand new drama releases!

ABC Mid-Season & Notes; House and Passions Reruns Sold to Cable

ABC has announced more for its mid-season slate. They already announced their Monday changes starting January 9. Today they have given information on the other changes they will be making in January, which will cause changes for Thursday and Fridays nights. Probably the best new sitcom this past development season was Crumbs, and ABC made a wise move by holding off on it until mid-season, because now people will be really hyped up for it. ABC will air Crumbs Thursday nights at 9:30 p.m. starting January 12. ABC also announced that Dancing with the Stars 2 will air in 90 minute installments every Thursday from 8 to 9:30 p.m., so Crumbs will have an excellent lead-in. Stars 2 will have its premiere on January 5 and it will be two hours long. ABC also announced that the half hour Dancing with the Stars 2 Results Show will air Fridays at 8:00 p.m. ABC will move sitcom Hope & Faith up a half hour to 8:30 p.m. and have a new drama called In Justice at 9 p.m. There is no word when Supernanny will return to the schedule. It should return in March.
This is just ABC's January line-up (which will air through February too) and I'm sure come March, there will be more changes because Dancing with the Stars 2 will be over by then and ABC also has returning sitcom Less Than Perfect, returning drama Alias, new sitcom Sons & Daughters, new dramas What About Brian & The Evidence, and reality shows and specials in The Miracle Workers, Supernanny, This Is Your Life, & Extreme Makeover coming this mid-season. ABC is really packed this mid-season and these shows will be ready to go whenever needed. ABC Thursdays and Fridays will be well improved come this January. This is a step in the right direction and please watch Crumbs, it is a hilarious sitcom and is better than My Name is Earl on NBC (which will also air Thursdays this mid-season, but at 9 p.m.--what an hour that will be My Name is Earl at 9 and Crumbs at 9:30--though on two different networks). For the full January and February changes and descriptions of new shows Crumbs and In Justice, click here.

Other ABC notes: They announced they will air a holiday episode of Hope & Faith on a special night and time on Tuesday, December 13 at 8:30 p.m. Rodney fans, not to worry, the holiday Rodney episode will now air Tuesday, December 20 at 8:30 p.m. This must mean ABC is testing to see if Hope & Faith can handle a Tuesday slot. Rodney has done very decent for them holding much of According to Jim's audience and even building on it some weeks.

The Fox drama House has been sold for rerun airings to USA Network/Bravo starting in fall 2008. The drama is also expected to be sold to local channels for weekend airings in fall 2008 as well. The NBC soap opera Passions has been sold for reruns to the Sci-Fi Channel. Sci-Fi Channel will start airing the show weekday mornings at 9:00 a.m. starting Monday, February 6. No further details are available just yet.

In Memoriam: Wendie Jo Sperber and Macon McCalman; Mid-Season for FOX and NBC

We have lost two sitcom stars this week. First, Wendie Jo Sperber lost her life on Tuesday after an eight year battle with breast cancer. Sperber is best remembered as playing Michael J. Fox's character's sister in the Back to the Future films, but she also co-starred in many sitcoms including with Tom Hanks in Bosom Buddies, Private Benjamin, Women in Prison, Babes, and with John Ritter and Billy Bob Thornton in season one on Hearts Afire. She also has guest starred on many sitcoms such as Designing Women, Parker Lewis Can't Loose, Married...With Children, Murphy Brown, and Will & Grace. Even with breast cancer, she continued to work landing guest appearances on multiple episodes on the John Ritter sitcom 8 Simple Rules.
After being diagnosed with breast cancer in 1997, the actress became an advocate for cancer care. In 2001, she founded the weSPARK Cancer Support Center, which provides free emotional support, information and social activities for individuals and families affected by cancer.
Sperber helped unveil and promote a breast cancer stamp for the U.S. Postal Service in 1998. Ms. Sperber was 46 years old.

We have also lost sitcom veteran Macon McCalman. The name might not sound familiar, but he has been around for a long time. He never starred in a sitcom as a regular but he had many guest appearances on many sitcoms. You might remember him as Janet Wood's father on Three's Company and before that he played the boss hitting on Chrissy also on Three's Company, he also played the racist club president on an episode of Diff'rent Strokes, he played a dentist on Perfect Strangers where chaos happened after Larry & Balki visited, and you might remember him as the minister who married Eunice and Dutch on Soap. He also visited shows like Lois & Clark, Maude, The Jeffersons, The Bob Newhart Show, Family Ties, Newhart, Designing Women, Fresh Prince, The Wonder Years, and Cheers. What a resume he had. He retired from the business in 1997 after having a heart attack. "The ultimate character actor" died Tuesday after having a series of strokes over the years. "Sonny" was 72 years old.

FOX has announced its mid-season schedule and American Idol results show will stay put on Wednesdays after all. Among the changes include the moving of Wednesday sitcoms That '70s Show and Stacked to a tough Thursday at 9 p.m. slot. FOX will also air a reality show with celebrities ice skating, titled Skating with Celebrities. You'll see Todd Bridges of Diff'rent Strokes on this! For the full line-up for FOX mid-season, click here.
NBC has also released their mid-season line-up and they will return to a four comedy night on Thursdays, but Joey will not be on it! NBC says Joey will return in March. The next installment of The Apprentice will too. New sitcom Four Kings will air Thursdays at 8:30 p.m., with Will & Grace moving to 8 p.m. and My Name is Earl and The Office will move from Tuesdays to Thursdays. And Scrubs returns on Tuesday nights for a full-hour! For the full line-up for NBC mid-season, click here.
Meanwhile ABC has quietly removed the repeat broadcasts for Hot Properties on December 16, 23 and 30 and replaced it with original episodes. So, this is good news as ABC will indeed air all 13 episodes of this series. The next episode will air December 9--so tune in!

What's Happening!! Leads TV Land to Highest Rated Month Ever; More On the '80s Sitcoms Coming to DVD from Sony & Universal

The classic '70s sitcom What's Happening!! gave TV Land a boost in the ratings in November and helped the network get their highest ratings ever for a month. Good Times, The Andy Griffith Show and Little House on the Prairie were some of the other shows that continue to do well. Among the highlights were:
* What's Happening!!, one of the coolest comedies of the 1970s, launched on Saturday, November 5 with a 48-hour marathon. The showcase averaged a 0.7/628,000, up +75% in rating and delivery versus year ago. Among total viewers, the marathon attracted an average of nearly 1 million, up +41% over last year. The series is also posting ratings gains in its regularly scheduled timeslot of 11 p.m. ET/PT daily, averaging a 0.5/435,000 among Adults 25-54, up +25% over last year. Among total viewers, it is attracting an average of 786,000 total viewers.
* Good Times, which airs every night from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. with back to back episodes, is averaging a 0.5/523,000, up +11% in delivery over last year among A25-54. It is drawing an average of 1.1 million total viewers, up +19% over 2004.
To read the full press release click here.

