SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

Remembering Creator of Silver Spoons, Who's the Boss; Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of May 24, 2010)

We have some sad news to report. Martin Cohan, the co-creator of classic sitcoms Silver Spoons and Who's the Boss?, has died. Mr. Cohan died on Wednesday, May 19 in Pacific Palisades, CA, of complications from large cell lymphoma.
Mr. Cohan started his career as a stage manager/assistant director at ABC after graduating from Stanford University. He worked under Mike Nicholls on Catch-22. During the 1970's Cohan moved over to sitcoms and wrote for shows such as All in the Family, The Odd Couple, The New Dick Van Dyke Show, The Partridge Family, Flying High, Diff'rent Strokes, Hello Larry, and The Mary Tyler Moore Show, for which he won a Writers Guild Award. He also wrote, produced and directed episodes of The Bob Newhart Show.
In the '80s, Mr. Cohan created Tony Danza-Judith Light sitcom Who's the Boss with his partner Blake Hunter in 1984. The show would run for eight seasons on ABC and introduced us to Alyssa Milano. He also composed the theme song for the sitcom. He also created Silver Spoons in the early 80s, which introduced a young Ricky Schroder.
Mr. Cohan will deeply be missed by sitcom fans. Services will be at 2 p.m. on Thursday, May 27 at Mt. Sinai's Chapel Tenach in Forest Lawn, go to memorialwebsites.legacy.com/martycohan for more information. You can catch Who's the Boss? on television every weekday afternoon from 1-3pm on The Hallmark Channel. Mr. Cohan was 77.

It's Friday, so it is time for "Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows" for the coming week. This is where we list what sitcom stars are appearing on talk shows for the coming week, the stars are both current and past sitcom stars (but we won't cover movie stars like Tom Hanks or John Travolta, since they won't be talking about their past sitcoms likely), so this is for all sitcom fans of all eras!
For the week of May 24-28, 2010, we have many current sitcom stars and past sitcom stars on TV talk shows! So get your DVR's (or whatever you use) ready! Ready? Here is all what you need to know for the coming week!

Monday, May 24, 2010

• Rosemarie DeWitt (United States of Tara) - DeWitt stops by Late Night with Jimmy Falon at 12:35am on NBC.
• Damon Wayans (My Wife & Kids) - Damon heads to Chelsea Lately, at 11pm on E!
• T.J. Miller (Carpoolers) - Comedian T.J. Miller stops by E! TV's Chelsea Lately at 11pm.

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

• Jane Krakowski (30 Rock) - Krakow stops to chat on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno at 11:35pm on NBC.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

• None.

Thursday, May 27, 2010

• Bryan Cranston (Malcolm in the Middle) - Bryan will be on Last Call with Carson Daly on NBC at 1:05am.
• Joey Lawrence (Melissa & Joey/Gimme a Break/Blossom) - Joey stops by NBC's Last Call with Carson Daly at 1:05am.
• Patricia Heaton (The Middle/Everybody Loves Raymond) - This is a repeat from October, but catch Patty on The Bonnie Hunt Show, check local listings for showtime!

Friday, May 28, 2010

• Lisa Kudrow (Friends) - Lisa stops by NBC's Last Call with Carson Daly at 1:05am.
• Dominic Fumusa (Nurse Jackie) - Dominic stops by The Martha Stewart Show, so check your listings.
• Joel McHale (Community) - This is a repeat from October, but catch Joel on The Bonnie Hunt Show again. Check your listings.

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

The CW Upfront 2010-11: Fall 2010 Schedule; Craig Kilborn Returns This Summer on Select Fox Stations

The CW 2010-11

Fall 2010

Mondays
8:00PM 90210
9:00PM Gossip Girl

Tuesdays
8:00PM One Tree Hill
9:00PM Life UneXpected

Wednesdays
8:00PM America's Next Top Model
9:00PM Hellcats (NEW!)

Thursdays
8:00PM Vampire Diaries
9:00PM Nikita (NEW!)

Fridays
8:00PM Smallville
9:00PM Supernatural


Summer 2010:
New series: Plain Jane (reality).

Mid-Season 2011:
New Series: Shedding for the Wedding (wt, reality)

NOTES: Smallville will end after this season (its 10th season). More to come...stay with us.

Discuss The CW's 2010-11 line-up and also you can view complete program information.


Craig Kilborn is back! The Kilborn File, a new half-hour program featuring comedian and talk show host Craig Kilborn, will debut this summer for a six-week run on the Fox Television Stations.
The program, which marks a return to television for Kilborn after a six-year hiatus (when he hosted CBS's The Late Late Show), will feature the host's humorous and opinionated take on pop culture and current events. Celebrities and human interest guests will join him for his signature segments, such as the rapid-fire "5 Questions" and a rotating "Power Panel" that will weigh-in on the day's big issues, as well as a cavalcade of all-new Kilborn-branded comedy that will debut throughout the series.
Premiering Monday, June 28, 2010, The Kilborn File, will be presented on the Fox Television Stations in the following markets (all times local): New York (7 PM), Los Angeles (6:30 PM), Philadelphia (7 PM), Boston (7 PM), Phoenix (10:30 PM), Austin (10 PM) and Detroit (7:30 PM).

CBS Upfront 2010-11: Fall 2010 Schedule; TBS Upfront 2010

Your first look at CBS's official line-up!

CBS 2010-11

Fall 2010

Sundays
7:00PM 60 Minutes
8:00PM The Amazing Race
9:00PM Undercover Boss
10:00PM CSI: Miami

Mondays
8:00PM How I Met Your Mother
8:30PM Rules of Engagement
9:00PM Two and a Half Men
9:30PM Mike & Molly (NEW!)
10:00PM Hawaii Five-0 (NEW!)

Tuesdays
8:00PM NCIS
9:00PM NCIS: Los Angeles
10:00PM The Good Wife

Wednesdays
8:00PM Survivor
9:00PM Criminal Minds
10:00PM The Defenders (NEW!)

Thursdays
8:00PM The Big Bang Theory
8:30PM &#*! Mt Dad Says (NEW!)
9:00PM CSI
10:00PM The Mentalist

Fridays
8:00PM Medium
9:00PM CSI: NY
10:00PM Blue Bloods (NEW!)

Saturdays
8:00PM-10:00PM Crime Repeats
10:00PM 48 Hours Mystery


Mid-Season:

Returning series: None, as of now.
New series: Criminals Minds 2.0.

NOTES: Canceled are Accidentally on Purpose, Gary Unmarried, Cold Case, NUMB3RS, Miami Medical, Old Christine, and Ghost Whisperer. The latter two are in contention to be picked-up by ABC with Ghost Whisperer more likely to get a pick-up from ABC. More to come, check back...

Discuss CBS's 2010-11 line-up and view the full press release.


TNT and TBS today unveiled a broad array of plans for new programming, including several comedy projects that are being considered for TBS and a host of projects in development for TNT. The two cable giants staged a joint Upfront presentation in New York, with appearances by a legion of stars, including TBS's Conan O'Brien, George Lopez and Ice Cube; and TNT's Kyra Sedgwick, Ray Romano, Andre Braugher, Scott Bakula, Jada Pinkett Smith, Dylan McDermott, Timothy Hutton, Noah Wyle, Jason Lee, Alfre Woodard, Ben McKenzie, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Breckin Meyer and Angie Harmon.
We'll only cover TBS, as they are focused on comedy. TBS will expand its programming lineup sharply in 2010 and 2011. Conan O'Brien's new late-night show will debut Monday, Nov. 8 at 11pm. He will be followed by Lopez Tonight at a new time of 12am, the hit late-night show starring George Lopez that debuted in 2009. TBS's lineup also includes the original series My Boys, Are We There Yet?, and the new animated series Neighbors from Hell.
In addition, TBS has acquired exclusive cable rights to the CBS series The Big Bang Theory, beginning in fall 2011, as we mentioned yesterday. TBS has also as we mentioned, greenlit the original series Glory Daze (working title), a 1980s-set comedy that centers on four buddies who navigate college life and pledge a fraternity. The ensemble cast includes Tim Meadows and is from TBS Productions, Warner Horizon Television and executive producers Walt Becker (Van Wilder) and Michael LeSieur (You, Me and Dupree).

TBS has these one-hour scripted series in development (they have not been picked-up to series yet, these are just pilots):

The Wedding Band – The writing team of Josh Lobis and Darin Moiselle (South Park) and executive producer Mike Tollin (Smallville) introduce a fresh comedy that centers on four friends. Some are married and some are single, all with day jobs and responsibilities, but they share one thing in common: They are in a wedding band. The Wedding Band comes to TBS from FremantleMedia.

