SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

The TNets (TBS, TNT and truTV) underscore their commitment to original unscripted and scripted programming in 2022, announcing second season renewals for freshman series Wipeout, Fast Foodies and Chad. These recent pickups join critically acclaimed scripted series, Snowpiercer, which was previously greenlit for a third season, the fifth and sixth seasons of Animal Kingdom, and unscripted series The Cube, The Big D, Rat in the Kitchen and Rhodes to the Top.

The TNets continue to grow from strength to strength dominating comedy in 2021 with four of the top five slots (Wipeout, Impractical Jokers, Go-Big Show and Chad). Wipeout premiered as the #1 New Cable Unscripted Series; Chad premiered as the #1 Scripted Cable Comedy; Go-Big Show ranks as the #3 Cable Comedy reaching more than 34 million viewers; and Impractical Jokers currently ranks as the #1 Cable Comedy for 2021.

Cable's #1 Scripted Comedy Series, Chad is a single-camera comedy that follows a 14-year-old pubescent Persian boy, played by Nasim Pedrad (SNL, New Girl, Aladdin) as he navigates his first year of high school on a mission to become popular. Chad's friendships and sanity are pushed to the limits as he uses every tactic at his disposal to befriend the cool kids, while enduring his mother's new dating life and reconciling with his cultural identity. Chad is currently airing on TBS on Tuesdays at 10:30pm ET/PT.

The TNets announced the July premiere dates for new and returning unscripted and scripted series. Kicking off July 1st, truTV fans can join The Tenderloins for their first-ever Awards Special, Impractical Jokers Awards Show celebrating the most iconic moments from the franchise's 200+ episodes at 10:00pm ET/PT, followed by the network premiere of Impractical Jokers: The Movie at 10:30pm ET/PT. On July 8th, new episodes from the ninth season of Impractical Jokers return at 10:00pm ET/PT on truTV, followed by, the series premiere of Backyard Bar Wars at 10:30pm ET/PT.

These shows join the previously announced launches of TBS' new high-stakes game show The Cube with host Dwyane Wade on Thursday, June 10th at 9:00pm ET/PT; the fifth season of TNT's critically acclaimed crime drama Animal Kingdom on July 11th at 9:00pm ET/PT; and a new installment of TBS' top-rated anthology, Miracle Workers: Oregon Trail on July 13th at 10:30pm ET/PT.

The third season of the top-rated anthology comedy series Miracle Workers, this time transporting cast members Daniel Radcliffe, Steve Buscemi, Geraldine Viswanathan, Karan Soni and Jon Bass to the American Old West will premiere on July 13th. Set in the year 1844, Miracle Workers: Oregon Trail follows an idealistic small-town preacher (Radcliffe) who teams up with a wanted outlaw (Buscemi) and an adventurous prairie wife (Viswanathan) to lead a wagon train west on the Oregon Trail across an American landscape which, much like today, is fraught with both promise and peril.

The Dick Van Dyke Show: Now In Living Color! is a new, one-hour special featuring two freshly colorized classic episodes of the beloved 1960s series airing back-to-back on Friday, May 21 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT), on the CBS Television Network. The special features the season four episode "Baby Fat," written by Garry Marshall and Jerry Belson, and the season five episode “The Bottom of Mel Cooley's Heart," written by John Whedon. The main titles and end credits of the two episodes are seamlessly combined into one set —at the beginning and end of the hour—with no interruption between each. The Emmy Award-winning series starred Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore as television comedy writer Rob and his wife, Laura Petrie; Larry Matthews as their son Ritchie; Morey Amsterdam and Rose Marie as Buddy Sorrell and Sally Rogers, co-writers on the fictional The Alan Brady Show; Carl Reiner as Alan Brady; Richard Deacon as Mel Cooley; Jerry Paris as Dr. Jerry Helper; and Ann Morgan Guilbert as Millie Krumbermacher Helper.

