Saturday, March 15, 2008
Mini-DVD Review: The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show (March 25); Solomon's Weekly Rant
The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show: The Complete Series (Warner, $26.98) brings us those two lovable toddlers from The Flintstones back in a series when they are teenagers in high school. Sitcom stars Sally Struthers (All in the Family) and Jay North (Dennis the Menace) provide the voices for these two teenagers in this series, with the classic voices of Fred (Alan Reed), Barney (Mel Blanc), and Wilma (Jean Vander Pyl) all back from the original series! Gay Hartwig provides the voice of Betty in this series. She also would do the voice of Betty throughout the '70s in various Flintstones incarnations. In this series though Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm are the stars and you see them with their teenage friends Moonrock, Penny, and Wiggy. Cindy and Fabian play their rivals. The show ran for 16 half-hour episodes in the 1971-72 season. The show returned for 4 more episodes as part of The Flintstone Comedy Show in 1972-73.
Let's now move on to the packaging. We have a thin outer box that holds a very thin digipak case, similar to the recent Smurfs release. The front cover of both the box and case are the same, we see Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm in a car with their friends Moonrock, Penny and Wiggy. Hanna-Barbera Classic Collection is on the top in a green background. The title of the show is below that in a little rock-style billboard, with a mention below that that this is The Complete Series! On the bottom it says 2 discs...16 episodes. To the back of the box we go, we get a nice synopsis of the series in a brown billboard type with Fred coming out of it (Pebbles is right by it, too), along with a list of the special features in a little rock. We also see Bamm-Bamm lying down below the billboard. When we open the case, on the left we have a disc-by-disc breakdown of what we can expect episode title wise and extras wise. The left also has a nice purplish background with Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm playing instruments. On the right side, we see both discs...overlapping each other, ugh...I hate that. Both discs are colorful and feature a Bedrock setting...Pebbles is on disc one and Bam-Bamm on disc two. When you remove both discs from the case, you see their friends playing instruments. The back of the case has another nice Bedrock setting with other characters such as the Grusomes even.
The menu screens are very nice. But first, auto trailers for Dr. Seuss, Smurfs starts off disc one before the main menu comes. Options for the main menu are: Play, Episodes, Trailers (disc 1 only), Languages, Bonus Episodes (disc 2 only). We also have the theme song playing in the background. Trailers has more shows to preview from the Warner library, including Flintstones seasons 2, 3 and 4 DVD trailers. Languages has an option to turn on English subtitles. Episodes have a list of episodes obviously.
The video and audio is very good. I'm not sure if these are remastered, like Smurfs were, but it sure looks good! The show ran for 16 episodes as its own series. Those episodes run 20 minutes. Highest is 20:03 and lowest is 19:44, but most are 19:59/20:00. There are no chapter stops for these. I hate when we don't get chapter stops. Also, we get the orange H-B Taft logo after the end of the credits along with the swirling H-B logo. The bonus episodes are on disc two under Bonus Episodes (as stated above). These four episodes ran during segments on The Flintstone Comedy Show (AKA The Flintstone Comedy Hour). The first bonus episode runs 21:30, and features two mini-episodes, so we get 2 chapter stops. These feature Pebbles & Bamm Show opening and closing credits. The final two bonus episodes run 11:59 and 11:44 and feature opening and closing credits that says The Flintstone Comedy Show. Nice to see that!
I highly do recommend this set for any Flintstones fan, fan of Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm and classic animation in general. I'm sure many of us grew up with The Flintstones, but have never seen this series. It comes on from time to time on Boomerang and has been played on Cartoon Network as well. I've seen a few episodes only but am glad I have the complete series on DVD!. The set is good and it probably is as good as it could get. I'm glad they included those 4 episodes from The Flintstone Comedy Show, so we have every single episode of this incarnation. So we have The Flintstones complete on DVD and now The Pebbles & Bamm Show. So if the pattern continues, I bet we get The Flintstone Comedy Hour/Show on DVD next! There were so many TV series that followed (Fred Flintstone and Friends, The Flintstone Kids, etc), TV specials (The Flintstones: Little Big League, The Flintstones: Fred's Final Fling, etc) and TV movies (Jetsons Meet the Flintstones, A Flintstones Christmas Carol, etc) from this series, so I hope Warner realizes that and gives them all to us, because I'm sure any Flintstone fan would want them all. But for now, let's join in on the teenage fun of Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm on this series on DVD! Give it a chance and we might get every incarnation of the Flintstone family on DVD! Yabba Dabba Do!
-- Reviewed by Pavan
(4/5 stars)To purchase the DVD, click below and help support SitcomsOnline.com:
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Related links:
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Solomon's Weekly Rant
Saturday, March 15, 2008
"Media Overboard on Spitzer Case; Page 6 a Joke; BET Screws Up"
By Solomon Davis
The media coverage of the girl who was with New York Governor Spitzer in February has just been crazy this week and I want to know when is it going to end? They have been digging into this girl's life all-week because she is good looking and I know most people don't care where she went to high school and where she grew up in New Jersey. She seems to be getting good with this story as her music has been played and she might be posing for magazines. And because of who she slept with she will probably become famous and get her own reality show in the fall of 2008 titled How To Get Politicians in Bed or something.
Page Six in the NY Post reported on Thursday that The Rachel Ray Show could be probably be canceled due to low ratings and it turns out that was a false report. A representative from King World stated that the show did very well during the February sweeps period and that the show is under contract until 2010, which means it's not going anywhere. So I can no longer read Page Six because not only did they get the Rachel Ray story wrong, they also were wrong about King World syndicating a show for Marie Osmond in 2010 which made the entire Page Six article on Thursday a waste of eyesight. Why post gossip crap on a newspaper? I can understand the Enquirer, but the Post?
BET has been the cable channel of the month with their recent pickups and has not done a good job presenting the shows to viewers. However, recently they used the wrong closing credits for part 2 of a Diff'rent Strokes crossover episode with Hello, Larry. TNN never did that when they aired Diff'rent Strokes in 2001 so why is BET doing it in 2008? Maybe Sony has something to do with it, I'm snot sure. And with the show Thea, BET aired the first episode two weekends in a row for some reason. They did air episode 2 last weekend in one of the four slots, but episode one aired three times last weekend, in addition to the two times it aired the previous weekend. On the listings it said we were supposed to get episodes 2 and 3, but instead we got episode 1 three times and episode 2 once. So I'm really interested in seeing what episode of Thea they air this weekend and hope it's not episode 2 three times like they did episode one the previous week.
Agree or disagree with Solomon? Discuss it here.
DISCLAIMER: Remember, Solomon is not the voice of SitcomsOnline. He is just stating his opinions and does not reflect what SitcomsOnline says or thinks. It is just his 'View' but it is always quite entertaining.
Friday, March 14, 2008
ABC Mid-Season Pilot Review: Miss Guided - Premieres March 18; TV One April 2008
Miss Guided - Thursdays 8:00PM & 8:30PM ET/PT on ABC
Premieres Tuesday, March 18 on a special night and time of 10:30PM ET/PT following Dancing with the Stars
This new ABC half-hour comedy series Miss Guided stars Judy Greer and is from actor/producer Ashton Kutcher (he also guest stars on this show) and Emmy Award-winning director Todd Holland directs this series that takes on high school's annoying tendency to repeat itself.
Having finally conquered the awkward, traumatic world of high school, Becky Freeley (Judy Greer) returns to her alma mater as a guidance counselor with her insecurities and orthodontia a distant memory.
While Becky deftly navigates the uncertainties of troubled students and an often troubling faculty, she is certain of one thing - her desperate attraction to hot mechanic-turned-Spanish teacher Tim (Kristoffer Polaha). Now that it seems Becky might finally be getting the upper hand in life and love, she's shocked to discover that the newly hired English teacher is none other than her high school nemesis, Lisa Germain (Brooke Burns). Lisa is a smart, stunning beauty, and suddenly Becky is forced to relive her past and compete for Tim's affections.
Cast Details:
Judy Greer as Becky Freeley, Kristoffer Polaha as Tim O'Malley, Brooke Burns as Lisa Germain, Chris Parnell as Vice Principal Bruce Terry, Earl Billings as Principal Phil Huffy
Judy Greer (Becky Freeley) has been on various TV series in the past. She has guest starred on series such as Early Edition, Family Guy, Maggie Winters, Just Shoot Me, Two and a Half Men and My Name is Earl. She might be best remembered for her role in Arrested Development as Kitty Sanchez. Judy also co-starred on the short-lived sitcom Love & Money and the short-lived drama Love Monkey. On the big screen her various films include The Three Kings, The Village, 13 Going on 30, The Wedding Planner and 27 Dresses opposite Katherine Heigl.