The Rabbit Factory – From executive producer/writer Alan Loeb (New Amsterdam), executive producer Steven Pearl (The Beast) and Lionsgate Television, this series follows the detective team of Mike Lomax and Terry Biggs, two characters from the book series by Marshall Karp. Recently widowed Lomax and recently married Biggs work to protect and serve, navigating the daily challenges of their jobs while tackling their personal lives.

The Catch – Executive producer/writer Vic Levin (Mad About You) and executive producer Chris Albrecht focus on a widower who re-enters the world of dating, only to learn that he is quite the catch.

TBS has these animated series in development (they have not been picked-up to series yet, these are just pilots):

Good and Evel – Olive Productions (Stanley Tucci, Steve Buscemi and Wren Arthur), Gotham Group (Ellen Goldsmith-Vein and Lee Stollman), Lionsgate Television and executive producer/writer Glenn Eichler (The Colbert Report, Beavis & Butt-Head) introduce the ultimate dysfunctional family. Voiced by acclaimed actors Tucci (Julie & Julia, The Lovely Bones) and Buscemi (Fargo), the show centers on Jack Good, a moral, upstanding family man, and his nefarious twin brother, Bo Evel, a rebel and drunk who's been in and out of prison.

The Black Family – Executive producer/writer Ali LeRoi (Everybody Hates Chris, TBS's Are We There Yet?); executive producer/artist Todd Goldman; executive producers Keenan Ivory Wayans, Marlon Wayans and Shawn Wayans (White Chicks); and executive producer Rick Alvarez (Dance Flick) introduce a blended interracial family, the Blacks.

In addition to original entertainment programming, TNT and TBS are home to marquee sports, including the NBA, Major League Baseball and NASCAR. Turner recently announced a blockbuster agreement that will bring the NCAA men's basketball tournament to the networks – along with sister network truTV – starting in 2011. The deal with Turner and partner CBS includes staging the Final Four and men's championship game on TBS every other year, starting in 2016.

ABC Upfront 2010-11: Fall 2010 Schedule; The Big Bang Theory Heads to Syndication in Fall 2011 on TBS and Locals

Your FIRST look at ABC's official line-up!

ABC 2010-11

Fall 2010

Sundays
7:00PM America's Funniest Home Videos
8:00PM Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
9:00PM Desperate Housewives
10:00PM Brothers & Sisters

Mondays
8:00PM Dancing with the Stars
10:00PM Castle

Tuesdays
8:00PM No Ordinary Family(NEW!)
9:00PM Dancing with the Stars: The Results
10:00PM Detroit 1-8-7 (NEW!)

Wednesdays
8:00PM The Middle
8:30PM Better Together (NEW!)
9:00PM Modern Family
9:30PM Cougar Town
10:00PM The Whole Truth (NEW!)

Thursdays
8:00PM My Generation (NEW!)
9:00PM Grey's Anatomy
10:00PM Private Practice

Fridays
8:00PM Secret Millionaire (New to ABC)
9:00PM Body of Proof (NEW!)
10:00PM 20/20

Saturdays
8:00PM Saturday Night College Football


Mid-Season:

New: Off the Map, Happy Endings, Mr. Sunshine. More new mid-season series will be announced at a later date.
Returning: V, Supernanny, The Bachelor. Possibly more soon.
The Bachelor will air from 8-10pm starting in January on Monday nights, before Dancing with the Stars returns in mid-March.

NOTES: New comedies Mr. Sunshine and Happy Endings could still launch in the fall (likely Wednesdays at 10) if The Whole Truth can't recast the lead in time. Also, two alternative series from this past season Shark Tank and Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution are still in contention for a mid-season return, as is Wife Swap but they haven't been picked-up yet. V could return as early as November on Tuesdays at 9PM following the conclusion of Dancing with the Stars. ABC is likely going to schedule tropical medical drama Off the Map after Desperate Housewives on Sundays at 10pm (the original Grey's slot) in the spring after Brothers and Sisters concludes its season (only 18 episodes). CBS has canceled both Old Christine and Ghost Whisperer, so there is a chance ABC can pick one or both of those up.
The upfront presentation for ABC is at 4pm ET. Stay tuned later for a recap.

Discuss ABC's 2010-11 line-up and also you can view complete program information.


The Big Bang Theory, network television's No. 1 comedy series among Adults 18–49 and Adults 25–54, is set for a multiplatform off-network syndication launch in Fall 2011 on the Fox Television Stations in local syndication and Turner Broadcasting's TBS on cable, through a strategic partnership with Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution.
The Fox-owned stations have acquired the exclusive off-network broadcast television rights in the following 10 markets: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Washington, D.C., Houston, Phoenix, Miami, Orlando and Baltimore. Stations will be able to air it in early evenings and late fringe.
On cable, TBS will be the exclusive provider of off-network episodes of The Big Bang Theory and will also commence airing the series in fall 2011 as a weekday strip. TBS will be able to air it in primetime.
TBS will pay about $1.5 million per episode with broadcast stations paying about $500,000 per episode. Read the full press release.

Fox Upfront 2010-11: Fall 2010 Schedule; Stephen J. Cannell's Take On New Rockford Files That Didn't Get Ordered

Fox 2010-11

Fall 2010

Sundays
7:00PM NFL Overrun/Animated Repeats
8:00PM The Simpsons
8:30PM The Cleveland Show
9:00PM Family Guy
9:30PM American Dad!

Mondays
8:00PM House
9:00PM Lone Star (NEW!)

Tuesdays
8:00PM Glee
9:00PM Raising Hope (NEW!)
9:30PM Running Wilde (NEW!)

Wednesdays
8:00PM Lie to Me
9:00PM Hell's Kitchen

Thursdays
8:00PM Bones
9:00PM Fringe

Fridays
8:00PM Human Target
9:00PM The Good Guys

Saturdays
8:00PM Cops
9:00PM America's Most Wanted


January / Spring 2011:

Sundays
7:00PM The Simpsons (repeats)
7:30PM American Dad
8:00PM The Simpsons
8:30PM Bob's Burgers (NEW!)
9:00PM Family Guy
9:30PM The Cleveland Show

Mondays
8:00PM House
9:00PM Lonestar / Ride-Along (NEW!)

Tuesdays
8:00PM American Idol
9:30PM Running Wilde / Mixed Signals (NEW!)

Wednesdays
8:00PM Raising Hope
8:30PM American Idol Results Show
9:00PM Glee

Thursdays
8:00PM Bones
9:00PM Fringe

Fridays
8:00PM Human Target
9:00PM Kitchen Nightmares

Saturdays
8:00PM Cops
9:00PM America's Most Wanted

NOTES: Unscheduled but picked-up for mid-season is drama Terra Nova from Steven Spielberg. It was also announced that a very special Glee will air following Super Bowl XLV on Sunday, February 6 and will move to Wednesdays at 9PM following Idol Results after the airing.

Discuss Fox's 2010-11 line-up. You'll find the official press release there, too...with more detailed information.


The original Rockford Files creator Stephen J. Cannell spoke to Chris Mann of Retroality.TV about the potential new NBC series for Rockford that NBC has scrapped "for now." The series was getting a ton of buzz a few weeks back and now it is not picked-up for the fall. Chris gets an exclusive reaction from Cannell on David Shore's pilot script for NBC's now-dead Rockford Files reboot. Read what Cannell has to say about this! And speaking of Cannell, catch him on the season finale of ABC's Castle tonight, as he once again plays himself on the series.
Back to Rockford, yesterday NBC Entertainment President Angela Bromstad commented on why Rockford is not picked-up yet, "it would have had to be A++ and I think we had an A-/B+ pilot and wanted to get it right." So, Rockford might be re-developed for mid-season or even next fall. Or is NBC just saying that and won't re-develop at all? We'll see.

NBC Upfront 2010-11: Fall 2010 Schedule; Week 34 TV Ratings and Analysis; How the Sitcoms Did

NBC 2010-11

Fall 2010

Sundays
7:00PM Football Night in America
8:00PM Sunday Night Football

Mondays
8:00PM Chuck
9:00PM The Event (NEW!)
10:00PM Chase (NEW!)

Tuesdays
8:00PM Biggest Loser
10:00PM Parenthood

Wednesdays
8:00PM Undercovers (NEW!)
9:00PM Law & Order: SVU
10:00PM Law & Order: Los Angeles (NEW!)

Thursdays
8:00PM Community
8:30PM 30 Rock
9:00PM The Office
9:30PM Outsourced (NEW!)
10:00PM Love Bites (NEW!)

Fridays
8:00PM Who Do You Think You Are? / School Pride (NEW!)
9:00PM Dateline
10:00PM Outlaw (NEW!)