In "Baby Fat," Alan Brady calls on Rob to ghostwrite some new material for a troubled Broadway play he's starring in. The episode is based on an incident that actually happened to co-writer Garry Marshall: he was tapped to fix a play for comedian Jack Carter, who insisted that the ghostwriter make himself scarce whenever the official playwright showed up. The episode first aired on April 21, 1965, during season four. "The Bottom of Mel Cooley's Heart," which aired late in the show's final season, served as a kind of "curtain call" for longtime supporting actor Richard Deacon, who finally got to take center stage when Mel Cooley stands up to brother-in-law/employer Alan Brady (played by Dick Van Dyke Show creator Carl Reiner). The episode first aired on Feb. 9, 1966. The Dick Van Dyke Show originally aired on CBS from Oct. 3, 1961, through June 1, 1966, finishing in the Nielsen Top 10 in three of its five seasons, and peaking at #3 during the 1963-1964 season. The show received 15 Primetime Emmy Awards, including three Emmys for Dick Van Dyke, five for Carl Reiner and two for Mary Tyler Moore.

Young Rock - Tuesdays at 8:00PM ET/PT on NBC
Premieres Tuesday, February 16, 2021 at 8:00PM ET/PT

by Vincent

Young Rock focuses on different chapters of Dwayne Johnson's life. From growing up in a strong and resilient family, to being surrounded by the wild characters of his professional wrestling family, to playing football at the University of Miami, the show will explore the crazy rollercoaster that has shaped Dwayne into the man he is today and the larger-than-life characters he's met along the way.

Cast Details:

Adrian Groulx as Dwayne Johnson, Age 10
Ana Tuisila as Lia Maivia
Bradley Constant as Dwayne Johnson, Age 15
Dwayne Johnson as Dwayne Johnson
Joseph Lee Anderson as Rocky Johnson
Stacey Leilua as Ata Johnson
Uli Latukefu as Dwayne Johnson, Age 18-20

Adrian Groulx (Dwayne Johnson, Age 10) is a young actor. Young Rock will be his first major starring role.

Ana Tuilsala (Lia Maivia) is an actress, known for Outrageous Fortune (2005), Samoan Wedding (2006) and now Young Rock (2021).

Bradley Constant (Dwayne Johnson, Age 15) is a young actor. Young Rock will be his first major starring role.

Dwayne Johnson (Dwyane Johnson) is a wrestler-turned actor who the show is based on, known for his many prolific roles in films such as the Fast & Furious movies, Jumanji, GI Joe, and many others.

Joseph Lee Anderson (Rocky Johnson) is an an actor known for his role on TV shows such as S.W.A.T., American Soul, and Timeless.

Stacey Leiula (Ata Johnson) is an actress from New Zealand. Young Rock will be her first US starring role. She is previously known for her role on the popular New Zealand TV series Shortland Street.

Uli Latukefu (Dwayne Johnson, Age 18-20) is an actor, best known for role in the film Alien: Covenant and the Netflix series Marco Polo.

Pilot Plot:

"Working the Gimmick" (Airs Tuesday, February 16 at 8:00PM ET)

As Dwayne Johnson runs for president in 2032, he reflects on his surreal life that's helped shape him into the man he is today. From growing up in a resilient family surrounded by wrestling icons, navigating rebellious teen years, to playing NCAA football at the U. This is how the boy became the man.

Analysis:

For a series that NBC is banking on appealing to wide, mainstream audiences starring a highly popular actor, Young Rock is a pretty odd show. It takes place between 4 entirely separate timelines, and also features an oddball sense of humor that you might not expect from a network sitcom starring The Rock, yet the show's cast (Johnson included) handles it well. The series is created by Nahnatchka Khan, who previously created Fresh Off the Boat and Don't Trust the B in Apartment 23. Fresh Off the Boat was another series that snuck in a lot of offball, off-the-wall humor into its family sitcom friendly premiere, so it doesn't surprise me to see Khan continuing that here. (Don't Trust the B was just a beautifully odd show all around, which is probably why it only lasted for two seasons). There are a lot of things about Young Rock that seemingly shouldn't work - there's just a lot going on here, and The Rock could ultimately prove to be a distraction, a way for a show to coast on its laurels and live off of its star power. Yet, there's some genuinely funny jokes here, and also some really interesting character work.