Kristoffer Polaha (Tim O'Malley) has graced the small screen over the last decade in various TV work. He is best known for his co-starring role in North Shore. Among the series he has guest starred on are Angel, Roswell, Birds of Prey, House, Bones, Mad Men, , and C.S.I. Miami. His comedy works include guest starring on both It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and short-lived ABC sitcom Hot Properties.
Brooke Burns (Lisa Germain) is best known for her role as Jessie Owens for three years on Baywatch. She has also co-starred on TV series such as North Shore (with co-star Kristoffer Polaha) and Pepper Dennis. She has also appeared on series such as Ally McBeal, Just Shoot Me, and She Spies. On the big screen, Burns starred in Shallow Hal, opposite Jack Black and Gwyneth Paltrow and in Smokejumpers, alongside Erin Karpluk and Rick Ravanello.
Chris Parnell (Vice Principal Bruce Terry) is an alumnus of Saturday Night Live, having made memorable contributions as a regular cast member off and on from 1998-2007 with his impersonations ranging from Eminem to Tom Brokaw. He has made numerous guest appearances on series such as 30 Rock, Seinfeld, The Jamie Foxx Show, Suddenly Susan, Murphy Brown, TV Funhouse, Friends and Ed, among others. On the big screen he made his debut in 1996 in Jingle All the Way and has since also appeared in The Ladies Man, Down with Love and Anchroman: The Ron Burgundy Story.
Earl Billings (Principal Phil Huffy) is a familiar face for sitcom and TV fans. He had a recurring role on the hit '70s sitcom What's Happening!! playing the character of Rob (the owner of Rob's Place). He has appeared on dozens of television series and made-for-television movies/mini-series including Roots: The Second Generation, Rockford Files, Perry Mason, Menendez: A Killing in Beverly Hills. Just a few of series television roles include Good Times, The Jeffersons, Home Improvement, South Central, Frank's Place, New Attitude, Family Matters, Roc, Wayans Bros, The Parkers, How I Met Your Mother, Without a Trace, ER and Ally McBeal, among others. His work on the big screen includes numerous film roles including Something New, American Splendor, Thank You for Smoking, Fat Albert, The Antwone Fisher Story, Con Air, Crimson Tide, Youngblood, Wired, among many others.
Pilot Plot:
#1 "Homecoming" (Airs Tuesday, March 18 at 10:30PM ET/PT).
Becky Freeley returns to her alma mater as a guidance counselor after having finally conquered the awkward, traumatic world of high school. With her orthodontia and teenage insecurities a distant memory, Becky deftly navigates the uncertainties of troubled students and an often troubling faculty, she is certain of one thing – her desperate attraction to hot mechanic-turned-Spanish-teacher, Tim. Now that Becky might finally get the upper hand in life and love, she is shocked to discover that the newly hired English teacher is none other than her high school nemesis Lisa Germain (Brooke Burns). Lisa is a smart, stunning beauty and, suddenly, Becky is forced to relive her past and compete for Tim's affection.
Guest starring in "Homecoming" are Jonathan Sadowski as Gary, Chad Broskey as Shane, Chelsea Harris as Allison, Daryl Sabara as Russell, Samantha Gray Hissong as Heidi, Vanessa Marano as Kelly, A.J. Noel as the whiny band geek, Christian Serratos as the weeping cheerleader, Jesse Fremont Allis as the angry delinquent, Tom Choi as Ed, Tim Bagley as Peter, Tiffany Hines as the pretty student, Juan Carlos Cantu as the janitor, Jane Galloway Heitz as the lunch lady and Lauren Gates as the thin girl.
"Homecoming" was written by Caroline Williams and directed by Todd Holland.
We also viewed the second episode airing, titled "The Hot Sub," which will air Thursday, March 20 at 8:00PM ET/PT, the show's regular night and time premiere. This episode was actually shot 6th, but is airing as the premiere episode in its normal time premiere.
Becky is over the moon when a hot Spanish substitute teacher (guest starring Ashton Kutcher as Beaux), chooses her over Lisa, but has second thoughts when his presence threatens Tim's job. Meanwhile, one of Becky's troubled students (guest starring Jamie Lynn Spears as Mandy Ferner), gets exciting news from college, but considers throwing it all away if it disrupts romantic life.
Guest starring in "Hot Sub" are Ashton Kutcher as Beaux, Jamie Lynn Spears as Mandy Ferner, Angel Laketa Moore as the staffer, Robin Krieger as the secretary, Mikey Reid as Roger, Travis Caldwell as Michael and Scotch Ellis Loring as Mr. Shoemaker.
"Hot Sub" was written by Kevin Etten and directed by Todd Holland.
Analysis:
After watching the first two episodes that are airing, I can say that this show is worth airing. The show completed 7 episodes before the writers' strike started and we will see all 7 episodes in 3 weeks. There was talk that it wouldn't even air at all because of the strike, but I'm glad it is airing! I think many people will be surprised that it is actually a good single-camera sitcom. If this hits, it could be paired with the hit sitcom Samantha Who? starring Christina Applegate next season.
The show is basically about Becky coming back to her old high school as a guidance counselor. Her high school nemesis Lisa Germain is also hired at the school as an English teacher. I can see a lot of battles between the two in future episodes. Becky's love interest seems to be the Spanish teacher Tim O'Malley. Tim doesn't realize however that Becky seems interested. Will Lisa beat her to him? Rounding out the great bunch is the Principal and Vice Principal. They both are very funny and have great chemistry together. Fans of What's Happening!! will like seeing Earl Billings again on a sitcom. He looks familiar still, but has gained some weight making him more like Bubba from Sanford & Son these days.
Basically the pilot revolves around the homecoming dance, hence the title of the episode. Will it be like high school all over again for Becky? There are some very funny scenes, especially when Becky is in the bushes looking on in the homecoming dance, because Tim and Lisa are there together.
The second episode is about a new substitute Spanish teacher, played by Ashton Kutcher. He uses an unorthodox way of teaching, but is it really a good method? He has everyone hooked, including the Principal, that Tim O'Malley has been demoted back to mechanics class instead of Spanish. When Ashton's character is walking in to the school for the first time, you see a girl in a blue shirt do something so hilarious. I won't ruin it, but a promo has shown a bit of it. Jamie Lynn Spears also guest stars in the episode as a confused teenager seeking about college. My has she grown up. She looks great and looks exactly like her sister when she was that age.
Conclusion:
I really hope this show hits and does well. It is pretty funny and charming. It should debut nicely after Dancing with the Stars but hopefully viewers follow it to Thursdays for the next three weeks. The mind of Ashton Kutcher is always innovative and his show are very young skewing (Punk'd, Beauty & the Geek). This show has gotten me thinking how it would be like to go back to high school and relive memories...both good and bad. Students currently in high school could also relate to this sitcom and have some fun with it. I would put this series so far up there with the best new sitcoms (The Big Bang Theory, Samantha Who). Maybe not better than those two yet, but it has a chance.
Maybe this show will be a hit rather than a "burn-off," since 7 episodes are being crammed into three weeks...but ABC has nothing to pair it with right now. With limited scripted programming currently, viewers will likely watch...I hope at least. What to look for in future episodes includes a guest appearance by Edie McClurg playing Mrs. Pool (ironically she played a character by that name on the hit '80s sitcom The Hogan Family). Will it be the same character? Tune in March 27 for that episode!
This is the best school-themed show currently, forget about High School Reunion, this is much better, funnier and more realer.
Final Numbers (out of 5 stars):
Watchability: 4/5
Funiness: 4/5
Overall: 4/5
-- Reviewed by pavanbadal on 03/14/08
Discuss the show after you watch it on Tuesday on our message board.
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Thursday, March 13, 2008
TV Land May 2008 Highlights; RTN Adds 2 More Affiliates; Hulu.com Launches
The TV Land Movie Week for May has a lot of fun. Grab your popcorn and kick back as Jamie Lee Curtis and Kevin Kline lead an all-star cast of diamond thieves in the hilariously funny A Fish Called Wanda on Monday. Tuesday, the star power continues with Steve Guttenberg, Ted Danson and Tom Selleck who find themselves thrust into fatherhood in Three Men and A Baby. Sigourney Weaver and Melanie Griffith duke it out in the workplace on Wednesday with Working Girl. Thursday brings an out of this world experience with Christopher Lloyd, Elizabeth Hurley, Jeff Daniels and Darryl Hannah in My Favorite Martian, based on the '60s TV series.
The regular Friday Movie Land block in May features movies such as E.T. The Extra Terrestrial, Working Girl, A Fish Called Wanda, Flashdance.