Saturdays
8:00PM Undercovers (Repeats)
9:00PM Chase (Repeats)
10:00PM Law & Order: SVU (repeats)


Mid-Season:

Sundays (March 2011)
7:00PM Dateline
8:00PM Minute to Win It
9:00PM Celebrity Apprentice (two-hours)

Not Yet Scheduled:

Returning: Parks and Recreation, The Apprentice, The Marriage Ref
New: Perfect Couples (comedy), Friends with Benefits (comedy), Paul Reiser Show - aka Next (comedy), The Cape (Drama), Harry's Law (drama), America's Next Great Restaurant (reality)
Notes: Yes, the original Law & Order and Heroes will not return. However, some sort of wrap-up plan could be happening. Law & Order could wrap-up on an episode or two of spin-off series Law & Order: Los Angeles. NBC is also mullng a two-hour movie for Heroes to conclude that show. Parks and Recreation will be held for mid-season and NBC says it was a tough decision. When it returns it could possibly air at 9:30 on Thursdays. And it looks like there will be both a regular The Apprentice and a Celebrity Apprentice in 2011. The non-celeb version doesn't have a set night yet in mid-season (or summer?), but the celeb version will return in Match 2011 on Sundays once again. NBC will also broadcast a 35th anniversary Saturday Night Live special that will celebrate the iconic late-night series' long and eventful run on NBC since 1975.

Discuss NBC's 2010-11 line-up and also you can view complete program information.



Week 34 TV Ratings (first four nights, Mon-Thurs finals):

Households: N/A
Total Viewers: N/A
Adults 18-49: N/A

Week 34 (May 10-16) Analysis: For week 34, like the previous week, it's a three network race really but CBS has the edge in total viewers and Fox in 18-49. We don't have first four nights averages because Thursday final network averages weren't available to us. We have final program averages for Thursday, though, below. Last week, week 33, CBS won the week in HH/viewers, and Fox won the week in 18-49 once again. ABC was second in HH/viewers and 18-49, which means Fox was third in HH/viewers and CBS third in 18-49. So that left NBC fourth across the board again.

On Monday it was ABC with the win in viewers but CBS in 18-49. ABC started with Dancing with the Stars, as a special two-hour edition did 19.16 million and a 4.1 18-49 rating, on par really from previous week when it was 90-minutes. Romantically Challenged was preempted at 9:30pm but it will return tomorrow for its season finale. At 10pm, ABC had an all-new episode of Castle doing 10.86 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, on par really from previous week when it didn't have the direct Dancing lead-in. CBS started off the night with a new How I Met Your Mother doing 8.1 million and a 3.4 18-49 rating, up from previous week. A new Rules of Engagement was next doing 8.16 million and 3.2 18-49, both up from the previous week again. Then at 9pm an all-new episode of Two and a Half Men did 13.86 million and a 4.6 18-49 rating, two million more from a special Big Bang the previous week but the 18-49 rating was exactly the same, though. Then a new The Big Bang Theory was next and did 13.73 million and a 5.3 18-49 rating... excellent. CBS closed the night with a new CSI: Miami at 11.01 million and a 3.2 18-49 rating, up from previous week's series lows. Fox started the night with a brand new House doing 9.48 million and a 3.6 18-49 rating, both down from previous week again and its lowest since 2004 (season one). At 9pm a new 24 did 8.55 million and a 2.7 18-49, down some from previous week. NBC was of course in fourth with a new Chuck at 5.32 million and a 1.9 18-49, on par really week-to-week. A repeat of the recently canceled Law & Order was next and did 4.3 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating, down from previous week's repeat. At 10pm a new Law & Order did only 6.22 million and 1.8 18-49 rating, but up some from previous week. Over at The CW, they started with the a new episode of One Tree Hill at 8pm and did 2.09 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating, up from previous week. Then at 9pm a new Gossip Girl did 1.79 million and a 1.0 18-49 rating, up ever so slightly from previous week.

On Tuesday, Fox and CBS were tied in total viewers but Fox had a comfortable lead in 18-49. CBS, ABC and NBC were neck-and-neck in 18-49 with only a .2 difference. Fox aired an all-new American Idol doing 19.17 million and a 6.8 18-49 rating in the 8pm hour, up from previous week when it had its lowest numbers since season one. Then Glee aired and did 11.57 million and a 4.8 18-49 rating, down slightly only from previous week. CBS was all-new and started with a new NCIS doing 17.23 million and a 3.9 18-49 rating, up SHARPLY from previous week's season lows. The spin-off NCIS: Los Angeles followed with a new showing doing 16.04 million and a 3.3 18-49 rating, up from previous week's series lows. And finally The Good Wife closed the night with a new episode doing 12.85 million but only a 2.4 18-49 rating, skewing very old, on par from previous week. ABC started off the night with Dancing with the Stars: The Results doing 12.52 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, up some from previous week as Niecy Nash was sent home. It's down to the final four now! Then an all-new episode of the final season of LOST was next with 10.32 million and a 4.1 18-49 rating, up from previous week. The Tuesday finale is this week before the series finale next Sunday!! V finished the night with 5.69 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating, up from previous week again as the series was renewed for a second season. I knew it would return next season. NBC started with a two-hour The Biggest Loser and did 8.47 million and a 3.4 18-49 rating, up some from the previous week. A new Parenthood was next doing 5.93 million and a 2.6 18-49 rating, up slightly from previous week. The CW aired a new 90210 and a repeat of Life UneXpected as 90210 did only 1.45 million and a 0.7 18-49 rating, on par really from previous week, while Life UneXpected repeat did 770,000 viewers and a 0.3 18-49 rating...down a bit from previous week.

On Wednesday Fox prevailed again with Idol. But Fox first started very slow again with a repeat of Lie to Me doing 5.21 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating, but up some from previous week. Again why air a repeat when it has new episodes to air? Then Fox aired of course American Idol Results and did 19.57 million and a 6.6 18-49 rating, on par really from previous week in both categories. Funny the results show did better than performance overall again. CBS started with the season (or series?) finale of The New Adventures of Old Christine doing 6.89 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, up some in viewers from previous week. A special repeat of The Big Bang Theory was next and did 6.38 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating, up from previous week's repeat. Next CBS aired a new Criminal Minds and did 13.07 million and a 3.4 18-49 rating, up week-to-week. CSI: NY closed the night with a new episode at 10pm with 11.36 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, up from previous week's series lows. ABC did solid with their comedies. In the 8pm hour a repeat of The Middle did 5.62 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, sharply up from previous week's repeat. At 8:30, an all-new episode spiked up to 7.49 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, up week-to-week. In the 9pm hour, an all-new Modern Family did an excellent 10.34 million and a SERIES HIGH 4.3 18-49 rating, even beating the series premiere in 18-49! It was a classic trip to Hawaii! Cougar Town was next at 9:30 and was also all-new doing 6.23 million and a 2.7 18-49 rating, up from previous week. ABC aired a new episode of mystery drama happy town at 10pm doing a terrible 3.04 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating, down again. Look for a special Primetime: What Would You Do? here this Wednesday and it will probably do double the rating. NBC started with a new Minute to Win It doing 6.86 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating, up from previous week when it was a repeat. Good showing. At 9pm an all-new Mercy only did 4.01 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating for its finale, which was actually up a tick from previous week. Goodbye! A new Law & Order: SVU was next and jumped to 8.57 million and a first place 2.8 18-49 rating, up some from previous week. The CW aired the season finale of America's Next Top Model for two-hours doing 3.77 million and a solid 1.7 18-49 rating. Fly Girls and High Society did not air, but no one cared.

Moving on to Thursday, CBS won the night. CBS started with the durable Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains at 8pm doing 13.28 million and a 4.1 rating in 18-49, up some from previous week in viewers. A new CSI at 9pm did 13.42 million and a 3.0 18-49 rating, down from the previous week. The Mentalist finished the night with a new showing doing 14.84 million and a 3.2 18-49 rating, on par in viewers and down a tenth in 18-49 from previous week. ABC began the night with FLASHFORWARD at 8pm doing only 4.75 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, on par from previous week. ABC aired an all-new Grey's Anatomy doing a 11.05 million and a 3.9 18-49 rating for first place, on par from previous week in viewers and up a tenth in 18-49. Two-hour season finale this week that looks GREAT. At 10pm the season finale of Private Practice did 9.3 million viewers and a 3.2 18-49 rating, up sharply from previous week. Fox aired a new Bones and did 9.2 million and a 2.6 18-49 rating, up some from previous week. A new Fringe garnered 6.0 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating, up a tenth in 18-49 from previous week. NBC started off with a new Community doing only 4.49 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating, but on par really from previous week. Next Parks and Recreation was new and did only 4.28 and a 2.0 18-49 rating, up a tad from previous week. At 9pm a new The Office did 6.6 million and a 3.4 18-49 rating, down some from previous week again. A new 30 Rock was next doing only 4.96 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, down from previous week. At 10pm the falling The Marriage Ref was next doing only 3.99 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, for series lows. The CW aired a new Vampire Diaries doing 3.47 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, up some from previous week. Supernatural followed with 2.84 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, both up a bit from previous week again.