One of Young Rock's greatest assets is The Rock himself, as The Rock's likable presence translates well into a single-camera sitcom. He's a guy you want to root for, and that translates into all aged versions of The Rock. The actors playing Young Rock do a good job of capturing his energy. Additionally, the show does a really good job of painting its ensemble cast and turning Young Rock into a show that - underneath all the bells and whistles - is a family comedy. Khan continues her strong work on Fresh Off the Boat, creating a family dynamic that is relatable yet entertaining, filled with big and likable characters. The biggest question is if the "gimmick" (to borrow a word used often in Young Rock) of the show will ultimately distract from the solid family sitcom going on during the Young Rock days. The show's meat and potatoes is in its depiction of The Rock's younger days, and as good as The Rock is, the presence of "future" Rock in 2032 ultimately doesn't measure up to the really good stories being told about his childhood. If Young Rock wants to be as good as it can be, it'll spend as much time as it can in the past, only visiting the future when absolutely necessary.

Conclusion:

Young Rock is a lot of shows in one, but the best version of the show is the one that most heavily focuses on the sweet and well-drawn family dynamic of Young Rock's childhood. Granted, a show that doesn't star one of the most liked actors of our generation would likely not have a chance at being a hit, so it makes sense that the show wants to keep The Rock around and continue covering his "future" presidential run. However, if the show wants to be as good as it can, it'll use those not particularly interesting parts sparingly and focus on the strong family sitcom dynamics instead.

Final Numbers (out of 5 stars):

Watchability: 4/5
Funniness: 3/5
Overall: 3.5/5

Discuss the show after you watch it on Tuesday, February 16, 2021 at 8:00PM ET/PT on our message board.

Related Links:

NBC.com Official Site

epguides.com

Internet Movie Database

Wikipedia

Young Rock Photo Gallery

Preview:

TBS announced that its newly re-imagined format of the iconic extreme obstacle course series, Wipeout will premiere on Thursday, April 1 at 9pm/8c. Hosted by multifaceted megastar John Cena (Fast & Furious, The Suicide Squad) and Nicole Byer (Nailed It!, Girl Code), with Camille Kostek (Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Cover Model 2019) serving as field host, the all-new 20-hour series takes viewers on a white-knuckle ride, featuring new course elements that will push contestants' athleticism, endurance and determination to even greater extremes as they fight to win the grand cash prize. The new season of Wipeout will feature new format twists and elements that will push the athleticism and willpower of each contestant pairing to even greater extremes, all while delivering more than a few epic fails. Each game has been designed into three rounds and now features a jaw-dropping, three-stage, obstacle course consisting of multiple strategy and decision points designed to test the stamina of the competitors. The series' iconic big balls also make a return, bringing many laughs and surprises along the way for fans.

Following its debut as the #1 new series of the summer in 2008, Wipeout amassed an impressive following throughout its seven seasons on-air on ABC. The series has been formatted globally in 30+ territories including Argentina, Australia and the UK, and has inspired numerous spin-offs and specials.

Disney+ announced that a new doctor is coming to the streaming service in 2021. Doogie Kameāloha, M.D. (working title), a re-imagining of the popular ABC series Doogie Howser, M.D., has been picked up to series and is scheduled to go into production later this year. Kourtney Kang (Fresh Off the Boat, How I Met Your Mother) is set to write and executive produce for 20th Television. Set in modern-day Hawaii, the 10-episode comedy follows Lahela "Doogie" Kameāloha, a mixed race 16-year-old girl, juggling a budding medical career and life as a teenager. Guiding Lahela (and also complicating things) is her family, including her spit-fire Irish mother who's also her supervisor at the hospital, and her Hawaiian "Local Boy" father struggling to accept that his daughter is no longer his little girl.