TV Land will feature all of the best and brightest M*A*S*H episodes the weekend of May 17-19. They're fun, odd and unforgettable! If that wasn't enough, TV Land has got the highest rated episode in television history, the M*A*S*H Finale, plus the 20th & 30th anniversary M*A*S*H Reunions!
This Memorial Day, it's a day full of TV Land's newest and brightest originals. Starting at 8am, it's enjoyable and adventurous birthday celebrations with The Big 4-0. Then at 11am the fun never ends with the classmates from High School Reunion and at 5pm Myths and Legends reveals stars best kept secrets and some of the greatest stories in Hollywood. A primetime marathon of Andy Griffith rounds out the night.
Finally, on Saturday, May 31, there's only one "fabulous", "chic" and "sassy" man who can take TV Land's fashion head-on–celebrity stylist and judge of TV Land's new original reality series, She's Got The Look (premiering June 4) ... Robert Verdi! Integrated in surprising "pop-up" flags, Robert entertains viewers with his lovably-snarky fashion commentary of everyone's favorite TV Land characters, from the mile-high trousers of Jethro Bodine to the super shoulder pads of our Designing Women and Miami Vice.
For more on TV Land May 2008, click HERE!
Retro Television Network (RTN announced that it plans to add an RTN affiliate in Evansville, IN. The new affiliate will launch this summer on a digital stream of WEHT-TV, Evansville's ABC affiliate that is owned by Gilmore Broadcasting Company. Evansville will see James Garner in Rockford Files, Jack Klugman in Quincy, M.E., Raymond Burr in Ironside, Jack Lord in Hawaii 5-0 and Don Adams in Get Smart on weekdays. On the weekends, viewers will see The Partridge Family, The Monkees, The A-Team, Knight Rider, Kojak, Airwolf, Gunsmoke, The Wild Wild West and many more.
Meanwhile, Retro Television Network (RTN) announced today that it will partner with Trans-America Broadcasting Corporation to launch an RTN affiliation in Fresno, CA. The network will begin airing in April on a digital stream of KAIL-TV. Hit shows like Perry Mason, The Rockford Files, Magnum, P.I. and Hawaii 5-0 will air weekdays, while the weekend lineup will include Emergency!, Kojak, Airwolf, The A-Team, Knight Rider and The Wild Wild West.
Hulu.com, a joint venture between News Corp. (Fox) and NBC Universal has launched! Obviously it will have current Fox and NBC shows on here such as 'Til Death, The Simpsons, House, Law & Order, ER and The Office, but it has SO much more from other outlets. Hulu.com is a vast online library of ad-supported TV shows and movies. Other networks on Hulu are Bravo (The Real Housewives of New York City, Make Me A Supermodel , etc), NBC Universal's Chiller (Alfred Hitchcock Hour, Tremors, etc), E! (Pop Fiction), Fox Reality Channel (Paradise Hotel 2), Classic Fox (Arrested Development, Mary Tyler Moore Show, Bob Newhart Show, etc), FX (Dirt, 30 Days, etc), MGM (Addams Family, Fame, etc), Sony's Minisode Network (Facts of Life, Dilbert, Married with Children), MyNetworkTV (Decision House), Classic NBC (A-Team, Knight Rider, The Munsters Today, Problem Child animated, etc), NBC Universal (Jerry Springer, etc), Sci-Fi Channel (Battlestar Galactica, Buck Rogers, etc), NBC Universal's Slueth Network (Simon & Simon, Miami Vice), Sony-owned (Benson, Archie Bunker's Place, What's Happening Now!!, Married with Children, Who's the Boss?, etc), Universal Media (Major Dad, Adam-12, Airwolf, etc), USA Network (Monk, Psych, Starter Wife, etc), and Warner Bros. (Welcome Back Kotter). Wow! Most of the shows are full episodes, but some are clips as well. This will be a treat for everyone as it will have something you like, I'm sure! Check it out!
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Fox Mid-Season Pilot Review: The Return of Jezebel James - Premieres March 14
The Return of Jezebel James - Fridays at 8:30PM ET/PT on Fox
Premieres March 14 with a one-hour premiere from 8:00-9:00PM ET/PT
Imagine, if you would, that you have everything you ever wanted in life. But what if there is just one thing that is missing, like a child? And what if you were unable to have that child on your own because your doctor just isn't possible? Well, then you have to turn to your sister for a little help, and that is exactly what happens in The Return of Jezebel James.
This is a comedy that answers the question of whether polar-opposite sisters can live together when one agrees to carry the other’s baby. Bright, optimistic, successful children’s book editor Sarah turns to her estranged and free-spirited younger sister, Coco, when she learns she cannot conceive a child herself.
Cast Details:
Parker Posey as Sarah Tompkins, Lauren Ambrose as Coco, Scott Cohen as Marcus, Ron McLarty as Ron, Michael Arden as Buddy, Dianne Wiest as Talia
It seems uncommon to find sitcoms with star-studded casts these days, and this series is not an exception to that rule. There really aren't any well-known people in the series, aside from Parker Posey, who plays Sarah Tompkins (the starring role). She has played in several movies that, while not blockbuster hits, are pretty well known, such as Dazed and Confused and Scream 3. Additionally, she has been on the series Boston Legal.
Lauren Ambrose (of Six Feet Under fame) plays her sister Coco.
Ron McLarty, was a regular on Spenser: For Hire and has appeared more recently on The Practice, Law & Order and Sex and the City, he plays her father, who is named Ron.
Scott Cohen plays Marcus and is best known for his role as Wolf in the miniseries The 10th Kingdom and for his recurring role as Max Medina on Gilmore Girls.
Rounding out the cast are Michael Arden (he recently guest starred on Grey's Anatomy and NUMB3RS) as Buddy and Oscar-winning actress Dianne Wiest as Talia.
Pilot Plot:
The pilot doesn't really get into much of a plot, but instead gives us a general overview of the series. And it is pretty simple. Sarah wants to have a baby and discovers that she can't, and turns to her sister for help. Of course, like any normal person would do if they were asked to carry a baby, her sister was against the idea. But, like any sitcom idea requires, her sister figures that she will go ahead and give it a try and moves into her sister's house to get started.
Guest Cast: Dylan Blue as Aaron, Amy Hohn as Evelyn and Jasika Nicole as Dora.
The review copy that I received also included the episode "Paragraph Two, Section Three," which is currently scheduled to air about a month after the first episode. In this episode, Sarah and Coco struggle to work out a legal agreement for Coco's plan to carry Sarah's baby, as both have their own selfish (and sometimes ridiculous) ideas.
Analysis:
I'm REALLY not sure where they are planning to go with this series. The whole premise of the series is that the main character wants a baby, and can't have it, so she wants her sister to have it. Now, that would make for a typical (not necessarily GREAT) episode of a sitcom, but this is a series. Either her sister will or won't do this. So if she does, then what is the point of the whole series? And if she doesn't, how long can they keep coming up with story lines about Sarah wanting her sister to have a baby for her? Clearly, this is a half baked premise for a series, and I can not see any possible way of it making just on that idea. Perhaps, though, the creators have something up their sleeve and this isn't the whole concept behind it after all. But all of the press says that it basically IS the idea.
Even if the series could be a success as it is, there is one other important thing missing from the series. The laughs. I didn't really laugh one time while watching this, which is just not a good sign, particularly since this is a standard sitcom that even has a laugh track. All of the jokes seemed to be lame jokes.
Conclusion:
Yep, it is another typical sitcom from FOX... that could be either a compliment or insult depending upon what you think of FOX sitcoms. This reminds me of a sitcom that Lifetime aired about ten years ago called Oh Baby, where a woman wanted to have a baby by artificial insemination before her biological clock ran down. And she did just that... and the series was promptly canceled. I'm seeing the same thing happen with this series, except it'll be sooner rather than later.
Final Numbers (out of 5 stars):
Watchability: 3/5
Funiness: 1.5/5
Overall: 2.5/5
-- Reviewed by Skees53 on 03/12/08
Discuss the show after you watch it on Friday on our message board.
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Tuesday, March 11, 2008
3 More RTN Affiliates; More Step by Step on ABC Family
Great news for those markets...it had been awhile since we gotten some RTN news, so don't worry, more will come I'm sure. It is sure growing fast!
We posted that ABC Family changed their minds about putting Step by Step back to weekday afternoons, and the show would only air continue to weekdays at 9am. Well, we got SOME good news now for Step by Step fans...the show will continue to air weekdays at 9am but now starting March 15 it will also gain Saturday and Sunday mornings from 7-8am....so four episodes a weekend! Better than nothing! It will replace Sister, Sister on weekends.