Now, final numbers for Friday and Saturday are not available as usual, but CBS won Friday in viewers and ABC in 18-49. ABC had the highest rated show of the night again in 18-49 with Primetime: What Would You Do? and 20/20 both doing a prelim 1.8 18-49 rating. On Saturday, Fox won a quiet night with its reality crime series.
Tonight ABC airs season finales of their ENTIRE Sunday line-up: America's Funniest Home Videos, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Desperate Housewives and Brothers & Sisters -- tune in! CBS airs the season finale of Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains from 8-10pm, followed by a reunion show at 10. NBC has A Minute to Win It at 8 followed by a new Celebrity Apprentice starting at 9pm. Fox has new episodes of Animation Domination and 'Til Death. As for the coming week, look for a lot of season finales, including ABC Comedy Wednesday and Grey's Anatomy.

Week 34 How the Sitcoms Did

Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for week 33-- May 3-9)

• 'Til Death (Fox) - An all-new episode only mustered 1.81 million, down from the previous week. At this point Fox doesn't care since they are burning episodes So a Blossom reunion didn't even help.
• The Simpsons (Fox) 2 airings - A repeat episode at 7:30pm did only 2.7 million, but up some from previous week's repeat. A new episode at 8pm did 5.67 million and a 2.7 18-49 rating...down some from previous week in total viewers.
• The Cleveland Show (Fox) - A new episode did 5.3 million and a 2.6 18-49 rating, like the lead-in down some from previous week in viewers.
• Family Guy (Fox) - An all-new episode did 7.21 million and a 3.8 18-49 rating. Up from previous week in 18-49 despite previous week being an hour long episode.
• American Dad (Fox) - Previous was preempted, but it came back on the date with 5.84 million and 3.0 18-49 rating...seems above normal.
  

Monday Sitcoms

• How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - A new episode did 8.1 million and a 3.4 18-49 rating, up from previous week.
• Rules of Engagement (CBS) - 8.16 million and a 3.2 18-49 rating for a new episode, up from previous week again and nice build in viewers from lead-in. So better than Accidentally on Purpose.
• Two and a Half Men (CBS) - A new episode did 13.86 million and a 4.6 18-49 rating, normal showing but maybe a bit lower in viewers.
• The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - A new episode did 13.73 million and a 5.3 18-49 rating, that is a nice climb from the lead-in. I just wonder if CBS will move this show in an anchor slot next season (like 9pm)? I think it will do fine of course, but the total viewers will be lower than Men and likely on par in 18-49, like what we saw the previous week.
• Romantically Challenged (ABC) - preempted, returns tomorrow! Watch!

Tuesday Sitcoms

• None.

Wednesday Sitcoms

• Old Christine (CBS) - A new episode did 6.89 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, up in viewers week-to-week. Have we seen the last of this show?
• The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - A special repeat did 6.38 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating. Up from previous week and it built in 18-49 from lead-in, unlike last week.
• The Middle (ABC) 2 airings - ABC aired a repeat and a new episode. A repeat at 8 did a decent 5.62 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, up from previous week's repeat. A new episode followed and did 7.49 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating...up week-to-week.
• Modern Family (ABC) - A new episode at 9pm of the hilarious comedy did 10.34 million and a series best 4.3 18-49 rating. I was right! I called that 4.3 last week! Season finale is this week with an appearance by Kobe Bryant!
• Cougar Town (ABC) - A new episode did 6.23 million and a 2.7 18-49 rating, up from previous week. Even against Idol, those are solid numbers. This show gets better and better in quality.

Thursday Sitcoms

• Community (NBC) - A new episode did only 4.49 million, but up a bit from previous week. 2.0 18-49 rating was the same from previous week.
• Parks & Recreation (NBC) - 4.28 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating is not good...but up from the previous two weeks.
• The Office (NBC) - A new episode at 9 did 6.6 million and a 3.4 18-49 rating, down some from previous week. Below 7 million again. I think this show has lost its mojo...it's all about Modern Family now.
• 30 Rock (NBC) - At 9:30pm a new episode did 4.96 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, down some from previous week again.

Friday Sitcoms

• None.
  

Saturday Sitcoms

• None.
  

Airing tonight (Sunday) are new episodes of Animation Domination and 'Til Death starting at 7.

Summing it up. The Big Bang Theory, Two and a Half Men, Modern Family, Rules of Engagement, & How I Met Your Mother were impressive this week. Everything was OK (such as The Office and Cougar Town) or just plain old terrible (such as a new Parks and Recreation, 30 Rock).

Digital Digest: Hunter - The Complete Second Season DVD Review

Our weekly news and reviews roundup is here once again and let me start off by saying that it has been a slow week... BUT sometimes big things come in small packages! This week, we have some details about a release of a classic 80's sitcom that appeared to be abandoned on DVD that will now be getting a complete series release... and sooner than you think! We've also got a review of Mill Creek Entertainment's release of Hunter - The Complete Second Season. So enough with the suspense, let's get going!

DIGITAL NEWS

Before we get into the "big news" item for this week, we still have a few loose ends to tie up with DVD releases of on-going series that we knew would be on the way anyway. This week, it is the "legendary" CBS sitcom, How I Met Your Mother, and How I Met Your Mother - Season Five is coming sometime later this summer (most likely before the new season begins). The only thing known at this point is the MSRP ($39.98), as no release date or any other information has been given so far. Still, you can pre-order it now from Amazon.com. One question that remains, though, is will there be a Blu-ray release? There isn't one available for pre-order just yet, but since Season Four was indeed released on Blu-ray, it seems likely that Season Five will be as well. But only time will tell. Other announcements of on-going series this week include two first season releases of a pair of NBC dramas that likely won't see a second season, including Mercy - Season One and Trauma - Season One. While few details are known about the Mercy release at this time, Trauma will be released on August 10 at a $39.98 MSRP.

As mentioned in our introduction this week, we have big news about a complete series release of a classic 80's sitcom... and now we will talk about that! That classic 80's sitcom is none other than the NBC sitcom starring Nell Carter, Gimme a Break! Yes, Gimme a Break! - The Complete Series is coming soon to DVD... but only in Canada. However, since Canada is a Region 1 nation, you can also purchase and watch these DVDs on your DVD players in the United States with no problems at all! In the United States, Universal released Season 1, then left the rest of the series abandoned. In Canada, VEI released the first two seasons, but then somewhat gave up on the idea of releasing the rest--until now, that is! The 18 disc set is scheduled to be released on July 20 at a very reasonable CAN$59.95 MSRP, but you can pre-order it now from Amazon.ca and get it for around $50.00 (American) shipped to the United States! That works out to less than $9 a season! No word on any special features at this time, though I doubt that there will be any. We do have a look at the cover art (which may not be final), courtesy of Amazon.ca, as shown below:



21 Jump Street - The Complete Second Season is coming out on Tuesday, but if you just can't wait to see the rest of the series, you don't have to! 21 Jump Street - The Complete Series is currently available at Best Buy as a store exclusive, for $39.99. Of course, it can be expected that a general release will follow up on that soon.

Our final two pieces of news about releases come to us courtesy of TVShowsOnDVD.com, and they include the announcement of one very old classic that appeared to be abandoned on DVD and the announcement of a more recent series that has never been released on DVD. First, the very old classic is The Real McCoys. After appearing to be abandoned on DVD for some time, The Real McCoys - Season Four is on the way, and set for release on June 29 at a $29.98 MSRP. As for the more recent series, that would be the ABC sitcom from a few years ago, Less Than Perfect, with a release of Less Than Perfect - Season One, set for a release by Lionsgate on September 14. It isn't available for pre-order yet.

Since it has been a slow news week, we thought we'd give you another one of our "bargain bonus" news pieces, where we tell you about great deals that can be found on DVDs! This time, it is our good friends at Big Lots--again--with some new DVDs that have been popping up in all of their stores nationwide! Plenty of Mill Creek Entertainment DVD sets have been showing up in stores recently, including the Stephen J. Cannell series 21 Jump Street, Booker, The Greatest American Hero, Hunter, Tenspeed and Brown Shoe, Wiseguy, and more! But those series are far from all of them, as many of their game show releases, public domain classic series, Shout! Factory "best of" selections, and others have also made a big appearance in the bargain bin at Big Lots! They can all be found for $5, but like most Big Lots deals, don't wait too long if you are interested! There is one word of caution, though... some of these releases are NOT the full releases as they were originally released by Mill Creek, and sometimes contain only half of the original set. You can tell these by the ones that have indicators such as "Volume 1" or something along those lines. It is interesting to note, though, that The Greatest American Hero - The Complete First Season is being released by Mill Creek officially this coming Tuesday, yet it is already available at Big Lots ahead of street date!