Running for four seasons on ABC from 1989 to 1993, Doogie Howser, M.D. starred Neil Patrick Harris as the now iconic doctor. The hit series catapulted Harris into television stardom and made the term "Doogie Howser" synonymous with kid geniuses. Doogie Kameāloha, M.D. is written and executive produced by Kourtney Kang and produced by 20th Television, a part of Disney Television Studios. Jake Kasdan and Melvin Mar will executive produce and Dayna and Jesse Bochco will produce the half-hour comedy series. 

Multifaceted megastar John Cena (Fast & Furious 9, The Suicide Squad) and Emmy-nominated comedian and actress Nicole Byer (Nailed It!, Girl Code) have signed on to host TBS' revival of the adrenalizing and outrageous physical competition series Wipeout. Cena and Byer will command the hysteria of the fan-favorite series by serving up commentary tailored to the all-around hilarity and thrill of the heart-pumping competition, with supermodel Camille Kostek (I Feel Pretty) complementing their presence by serving as the entrenched Host in the Field, covering the contestants' progress throughout each intense round.

The re-imagined series will feature new twists and elements that will push contestants' athleticism, approach, and determination to even greater extremes, all while delivering some wildly epic fails! Each game is three rounds with each round featuring a jaw-dropping, multi-stage obstacle course with numerous strategy and decision points designed to further challenge the stamina of the competitors and deliver even more hilarious and surprising wipeouts! And of course, the iconic staple of the show – the big balls! – are returning with a vengeance. The original series aired on ABC from 2008-2014 hosted by John Anderson, John Henson and Jill Wagner.

TBS has ordered a revival of the renowned, heart-pumping and hysterical competition series Wipeout, returning to captivate viewers of all ages. The network has ordered 20 episodes of the international sensation that features contestants competing in wildly creative and hilariously out-of-the box obstacle courses. Following its debut as the No. 1 new show of the summer in 2008, Wipeout amassed an impressive following throughout its seven seasons on-air. The series found international viewers in the form of various adaptations in more than 30 global territories such as Argentina, Australia and the UK and has inspired numerous spin-offs and specials.

The re-imagined series will feature new format twists and elements that will push contestants’ athleticism and willpower to even greater extremes, all while delivering some pretty epic fails! Each game has been designed into three rounds and now features a jaw-dropping, three-stage, obstacle course consisting of multiple strategy and decision points designed to further challenge, and wear out, the stamina of the competitors. Returning to the game, an iconic staple with many surprises, are the big red balls, back with a vengeance.

Moving on to summer news, ABC and CBS announced some changes. The Bachelorette and The Amazing Race have to be pulled from the schedule due to the production halt. They will hopefully air later in 2020. Airing on ABC instead will be: With over 18 years, hundreds of men and women, countless romances and some heartbreaks along the way, Bachelor Nation has witnessed some of the most unforgettable love stories in television history. Beginning Monday, June 8 from 8:00–11:00 p.m. EDT, The Bachelor: The Most Unforgettable – Ever! will take audiences on a journey to look back at some of the most dramatic moments ever from The Bachelor franchise in a 10-episode series event.