We will end today with a preview of what is to come this week on the blog. Tomorrow we will have a review of the new Fox sitcom The Return of Jezebel James, which launches Friday. We will highlight ION April 2008 and TV Land May 2008 as well this week. We will also have a review of the new ABC sitcom Miss Guided in the coming days, as it will launch next Tuesday with a special preview episode.
Monday, March 10, 2008
All That Joins The N; ION Television Schedule Change for Late March
All That will air weekdays at 7:00am, 3:00pm, & 3:30pm and weekends at 9:00am, 9:30am, 4:00pm & 4:30pm ET/PT. They will start with the episodes #338 and #339, so season three episodes.
There are other minor schedule changes and time shifts, such as Saved by the Bell moving to 4-6pm rather than 6-7pm and 9-10pm. Kenan & Kel follows from 6-8pm and Fresh Prince is in primetime from 8-10pm. One on One follows from 10pm-12am. Then from 12am-2am we get a different show each day. Moesha follows from 2-4am. So a lot of 4 in a row of episodes now. Degrassi is now ruling Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays but has disappeared Mon-Thurs. Growing Pains fans will be happy that the show will remain at 12 noon and 12:30pm, while A Different World is still missing.
To see the full schedule, click HERE...you can also discuss these changes and the addition of All That!
We don't have ION Television's April line-up yet, but we might get a preview of what is to come starting March 29. As you all know Baywatch is airing Mon-Thurs at 10pm since last Monday, but ION looks like will pull it from that slot in a few weeks. It is slated to move to Saturdays at 6PM starting Saturday, March 29, replacing 48 Hours (which will remain Sundays at 6PM). Starting Monday, March 31 at 10:00pm and 10:30pm The Drew Carey Show is slated to air for another hour replacing Baywatch. Now we don't know anything beyond that yet, since April is not released yet. I don't think ION will air Drew from 9-11pm for long, so maybe something else is coming? Stay tuned, as soon as we get the April schedule, we will bring it to you! And Baywatch fans watch the show the next few weeks at 10pm so maybe ION can reconsider this.
Sunday, March 09, 2008
Week 24 Numbers (First Four Nights); How the Sitcoms Did
Households: Fox 10.0/15.2, CBS 5.5/8.7, NBC 5.3/8.4, ABC 5.2/8.1, The CW 1.4/2.2, MyNetworkTV 1.1/1.7
Total Viewers: Fox 17.25 million, CBS 8.47 million, NBC 8.13 million, ABC 7.72 million, The CW 2.1 million, MyNetworkTV 1.69 million
Adults 18-49: Fox 6.4/16.0, NBC 2.7/7.0, ABC 2.5/6.6, CBS 2.4/6.3, The CW 1.0/2.4, MyNetworkTV 0.6/1.5
Analysis: Week 24 so far has seen again Idol score big for Fox on three nights...no more Thursday airings now starting this week. Through the first four days of week 24, we have Fox on top obviously, with a close race for second with CBS with the edge in HH and viewers and NBC with the edge in 18-49. NBC and ABC are close behind, while NBC is 2nd in 18-49, though ABC and CBS are right there behind it. Last week, week 23, Fox was number one in all categories (no really?). CBS was second in HH and viewers, with ABC second in 18-49. Third in HH and viewers was ABC, and NBC was tied for third in 18-49 with CBS, but fourth in HH and viewers.
On Monday, ABC was on top again for the second straight week. ABC aired the ABCNews special The Royal Family and it drew big viewers with 14.14 million from 8-10pm, however October Road followed with just 5.3 million, but its highest numbers in a while...season finale is tomorrow from 9-11pm. NBC was next with Deal or No Deal moving to 9pm again and doing 10.82 million, down from the 15.43 million it did the previous week at 8pm. Then NBC the reality series, My Dad Is Better Than Your Dad to 8pm and it did 7.24 million, down over a bit from previous week when it was at 9pm. Medium closed the night off with 9.08 million, up well over a million from previous week...a better lead-in helped. CBS was next with a mix of repeats and new episodes. Sitcom repeat of Two and a Half Men lead the night with 9.96 million (down about 3 million from previous week), besting the new episodes of The Captain and Old Christine, a CSI: Miami repeat closed the night with 9.35 million, up from previous week. Fox aired the last two episodes of the season for Sarah Connor Chronicles and it did 7.75 and 8.29 million...up from previous week, but the 8pm showing was lower than Moment of Truth the previous week. The CW had a repeat of Gossip Girl doing 1.4 million, up a bit from previous week, and a new Pussycat Dolls at 1.69 million, down a tad from previous week.
On Tuesday, Fox was on top thanks to Idol at 28.44 million, slightly down from previous week, but that was 90-minutes. Special premiere of new drama New Amsterdam did 13.47 million, not too good, but held more than Back to You did the previous week. NBC aired a two-hour Biggest Loser at 8.62 million, up from previous week and a repeat of Law & Order: SVU drew a decent 9.03 million. CBS was next with a repeat of NCIS at 10.22 million, down from previous week, followed by the Tuesday edition of the disappointing Big Brother 9 at just 6.18 million, down from previous week, and Jericho at 5.65 million, down over a million from the previous week...a very up and down series. ABC had two episodes (new/repeat) of Just for Laughs start the night off with 4.71 million (down a tad from previous week), followed by a repeat with 4.54 million (also down just a tad from previous week)...a new According to Jim followed with 5.49 million (up from previous week) and the finale of Carpoolers only managed 3.99 million, but up from previous week. ABC closed the night off with the new limited and interesting series Primetime: What Would You Do? at 5.9 million, but that was down nearly two million from its premiere. The CW aired a repeat of Top Model Exposed at just 1.53 million and all-new One Tree Hill did 2.93 million, down a bit from previous week.
On Wednesday, it was all Fox again. American Idol did 28.32 million, up from previous week when it was a 90-minute episode, impressive. The Moment of Truth returned and did 14.72 million, seems lower than normal after Idol, looks like the touch is wearing off. As NBC did on Monday, they have moved Deal or No Deal to 9pm and it did 8.95 million, down from previous week's 9.3 million, which was at 8pm. Law & Order: Criminal Intent has now moved from 9pm to 8pm, which is weird, and it did 6.74 million (down a lot from previous week when it aired at 9pm). The original Law & Order closed the night with 9.63 million, down also a lot from previous week. These Monday and Wednesday moves have not helped at all, except for Medium's numbers. CBS continues to struggle with Big Brother 9 at just 5.58 million, up a tad from previous week, repeats of Criminal Minds and CSI: NY followed with 9.03 and 8.5 million, both up from previous week. ABC's Wife Swap did 5.16 (down a bit from previous week), followed by Supernanny at 7.08 million (down from previous week) and MEN IN TREES did 5.77 million, up a bit from previous week when it returned. The CW had an all-new Top Model at a decent 3.52 million (down from the premiere), with Idol leaving soon from 8pm, expect Model to go back above 5 million soon... a repeat of Pussycat Dolls' did 1.9 million, once again better than its Monday premiere!
On Thursday, Fox was on the map for the third (and it will be final) straight week as American Idol aired its third and final results show on a Thursday and did 26.5 million, up a bit from previous week, followed by yet another preview airing of New Amsterdam at 10.12 million, down over 3 million from its premiere and down from previous week's timeslot holder...this show is doomed on Mondays where it will be moving to. CBS started the night off with Survivor: Micronesia at 12.64 million, up a tad from previous week, followed by repeats of CSI and Without a Trace at 9.71 and 9.57 million...both down from previous week. Lost was the show again for ABC, Lost enhanced repeat started the night off at 8pm with 5.46 million (up a bit week-to-week), followed by an all-new episode at 13.01 million and a 5.4 18-49 rating (up from previous week), and Eli Stone closed the night with 7.14 million, on par with previous week. What a great episode that was. NBC started the night with an hour-long repeat of The Office not doing much at just 4.19 million (up a bit from previous week), Celebrity Apprentice followed with 8.84 million (up from previous week), followed by Lipstick Jungle at just 5.82 million, but it was up a bit from previous week.
Like usual, no Friday finals yet. NBC's Amn$sia continues to do bad at 8pm, as the third Price is Right Million Dollar Spectacular special was number one in the slot once again. CBS' Ghost Whisperer repeat and a House repeat on Fox at 9pm, was no match for NBC's Dateline which also was #1 at 10pm. On Saturday, Fox won with its usual line-up, and CBS's 48 Hours did decent for a Saturday.