We have yet another DVD scoop for you! Yes, both TVShowsonDVD.com and I have already told you about Archie Bunker's Place and Diff'rent Strokes for Sony and Charles in Charge and Gimme a Break! for Universal, but now we have a first look on the extras! Unfortunately for Archie Bunker's Place season one and Diff'rent Strokes season two, there will not be any. The back cover art was released today for both and it did not indicate any special features. Click here to view the back art for Diff'rent Strokes and here for Archie Bunker's Place.
Now for the extras on the Universal sitcoms! We were very surprised that there will be some extras on BOTH Charles in Charge season one and Gimme a Break! season one. In fact for Gimme a Break! an episode from season one of the '80s sitcom Kate & Allie will also be included! We are very excited and pleased to let you all know. We hope this means a season one DVD release of Kate & Allie is in the works! Both Charles in Charge and Gimme a Break! will have a half hour featurette on '80s sitcoms and a season two episode preview for each series. Click here to read the full list of extras--this is a first look!

3 Shows Canceled Including 'Hot Properties'; 'Still Standing' Episode Order Cut

Three network shows have been told to halt production after only 13 episodes--two dramas and a sitcom. The dramas are FOX's Reunion & CBS's Threshold, and the sitcom is ABC's Hot Properties. Reunion has struggled following The O.C., after a decent start. FOX has not given word yet if they will air all or some of the unaired episodes in December. CBS moved Threshold to Tuesdays at 10 p.m. last week and it was a total bomb, so CBS will air an encore of Criminal Minds there tonight for the last Tuesday of November sweeps. As with Reunion, CBS has not given info yet if it plans to air the remaining episodes of Threshold. Threshold did average in its original Friday 9 p.m. slot, but when they moved drama Close to Home in that slot, that show did much much better.
As for the sitcom Hot Properties, ABC plans to air at least the Christmas episode (episode 9) on December 9. There is no word yet if ABC will air the other few episodes in the following weeks, because ABC had scheduled reruns of the show the rest of that month. The cancelation of Hot Properties marks the first time in at least four seasons that ABC canceled a fall sitcom this early. Believe it or not I'm with Her, Married to the Kellys and It's All Relative all lasted a full season, with the latter having made 22 episodes but a few were unaired. Complete Savages also lasted longer with 19 episodes.
So, what will replace these three shows eventually? They have not announced that information yet, but come January American Idol is coming back to FOX, and there is word that FOX might move the results show from Wednesday to Thursday. CBS will probably air encores of crime dramas for a while for Threshold and maybe the new drama The Unit by March. ABC will probably go with three choices, the most logical one would be to air the half hour Dancing with the Stars Results Show in place of Hot Properties (or switch Hope & Faith to 9:30 p.m. and have the Stars Results at 9). They can also bring back veteran sitcom Less Than Perfect and air it in its old slot or they can try new sitcom Crumbs here, too. I would prefer ABC air Stars Results on Fridays and have Crumbs/Less Than Perfect take the 9 p.m Thursday hour, which the canceled drama Night Stalker once aired.

Finally, CBS has cut the episode order for Still Standing from 22 to 18. It makes a lot of sense and this probably means this will be the last season of this struggling sitcom. 19 episodes will aie actually this season, since one is left over from last year.

Cheers Star in New TV Spots; TV DVD News

TV's favorite mailman is back in all-new TV spots! Yes, John Ratzenberger from Cheers! This time he will be doing business with a bank! Diccicco Battista Communications has launched a new brand campaign for Lititz-based Susquehanna Bank. The campaign - "A Smarter Way to Money" features television commercials narrated by John Ratzenberger.
The TV spots take an unusual approach. Instead of using traditional actors, they use a smooth, geometric animation and Ratzenberger's "everyman" voice to encapsulate Susquehanna's position that it can make anyone's money work for him or her. You can find more information on their website.

We have some DVD scoops for you. Fans of the drama JAG found out from us that season one is on its way sometime in 2006--but now we have more news! Its spinoff, Navy NCIS, which currently is in its third season on CBS, is also headed to DVD sometime in 2006! Could both be paired up? Imagine if those two and The Sentinel are out the same day!

Anchor Bay April 2005 has sitcom Doogie Howser, M.D. Season 4 on April 18 and the drama Hunter with its fourth season on April 4. We don't have any other titles as of now for April, so that might be it. If their pattern continues then I would also expect Silk Stalkings Season 5 this month, but I have heard nothing on it yet.

Network Holiday Programming: The WB; Week 10 Ratings

The WB will kick off their holiday programming with a special movie, Felicity: An American Girl Adventure. Note, this has nothing to do with the series that aired on The WB some years back, at least I don't think.
A World Premiere Movie Based on the Popular American Girls Doll Series -- This heartwarming family drama centers around the life of spunky, strong-willed Felicity Merriman (Shailene Woodley), a ten-year-old girl growing up in colonial Williamsburg. Oscar winner Marcia Gay Harden and Smallville's John Schneider also star. Airs Tuesday, November 29 at 8 p.m. and encores Sunday, December 4 at 8 p.m.

Grandma Got Run-Over By a Reindeer: An Animated Christmas Special Based On The Hit Holiday Song -- Based on the hit song that became a worldwide holiday phenomenon, this goofy and heartwarming adventure features young Jake Spankenheimer on the quest of a lifetime to track his missing grandma down on Christmas Eve and prove that Santa Claus is indeed real. Michele Lee (Knots Landing) provides the voice of Jake's greedy Cousin Mel and recording artist Elmo Shropshire provides the narration. Airs Sunday, December 11 at 7:30 pm. ET/PT.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas: The Animated Holiday Classic Returns to The WB -- The Grinch plots to ruin Christmas for the holiday-loving Whos of Whoville. But while he's stealing their presents and roast beast, he learns a most unexpected lesson about the holiday. Airs Wednesday, December 14 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

A Scooby Doo Christmas: When the Scooby Gang stumbles upon the quaint town of Winter Hollow, they quickly discover that strangers are not welcome and Christmas is not discussed due to a ghostly headless snowman that appears every Yuletide to destroy people's houses, along with their holiday joy. To Shaggy and Scooby's dismay, Fred, Daphne and Velma decide to spend a chilling Christmas Eve at the local inn to solve the mystery of the snowman and bring the spirit of Christmas back to Winter Hollow. Airs Friday, December 16 at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT.

Samantha: An American Girld Holiday: A Holiday Special Based on the Most Popular American Girl Doll --"Samantha: An American Girl Holiday" stars Mia Farrow, Anna Sophia Robb, Kelsey Lewis, Jordan Bridges and Rebecca Mader. The movie focuses on 9-year-old Samantha Parkington™, an orphan who lives with her wealthy grandmother in Mount Bedford, New York in 1904. Samantha is one of the three original American Girl® characters, as well as the most popular doll in the collection. Airs Sunday, December 18 at 5:30 p.m. ET/PT

The Wizard of Oz: The Beloved Family Classic Based On The Novel By L. Frank Baum -- When a tornado sweeps Dorothy Gale (Judy Garland) away from her Kansas home and off to the magical land of Oz, located "somewhere over the rainbow," she is befriended by a Scarecrow (Ray Bolger), a Tin Man (Jack Haley) and a Cowardly Lion (Bert Lahr), who help her avoid the Wicked Witch of the West (Margaret Hamilton) as they travel down the yellow brick road to see the Wizard (Frank Morgan), whom they believe can help Dorothy return home. The film was directed by Victor Fleming and King Vidor and written by L. Frank Baum, Noel Langley, Florence Ryerson and Edgar Allan Woolf with original music by Harold Arlen and lyrics by E.Y. Harburg. Airs Sunday, December 18 at 7:30 p.m. ET/PT.