CBS announced the series premiere dates for two new reality series. The comedic game show Game On!, hosted by Keegan-Michael Key, from Fulwell 73 executive producers Ben Winston and James Corden, will debut Wednesday, May 20 at 8:00 PM ET/PT. The reality competition series Tough As Nails, from executive producer Phil Keoghan, will premiere Wednesday, July 8 at 9:00PM ET/PT, on the CBS Television Network. As a result, the season premiere of The Amazing Race, originally announced for May 20, will be scheduled later in 2020. Game On!, hosted by Emmy and Peabody Award-winning actor, writer and producer Keegan-Michael Key, is a series that celebrates the entertainment of sports, based on A League of Their Own, the BAFTA-winning U.K. series. The show pits two teams of three, captained by tennis champion and entrepreneur Venus Williams and Super Bowl champion Rob Gronkowski, alongside comedians Bobby Lee and Ian Karmel and rotating sports stars, comedians and celebrities, against each other in over-the-top physical challenges, absurd trivia and epic field competitions.

Tough As Nails is a competition series that celebrates everyday Americans who roll up their sleeves and don't think twice about working long hard hours and getting their hands dirty, in order to keep their country running. Competitors who consider the calluses on their hands a badge of honor will be tested for their strength, endurance, life skills and, most importantly, mental toughness in challenges that take place at real-world job sites. The series is from Emmy Award-winning producer Phil Keoghan (The Amazing Race) and his producing partner, Louise Keoghan. 

ABC announced its summer lineup, with four new series joining the schedule: new drama The Astronaut Wives Club on Thursday, July 24 at 9:00pm; new reality Bachelor in Paradise on Monday, August 4 at 8:00pm; new singing reality series Rising Star on Sunday, June 22 from 9:00-11:00pm; and new reality The Quest on Thursday, June 19 at 8:00 pm. These series join returning shows The Bachelorette, which premieres at a special time, on Monday, May 19 at 9:30pm, before moving to its regular time period of 8:00pm on Monday, May 26; game show Bet On Your Baby returns on Saturday, May 31 at 8:00pm; Extreme Weight Loss is back on Tuesday, May 27 at 8:00pm; drama Mistresses returns on Monday, June 2 at 10:01pm; crime drama Motive on Wednesday, May 21 at 10:00pm; real life docudrama NY Med on Tuesday, June 24 at 10:00pm; long-running cop show Rookie Blue on Thursday, July 17 at 10:00pm; and summer staple Wipeout, which debuts with a special two-hour premiere on Sunday, June 22 at 7:00pm, before moving to its regular time period of 8:00pm the following Sunday, June 29.

As previously announced, new drama Black Box will debut on Thursday, April 24 at 10:00pm and will run into July. The 2014 Billboard Music Awards will air on Sunday, May 18 at 8:00pm. And finally, Jimmy Kimmel Live: Game Night primetime specials will be back for the seventh consecutive year, airing each night of the NBA Finals, starting with Game 1 on Thursday, June 5 at 8:00pm.

The Boondocks, the award-winning animated comedy series returns for its final season on Monday, April 21 at 10:30pm (ET/PT) on Adult Swim. The Boondocks is produced by Sony Pictures Television. This season was produced without the involvement of Aaron McGruder, when a mutually agreeable production schedule could not be determined. In The Boondocks, Robert "Granddad" Freeman (John Witherspoon, Friday After Next) is the cantankerous legal guardian of his rambunctious grandkids Huey and Riley (Regina King, Southland, 227) and has moved them from the south side of Chicago to the quiet and safety of "The Boondocks" (in this case, suburban Woodcrest), hoping that he can ignore them altogether and enjoy the golden years of his life in peace. But Huey, a 10-year-old left wing revolutionary, is determined not to enjoy the affluence of suburbia. This attitude is seconded by his 8-year-old brother, Riley, a proud product of contemporary rap culture. Although they torture each other and provoke the neighborhood, they are no match for Granddad, who is eccentric even by "crazy-ass-old-black-man" standards. Gary Anthony Williams (Boston Legal) as Uncle Ruckus, Gabby Soleil (Johnson Family Vacation) as Jazmine Dubois and Jill Talley (Camp Lazlo) as Sarah Dubois round out the cast, with Cedric Yarbrough (Reno 911!) returning as the voice of fan favorite Colonel H. Stinkmeaner in addition to Tom Dubois.