UPCOMING WEEK PREVIEW

Next week (May 18) only has one sitcom release in store, and that is California Dreams - Season 3. It is being released as a Shout! Select title (meaning it won't be available in regular stores), but you can order it now from Amazon.com. The other releases of note are all actually re-releases of some Stephen J. Cannell series from Mill Creek, including Hunter - The Complete Second Season, The Greatest American Hero - The Complete First Season, and 21 Jump Street - The Complete Second Season. All of these come at a $14.98 MSRP. But there's more! There will also be a release of The Greatest American Hero - The Complete Series, at a $29.98 MSRP. We have a review of Hunter today, and hope to have reviews of the rest soon!


BLOG FEATURE REVIEW

Rick Hunter is a detective who doesn't take crap from anybody, and he proves that once again in Hunter - The Complete Second Season. He didn't care how he got the job done, just as long as he got it done and appropriate justice was served in the end. Though technically a re-release of an older release of the series from Mill Creek, this value-priced selection brings every episode of what was at the time (and even still to this day) one of the grittier detective dramas on TV.

DVD Review: Hunter - The Complete Second Season
by Pavan

Hunter - The Complete Second Season (Mill Creek, $14.98) brings all 23 episodes of the 80s NBC series to DVD...again. Get ready to reload as L.A. homicide detective Rick Hunter (Fred Dryer) and his partner Dee Dee McCall (Stepfanie Kramer) are back on the job! This season aired on NBC in the 1985-86 season and moved to Saturday nights and flourished after comedies. Though the last few episodes of the season aired on Tuesdays after The A-Team. Like the previous set from Mill Creek, this is the second time that the second season has been released on DVD; it was previously released by Anchor Bay, and now, Mill Creek Entertainment is releasing it again as a value priced selection.

The second season features little bit of everything--Hunter and McCall take on deadly heists, killer porn stars, gangland murders, international terrorists, punk rockers, and more. As with the previous set, the music is missing on this set and it seems that all of the original music within the episodes has been replaced. I don't have any NBC airings to compare to nor do I have the Anchor Bay season two set.
As for the episodes itself, the season premiere "Case X," has McCall going undercover to solve a string of female porn star murders. Sam Anderson guest stars. In "Night of the Dragon," Hunter and McCall spend their time off investigating a shooting they witnessed in Chinatown. In the two-part episode, "Rape and Revenge," while investigating a rape and murder at a foreign consulate, McCall finds herself the victim of the same rapist, a diplomat who escapes prosecution for the crime because of diplomatic immunity. Hunter vows to get revenge and ravels to the (fictional) country of Curaguay to hunt down Raoul Soriano in retaliation for the rape of Dee Dee McCall. In "Waiting for Mr. Wrong," a flashy yet deadly jewelry store robbery leaves Hunter and McCall with a dead body and a cold trail. In "War Zone," the murder of a hooker is connected to a pharmaceutical theft. In "Scrap Metal," Hunter receives information about his late father from a hitman who is on his deathbed. In the two-part episode, "The Beautiful & the Dead," a body disappears from Hunter's apartment and as he and McCall investigate, they find that a Russian defector and Federal agents are connected to the case. And in the season finale "Saturday Night Special," Hunter and McCall investigate a witness' claim that a series of skid row murders are being committed by the reporter who is covering the story. Ann-Marie Johnson guest stars.

Other guest stars include Tony Plana, Jordan Charney, Robert Englund, Jane Russell, Robert Davi, Bruce Davison, Jesse Ventura, Sheryl Lee Ralph, John Matsuszak, and Isaac Hayes.

Even though all of the music within the episodes has been replaced, it appears that other than that, the episodes are largely unedited, although some seems suspicious, running below 47:00. Runtimes are as follows:

Disc 1:
1. "Case X" (48:10)
2. "Night of the Dragons" (47:02)
3. "The Biggest Man in Town" (46:02)
4. "Rich Man" (48:24)
5. "Killer in the Halloween Mask" (47:57)
6. "Rape & Revenge: Part 1" (47:52)

Disc 2:
7. "Rape & Revenge: Part 2" (48:44)
8. "Six Million Dollar Misunderstanding" (46:39)
9. "The Big Fall" (48:14)
10. "Waiting for Mr. Wrong" (48:39)
11. "Think Blue" (48:26)
12. "Blow Up" (47:10)

Disc 3:
13. "War Zone" (46:45)
14. "Burned" (47:27)
15. "Scrap Metal" (46:51)
16. "Fagin 1986" (46:22)
17. "62 Hours of Terror" (47:54)
18. "Death Machine" (46:53)

Disc 4:
19. "The Set Up" (48:04)
20. "The Beautiful & the Dead: Part 1" (48:12)
21. "The Beautiful & the Dead: Part 2" (45:42)
22. "The Return of Typhoon Thompson" (47:06)
23. "Saturday Night Special" (48:00)

Like the previous set, the menus are very basic, but also nicely done, with the theme song playing on the main menu and options of Play All and Episode Select. The main menu has a close-up of a building before zooming into Hunter holding a gun and wearing sunglasses. When you go to Episode Select, it takes you to a menu that lists all of the episode numbers and titles, where the theme song continues to play. There are no scene selection menus, but chapters are placed appropriately throughout each episode. However, we only get 3 chapter stops per episode. Not enough!

As for the packaging, it is still cheap like it was on the previous set. Basically, it has a double thick keep-case with four black paper sleeves inside. This is TERRIBLE and cheap! The cover art has a shot of Hunter and McCall with guns and you see some building in his background. The back of the case has several episodic photos as well as basic series information. The disc artwork is the same on each disc, with same artwork as the cover art. Each disc has the episode titles contained on the disc printed on the disc. But again, there are no other episode lists contained within the set.

The video and audio is good. There is nothing to complain about. It "works for me!" It is about as good as it gets for episodes from 1985-86. A few tidbits, at the end of the first part of the first two-part episode, at the end of the episode it says "Next Week: The Revenge," while at the end of the first part of the second two-part episode it says "To Be Continued." Both second parts do not have a recap or anything of the first part. Each episode on this set does have a 30 second preview of the episode, with clips from the episode.

One again, there are no special features on the set. Mill Creek is really taking the Anchor Bay version of this series and re-releasing it. But they cheapened the packaging. Other than that, it is probably the same. I don't have the Anchor Bay sets to compare, though. Anchor Bay stopped after season three, so let's hope Mill Creek releases all seven seasons and we finally get seasons 4-7 on DVD!

There are once again the same problems with this set as with the previous set, but again the price is very cheap that it is worth it. For die-hard fans, I don't think this set works, but for a casual fan, they'll certainly say "works for me." It is too bad the packaging is cheap and the episodes don't have original music. If you have the Anchor Bay version, you really don't need this set. This is my first DVD of this series, so I think I'll want to buy season one cheap. I have always liked this show, so I hope Mill Creek continues and releases each season on DVD. This set "works for me," but for big fans, I am not so sure. You'll have to decide yourself if you need this set!

(3/5 stars)

To purchase this DVD, click below and help support SitcomsOnline.com:
Amazon.com


LOOKING AHEAD

We'll be back next week with more news (no matter how big or small that news is) and a review of 21 Jump Street - The Complete Second Season. We'll also have another special feature story for next week, so you won't want to miss that! In the meantime, we want to hear what you think about Digital Digest, so let us know on our message board or Tweet/Facebook us. Until next time, keep it digital!

TBS Picks Up One-Hour Comedy Series; Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of May 17, 2010)

TBS has given the greenlight to the one-hour comedy series Glory Daze, a 1980s-set college comedy starring Kelly Blatz (Aaron Stone), Callard Harris (Sons of Anarchy), Matt Bush, Drew Seeley, Hartley Sawyer, Julianna Guill and Tim Meadows (Saturday Night Live, Mean Girls). TBS has ordered eight episodes of the series, which was created by Walt Becker and Michael LeSieur. Glory Daze is slated to premiere on TBS in late 2010.
Glory Daze centers on a group of friends who are trying to navigate college life in 1980s Wisconsin. From being out on their own for the first time to pledging a fraternity, they discover how challenging the next few years are going to be.

It's Friday, so it is time for "Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows" for the coming week. This is where we list what sitcom stars are appearing on talk shows for the coming week, the stars are both current and past sitcom stars (but we won't cover movie stars like Tom Hanks or John Travolta, since they won't be talking about their past sitcoms likely), so this is for all sitcom fans of all eras!
For the week of May 17-21, 2010, we have many current sitcom stars and past sitcom stars on TV talk shows! So get your DVR's (or whatever you use) ready! Ready? Here is all what you need to know for the coming week!