The WB has not released yet if their series programming will have holiday episodes. So you'll have to check back with us if shows like Twins and Reba will have a holiday episode. And as of now, UPN has no holiday programming and they also have not released if their series will have holiday episodes. So stay tuned!

Now to the ratings game. I do not have the final numbers for Wednesday and on (thanks to the holiday weekend), so I can't show you how the networks did the first four days, but I can still break down the sitcoms that aired this week.

Monday Sitcoms

• The King of Queens (CBS) - 10.98 million tuned in and a 3.7 A18-49 rating.
  
• How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - Solid, but slightly down from lead-in. 10.29 million and 3.6 A18-49 rating.
  
• Two and a Half Men (CBS) - Up from last week's 15.17 million to 15.74 million. And a sitcom leading 5.2 A18-49 rating for the week.
  
• Out of Practice (CBS) - Has been much better lately, 13.26 tuned in. Pretty good retention from lead-in. And a 4.3 A18-49 rating. I hope the hiatus in January and February won't hurt this sitcom.
  
• One on One (UPN), All of Us (UPN), Girlfriends (UPN), Half and Half (UPN) - Consistent again, between 3.3-3.9 million.
  

Tuesday Sitcoms

• My Name is Earl (NBC) - Up from previous week to 12.22 million.
  
• The Office (NBC) - 8.09 million tuned in, over 4 million drop from lead-in. Concerning for NBC.
  

Wednesday Sitcoms

• Still Standing (CBS) -With ABC and FOX airing a special and a movie, this was the only sitcom in the half hour. It should have done better, but it didn't.
  
• Yes, Dear (CBS) - Same as above.
  

Thursday Sitcoms

• Joey (NBC) - Yes, I know it is Thanksgiving Day, but Joey had its lowest ratings ever probably. Why did NBC air an original on Thanksgiving? Do they think this show is like Friends? People want to watch Charlie Brown on Thanksgiving, not Joey-- and they did, as ABC beat NBC in this half hour.
  
• Will & Grace (NBC) - Not what it once used to be. I know it was Thanksgiving Day, but still, the rating was below a 4.
  
• Everybody Hates Chris (UPN) - I don't have final numbers, but UPN was dead last in the 8 p.m hour.
  
• Love, Inc. (UPN), Eve (UPN), Cuts (UPN) - 9 p.m. hour average was only a 1.2. Yes, I know it is Thanksgiving and sweeps, but UPN should have aired a special instead.
  

Friday Sitcoms

• What I Like About You (The WB) - A repeat, but dead last in its slot.
  
• Reba (The WB) - A repeat at 8:30 improved on its lead-in.
• Hope & Faith (ABC) - ABC should have aired a repeat or a special since no one wants to watch sitcoms on the holiday weekend, as NBC found out last night.
  
• Hot Properties (ABC) - See above.
  
• Twins (The WB) - A repeat that was dead last in its slot.
  

Summing it up. My Name is Earl, Out of Practice, How I Met Your Mother, Two and a Half Men, and The King of Queens were the only impressive sitcoms this week--maybe because they aired pre-Thanksgiving. Everything else was pre-empted or in reruns or did terrible on holiday airings (Joey, Will & Grace, Hope & Faith, Hot Properties).

Network Holiday Programming: FOX

Continuing our holiday programming look at the networks, we look at FOX today.

FOX starts it all off with a reality special titled Dear Santa.
With Special Guest Appearances by Clay Aiken & Raven Simone, Dear Santa is a one-hour unscripted holiday special featuring the dramatic and heartwarming stories of children whose letters to Santa will be answered with the help of some very special guests. The U.S. Postal Service teams up with some of today's hottest stars to share some dramatic stories including a girl who wants to make the holidays special for needy children, a young boy who dreams of a safe place to skate, a little girl who hopes her dad will come home for the holidays from his military duties abroad and a girl who wants to further her education on Dear Santa airing Friday, Dec. 9 (8:30-9:00 p.m. ET/PT).

Malcolm in the Middle Holiday Classic: In an encore holiday episode, Broke, Hal and Lois decide that all the Christmas gifts must be homemade. When Hal realizes Lois and the boys have made bigger and better gifts, he fibs about the fabulous present he has in store for them and takes the family on a wild goose chase. Meanwhile, Malcolm feels like his brothers are alienating him and Francis returns home with startling news on the episode "Hal's Christmas Gift" Sunday, Dec. 9 (9:30-10:00 p.m. ET/PT). And for those in the west coast ONLY, a special airing again on Sunday, Dec. 18 (7:00-7:30 p.m. PT).

Bones Christmas: Construction workers find a skeleton in an old fallout shelter from the 1950s and the Jeffersonian is brought in to help identify the remains. When Zack cuts into the bone, he accidentally releases spores of the deadly fungus Valley Fever, causing the team to be quarantined in the lab over Christmas. While everyone tries to maintain the holiday spirit, Brennan buckles down to solve the mystery of the fallout shelter. Booth and Brennan’s team are reminded that this is a rough time of year for Brennan, since her parents went missing right before Christmas when she was a kid. As Brennan works to bring closure to the family of the missing man – something she has yet to receive about her own parents – the time spent together in the lab provides the catalyst for revealing information about all of them in “The Man in the Fallout Shelter” airing Tuesday, Dec. 13 (8:00-9:00 p.m. ET/PT)

The O.C. Holiday Episode: After the gang spends hours picking out the perfect Christmas trees, they devise a special plan to help a friend in need. Meanwhile, the holidays bring out a somber Summer who misses her mom, and Johnny's sudden misfortune forces him to take matters into his own hands. Kirsten, meanwhile, puts the past behind her and reaches out to Julie Cooper. And when a reminiscing Seth vows to put a little "mukkah" into Ryan’s "chris," Ryan gets Bar-Mitz-vahkkahed on the third annual O.C. "Chrismukkah" episode, "The Chrismukkah Bar Mitz-vahkkah," airing Thursday, Dec. 15 (8:00-9:00 p.m. ET/PT)

Cops Go Ho Ho Ho!: When Detective Jason Lando of the Pittsburgh, PA, Bureau of Police investigates suspicious activity in a parking lot frequented by drug users and prostitutes, the parked driver claims to be waiting for her daughter. As the investigation continues, officers recognize the driver’s daughter as someone they encounter frequently. The shaky young girl is found with drug paraphernalia and the situation becomes very emotional as she is detained in front of her mother. On the other side of the country, Sgt. Tom Jenkins of the Las Vegas, NV, Metropolitan Police Department stops a young female behaving suspiciously on the legendary Las Vegas strip. After the female suspect lies to Sgt. Jenkins, she eventually breaks down and admits to working the streets. Another segment features Officer Derek Bishop of the Spokane, WA, Police Department, responding to a call where a female suspect claims to be hitchhiking. Although she was ticketed several weeks before for prostitution, she maintains her innocence. When officers begin to question her credibility, some arresting surprises surface and the suspect attempts to bargain with officers on COPS: HO HO HO! SPECIAL EDITION #3 airing Saturday, Dec. 17 (8:00-8:30 p.m. ET/PT). Last season's Ho Ho Ho! Special Edition #2 follows at 8:30 p.m.-9:00 p.m. ET/PT.