Tonight will be ABC with the win most likely again, as Oprah's Big Give will likely do great again following Home Edition. NBC is in repeat mode for the entire night, while CBS will suffer with Big Brother and make a Cold Case repeat go down again. Fox's new sitcom Unhitched premiered to some bad numbers, but this week Family Guy is not new, so it might do even worse...the other Fox animated comedies from 8-9pm are new, though.
As for the week, Fox will win in HH, viewers and 18-49. Battle for second is unclear, but I predict CBS will be second, followed by ABC (a good Sunday will do it) and NBC in 4th.
This coming week...sees a quiet week, as the return of scripted programming is near, along with Dancing with the Stars (March 17)!
Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for week of February 25-March 2)
- Everybody Hates Chris (The CW) - The show returned with new episodes but only managed 1.45 million...it will probably do way more than that on Nick at Nite in Fall 2009...that is pathetic!
- Aliens in America (The CW) - All-new as well and it did just 1.1 million...lower than previous week's repeat which was 1.13 million...not good.
- Girlfriends (The CW) - A repeat did 1.24 million, up from previous week.
- The Game (The CW) - A repeat did 1.31 million...finally above a million for a repeat.
- The Simpsons (Fox) - A new episode did 8.18 million...not bad, seems lower than normal, especially the 3.9 18-49 rating.
- King of the Hill (Fox) - 7.75 million for a new episode...not bad, but it held most of the lead-in's numbers for once.
- Family Guy (Fox) - Just 7.8 million for a new episode, but the whole Fox line-up was on a 27-minute delay thanks to NASCAR..so that could be a big reason why the lowness of these numbers.
- Unhitched (Fox) - Premiered at 9:58pm and did just 5.77 million...how terrible that Fox launched it 28 minutes late.
Monday Sitcoms
- How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - 6.56 million for a repeat...up again from previous week.
- Welcome to The Captain (CBS) - 5.47 million for a new episode, up a tad from previous week, not good at all...one more to go.
- Two and a Half Men (CBS) - 9.96 million tuned in for a repeat...down nearly 3 million from previous week's repeat...why? It seems ABCNews' Royal Family affected it.
- Old Christine (CBS) - A new episode did 8.35 million, down from previous week and a season low.
Tuesday Sitcoms
- According to Jim (ABC) - A new episode did 5.49 million..not against Idol so it went up. Hopefully for the sake of sitcoms, it goes up even more this week...as we get two episodes this week!
- Carpoolers (ABC) - Just 3.99 million for the finale (up though from previous week)...so ABC has aired them all and is happy no more are airing.
- None
- The Office (NBC) 1 hour - A repeat did just 4.19 million...but it did go up a tick!
- None.
Saturday Sitcoms
- None.
Airing tonight (Sunday) is sitcom repeats on The CW from 8-10, and Fox's animated comedies are new from 8-10.
Summing it up. Two and a Half Men repeat was impressive for the week (well nothing really, as Men was below 10 million even and down nearly 3 million week-to-week). Everything else was OK (new Old Christine, How I Met Your Mother repeat) or just plain old terrible (new Welcome to The Captain, Carpoolers).
Saturday, March 08, 2008
Mini-DVD Reviews: South Park: Imaginationland and Lil' Bush Season 1 (March 11); Solomon's Weekly Rant
South Park: Imaginationland (Comedy Central DVD, $19.99) tells us the story of how a few boys in South Park protected all of our imaginations from the hostile forces of terrorists--or something along those lines! The DVD contains the three-part episode of the Comedy Central hit series that aired last time, presented as one extended length episode.
The story of the episode begins with a bet between Cartman and Kyle about whether or not leprechauns are real...and just as we would expect from a series such as South Park, it turns out that, yes, they are indeed real. Well, at least they are in Imaginationland, where the boys all get taken away to by a very strange man. All is well in Imaginationland until terrorists take over, and of course, Butters is left behind as the other boys quickly flee the scene. How will it all end? Will Imaginationland be nuked? Will Butters be safe? Will Kyle actually follow through on his bet, where he promises Cartman that he would suck a certain body part of his if it turns out that leprechauns are real? The only way to find out is to watch!
The DVD offers a little bit more than just the Imaginationland trilogy, however. It does offer two storyboard featuettes, as well as two bonus episodes of the series that relate to the theme of the Imaginationland episode: "Woodland Critters Christmas" and "Manbearpig." Both of these revolve around characters that may very well be imaginary, or not. And, Matt Stone and Trey Parker provide a commentary for those that are interested in that. Their commentaries aren't all that exciting usually, but it is still interesting. And, as a bonus (or maybe warning for some) about the movie itself, it is worth noting that the DVD uses a slightly different audio track than what was on television, so don't be surprised to hear a few f-words here and there! Fans will definitely want to head on up to South Park and get this DVD set...imagine how much fun you'll have watching it!
-- Reviewed by skees53
(4/5 stars)To purchase this DVD, click below and help support SitcomsOnline.com:
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Lil' Bush: Season One (Comedy Central DVD, $19.99) brings all six season one episodes of the Comedy Central series Lil' Bush to a single DVD release. You know about George W. Bush, but this series gives you a chance to meet him (in animated form, of course) when he was little, along with Lil' Condi, Lil' Cheney, Lil' Rummy, Lil' Jeb, and even Lil' Hillary and Lil' Obama... it is almost like The Flintstone Kids!
There are lots of great episodes in the first season. We get to see the gang take a little trip... to Iraq in "Iraq." The kids all go to a summer camp run by Al Qaeda in "Camp." Lil' Bush and Lil' Tony Blair become close--very close in "Gay Friend." The kids learn the beauty of using Mexican immigrants in "Mexicans." Lil' Bush has a problem with evolution in "Evolution." Lil' Bush ends up battling Michael Moore in "Hot Dog." And there is even a bonus unaired episode called "Walter Reed," which you'll understand why it didn't air when you see it on the DVD!
The DVD has more bonus features than just the bonus episode, though. We get to see Lil' Bush take us on the tour of the White House--or at least the one HE lives in on one of these. We have plenty of interviews with the cast members, which in my opinion aren't all that exciting, but still somewhat interesting. We even get to see a table read of a script in one of the bonus features. But forget all of that. The best part would be the commentaries that are included on the episode. We have relevant people giving commentaries on three different episodes. One from Jerry Springer, another from Ralph Nader, and another from Tucker Carlson! Who would have thought that such politically relevant figures would give commentaries on a DVD like this? It gives a very interesting insight onto the episodes that you almost wouldn't expect. All in all, this is a great DVD, and anybody that loves politics, whether you love Bush or hate him, should find this to be a very funny series.
-- Reviewed by skees53
(4.5/5 stars)To purchase this DVD, click below and help support SitcomsOnline.com:
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Solomon's Weekly Rant
Saturday, March 8, 2008
"Gene Simmons; Carsey-Werner DVDs; ESPN and LeBron James"
By Solomon Davis
Every Tuesday night I watch Parking Wars on A&E at 10pm but this past Tuesday the network played the program switch game. There was no new episode of Parking Wars at 10pm because of a new show called Gene Simmons? I guess A&E is just another cable network that likes to surprise viewers instead of mentioning program changes ahead of time. And I also would like to know what is so interesting about KISS star Gene Simmons? I don't even really know who he is!
Just recently I bought season 5 of Carsey-Werner's The Cosby Show on DVD and noticed the episode guide was incomplete on the set. It was just a list of all the episodes with no descriptions or airdates. How would people know what the episodes are about? Why would Carsey-Werner and FirstLook Home Entertainment not include a decent episode guide when the DVD sets are not for free? This is a lazy way to put a set together when fans are paying their money. At least Warner Brothers included a decent episode guide with airdates and episode descriptions for shows I have like George Lopez and Fresh Prince. Let's just say I won't be in the rush to buy seasons 7 and 8 of The Cosby Show in April.
On Wednesday night, NBA star LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers scored 50 points at Madison Square Garden against the hapless New York Knicks and ESPN showed a video clip of security guards aggressively removing a fan off the court who had gotten too close to LeBron James. ESPN's video had viewers thinking the fan was trying to ATTACK LeBron instead of congratulating him. I would have never known that if it weren't for other outlets who covered the story such as MSNBC because the people at that network were smart enough to notice that the fan was not trying to HARM LeBron especially since he was wearing a Cleveland Cavaliers jersey.
Agree or disagree with Solomon? Discuss it here.
DISCLAIMER: Remember, Solomon is not the voice of SitcomsOnline. He is just stating his opinions and does not reflect what SitcomsOnline says or thinks. It is just his 'View' but it is always quite entertaining.