Monday, May 17, 2010

• Bill Cosby (The Cosby Show/Cosby) - The TV legend stops by The Tonight Show with Jay Leno at 11:35pm on NBC.
• Damon Wayans (My Wife & Kids) - Damon heads to The Tavis Smiley Show, so check your local PBS listings!
• Jason Alexander (Seinfeld) - Jason stops by ABC's Good Morning America, sometime between 7-9am then heads to HLN on The Joy Behar Show at 9pm.
• Johnny Galecki (The Big Bang Theory/Roseanne) - Johnny stops by ABC's The View at 11am ET/10am CT/PT.
• Chevy Chase (Community) - Chevy cooks with Martha on The Martha Stewart Show, so check your listings!
• Aubrey Plaza (Parks and Recreation) - Aubrey stops by The Bonnie Hunt Show, check your local listings.
• Julie Bowen (Modern Family) - Julie stops by TBS's Lopez Tonight at 11:00pm.

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

• Steve Carell (The Office) - Steve stops to chat on The Ellen DeGeneres Show so check local listings.
• Carol Burnett (Carol Burnett Show/Mama's Family) - This is a repeat from last month, but catch Carol on The Bonnie Hunt Show, check listings.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

• Atticus Shaffer (The Middle) - The little man stops by ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live on ABC at 12:06am.
• Jerry Seinfeld (Seinfeld) - Catch Jerry on NBC's Late Night with Jimmy Fallon at 12:35am.
• Ed O'Neill, Sofia Vergara, Ty Burrell, Julie Bowen, Eric Stonestreet and Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Modern Family) - The grown-up cast of Modern Family is on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am!
• Garry Shandling (Larry Sanders Show/It's Garry Shandling's Show) - Garry stops by PBS's Tavis Smiley Show so check your local listings.
• Johnny Galecki, Kaley Cuoco, Jim Parsons, Simon Helberg and Kunal Nayyar (The Big Bang Theory) - The entire cast drops by CBS's Early Show sometime between 7-9am.

Thursday, May 20, 2010

• Mario Lopez (Saved by the Bell) - Mario will be on Lopez Tonight on TBS at 11:00pm and also on The Wendy Williams Show, so check your listings (or watch it nationally on BET at 12am).
• George Lopez (George Lopez) - George stops by ABC's The View at 11am ET/10am CT/PT.
• Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory) - Jim will be on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on NBC at 12:35am!

Friday, May 21, 2010

• None.

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

SitcomsOnline.com 2010-11 Upfront Preview: The CW; Network Pick-Ups

The CW continues to struggle, but they found one hit (Vampire Diaries) and a moderate success (Life UneXpected) this past season after many struggles (Melrose Place). And to make things worse, for the second straight year they have zero sitcom pilots in development, so all of their new series pick-ups will be dramas again. They could need a sitcom or two to change things up.
Here is the SitcomsOnline.com The CW 2010-11 preview:

New Series Already Picked-Up: None.
Already Renewed Returning Series: 90210, America's Next Top Model, Gossip Girl, Smallville, Supernatural, and The Vampire Diaries.
Likely Returning Series: One Tree Hill and Life UneXpected.
Likey To Be Canceled or Already Canceled: The Beautiful Life: TBL, Fly Girls, High Society, and Melrose Place.
Likely New Series: Nikita (drama), Hellcats (drama), Betwixt (drama) and Nomads (mid-season drama).

OUR FALL 2010 PREDICTION:

Mondays
8:00PM Gossip Girl
9:00PM Hellcats (NEW!)

Tuesdays
8:00PM Life UneXpected
9:00PM 90210

Wednesdays
8:00PM America's Next Top Model
9:00PM Nikita (NEW!)

Thursdays
8:00PM Vampire Diaries
9:00PM Betwixt (aka Changelings) (NEW!)

Fridays
8:00PM Smallville
9:00PM Supernatural

Comments: The CW only has five nights to program, so that is only 10 hours worth of programming. With zero comedies again, they again are going with all dramas and Top Model. It would have been nice to see a comedy hour somewhere. For Mondays, Gossip Girl could be back to leading off Mondays and they can try new drama Hellcats at 9pm which focuses on cheerleaders. Sounds like a perfect fit out of Gossip Girl.
For Tuesdays, they should start the night off with Life UneXpected at 8 leading into 90210. 90210 needs to do much better and needs all the help it can get. Melrose Place was a dud and should be canned for good. I think 90210 should be also, but The CW renewed it.
Wednesdays will of course have America's Next Top Model leading off the night followed possibly by a drama that could be their top pilot, Nikita, a remake of the TV/movie franchise about a female assassin. That could be the fit The CW was looking for, instead of wasting the timeslot with repeats or duds like Fly Girls/High Society.
For Thursday, that is The CW's biggest night! Highest rated drama The Vampire Diaries will continue to lead off the night at 8pm. They could move Supernatural off to Fridays and try a new drama at 9pm. I think they should go with the drama Betwixt (aka Changelings). That pilot centers around teens who find something strange about themselves in the woods. Could be a good match with The Vampire Diaries.
And finally on Fridays, long-running hit Smallville returns at 8pm for sure. But the 9pm hour will likely not be repeats anymore, with possibly Supernatural moving here, as they already are airing repeats of that in this slot in the summer.
For mid-season, they will have One Tree Hill ready to go (watch your back 90210!). They could pick-up another drama for mid-season such as Nomads, about a group of traveling teens that work for the CIA.
With only two hours to program each night, The CW should start each night with a proven show (Gossip Girl, Life UneXpected, Top Model, Vampire Diaries, Smallville). It still baffles me why they had no sitcoms in development. I think a comedy hour would work on Tuesdays following Life UneXpected, especially if they are in the same vein as something like Reba. It is too bad they are wasting time on 90210, as that has been a bust and still is entering its third season next season.
Discuss your thoughts on our prediction and feel free to make suggestions of your own.

Remember, next Thursday (May 20) is the actual date when we will find out The CW's plans for the 2010-11 season. So, come on back next Thursday and we will let you know the details and you can see how much we were right (or wrong).
And as a reminder, stay tuned starting Sunday evening (through Thursday) for all the final schedules released by all the networks! We will put them up as soon as they are released by the networks, so this will be your home to see them first!


With upfronts next week, the networks are giving some early pick-ups and renewals. NBC has green-lit the new romantic single-camera comedy Perfect Couples for its 2010-11 season. The sitcom joins previously announced dramas Chase, Undercovers, The Event, Love Bites, and fellow comedy Outsourced as the sixth new scripted series currently unveiled for NBC's new season with additional pickups yet to be announced. NBC unveils its schedule on Sunday at 5:15pm ET.
Perfect Couples depicts the misadventures of three engaging couples as they struggle to find out what makes the ideal relationship -- and how to maintain it through humorous trial-and-error. The series explores their heroic journey in search of the perfect relationship without destroying each other in the process.
Dave (Kyle Howard, My Boys) and Julia (Christine Woods, FLASHFORWARD) are the relatable, normal couple, but Julia's hope of remaining the cool, low-maintenance chick is tested by Dave's attempts to keep both his wife and his needy best friend Vance (Dave Walton, NBC's 100 Questions) equally happy. Vance, along with the neurotic Amy (Mary Elizabeth Ellis, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia), are the high-passion, high-drama couple who bring out the best and worst in each other.
The third duo features Rex (Hayes MacArthur, She's Out of My League), a reformed party guy, and, and his wife, Leigh (Olivia Munn, G4's Attack of the Show), who considers herself as the group's mother hen. Believing that they are relationship experts, Rex and Leigh have attended every class and seminar on relationships -- and regard themselves as the "perfect couple."
Meanwhile, NBC is close to canceling Heroes and bringing back Chuck. There is word that Heroes could get a two-hour movie to wrap things up, but there is nothing official yet. Chuck will likely air in the fall and possibly for the full season if it does well enough. Stay with us for updates.

Fox also has announced five series pick-ups. Single-camera comedy pilots Traffic Light, Keep Hope Alive and Running Wilde, as well as dramas Ride-Along and Lone Star (aka Midland). And on the bubble series, Lie To Me and Human Target both are being renewed for 13 episodes. Maybe they share a slot this season, with Human Target airing in the fall and Lie To Me in mid-season (since it is airing this summer)? Fox hasn't issued a press release on any of this yet, so we don't have descriptions for the new series.

And finally ABC has picked up the drama No Ordinary Family for the fall. The drama is about a typical American family whose members - mom Stephanie (Julie Benz), dad Jim (Michael Chiklis), daughter Daphne (Kay Panabaker), son JJ (Jimmy Bennett) - discover they have special abilities. Tate Donovan, Autumn Reeser, Christina Chang and Romany Malco also star.
Look for more ABC early pick-ups soon, as single-camera comedy pilots Mr. Sunshine, Happy Endings, and multi-camera sitcom pilot That Couple are hot right now. Drama pilots Generation Y and Off the Map are also looking good. Nothing official on these yet, so stay with us.

Stay with us for updates this weekend and of course during the week next week for the schedules!