MADtv is in the Holiday Spirit: Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother) plays the new boss when “Sean Gidcomb” (Michael McDonald) decides to leave the office on an all-new holiday episode of MADtv airing Saturday, Dec. 17 (11:00 p.m.-Midnight ET/PT)

King of the Hill Christmas: When an elderly stranger, Ms. Wakefield (Marion Ross), visits the Hill residence during Christmas, Hank is thrilled to show her his house since it was also her childhood home. However, when Ms. Wakefield announces that she wants to die in their house, Hank and Peggy want nothing more than for her to leave. Ms. Wakefield proves to be more difficult to put off in the ”Ms. Wakefield” airing Sunday, Dec. 18 (7:30-8:00 p.m. PT) -- Note West Coast ONLY.

The Simpsons Christmas Episode: The Simpsons deliver holiday cheer in this Christmas-themed trilogy. In “The First (Annoyed Grunt) – El,” when Reverend Lovejoy’s car breaks down en route to Christmas mass, Homer takes over the sermon and delivers his version of the birth of Christ (Bart) to his parents Joseph (Homer) and Mary (Marge). “I Saw Grampa Cussing Santa Claus” finds Grampa reminiscing about his daredevil days as a WWII fighter pilot, when he was stranded on an island alongside his gunner, Burns. Grampa recalls mistaking Santa Claus for an enemy aircraft and gunning him down from the sky. Realizing their mistake, Grampa helps Jolly Ol’ St. Nick to safety, only to have Burns steal the sleigh and escape the island – leaving Grampa stranded again. The final installment, “The Nutcracker … Sweet,” which finds the townspeople of Springfield preparing for Christmas Day, is set to the tune of the famed “Nutcracker” ballet on “Simpsons Christmas Stories” Sunday, Dec. 18 (8:00-8:30 p.m. ET/PT).

FOX has only released information thru 12/18. If they have anything else special, we will post it here. Stay tuned!

Breaking News: Pat Morita Passes Away at 73; Network Holiday Programming: NBC

Before we continue to our holiday programming feature, we have some bad news to report. Actor Pat Morita passed away yesterday from natural causes. Morita was best known for his role of Arnold on the sitcom Happy Days and Mr. Miyagi in The Karate Kid films. Morita was a well known fixture on many sitcoms as a guest star, too. He made his start on sitcoms on an episode of Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. in 1967. Some of the other sitcoms he guest starred on are The Courtship of Eddie's Father, Love American Style, Green Acres, The Odd Couple, The Bob Newhart Show, M*A*S*H, Welcome Back Kotter, Chico and the Man, The Love Boat, Laverne & Shirley, Fresh Prince, Family Matters, The Hughleys, Yes Dear, and as Ah Chew on Sanford & Son. He was everywhere and was a very funny man. He recently appeared on ABC's 30th Anniversary Reunion for Happy Days back in February. He still has a few independent movie roles still to be released. He will for sure be missed. Pat Morita was 73 years old. Click here to read the AP story.

Today we will move on to NBC. NBC will kick their holiday season off with the annual Christmas in Rockefeller Center on Wednesday, November 30, the last day of November sweeps.

Christmas in Rockefeller Center is a star-studded, one-hour special broadcast live from Rockefeller Center in New York City and celebrates the lighting of the world’s most famous Christmas tree. The popular musical lineup for the special will include a mix of current hits and favorite holiday music. Airs Wednesday, November 30 from 8 to 9 p.m. ET/PT

The Happy Elf -- NBC makes this Christmas memorable by celebrating the holiday season with Grammy-winning performer Harry Connick Jr. (NBC’s Will & Grace), starring in his first ever CGI-animated family holiday special, The Happy Elf. Connick provides the voice for the animated narrator who tells the story of Eubie the Elf, one of Santa’s helpers whose overly enthusiastic, rose-colored view of the holiday season is put to the test when he sets out to bring Christmas joy to a dreary town called Bluesville. The Happy Elf also stars the talented voice cast of Carol Kane, Lewis Black, Mickey Rooney and Rob Paulsen. This holiday event also includes all new original holiday songs written and composed by Connick. Airs Friday, December 2 from 8 to 9 p.m. ET/PT followed by a Christmas themed episode of Three Wishes from 9 to 10 p.m. ET/PT.

Sitcom Christmas Episodes of My Name is Earl and The Office. For Earl, “White Lie Christmas” -- As the holiday season nears, a few secrets are exposed when Earl (Jason Lee) attempts to cross number 74 off of his list: "always ruined Joy's Christmas." Earl, Randy (Ethan Suplee), and Catalina (Nadine Velazquez) enter a radio contest to win a brand-new car for Joy (Jaime Pressly) to make up for all of the thoughtless Christmas presents Earl gave her while they were married. While Randy and Catalina vie over the car, Earl finds out that Joy's parents believe that he's still their son-in-law -- and that he's just returned from the war in Iraq. Joy is afraid to tell her father, an alleged racist, that she is now married to Darnell (Eddie Steeples), prompting Earl to play the part. For The Office, “The Christmas Party” -- Morale at the office Christmas party hits an all-time low after Michael (Steve Carell) suggests a game of “Yankee Swap” with the $20 secret Santa gifts -- and everyone vies for the iPod he bought for Ryan (B.J. Novak). In an effort to raise his staff’s sagging spirits, Michael introduces vodka shots and things liven up while Jim (John Krasinski) worries that the sentimental gift he got for Pam (Jenna Fischer) will end up in Dwight’s (Rainn Wilson) hands. The hour airs on Tuesday, December 6 from 9 to 10 p.m. ET/PT.

E-Ring Christmas: "Christmas Story" -- On Christmas Eve, JT (Benjamin Bratt) works in Special Ops on a humanitarian relief mission to help an Afghan village that helped Delta several years ago and now finds itself confronting bad weather and an advancing Taliban force – and help must come from unusual places to make the mission work. Meanwhile, Samantha (Kelly Rutherford) meets JT's father who needs a favor, much to JT's dismay. Dennis Hopper and Aunjanue Ellis also star. Airs Wednesday, December 7 from 8 to 9 p.m. ET/PT.