Friday, March 07, 2008
Urgent TV Land Schedule Changes Starting Monday (March 10), High School Reunion Scores; Remembering Two Sitcom Behind the Scenes Stars
Then we move to every night. Just Shoot Me will be replaced from 12-1am by The Andy Griffith Show. I believe its ratings were not up to par here, but it will still be on the line-up in other slots such as 8:30am and 3:30am, replacing Three's Company in the latter slot. Designing Women moves up a half-hour to 4am, and yes, The Brady Bunch will return to its 4:30am slot after just a week off. And with Three's Company out of its 11am weekday and 3:30am every night slot, the show is not on the schedule at all now. So, it will be on a hiatus. I think they didn't want to waste airplays in the middle of the night. Hopefully it will return soon. We still have tonight (1-2am, 3:30am) to enjoy the show, though! Unfortunately they removed the 5:30-8pm marathon for Saturday in favor of The Beverly Hillbillies. So tonight is the last chance to see Jack Tripper and the gang until it returns at a later date. On weekends, the 7am hour will now be Bonanza, replacing the second Gunsmoke. Saturdays 10-11pm (whenever it is not preempted) will be I Love Lucy now instead of Three's Company. Finally, Little House on the Prairie will return on March 22 airing Saturday and Sunday late nights (early Sunday and Monday mornings) at 5am replacing Beaver/Lucy for weekends only.
And there you have it. To discuss these changes to to see these changes in a list format, click HERE!
Meanwhile, Wednesday night's premiere of TV Land's newest original reality series, High School Reunion, scored impressive gains across key demos over the same time period last year. The new series, which reunites classmates from a Texas high school more than 20 years after graduation, gave TV Land triple digit gains across the network's target demo, Adults 25-54, and double digit gains among the network's core audience, Adults 40-54.
High School Reunion posted a 0.4 rating (426,000 viewers) among A25-54, up 105% in rating and +113% in viewers over last year. The network averaged 735,000 total viewers, up +62% over a year ago, with a median age of 46. Among the network's core A40-54 audience, the premiere earned a 0.5 rating (260,000 viewers), an increase of +62% in rating and +69% in viewers over last year.
Today we will remember the lives of two sitcom veterans, but you never saw them on your TV screens. Director Herbert Kenwith and Writer Richard Baer.
Herbert Kenwith died Jan. 30 in Los Angeles of complications of prostate cancer, but it was just announced only recently. Working for Bud Yorkin and Norman Lear's Tandem Productions, he worked as producer and director on series including Diff'rent Strokes, The Facts of Life, Good Times, Sanford & Son, All That Glitters, One Day At A Time and Joe's World. He was mainly known for his directing and producing on Diff'rent Strokes and Good Times, but he also directed many other series such as Love American Style, Star Trek, Here's Lucy, Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Doctors, Temperatures Rising, Too Close for Comfort, Bosom Buddies, Brady Brides, 9 to 5, Private Benjamin, Gimme a Break!, It's Your Move and Amen. He directed the first episode of the soap opera The Young And The Restless. He did start his career as an actor on Broadway, but directing television shows was where he would end up. Mr. Kenwith had been retired from the business for quite some time. He will certainly be missed, but his work continues to air on TV every single day. Mr. Kenwith was 90.
Emmy-nommed writer Richard Baer wrote for TV shows including Leave It To Beaver, Bewitched, The Munsters, Barney Miller and M*A*S*H. He died Feb. 22 in Santa Monica, Calif. after suffering a heart attack in January.
He began his TV career on The Life of Riley, starting as an assistant and then writing several episodes. In 1960, he started working on the series Hennessey starring Jackie Cooper, earning an Emmy nomination and writing 38 episodes. Over the next 25 years, he wrote for more than 56 shows, including F-Troop, That Girl, Doris Day Show, Love on a Rooftop, Petticoat Junction, New Dick Van Dyke Show, Archie Bunker's Place, Who's the Boss?, and The Andy Griffith Show.
Mr. Baer will certainly be missed by sitcom fans as his writings will live on forever, whether it be Bewitched, The Munsters or Hennessey, or anything else he did. He will be missed. He was 79.
Thursday, March 06, 2008
BET Adds More Thea to Weekends; ION Upfront To Be Held May 1, Minor Schedule Change
As for Thea, we will now get two episodes a week rather than just one. 9-10am episodes are two new episodes and they will repeat one each on Saturday night at 3am and Sunday at 12 noon. So, if you're DVRing, TiVoing, recording Thea, back-to-back 9-10am Saturday mornings is your best bet.
Don't forget also to tune in this Saturday from 10am-11pm for the Sanford marathon as we set our clocks San"forward" for the spring, as all 26 episodes of the short-lived revival series starring Redd Foxx will air, including the three-part pilot episode.
ION Media Networks, Inc. announced today that it will display its new programming and marketing initiatives for the 2008-2009 television season at its second annual Upfront sales presentation. The event, aimed at the advertising community, will be held on the evening of Thursday, May 1st at the New York Public Library.
ION Television recently announced it will be adding the hit series Boston Legal to its Fall 2008 primetime lineup. Also coming to the network will be the timeless comedic drama, M*A*S*H.
ION Television already has made some significant additions to its primetime schedule in 2008, launching the beloved sitcom, The Drew Carey Show, on New Year's Day, and debuting the multi-generational TV staple, Baywatch, earlier this week. Original movies from RHI Entertainment, such as Journey to the Center of the Earth and Aces 'N Eights, set to premiere March 15th, also have contributed to the increased excitement at the network in the first quarter of the year.
Meanwhile, due to low ratings, ION has canceled the infomercial program Firebrand TV. Firebrand took a curated approach to Madison Ave., selecting flashy spots from blue-chip advertisers ranging from Coca-Cola to 24 Hour Fitness. The show was airing weeknights at 11pm and it will be replaced with real infomercials now starting Monday (March 10). No joking.
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
CW Schedule Changes; Summer News for NBC and CBS
I advise you to click HERE to view the full spring line-up. Compare the two links to see what changed.
NBC will celebrate America, its communities, athletes, songs, heroes, talent and Gladiators all summer long as part of "NBC's All-American Summer" - the network's run-up to its exclusive coverage of the Summer Olympic Games in Beijing. The network will ignite a late spring and summer of original programming paced by the premieres of series favorites American Gladiators (returns Monday, May 12, 8-10 p.m. ET), America's Got Talent (season premieres Tuesday, June 24, 9-11 p.m. ET), Last Comic Standing (season premieres Thursday, May 22, 9:30-11 p.m. ET) and the network debut of Nashville Star with new host Billy Ray Cyrus (Monday, June 9, 9:30-11 p.m. ET).
In addition, NBC will unveil the new suspense and horror anthology series Fear Itself on Thursday, May 29, 10-11 p.m. ET, as well as two new alternative series Celebrity Circus (premieres Wednesday, June 11, 9-11 p.m. ET) and The Baby Borrowers (Wednesday, June 25, 8-9 p.m. ET).
Wow, that's a ton of reality with one scripted anthology series.
Here is a recap:
Monday, May 12
American Gladiators - two-hour premiere 8-10 p.m.; series resumes on May 19 (8-9:30)
Thursday, May 22
Last Comic Standing - premiere 9:30-11 p.m.; series resumes on May 29 (8:30-10 p.m.)
Thursday, May 29
Fear Itself - premiere 10-11 p.m.
Monday, June 9
Nashville Star - (9:30-11 p.m.)
Wednesday, June 11
Celebrity Circus - two-hour premiere (9-11 p.m.); series resumes on June 18 (9-10 p.m.)
Tuesday June 24
America's Got Talent - (9-11 p.m.); another two-hour show follows on July 1. Series resumes with regular hour-long episodes on July 8 (9-10 p.m.). The show will be on hiatus during the Olympics, returning on August 26 (performance episodes) and "results shows" commencing on August 27 (8-9 p.m.)
Wednesday, June 25
The Baby Borrowers - premieres 8-9 p.m.
CBS also announced some summer news...surprisingly they will launch two scripted dramas in the summer. I think these are burn-offs because they couldn't fit them in this season, most likely because of the strike. The drama Swingtown will launch on Thursday, May 29 at 10:00 PM, ET/PT and drama Flashpoint in July. The premiere date and time period for Flashpoint will be announced at a later date.
Swingtown peeks into the shag-carpeted suburban homes of the culturally transformative '70s to find couples reveling in the sexual and social revolution that introduced women's liberation and challenged conventional wisdom. During this heady era of provocative change, Susan and Bruce Miller move their family to an affluent Chicago suburb where they're confronted with personal choices, experimentation and shifting attitudes, all against the backdrop of a changing social climate defined by its unforgettable music, fashion and style.