SitcomsOnline.com 2010-11 Upfront Preview: CBS; More Network Notes

CBS continues to do well in total viewers with their crime dramas. But will they finally move that Wednesday comedy hour to another night, perhaps Sundays? And the major question though is will Charlie Sheen be on Two and a Half Men? That is a major issue.
Here is the SitcomsOnline.com CBS 2010-11 preview:

New Series Already Picked-Up: None.
Already Renewed Returning Series: The Amazing Race, Undercover Boss, The Big Bang Theory, The Good Wife, How I Met Your Mother, NCIS: Los Angeles, Survivor, Two and a Half Men.
Likely Returning Series: 48 Hours Mystery, 60 Minutes, Criminal Minds, CSI, CSI: Miami, CSI: NY, Ghost Whisperer, Medium, The Mentalist, NCIS, Rules of Engagement.
Likely To Be Canceled or Already Canceled: Accidentally on Purpose, Cold Case, NUMB3RS, Old Christine, Gary Unmarried, Miami Medical, and Three Rivers.
Likely New Series Pick-Ups: Chaos (drama), Hawaii Five-0 (drama), The Defenders (drama), Bleep My Dad Says (sitcom), True Love (sitcom), John Wells Medical Drama (mid-season), Criminal Minds Spin-off (mid-season drama), Mike & Molly (mid-season sitcom).

OUR FALL 2010 PREDICTION:

Sundays
7:00PM 60 Minutes
8:00PM Two and a Half Men
8:30PM Bleep My Dad Says (NEW!)
9:00PM Undercover Boss
10:00PM Chaos (NEW!)

Mondays
8:00PM How I Met Your Mother
8:30PM Rules of Engagement
9:00PM The Big Bang Theory
9:30PM True Love (NEW!)
10:00PM CSI: Miami

Tuesdays
8:00PM NCIS
9:00PM Hawaii Five-0 (NEW!)
10:00PM The Good Wife

Wednesdays
8:00PM NCIS: Los Angeles
9:00PM Criminal Minds
10:00PM The Defenders (NEW!)

Thursdays
8:00PM Survivor
9:00PM CSI
10:00PM The Mentalist

Fridays
8:00PM Ghost Whisperer
9:00PM Medium
10:00PM CSI: NY

Saturdays
8:00PM Crime Repeats
9:00PM Crime Repeats
10:00PM 48 Hours Mystery

Comments: CBS is the number one network in total viewers once again. The Super Bowl certainly helped and launched Undercover Boss to become a hit. There are a few other holes still to fill and some long-running series are starting to show their age. I'll dissect night by night on what I think they will do. The sitcom block will certainly have a play on what Charlie Sheen will do. Will he stay on Two and a Half Men or not? If he does, then I think they should move the series to Sundays and try and launch a comedy hour there instead of Wednesdays, which has not done well. If Sheen doesn't return, it looks like the show will go on since the deal goes through 2012. So I then think the show will have to stay on Mondays because without Sheen it could falter on another night. So my prediction is going by that Sheen WILL return. How I Met Your Mother and Rules of Engagement should still start out the night. I think Rules deserves to be on the fall schedule at least once. The Big Bang Theory would move into 9pm hour and would make the half-hour younger for sure (but losing a few million in total viewers from Men). The younger skewing comedy pilot True Love (or is it called Mad Love now?) would be a perfect fit out of Bang. At 10pm, I think CSI: Miami will stay in the hour, but it could move now that it is declining for a newer series, like Hawaii Five-0. But I don't think it will move.
As for Tuesday, veteran NCIS will for sure remain at 8. However, I think the 9pm hour will be different again. They should go with their number one pilot, and that is Hawaii Five-0 with NCIS: LA moving to another night. At 10pm The Good Wife is likely staying put, as I don't think it would work on Friday.
For Wednesdays, instead of opening the night with two sitcoms that keep going down each season (especially now that ABC has Comedy Wednesday), they should move NCIS: Los Angeles here leading into Criminal Minds at 9pm. At 10pm, I think a change is needed. CSI: NY would be on the move, and I think male driven The Defenders starring Jim Belushi and Jerry O'Connell (so humor will probably be in there) would work at 10.
CBS Thursdays will probably stay the same. I can see them making changes, but I don't think they will. Survivor, CSI, and The Mentalist are all doing decent still, even though CSI is struggling in 18-49. Again Hawaii Five-0 would work here, but I think it is needed on another night more.
Fridays will probably still start off with Ghost Whisperer and Medium but there is word that Ghost Whisperer could be canned or moved to ABC (as they own half the show). At 10pm, instead of NUMB3RS or Miami Medical, I think CSI: NY would be the best option and would win its hour.
Saturdays would still have crime repeats and 48 Hours Mystery at 10pm.
And as for Sundays, CBS did well in the second half with Undercover Boss being boosted by the Super Bowl. I certainly think that show can't go a full season though and 22 episodes is out of the question. So, I think it will share a slot with Amazing Race at 9pm. So what about 8pm? CBS could try to open a second night of comedy on this night. Two and a Half Men and the new William Shatner sitcom Bleep My Dad Says would air in the 8pm hour after 60 Minutes and before Undercover Boss. Once Undercover Boss ends they can bring back one cycle of Amazing Race at a new time of 9pm. At 10pm they should try and launch a new drama out of Boss, perhaps the CIA drama Chaos?
It's time for CBS to cut its ties with Old Christine & Gary Unmarried. I don't think they are doing good enough for a renewal and CBS seems to have better comedies in development. I think Accidentally on Purpose won't come back either. Drama wise, looks like Cold Case and NUMB3RS will also end. A few questions besides the Sheen issue are, will these new dramas work and will Undercover Boss be even close to what it was this past season? We shall see.

Remember, next Wednesday (May 19) is the actual date when we will find out CBS's plans for the 2010-11 season. So, come on back next Wednesday and we will let you know the details and you can see how much we were right (or wrong). Stay tuned tomorrow for our last preview, a preview on The CW's upfront.
Discuss your thoughts on our prediction and feel free to make suggestions of your own!


ABC is pulling next week's (May 19) episode of the horror-mystery drama happy town. The series will still be on the schedule tonight at 10/9 central, though. Instead of happy town next week, ABC will air a special episode of the hidden camera scenario series Primetime: What Would You Do?, which had its season premiere this past Friday and was #1 for the night in A18-49. The following week, ABC had already previously scheduled the network television premiere of the movie Transformers from 8-11pm on May 26.
After tonight's airing, happy town will return for its final five episodes starting Wednesday, June 2 through Wednesday, June 30 at 10/9 central. It looks very bleak for a renewal, though, as it only did a 1.2 A18-49 last week.
Moving on to some CBS notes, they still have not announced their summer schedule. However, special repeats are being scheduled early on. A two-hour repeat of Cold Case is slated for May 30 from 9-11pm, while Old Christine is airing on Wednesday, June 2. Both series are on the bubble for next season, but it really doesn't mean anything if they are airing the first week of summer. I have a feeling both won't return. And on Thursday, June 3, CBS will air special night repeats of How I Met Your Mother and Rules of Engagement in the 8pm hour. Stating June 10, CBS will likely go with an original series for the summer...stay with us for the CBS summer schedule.

SitcomsOnline.com 2010-11 Upfront Preview: ABC; TV Land's Hot in Cleveland Begins Production; Network Notes

With major hits declining a bit in the spring, it might be hard to bring them back up from what they were doing this past fall, so ABC might need to find some major hits. Comedy Wednesday was one of the better success stories of this season and ABC should bring more stuff like that.
Here is the SitcomsOnline.com ABC 2010-11 preview:

New Series Already Picked-Up: Obese (reality, 6 episode order--but doesn't mean it will air in fall).
Already Renewed Returning Series: Brothers and Sisters, Castle, Cougar Town, The Middle, Modern Family, and Supernanny.
Likely Returning Series: 20/20, America's Funniest Home Videos, The Bachelor, Dancing with the Stars, Desperate Housewives, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, Romantically Challenged, V, Wife Swap, Shark Tank, and Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution.
Likely To Be Canceled or Already Canceled: FLASHFORWARD, happy town, the forgotten, [scrubs] [Med School], Better Off Ted, Eastwick, The Deep End, Find My Family, Hank, Ugly Betty and LOST.
Likely New Series Pick-Ups: No Ordinary Family (drama), Off the Map (drama), Body of Proof (drama), Boston's Finest (Drama), True Blue (drama), Generation Y (drama), Mr. Sunshine (sitcom), It Takes a Village (sitcom), Wright vs. Wrong (sitcom).

OUR FALL 2010 PREDICTION:

Sundays
7:00PM America's Funniest Home Videos
8:00PM No Ordinary Family (NEW!)
9:00PM Desperate Housewives
10:00PM Off the Map (NEW!)