Will & Grace and ER Holiday Episodes: For Will & Grace, “A Little Christmas Queer” -- The gang spends the holidays at the house of Marilyn Truman (guest star Blythe Danner) while Grace (Debra Messing) and Will's (Eric McCormack) brother share some holiday romance. In addition, Will's 10-year-old nephew is clearly gay -- and it bothers Will that his mother Marilyn is more tolerant towards the boy than she was of her son. Sean Hayes and Megan Mullally also star. For ER, “All About Christmas Eve” -- After a little girl is mistakenly shot, Drs. Pratt (Mekhi Phifer) and Weaver (Laura Innes) desperately try to bring her back to life while Nurse Haleh (Yvette Freeman) holds her annual choir tryouts and everyone is surprised at who is chosen to sing the solo. In addition, Eve (Kristen Johnston) crosses the line with a patient and causes management to get involved. Abby (Maura Tierney) and Dr. Kovac (Goran Visnjic) exchange Christmas gifts but, Abby's gift for him is bigger than expected. Shane West, Parminder Nagra, John Leguizamo and Linda Cardellini also star.
Will & Grace airs at a special time at 8 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. ET/PT on Thursday, December 8. ER airs from 10 to 11 p.m. ET/PT.

Holiday Classic Movie -- It's a Wonderful Life: NBC marks a milestone for the nation's visually impaired as the network presents this exclusive and special telecast of Frank Capra's 1946 holiday classic, It's a Wonderful Life, starring James Stewart, Donna Reed and Lionel Barrymore. Through a process of Descriptive TheatreVision, the special presentation will be described for the blind and visually impaired by former President George Bush. Bush's description will inform the viewer of what is occurring on the screen, filling the blanks where no dialogue or other sounds tell a visually impaired person what is happening during a television presentation. The film follows the life of George Bailey (Stewart) from childhood to maturity in the town of Bedford Falls. On what might be his last Christmas Eve, a discouraged Bailey wants to throw his life away. Fortunately, Clarence (Henry Travers), a second-class angel, is sent to show him the value of life. After Clarence gives Bailey a view of Bedford Falls without him, Bailey realizes how precious his life is and gets a second chance. He comes to learn that Clarence was right when he said, "No man is a failure who has friends." The film, which earned Oscar nominations for best picture, director, actor and film editing, was produced and directed by Capra. Airs Saturday, December 10 and Saturday, December 24 from 8 to 11 p.m. ET/PT both nights.

Joey Christmas: In a special one-hour episode, as the holidays near, Alex' (Andrea Anders) is moved to express to Joey (Matt LeBlanc) her true feelings for him. Airs for a full-hour on Thursday, December 15 from 8 to 9 p.m. ET/PT.

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation: – The hit theatrical film returns and it's Christmas time again as the Griswolds are preparing for a family seasonal celebration, but things never run smoothly for Clark (Chevy Chase), his wife Ellen (Beverly D’Angelo) and their two kids. Clark's continual bad luck is worsened by his obnoxious family guests, but he manages to keep going knowing that his Christmas bonus is due soon. Airs Sunday, December 18 from 8 to 10 p.m. ET/PT.

2005 Radio Music Awards -- The biggest names in music will celebrate the holiday season live from Las Vegas at the 2005 Radio Music Awards (RMAs). Considered by the music industry as the “Golden Globes of music award shows” because of its casual party-style, this year promises to be even bigger than last with its move to December and inclusion of holiday songs. The 2005 RMA nominees include 50 Cent, Kelly Clarkson, Green Day, Keith Urban, Kenny Chesney, Destiny’s Child, Nelly, Gwen Stefani and many more. The “2005 Radio Music Awards” is executive-produced by David Broome, Anthony Eaton, Von Freeman and Paul Joseph. Airs Monday, December 19 from 9 to 11 p.m. ET/PT.

Network Holiday Programming: ABC

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! We hope you are all with your familes on this special day, whether you celebrate the holiday or not, all families should be together on this day.

Before I start with the holiday programming news, BET is airing a sitcom/comedy Thanksgiving Day marathon today from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., featuring the Wayans Bros, Jamie Foxx Show and In Living Color! Click here for details.

Today I will break down ABC's holiday programming for this holiday season. Don't forget to tune in tonight for the classic animated special A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving at 8 p.m. ET/PT followed by the network television premiere of the hit animated movie Finding Nemo!
ABC starts off the holiday season with a look back at the life of Pope John Paul II with a brand new telefilm on his life.

Have No Fear: The Life of Pope John Paul II: Thomas Kretschmann (The Pianist, King Kong) stars as Pope John Paul II, portraying thisextraordinary man over the course of 60 years. Bruno Ganz (Wings of Desire) stars as Cardinal Wyszynski, the Primate of Poland, and Joaquimde Almeida (24) portrays Salvadoran Archbishop Oscar Romero, who was brutally murdered during the Pope's reign. Lorenzo Minoliand Judd Parkin, Emmy-nominated executive producers of the acclaimed telefilms Jesus and Nicholas' Gift, have teamed again to produce this original movie for television. The project was shot on location in Rome and Lithuania. Airs Thursday, December 1 from 8 to 10 p.m. ET/PT.

Santa Claus is Coming to Town: In the perennial favorite created in 1970 by Rankin-Bass Productions (Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman) Fred Astaire narrates this timeless tale of Kris Kringle (Mickey Rooney), a young boy with an immense desire to do good things for others. In his home village of Sombertown, Kris has started a gift factory where he builds toys and gives them to all the local children. But when the evil ruler, Burgermeister Meisterburger (Paul Frees), bans toys from the land, Kris is forced to go directly to Mother Nature and ask her for assistance. With the help of magical elves and several special reindeer, Kris overcomes the Burgermeister and delivers toys to children all over the world, earning him the name Santa Claus. Narrated by Fred Astaire, the vocal cast features Mickey Rooney as Kris Kringle, Keenan Wynn as Winter, Paul Frees as Burgermeister Meisterburger, Grimsby, the soldiers and the townsmen; Joan Gardner as Tanta Kringle, Robie Lester as Jessica and Andrea Sacino, Dina Lynn, Gary White and Greg Thomas as the children. Airs Friday, December 2 from 8 to 9 p.m.

America's Funniest Home Videos Christmas: America's Funniest Home Videos celebrates the most wonderful time of the year with a Christmas-themed episode. Hilarious holiday moments include clips of kids with unusual reactions when they open their gifts on Xmas morning, chaos when things go wrong at Christmas pageants, a holy poodle running amok during a Nativity play, and a little boy who wheels and deals with Santa for this year's gifts, on America's Funniest Home Videos hosted by Tom Bergeron. Airs at a special night and time on Friday, December 2 from 9 to 10 p.m. ET/PT.

A Charlie Brown Christmas & Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales: The ABC Television Network will commemorate the 40th anniversary of the beloved Emmy Award-winning PEANUTS special, A Charlie Brown Christmas, created by late cartoonist Charles M. Schulz in 1965. The hour will also include a series of Christmas-themed animated stories entitled Charlie Brown Christmas Tales, based on Schulz's work, in which each of the beloved PEANUTS characters - Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus, Lucy and Sally - star in his or her own charming animated vignette. A Charlie Brown Christmas will air with Spanish audio via Secondary Audio Programming (SAP). In the digitally-remastered 1965 special, A Charlie Brown Christmas, Charlie Brown complains about the overwhelming materialism that he sees everywhere during the Christmas season. Lucy suggests that he become director of the school Christmas pageant, and Charlie Brown accepts, but it proves to be a frustrating struggle. When an attempt to restore the proper spirit with a forlorn little fir Christmas tree fails, Charlie Brown needs Linus' help to learn what the real meaning of Christmas is. The cast of "A Charlie Brown Christmas" includes Peter Robbins ("Charlie Brown"), Christopher Shea as ("Linus"), Tracy Stratford ("Lucy"), Chris Doran ("Schroeder") and Sally Dryer ("Violet"). Airs Tuesday, December 6 from 8 to 9 p.m. ET/PT and again Friday, December 16 frm 8 to 9 p.m. ET/PT.