Flashpoint is an emotional journey into the tough, risk-filled lives of a group of cops in the SRU (inspired by Toronto's Emergency Task Force). It's a unit that rescues hostages, busts gangs, defuses bombs, climbs the sides of buildings and talks down suicidal teens. As they race against the clock to determine what brought these people to their respective breaking points, members of this highly skilled team use their training in negotiating, profiling and getting inside the suspect's head to diffuse the situation to try to save lives.
If we have more news we will return later. Try to come back if you can.
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
Nick at Nite March 2008 - George Lopez Week; TBS and TNT Upfront 2008- New Sitcoms, Dramas...and Match Game!
We will try to detail this more when more information comes, but this sounds like a, watch out, whoooooppppaaa week, as George would say! Discuss this month here.
TBS and TNT had its annual upfront yesterday and many original series are in the works for both cable networks.
TBS, television's top-rated comedy network, is ramping up its production of original programming with a slate of primetime comedy series in development, two late-night pilots ordered and three late-night projects in the works. The network, which currently ranks as ad-supported cable's #1 network in primetime delivery of young adults, has enjoyed tremendous success with such original programming as My Boys, The Bill Engvall Show and Frank TV. All three of those series are set to return.
Primetime projects in development include a sitcom adaptation of Jane Ganahl's bestselling memoir Naked on the Page: The Misadventures of My Unmarried Midlife, along with half-hour comedies from Dave Caplan (The Drew Carey Show) and Brian Hargrove (Titus). For late night, TBS has ordered pilot presentations of the animated series Stay Tooned (working title) and a new edition of the classic game show Match Game. TBS is also working on late-night comedies with Robert Townsend, The Jim Henson Company and Mark Wolper.
TNT is planning a significant boost in original programming, with 14 series in development and a plan to change most of the network's weekday, primetime schedule to originals by 2010. TNT's aggressive plan includes a mixture of scripted dramas, unscripted programs and the network's award-winning telecasts of the NBA. Under the new strategy, TNT will continue to showcase popular movies on Friday nights and weekends.
TNT has several new series in development. They join two recently greenlit projects Raising the Bar (working title), from executive producer Steven Bochco (NYPD Blue), and Leverage, from executive producer Dean Devlin (Independence Day). Both projects are expected to premiere in TNT's lineup later this year. TNT is also considering Truth in Advertising, from Greer Shephard and Michael M. Robin, executive producers of The Closer.
Scripted series in development include The Genie Chronicles, a fantasy-adventure from DreamWorks Television, producers of TNT's Into the West; Generations, a family drama from executive producer Robert Redford and writer/executive producer John Sacret Young (The West Wing, China Beach); Technophobia, from executive producer Mark Frost (Twin Peaks); an untitled project from the Hoosiers team of Angelo Pizzo and David Anspaugh; and an untitled drama based on characters created by crime novelist Tess Gerritsen.
For the first time, TNT is also branching into unscripted series, with several projects in development from such talents as Ridley Scott, Tony Scott, Mark Burnett, Mark Wolper, former NBA star Kenny Smith and Gay Rosenthal.
TNT's current original programming successes include ad-supported cable's #1 series of all time, The Closer, starring Golden Globe winner Kyra Sedgwick. That series will return for its fourth season this summer. The network's highly successful Saving Grace, featuring Oscar winner Holly Hunter, also will return for a second season this summer. The show premiered in 2007, claiming ad-supported cable's largest audience of the year for a new series launch.
For full details on each new project with synopsis, click HERE!
Monday, March 03, 2008
Nick at Nite Acquires Everybody Hates Chris for Fall 2009; The CW Announces Early Pick-Ups for 2008-09 Season, Includes Chris
Beginning September 2009, Nick At Nite will become the exclusive basic cable home to the half-hour series which stars Tyler James Williams (Unaccompanied Minors) as Chris, Terry Crews (The Longest Yard) as Julius, Tichina Arnold (Martin) as Rochelle, Tequan Richmond (Ray) as Drew, Imani Hakim as Tonya and Vincent Martella (Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo) as Greg.
The deal with CBS Television Distribution includes a four-year license period for a minimum of four seasons (80 episodes)...the series was renewed today for a fourth season coming this fall. The hit series is currently already in production on season four, which is included as part of the overall deal.
The series features guest stars including Jimmie Walker (Good Times), Todd Bridges (Diff'rent Strokes), Ernest Thomas (What's Happening!!), Loretta Devine, Wayne Brady, Orlando Jones, Richard Lewis, Vincent Pastore, Robert Wuhl, Phylicia Rashad (The Cosby Show) and Tommy Davidson.
The series is also cleared in off-network broadcast syndication for fall 2009, with 52% of the country covered thus far and deals signed with stations from the Fox, CBS, Cox Television and Weigel Broadcasting station groups. Chris will air on Fox-owned stations in New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, Washington and Houston. The CBS-owned stations pacting for the show are in Philadelphia, Detroit, Atlanta and Miami. Weigel Broadcasting's WCIU has snagged Chris for Chicago, while indie KAZT has bought the show in Phoenix.
Other upcoming series on Nick at Nite include Family Matters (June 2008), Friends (Fall 2011) and possibly The Nanny in 2009, or that could be TV Land now.
Discuss the Chris news here.
The CW announced early pickups of six series today, including the network's signature reality hit, America's Next Top Model, four dramas and one comedy. All six series will return for the fall season.
The network's most popular series, America's Next Top Model will return with mega-star Tyra Banks for cycles 11 and 12. Returning dramas include the buzz-worthy freshman hit Gossip Girl and One Tree Hill, returning for a sixth season. These three series are the top-ranked shows on television with a concentration of women 18-34 viewers.
Also renewed were the long-running Thursday night team of Smallville, which will begin its eighth season, and Supernatural, which will begin its fourth season. In addition, the critically acclaimed comedy Everybody Hates Chris will return for season four.
Sunday, March 02, 2008
Week 23 Numbers (First Four Nights); How the Sitcoms Did
Households: Fox 11.0/16.8, CBS 5.7/9.0, ABC 5.4/8.6, NBC 5.1/8.0, The CW 1.4/2.2, MyNetworkTV 0.9/1.4
Total Viewers: Fox 19.08 million, CBS 8.81 million, ABC 8.27 million, NBC 7.93 million, The CW 2.14 million, MyNetworkTV 1.4 million
Adults 18-49: Fox 7.2/18.1, ABC 2.7/7.1, NBC 2.6/6.8, CBS 2.6/6.7, The CW 1.0/2.4, MyNetworkTV 0.5/1.3
Analysis: Week 23 so far has seen Idol score big for Fox, with 90-minute episodes on Tuesday & Wednesday and the special Thursday results show...next week is the last of Thursday finally. Through the first four days of week 23, we have Fox on top obviously, with a close race for second with CBS with the edge in HH and viewers and ABC with the edge in 18-49. NBC is close behind in 3rd and a virtual tie with CBS in 18-49. Last week, week 22, Fox was number one all categories. ABC was second in all categories. With CBS a distant third and NBC in fourth in HH and viewers. CBS was fourth in 18-49 however, as NBC was third.
On Monday, ABC was on top. ABC aired the well reviewed movie A Raisin in the Sun and it drew big viewers with 12.69 million from 8-11pm. October Road returns tomorrow at 10pm for the first of 3 final episodes. NBC was next with Deal or No Deal doing 15.43 million, down well over a million from the previous week. Then NBC followed with week two of reality series, My Dad Is Better Than Your Dad at 7.8 million, down over 2 million from its premiere. Medium closed the night off with 7.61 million, down nearly a million from previous week. CBS was next with a mix of repeats and new episodes. Sitcom repeat of Two and a Half Men lead the night with 12.2 million (down a bit from previous week), besting the new episodes of The Captain and Old Christine, a CSI: Miami repeat closed the night with 8.63 million, down from previous week. Fox aired its The Moment of Truth at a special night and time and it did 8.51 million, up from what Prison Break usually does in the slot. The sinking Sarah Connor Chronicles followed with another low at 7.12 million. The CW had a repeat of Gossip Girl doing 1.28 million, up a bit from previous week, and a new Pussycat Dolls at 1.73 million, down a tad from its premiere.