Mondays
8:00PM Dancing with the Stars
10:00PM Castle

Tuesdays
8:00PM Dancing with the Stars: The Results
9:00PM Boston's Finest (NEW!)
10:00PM Body of Proof (NEW!)

Wednesdays
8:00PM The Middle
8:30PM It Takes a Village (NEW!)
9:00PM Modern Family
9:30PM Mr. Sunshine (NEW!)
10:00PM Cougar Town
10:30PM Romantically Challenged

Thursdays
8:00PM Obese (NEW!) / Generation Y (NEW!)
9:00PM Grey's Anatomy
10:00PM Private Practice

Fridays
8:00PM Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
9:00PM Shark Tank / Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution
10:00PM 20/20

Saturdays
8:00PM College Football

Comments: ABC needs to liven up a few nights, particularly Sundays and Thursdays with some new blood. There are a few pilots that are almost a lock to be picked-up such as No Ordinary Family & Mr. Sunshine but you never know with pilots. This is the toughest schedule to predict so far that I have two ideas (I only posted one idea here). I really think ABC could expand Comedy Wednesday into the 10pm hour in the fall, as no drama has worked at all and comedies would likely do better, especially in 18-49 and coming out of other comedies. It's worth a try.
So let's look at each night. I'll start with Mondays. Dancing with the Stars should be two-hours every week in the fall -- sorry no comedy testing at 9:30pm in the fall. ABC will easily fill the two-hour hole from Jan-Mar with The Bachelor and surging Castle will remain Mondays at 10pm all season.
On Tuesdays, Dancing with the Stars: The Results should remain at 8pm in the fall. This way ABC doesn't have to fill a big hole from Jan-Mar in the 9pm anchor slot. They can bring back V from Jan-Mar and air it Tuesdays at 8pm with a 10-13 episode order, with holiday specials airing in December. ABC should go with two series that would probably repeat well from 9-11pm. Two new procedurals such as Boston's Finest starring Katee Sackhoff at 9pm and the Dana Delany medical examiner drama Body of Proof at 10pm. The fall version of Dancing with the Stars usually has a special two-hour episode on Tuesday, so it will directly lead into Delany's show at 10. If anything fails, ABC could try True Blue in mid-season. V into Sackhoff's new series would be a nice two-hour block from 8-10 for sci-fi fans (since Sackhoff is known for her Battlestar role)!
For Wednesdays, Comedy Wednesday did well this season and I think they need to expand on that. They need to add a third hour because no dramas have worked in the 10pm timeslot at all and the 10pm hour is more and more DVRed now. Also, ABC Entertainment President Steve McPherson has said they don't plan on airing comedies outside of Wednesday. So 10pm comedies looks like it might be a go. Cougar Town and Romantically Challenged could work in the hour and is different from what will air on NBC and CBS--that's good counter-programming. Perhaps the most buzzed comedy would air at 9:30pm out of Modern Family, which was the number one new comedy this season. And the comedy that could work at 9:30 is Mr. Sunshine starring Matthew Perry. It would be a good lead-in to Cougar Town at 10, as well. But there is speculation that Mr. Sunshine/Cougar Town could be in the Tuesday 9pm slot. If that happens, then that changes a lot what I predicted. The first Wednesday of the season, a special Dancing Results will likely happen, since they have done a three-night premiere in the fall the past few years. That means the 8pm hour comedies will probably start a week later, with The Middle probably anchoring the hour next season at 8pm and a new comedy at 8:30 perhaps It Takes a Village. I want a multicamera sitcom in this hour, though, so maybe something like Who Gets the Parents?
As for Thursdays, Flashforward at 8pm didn't really work this season after a good start--so that tells you not all buzzed series pan out. Maybe the hiatus hurt it, not sure. I think ABC needs to air something light and low key here that could just surprise. I wanted Food Revolution here in January, but ABC went with legal drama The Deep End instead and that didn't work, while Food Revolution showed promise on Fridays. Perhaps the reality series Obese, which has a six episode order, could be used in this slot (if it is ready)? And then in late fall they can launch new drama Generation Y from Noah Hawley. I don't think there is a doubt that Grey's and Private Practice will return in the 9 and 10pm hours but hopefully they have an uptick from these spring numbers. The reason they should go something light at 8 is because has there been any major night with three big drama hits in recent memory? It is a very low chance that 3 dramas on the same night would be big hits for one network.
As for Fridays, ABC will likely keep the same plan and go with unscripted. A possible move for Extreme Makeover: Home Edition to Fridays could work and could easily be the night's top show in 18-49. That could be a lead-in to something like Shark Tank or Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution. One could be fall and the other in winter/spring. ABC could also mix in Primetime: What Would You Do? from time to time, as that does well.
On Saturdays ABC will have College Football in the fall and then holiday movies in December, but what about after that? I don't think movies/repeats should be it from Jan-May. They could use Superanny and Wife Swap in the winter there maybe followed by a drama repeat at 10.
Finally, on Sundays, I mentioned Extreme Makeover: Home Edition could probably move to Fridays, so that would open the 8pm hour up. Or it can be held until mid-season. New drama No Ordinary Family seems like a good Sunday fit. At 9pm Desperate Housewives is still one of the top scripted series in 18-49 and it could help tropical medical drama Off the Map at 10 get off on the right track. If that hits big, ABC could slide it to 9pm eventually. I do not have Brothers & Sisters on my fall schedule, but it will be back of course. Perhaps if something fails, maybe on Wednesdays at 10 in January or even back on Sundays in mid-season. The show still generates decent numbers, so it would be a good sub. I think either this or Home Edition will be used as a sub, not sure which but I went with Brothers and Sisters.
In the age of DVR and Internet watching, the days of live TV watching keeps getting smaller and smaller as the days go by. Now if a show hits a 4.0 in 18-49 it is a big hit. We really need a better way of measuring TV shows so shows that don't deserve to get canceled, don't get canceled. ABC did good with the comedies and Castle this past season, as they repeated well. ABC needs to find more shows like that (more comedies, Body of Proof) plus shows they are known for (i.e. Off the Map). A good mix of shows always is the best way to go and this schedule I predicted has that.
Discuss your thoughts on our prediction and feel free to make suggestions of your own.

Remember, next Tuesday (May 18) is the actual date when we will find out ABC's plans for the 2010-11 season. So, come on back next Tuesday and we will let you know the details and you can see how much we were right (or wrong!). Stay tuned tomorrow for a preview on CBS's upfront!

TV Land announced that production on the network's first original sitcom, Hot in Cleveland starring Valerie Bertinelli, Jane Leeves, Wendie Malick and Betty White has begun (Monday, May 10). This means they are now taping episodes 2-10, as the pilot was already taped. The 10 episode series premieres Wednesday, June 16 at 10pm on TV Land. The sitcom is TV Land's first foray into scripted comedy series and is a TV Land PRIME presentation. Hot in Cleveland is executive produced by Emmy® Award-winner Sean Hayes and Todd Milliner of Hazy Mills Productions and is helmed by Emmy® Award-winning Suzanne Martin serving as executive producer, show runner and writer.
Betty White was just on SNL on Saturday and gave SNL its highest ratings in 18 months. Will she make this TV Land sitcom get record ratings for the network? We shall see!
View a promo that has been airing for the series (it even aired during SNL on Saturday!).

We leave you today with some network notes. No surprise here, NBC has picked up its fifth scripted series pilot for the 2010-11 season in Chase, a new drama from executive producer Jerry Bruckheimer and executive producer Jennifer Johnson. Chase joins previously announced Undercovers, The Event, Love Bites, and Outsourced as the fifth new scripted series currently announced for NBC's new season with additional pickups yet to be announced. I had it on my prediction for NBC yesterday anyway, but now it is official Chase is coming. In a related note, NBC will actually announce its 2010-11 line-up on Sunday at 5:15pm ET, so check with us at that time! The formal presentation will still be Monday morning, though, but we get the schedule a full 15 hours or so earlier! This means Fox has all of Monday to itself now.
The CW has gotten rerun rights of the canceled CBS show Moonlight. The series aired during the 2007-08 season on CBS and lasted just 16 episodes on CBS Fridays. Summer just got a lot scarier on The CW. The network will air the acclaimed drama Moonlight on Thursday nights beginning June 3. Moonlight will air at 9:00 p.m. ET, following encore episodes of the first season of the The CW's hit drama, The Vampire Diaries. As a result, Supernatural repeats will slide to Fridays at 9pm beginning May 28. Cable network Syfy has scheduled a Moonlight marathon on the same day (Thursday, June 3) from 8am-7pm and 11pm-4am. Wow! Why is the Alex O'Loughlin series so popular now? Is it because Alex O'Loughlin is potentially starring on CBS's Hawaii Five-0 remake or is it because he can be seen currently in the theatrical film The Back-Up Plan opposite Jennifer Lopez?
Anyway, view more summer updates for The CW.