I Want A Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown!: Produced and animated by the same team that gave us the now classic "PEANUTS" specials from the late cartoonist Charles M. Schulz's famed comic strip, I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown! will air FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET), on The ABC Television Network. I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown! centers on ReRun, the lovable but ever-skeptical younger brother of Linus and Lucy. It's Christmas vacation and, as usual, ReRun-s big sister is stressing him out, so he decides to turn to his best friend, Snoopy, for amusement and holiday cheer. However his faithful but unpredictable beagle companion has plans of his own, giving ReRun reason to ask Snoopy to invite his canine brother Spike for a visit. When Spike shows up, it looks like ReRun will have a dog for Christmas after all- but then the real trouble begins. Airs Friday, December 9 from 8 to 9 p.m. ET/PT.

Hope & Faith and Hot Propeties Holiday Episodes: On Hope & Faith, "Christmas Time" -- Faith surprises the entire family with personal, extravagent Christmas gifts, including an expensive gold watch for Charley. When Charley realizes he forgot to buy a gift for his beloved employee, Hassan, Hope, inspired by Faith's generosity, encourages him to give Hassan his treasured championship watch. Later, Charley is furious when he discovers that the "gold" watch Faith bought for him is a fake. Feeling extremely guilty, Hope insists that Faith attempt to retrieve Charley's watch from Hassan, but in the end, Faith really surprises them with an uncharacteristically magnanimous gesture. On Hot Properties, "It's a Wonderful Christmas Carol on 34th Street" -- After getting into a car accident while Christmas shopping, Chloe goes on a journey with three ghosts. Clint Black guest stars. Airs on Friday, December 9 from 9 to 10 p.m. ET/PT.

Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas MOVIE-- The curmudgeonly recluse Grinch, who hates Christmas, becomes annoyed with the out-of-control Christmas festivities in Whoville, the town lying below his cave dwelling on Mt. Crumpit. But after the Grinch conspires to deprive the Who's of their favorite holiday by sneaking into town on Christmas eve to steal everything associated with the holiday, he learns that the spirit of Christmas goes much deeper than tinsel and toys. Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas stars Jim Carrey and Jeffrey Tambor. Airs Saturday, December 10 from 8:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. ET/PT. An abbreviated AFV airs at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Holiday Wishes: Each designer goes back to visit one family who has received a makeover in the past and to join them on a mission to pay their good fortune forward, in a special two-hour holiday episode. Airs Sunday, December 11 from 8 to 10 p.m. ET/PT and again Thursday, December 22 from 8 to 10 p.m. ET/PT.

Grey's Anatomy Christmas Episode: A young boy needs a heart transplant but doesn't seem to want it, and his treatment causes Burke and Yang to have philosophical differences. Meanwhile, when the interns rally to help Alex prepare to re-take his exam, Meredith has to remind Izzie of the true spirit of the Christmas holiday; and despite a reconciliation with his wife, Derek isn't in a festive mood. Airs Sunday, December 11 from 10 to 11 p.m. ET/PT.

According to Jim & Rodney Christmas: On According to Jim, "The Gift of Maggie" -- When Cheryl and Dana's mother, Maggie (Kathleen Noone), visits for the holidays, Jim and Cheryl compete with Ryan and Dana for her affection. On Rodney, "O Christmas Trees" -- Rodney and Trina have a bitter feud over which angel to put on a Christmas tree that her father, Carl, overcharged them for. So when Rodney goes to Carl's office to demand a new, free family tree, he finds that Carl has been living down and out in his office. In the true spirit of Christmas, Rodney decides to make peace with Carl and invites him to live with them until he gets back on his feet. Airs Tuesday, December 13 from 8 to 9 p.m. ET/PT.

George Lopez & Freddie Celebrate the Holidays: On George Lopez, "George is Being Eflish and Christ-Misses His Family" -- George tells a white lie to avoid visiting Angie's family for the holidays, but regrets it when he spends Christmas alone. Broadcast with Spanish audio via SAP. Then on Freddie, "I'll Be Homeless for Christmas" -- Tis the season for a Christmas party, so Freddie invites his neighbors in the complex to celebrate with his family and friends. But when a jealous neighbor reports to the board that Freddie is breaking the rules by having too many people living in his condo, Freddie has to get a petition signed by the majority of the tenants allowing them to stay. However, when Freddie goes door to door, he realizes his neighbors share no good will towards his family who have not been the most conscientious, but can they win them over? Broadcast with Spanish audio via SAP. Airs Wednesday, December 14 from 8 to 9 p.m. ET/PT.

The Wonderful World of Disney The Santa Clause: When Santa falls from a roof and can't get up, Scott Calvin tries on the big red suit only to find he's inherited the role of Saint Nicholas. Starring: Tim Allen (Home Improvement), Peter Boyle (Everybody Loves Raymond), Wendy Crewson, Judge Reinhold. Airs Thursday, December 15 from 8 to 10 p.m. ET/PT. A special edition of Primetime follows at 10:00 p.m. with Peter Jennings' last documentary. He is reporting on America's Health Insurance Crisis.

The Sound of Music: Maria, while waiting to take her vows, is sent to the home of the widowed and retired navy Captain Georg von Trapp (Christopher Plummer) to care for his seven rambunctious children. Maria discovers the children, who have previously run off several governesses, are most in need of a little love. When she teaches them to sing, she wins the love of the children and the captain. The film is based on the real-life story of the von Trapp family. Maria's book, "The Story of the Trapp Family Singers," first became a German movie and later a successful Broadway musical before its Oscar-winning release in 1965. In 1938 the von Trapps escaped their native Austria and Nazi occupation to avoid Captain von Trapp's being forced to serve in the German navy.
Airs Saturday, December 17 from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. ET/PT

Once Upon a Mattress: The legendary Carol Burnett and Tracey Ullman - two "queens of comedy" and both six-time Emmy Award winners -- top a spectacular cast, also featuring Tony Award winner Denis O'Hare (Broadway's Take Me Out), Elf star Zooey Deschanel, Spin City and Arli$$ star Michael Boatman, Frasier's Edward Hibbert, Broadway heartthrob and Tony nominee Matthew Morrison (The Light in the Piazza, Hairspray, Sex and the City) and the irrepressible Tom Smothers, in the "Wonderful World of Disney" presentation of the delightful musical, Once Upon a Mattress, a world premiere, two-hour made-for-television movie, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18 (7:00-9:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network. In this whimsical, fractured telling of the classic fairytale, "The Princess and the Pea," O'Hare plays Prince Dauntless, the handsome hero desperate to find a wife, who comes in the unlikely person of the lovable - and definitely not shy -- Princess Winnifred, as portrayed by Ms. Ullman. Ms. Deschanel plays Lady Larken, one of the beautiful ladies of the court frantic to marry Sir Harry, a powerful and influential knight portrayed by Morrison. Boatman takes the part of King Sextimus' sidekick, the Jester, whose father was a performer as well. Hibbert plays the Wizard, the Queen's confidant, and Smothers portrays King Sextimus, the benevolent but unfortunately mute ruler to Ms. Burnett's conniving and loquacious Queen Aggravain. Airs Sunday, December 18 from 7 to 9 p.m. ET/PT.