On Tuesday, Fox was on top thanks to a 90-minute Idol at 28.59 million, slightly down from previous week's two-hour episode, new sitcom Back to You returned with a series high 12.15 million, but it bled a lot of its lead-in's numbers, which is a cause for concern. CBS was next with a repeat of NCIS at 11.08 million, up from previous week, followed by the Tuesday edition of the disappointing Big Brother 9 at just 6.72 million (but it was up over a million from previous week) and the show that should have never came back, Jericho at 6.9 million, also up over a million from the previous week. NBC aired a two-hour Biggest Loser at 7.47 million, down from previous week and the premiere of quarterlife drew historic lows with just 3.13 million and a 2.2 HH rating...no wonder CBS went up! ABC had two episodes (new/repeat) of Just for Laughs start the night off with 4.75 million (up from previous week), followed by a repeat with 4.55 million (down from previous week)...a new According to Jim followed with 4.61 million (down a bit from previous week) and a new Carpoolers only managed 3.46 million, down from previous week. ABC closed the night off with the new limited and interesting series Primetime: What Would You Do? at 7.67 million and a 2.9 18-49 rating. The CW aired a repeat of Reaper at just 1.81 million and all-new One Tree Hill did 3.18 million, both up from previous week.
On Wednesday, it was all Fox again. American Idol did 27.55 million for a 90-minute episode, down from previous week's two-hour show, with again Back to You following with 12.15 million...same exact number as the previous night. NBC started the night off with another Deal or No Deal at 9.3 million (up a bit from previous week), the NBC airing of USA Network's Law & Order: Criminal Intent did 8.22 million (up from previous week), followed by the original Law & Order at 11.42 million, up also from previous week. ABC's Wife Swap did 5.49 (up a bit from previous week), followed by Supernanny at 8.3 million (up nearly 3 million from previous week, as it didn't face Idol at 9:30) and MEN IN TREES returned with 5.59 million. CBS continues to struggle with Big Brother 9 at just 5.38 million, up a tad from previous week, repeats of Criminal Minds and CSI: NY followed with 8.14 and 7.95 million, both up from previous week. The CW had an all-new Top Model at a decent 3.82 million (up a tad from the premiere) a repeat of Pussycat Dolls' did 1.95 million, once again better than its Monday premiere!
On Thursday, Fox was on the map for the second straight week as American Idol aired its second results show on a special night and did 26.23 million, up 3 million from previous week, followed by a series high for Don't Forget the Lyrics! at 14.39 million, up 2 million from previous week's series high. Lost was the show again for ABC, Lost enhanced repeat started the night off at 8pm with 5.16 million, followed by an all-new episode at 12.89 million and a 5.4 18-49 rating (both down from previous week and season lows, but blame the Idol-effect), and Eli Stone closed the night with 7.15 million, down just a tad from previous week. CBS started the night off with Survivor: Micronesia at 12.53 million, down a tad from previous week thanks to Idol, followed by repeats of CSI and Without a Trace at a solid 11.55 and 10.45 million..who watches these repeats? NBC started the night with an hour-long repeat of The Office not doing much at just 3.99 million, Celebrity Apprentice followed with 7.67 million (down from previous week), followed by the bad Lipstick Jungle at just 5.61 million, down a bit from previous week.
Like usual, no Friday finals yet. NBC's Amn$sia bombed at 8pm, as the second Price is Right Million Dollar Spectacular special was number one in the slot and the night. CBS' Ghost Whisperer repeat shared success with a House repeat on Fox at 9pm, with ABC's 20/20 not far behind. The 10pm hour belonged to NBC's Dateline which grew a lot from its 9pm airing. On Saturday, Fox won with its usual line-up, no one else bothers to air anything new here.
Tonight will be ABC with the win most likely, as the Oprah will rule primetime now with Oprah's Big Give following Home Edition. NBC could be next with Deal or No Deal and a repeat of SVU, while CBS will suffer with Big Brother. Fox launches new sitcom Unhitched tonight after Family Guy, and the animated comedies will get a boost from NASCAR.
As for the week, Fox will win in HH, viewers and 18-49. Battle for second is unclear, but I predict ABC will be second thanks to tonight, followed by CBS and NBC in 4th.
This coming week...sees Fox launch New Amsterdam out of Idol twice.
Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for week of February 18-24)
- Everybody Hates Chris (The CW) 2 episodes - Two repeats did 910,000 and 1.33 million...both up a bit from previous week
- Aliens in America (The CW) - Repeat went back above 1 million, at 1.13 million.
- Girlfriends (The CW) - A repeat did 980,000 viewers...not good, but up a tick from previous week.
- The Game (The CW) - A repeat did 940,000 viewers...not good but up from previous week.
- The Simpsons (Fox) - A repeat aired at 9:30pm thanks to NASCAR's rain delay and did 6.39 million.
- King of the Hill (Fox) - preempted because of NASCAR's rain delay.
- Family Guy (Fox) - preempted because of NASCAR's rain delay.
- American Dad (Fox) - preempted because of NASCAR's rain delay.
Monday Sitcoms
- How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - 6.18 million for a repeat...up slightly from previous week.
- Welcome to The Captain (CBS) - 5.3 million for a new episode, down a tad from previous week, not good at all...
- Two and a Half Men (CBS) - 12.2 million tuned in for a repeat...down slightly from previous week's repeat.
- Old Christine (CBS) - A new episode did 9.15 million, down a bit from previous week.
Tuesday Sitcoms
- According to Jim (ABC) - A new episode did 4.61 million, against Idol ..maybe it will be better this week since it won't face it head-to-head.
- Carpoolers (ABC) - Just 3.46 million, down from previous week...and just one more airing left thankfully for ABC.
- Back to You (Fox) - A special airing out of Idol did 12.15 million, losing a lot of Idol's just under 30 million at 9pm...but still a series high.
- Back to You (Fox) - Again a special airing out of Idol...and again it did 12.15 million. Same exact 18-49 rating of 4.4 too, but the HH rating was a 7.5/12 compared to 7.4/11 the previous night. Consistent, but 'Til Death did do better last season than this.
- The Office (NBC) 1 hour - A repeat did just 3.99 million.
- None.
Saturday Sitcoms
- None.
Airing tonight (Sunday) is sitcom repeats on The CW from 8-10, and Fox's animated comedies are new from 8-10.
Summing it up. Two and a Half Men repeat and a new Old Christine were impressive for the week. Everything else was OK (such as both new Back to You episodes, How I Met Your Mother repeat) or just plain old terrible (Welcome to The Captain, Carpoolers).
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Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows
Wednesday, October 21
Scrubs - "My Best Friend's Birthday" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Turk is determined to have a fun birthday with J.D. and Elliot; the interns are challenged during the night shift.
Abbott Elementary - "The Tryouts" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
The step team tries out for a major competition; Melissa and Barbara take a special ed certification course; Janine, Gregory and Jacob welcome a new substitute.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of October 19)
Wednesday, October 21
- Billy Crystal (The Comedians/Soap) - Watch Billy on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Josh Charles (Best Medicine/Sports Night) - Josh appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
- Kate Berlant (Ghosted/Search Party) - Kate is a guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Natasha Leggero (Broke/Dice/Another Period/Free Agents) and Jimmie Walker (Good Times/At Ease/Bustin' Loose) - Natasha and Jimmie will be on a repeat of Funny You Should Ask at 12:37am on CBS.
- Ronny Chieng (Young Rock/Ronny Chieng: International Student) - Ronny hosts Comedy Central's The Daily Show at 11pm.
- Olivia Munn (Perfect Couples) - Olivia appears on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
- Giancarlo Esposito (Bakersfield P.D.) - Giancarlo talks about The Only Living Pickpocket in New York on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
- Max Casella (Doogie Howser, M.D.) - Max talks about Jimmy on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am.
- Sara and Erin Foster (Producers of Nobody Wants This) - Sara and Erin talk about Nobody Wants This on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
New on DVD and Blu-ray
01/20/26 - The Woody Woodpecker and Friends Golden Age Collection (Blu-ray)
01/27/26 - The New Fred and Barney Show - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/11/26 - Tom and Jerry - The Complete CinemaScope Collection (Blu-ray)
03/24/26 - Looney Tunes Collector's Vault - Volume 2 (Blu-ray)
04/11/26 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Fourth Season (DVD)
04/21/26 - Famous Studios Champion Collection (Blu-ray) (DVD)
05/19/26 - I Love Lucy - The Complete Series - 75th Anniversary Edition (DVD)
05/19/26 - Looney Tunes Cartoons - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (DVD)
06/16/26 - Difficult People - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
06/30/26 - Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
07/14/26 - The Office - The Complete Series - Superfan Extended Episodes (Blu-ray)
07/28/26 - The Bill Dana Show - The Complete Series (DVD)
07/28/26 - I Love Lucy - The Complete Series - 75th Anniversary Edition (Blu-ray)
07/28/26 - The Paper - Season One (Blu-ray) (DVD)
08/25/26 - Perfect Strangers - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (DVD)
09/08/26 - Looney Tunes Collector's Vault - Volume 3 (Blu-ray)
09/22/26 - Bridget Loves Bernie - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
10/20/26 - The Quick Draw McGraw Show - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
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