Throughout the final season, an eclectic mix of hip-hop artists, actors, comedians and media personalities will voice guest characters on the series, including Jenifer Lewis (Think Like a Man), Dennis Haysbert (24), Busta Rhymes, Snoop Dogg, Ghostface Killah, CeeLo, Lil Wayne, Donald Faison (Scrubs), Aisha Tyler (Balls of Fury), Kym Whitley (Reno 911!), Tichina Arnold (Everybody Hates Chris), Mo'Nique (The Parkers), Marion Ross (Happy Days), Tavis Smiley, Terry Crews (Brooklyn Nine-Nine), Bill Duke (X-Men: The Last Stand), and Cedric the Entertainer (Talk to Me). Reprising their guest roles from last season are Xzibit, Charlie Murphy, MTV's Sway and Katt Williams, among others.

As promised, we are giving you TBS' October 2013 schedule. There aren't many changes from September but the biggest change is that According to Jim is expiring and will leave after its Sept. 30 airing. Effective Tuesday, Oct. 1, Wipeout will move up from 12:30pm to 12pm, as well as the animated comedies: The Cleveland Show will shift a half-hour earlier to 1:00pm, while the American Dad! hour will now be 1:30-2:30pm. So what does that leave for 2:30pm? The return of Cougar Town after a brief hiatus in September. Cougar Town will lead into the Friends block from 3-5pm. On Saturdays, According to Jim was airing at 9:30am but now it will be replaced by a movie. TBS' schedule is a little all over the place in early October due to the MLB Playoffs, but come week of Oct. 21, they will be back to normal. That's about all the changes for October. But beyond October, TBS will have a new addition to its line-up in late Fall. They have acquired the rights to the '90s sitcom Full House, as it returns to TBS after over a decade! Series creator Jeff Franklin hinted about this on Twitter...but now we have a little bit more info. We can't reveal much yet, but come late Fall (early December or so), the hit family comedy will air on TBS and will be shared with Nick at Nite. The series is expiring on ABC Family, thus that is how it is coming to TBS. The series aired on TBS from 1998-2002. Come on back for details on the return of Full House on TBS in the coming months.

For now, view the TBS September and October 2013 schedules, so you can get ready for Fall 2013!




This Labor Day, WLNY 10/55 in New York will give us another classic sitcom marathon. This time, it's The Brady Bunch. Groovy! Last year on Labor Day we got to see a marathon of The Andy Griffith Show, but now this year we get more hip with the Brady clan. WLNY asks, "What's Your Favorite Brady Moment?" Was it when Marcia was whacked in the face by a football ("oh my nose!")? Or how about that groovy mustache Peter wore for a date? Or when Jan felt threatened by how swell Marcia is (Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!)? Yep, it's The Brady Bunch marathon this Labor Day (Monday, Sept. 2, 2013) from 9am-9pm. And my, how times have changed! No twerking for the Bradys (as compared to this week's VMA's) when they performed the "classic" It's A Sunshine Day on the "Amateur Night" episode. See all that and more! WLNY's last marathon was for its second I Love Lucy marathon on the 4th of July. The other marathons they have aired in the last year were Happy Days for Memorial Day, I Dream of Jeannie for President's Day, The Odd Couple for New Year's, Taxi for Thanksgiving, The Munsters for Halloween, and The Andy Griffith Show for last Labor Day.

Before we get into today's news, NATPE 2013 is today through Wednesday (Jan. 28-30) in Miami and we'll cover everything that is noteworthy either tomorrow and/or Wednesday, so stay tuned for our list of what is coming up in syndication in fall 2013 and other key updates!