Heaven: Where Is It? How Do We Get There?: Anchored by Barbara Walters, Heaven: Where Is It? How Do We Get There? explores the meaning of heaven with religious leaders of the major faiths, scientists, people who say they believe in heaven because they have been there, with celebrities who are vocal about their beliefs and even with terrorists. Airs Tuesday, December 20 from 9:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. ET/PT.

George Lopez Classic Christmas Episode: Join George for a classic holiday special from 2004. George may have to eat some humble holiday pie when he accuses his mother of being a Scrooge. Airs Wednesday, December 21 from 8 to 8:30 p.m. ET/PT.

I'll Be Home For Christmas: Jonathan Taylor Thomas (Home Improvement), Jessica Biel (7th Heaven), Gary Cole and Eve Gordon star. Jonathan Taylor Thomas portrays a California university student named Jake whose father sends him an airline ticket so he can fly home to New York. Jake has alternate plans: he wants to cash the ticket and persuade his girlfriend, Allie (Jessica Biel), to join him at a beach resort. The stakes get higher when Jake's dad promises to give Jake a restored '57 Porsche if he gets home for Christmas. The fly in the ointment is Eddie, Jake's rival for Allie's affections, who strands Jake in the desert dressed in a Santa suit and takes off with Allie, who believes Jake has stood her up. Jake sets out on a hilarious cross-country odyssey in the Santa suit to earn his car and get his girl back Airs Saturday, December 24 from 9:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. A special holiday AFV encore airs before at 8:00 p.m.

Walt Disney World Christmas Parade: Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa, (Live with Regis and Kelly) host Walt Disney World's 22nd Annual Christmas Day Parade telecast from the heart of the Magic Kingdom, with special performances from the Disneyland Resort in California. Ryan Seacrest (Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve 2006) will lead the parade and concert performances from Disneyland Resort. The special will highlight a variety of celebrity appearances and musical performances, including: Star War's Hayden Christensen; country superstar band Lonestar; acclaimed model, actress and singer Vanessa Williams; The View's Star Jones; Mary Poppins' Julie Andrews; golf champion Tiger Woods; award-winning actor John O'Hurley, Dancing with the Stars; sister songstresses Aly and AJ; American Idol Fantasia; tween pop group The Cheetah Girls; and young stars of Disney's newest movie, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe -- Anna Popplewell, Georgie Henley, Skandar Keynes and William Moseley. Airs Sunday, December 25 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon ET/2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. PT/or check local listings.

Hallmark Channel January Changes; Alias to End in May

We already told you that Diagnosis Murder will come to the Hallmark Channel starting January 3, airing weekdays at 12 noon. So what else will they be changing? JAG will return on January 2 with a Jag-a-thon (and the episode "Jag-a-thon" is airing in this even!) from 7:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. ET/PT. Then starting January 3 you can catch JAG weeknights at 7:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m.m both replacing second airings of Walker, Texas Ranger. There are no other changes, so us sitcom fans are once again not pleased!

ABC's well written drama Alias will come to an end this May after five strong seasons. The veteran drama moved to a tough Thursday slot this season and will be going on hiatus because of Jennifer Garner's pregnancy. The show will return for its final batch of episodes in March--but first watch the final two episodes before the hiatus right after Lost on Wednesday, December 7 and Wednesday, December 14 at 10/9 central. Some might say the ratings probably caused for the show to end, but honestly before the season even started it was almost certain this would be its last season because Jennifer Garner is also becoming a big movie star. The hit spy drama has had a cult following ever since its debut in September 2001 and will be missed next season. At least we can still catch J.J. Abrams' work on Lost and the upcoming mid-season drama What About Brian.

Stay tuned this holiday weekend for network holiday programming news! So keep checking back everyday with us during this holiday weekend.

CBS Mid-Season; E! Countdown to 50 Cutest Child Stars; And More!

Here we are two days before Thanksgiving and the news keeps coming! CBS announced today what they have store in for this mid-season. But first, they officially bring good news for fans of the drama Close to Home. The drama has been renewed for the full season, meaning all of CBS's new shows except Threshold has gotten that honor. That drama will be moving to Tuesdays at 10 p.m., and if it doesn't do well, expect a new show there by mid-season. CBS will air a new drama titled Love Monkey Tuesdays at 9 p.m. starting January 17. It will air in January and February, with the next installment of The Amazing Race coming up sometime in March. The shows stars Tom Cavanagh and Jason Priestley and it is about a 30-something up and coming single record executive who's navigating the tumultuous and highly amusing waters of work and dating in New York City. They also have scheduled Jenna Elfman's new sitcom for Monday nights at 9:30 p.m. starting Monday, January 23. Don't worry fans of the sitcom Out of Practice, CBS will bring that show back in the same time slot sometime in March. The Jenna Elfman Show (wt) stars, well, Jenna Elfman and Dabney Coleman. It is a sitcom about an attractive, single, semi-workaholic, with one simple goal: find true love while balancing a career as a successful lawyer.
And coming up in March is the drama The Unit and the sitcom The New Adventures of Old Christine. CBS has not decided on the night and time for those shows yet. They will determine where to put them if something falters from now until then. The Unit stars Dennis Haysbert, Scott Foley, & Robert Patrick in an action drama that follows a covert team of Special Forces operatives as they risk their lives on undercover missions around the world, while their families maintain the home front, protecting their husband's secrets. The New Adventures of Old Christine stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Seinfeld) in a comedy about a divorced working mom who is successfully juggling the daily stresses of motherhood and her business, while maintaining her fantastic relationship with her ex-husband…until his young, new girlfriend enters the picture, instantly complicating her life.
If I were Still Standing or Yes, Dear, I'd watch my back--since maybe one of these two shows will replace one or both of these aging sitcoms.

E! will countdown the top 50 cutest child stars ever! Will it be Gary Coleman? Macaulay Culkin? You'll have to find out on Sunday, November 27 from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. ET/PT. Two of the 50 stars on this list will co-host--Keshia Knight Pulliam (The Cosby Show) and Candace Cameron Bure (Full House). Click here for the full press release and some SPOILERS--click if you only desire.

You will be able to watch more Christopher Knight in the VH1 reality series, My Fair Brady. I can't describe it anymore, so click here to see how VH1 said it.

Trio TV Discontinued; Lifetime Nabs 'Medium' for Fall 2009; Classic 80s Sitcoms from Universal and Sony

We have a lot of good news to say today. Let me just start off with some bad news just to get that out of the way. Trio TV will be discontinued effective January 1. This is very sad news as they brought us lot of rare classic TV airings over the years. They will still be around in a broadband initiative way on bravotv.com, so we will still see their popular "Brilliant, But Cancelled" block this way. Although that is good, it still isn't as good as having a full TV network. You can read about the demise of Trio TV here. You can also discuss and post your comments there.

Lifetime TV has secured cable rights to the current NBC drama Medium starting in Fall 2009. The drama is currently in its second season on the air and has enjoyed steady ratings Monday nights on NBC. Medium will join a roster of shows including Will & Grace and The Golden Girls, with shows like Frasier, Reba and Still Standing still to come. You can read the press release about the buying of Medium here.

Now to the very big news. I'll start off with Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. We already broke you the news that Diff'rent Strokes Season 2 was coming January 31, well, today Sony made it official! It will be a 3-disc set featuring all 26 half hours (we are not sure yet how the multiple part episodes will be handled, either in two parts or the full hour format). 650 minutes of Arnold at his best! No idea yet if any special features will be included again, but I doubt there will be any.
Sony also made it official today that season one of Archie Bunker's Place is coming the same day! Another 3-disc set featuring all 24 half hours running 590 minutes long. We were told Maude would be possibly paired with this show, but looks like it won't happen on this date. But I know Maude is coming soon, but no idea yet exactly when. So be patient Maude fans--you'll get Bea Arthur soon!
Now to the suprise of the day! Universal Home Video announced today that on Valentine's Day 2006 (Feb. 14) they will release two classic '80s sitcoms! Join the late Nell Carter in Gimme a Break! and Scott Baio in Charles in Charge for the first time on DVD! This was a great surprise to wake up to on a Monday morning. Universal made it official today with cover art! Get your first look at the full size cover art for BOTH sitcoms here. TVShowsonDVD.com has details on both sets, for Charles in Charge click here, for Gimme a Break! click here. This is very exciting and we hope Universal continues to release sitcoms. As of now they had only released The Munsters and Dream On, with Leave it to Beaver coming out tomorrow. Universal is known more for its movies and TV dramas, but they also have some good sitcoms. Let's hope and pray we get subsequent seasons of these two shows and they start releasing other sitcoms such as Coach, Amen, McHale's Navy, Out of this World, My Secret Identity, Major Dad, Harper Valley PTA, and the short lived Something So Right and Parenthood. This is a step in the right direction for Universal--please buy Gimme a Break! and Charles in Charge when they come out. It will make a big difference.

Week 9 Ratings Numbers Through Thursday; How the Sitcoms Did

Week 9 numbers (first four nights, Mon-Thu):
Households: CBS: 11.1/17.1; ABC: 7.5/11.6; NBC: 7.2/11.1; FOX 4.8/7.2; The WB: 2.8/4.2; UPN: 2.6/4.0
Total Viewers: CBS: 17.42 million; ABC: 11.46 million; NBC: 10.93 million; FOX 7.56 million; The WB: 4.32 million; UPN: 3.98 million.
Adults 18-49: CBS: 5.5/14.0; ABC: 4.2/10.6; NBC: 4.1/10.3; FOX 3.1/7.9; The WB: 1.8/4.5; UPN: 1.7/4.3.

Analysis: The first four days of the second "full" week of sweeps saw CBS even higher than last week's first four days. Much thanks goes to the CMA Awards and a Johnny Cash special. Both specials were up by a ton on what CBS usually does in those slots, especially Wednesdays 8-9pm. Everything else was at normal levels for all the networks. A special night and time for Hot Properies saw it not doing much. Rodney would have done better.
Days 5 and 6: Friday saw CBS winning in total viewers and adults 18-49, and Close to Home again was a success in its new night and time. Saturday saw CBS winning in total viewers and ABC in A18-49 with the second Harry Potter film. Like usual, it should be an interesting battle between ABC and CBS for the week among adults 18-49 after tonight. CBS will for sure win by a wide margin in total viewers for the week. Look for NBC's movie to sink tonight and CBS's movie to do average, with ABC of course winning big.


Monday Sitcoms

• The King of Queens (CBS) - Down slighly from last week overall, but same A18-49 numbers.
  
• How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - Built on A18-49 from lead-in to a 3.7 but down in total viewers with 10.35 million.
  
• Two and a Half Men (CBS) - After 16.19 million last week, a one million drop this week to 15.17 is a concern.
  
• Out of Practice (CBS) - Even though its lead-in was down from week to week, this sitcom was close to last week's levels. Very consistent.
  
• One on One (UPN), All of Us (UPN), Girlfriends (UPN), Half and Half (UPN) - The block was slightly down from what it usually does. 9 p.m. was the highest with 3.6 million, down from last week's 4.2.
  

Tuesday Sitcoms

• According to Jim (ABC) - Dana had errotic dreams about Jim this week, maybe that helped the ratings to go higher from last week. 8.02 million tuned in.
  
• Hot Properties (ABC) - A special night and time did not help this sitcom. Sure, this was probably its best ratings, but Rodney would have held more of its lead-in's audience. Only 6.82 million.
  
• My Name is Earl (NBC) - Down slightly from week to week (11.57 million to 11.51).
  
• The Office (NBC) - 7.99 million. NBC should expect at least 9 or 9.5 million after having 11.51 at 9 p.m.
  

Wednesday Sitcoms

• George Lopez (ABC) - George wins its slot in total viewers among the sitcoms with 8.13 million.
• Freddie (ABC) - Wins its slot among adults 18-49 with a 3.6 rating, first in viewers among sitcoms in the slot with 8.58 million.
  
• That '70s Show (FOX) -Winning its slot in adults 18-49 with a 3.3 rating, but only 6.78 million overall.
  
• Stacked (FOX) - Up slightly from season premiere, but still this should be gone FAST.
  

Thursday Sitcoms

• Joey (NBC) - Down slightly from last week's 8.08 million to 8.02 million.
  
• Will & Grace (NBC) - Up slightly from last week, to 8.89 million.
  
• Everybody Hates Chris (UPN) - 5.42 million, but I expected this to take over as the sitcom leader in this slot, but I guess it won't happen.
  
• Love, Inc. (UPN), Eve (UPN), Cuts (UPN) - 8:30 p.m. did decent with 3.79 million, by the end of the night it was only 2.88 million; better than before, though.
  

Friday Sitcoms

• Bernie Mac (FOX) - Same old, same old.
  
• Malcolm in the Middle (FOX) - See above.
  
• What I Like About You (The WB) - When is this going to get pulled?
  
• Reba (The WB) - A repeat at 8:30 improved on its lead-in and a new episode at 9 p.m. did better.
• Hope & Faith (ABC) - A nice jump thanks to Robert Wagner maybe? 4.9 rating.
  
• Hot Properties (ABC) - 4.0 rating, down nearly one rating point is not a good sign. Look for the Dancing Results Show to probably take this slot or move Hope & Faith here by January.
  
• Twins (The WB) - Better than Living with Fran, but still WB was 6th place.
  

Summing it up. My Name is Earl, Out of Practice, How I Met Your Mother, Freddie, and The King of Queens were the only impressive sitcoms this week. Everything else was OK (such as According to Jim, George Lopez) or just plain old terrible (such as Stacked, WB Friday, UPN Thursday).