TBS made some last minute schedule changes last week that begin...today (Jan. 28, 2013). They have added comedic obstacle series Wipeout to its weekday afternoon line-up while also adding ABC episodes of Cougar Town on the daily line-up. Wipeout will be borrowed from sister network TruTV, which is having success with the series and now it will try to bring more ratings to a struggling TBS early afternoon line-up where it is replacing recently added Rules of Engagement in the 2pm hour. Rules of Engagement will shift to the 11am hour, while American Dad! moves into the 1pm hour leading into the younger Wipeout to create a two-hour block. In other scheduling news, Rules of Engagement will be following an hour of Fresh Prince at 10am (as Are You There Yet? will just be Fridays in the 10am half-hour) and According to Jim and Everybody Loves Raymond follows in the 12pm hour. TBS has six plays a week on Are You There Yet? and they will have five of those on Fridays, one at 10am and the other four from 11pm-1am. The weekend play will be on Saturday morning at at 9am. The series is also struggling for TBS after being added this past fall.

Everybody Loves Raymond will be heavily reduced and will only air weekdays at 12:30pm and Saturdays at 3:30pm, while Friends' weekday 3:30-5:30pm block is shifted to 3-5pm so it can lead into another Courteney Cox series...Cougar Town. The classic ABC episodes from seasons 1-3 will be airing weekdays at 5pm beginning today. TBS will be skipping the first five episodes though and will start with the series' sixth episode. Not much else is changing as in primetime The Big Bang Theory continues to do big numbers and Family Guy is always durable. Big Bang is leading into new episodes of Cougar Town on Tuesdays at 10 and new reality series King of the Nerds on Thursdays at 10.

I urge you to view the entire TBS February 2013 schedule with the additions of Wipeout and earlier episodes of Cougar Town. No series will be leaving the line-up, but Are We There Yet? will be cut in days to just Fridays and Saturdays.

The 19th Annual Screen Actor Guild Awards (SAG) were last night and the winners were announced. Among the big winners were Modern Family, Downton Abbey, and Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin one last time for 30 Rock.

Here are the main TV winners:

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
Steve Buscemi (Boardwalk Empire, HBO)
Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad, AMC)
Jeff Daniels (The Newsroom, HBO)
Jon Hamm (Mad Men, AMC)
Damian Lewis (Homeland, Showtime)
WINNER: Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad, AMC)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
Claire Danes (Homeland, Showtime)
Michele Dockery (Downton Abbey, PBS)
Jessica Lange (American Horror Story: Asylum, FX)
Julianna Margulies (The Good Wife, CBS)
Maggie Smith (Downton Abbey, PBS)
WINNER: Claire Danes (Homeland, Showtime)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
Alec Baldwin (30 Rock, NBC)
Ty Burrell (Modern Family, ABC)
Louis C.K. (Louie, FX)
Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory, CBS)
Eric Stonestreet (Modern Family, ABC)
WINNER: Alec Baldwin (30 Rock, NBC)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie, Showtime)
Tina Fey (30 Rock, NBC)
Amy Poehler (Parks & Recreation, NBC)
Sofia Vergara (Modern Family, ABC)
Betty White (Hot in Cleveland, TV Land)
WINNER: Tina Fey (30 Rock, NBC)

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
Boardwalk Empire (HBO)
Breaking Bad (AMC)
Downton Abbey (PBS)
Homeland (Showtime)
Mad Men (AMC)
WINNER: Downton Abbey (PBS)

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
30 Rock (NBC)
Glee (Fox)
Modern Family (ABC)
Nurse Jackie (Showtime)
The Office (NBC)
WINNER: Modern Family (ABC)

Lifetime Achievement Award
Dick Van Dyke

View the complete TV portion winners and to discuss the winners!

ABC has announced most of its summer premieres for new series and returning favorites. The Bachelorette kicks it off on Monday, May 14, as previously announced but now more summer premiere dates are announced! On the first official day of summer on TV, Thursday, May 24, ABC will launch the anticipated new reality series Duets with a two-hour premiere. The season three premiere of summer crime drama Rookie Blue will follow at 10:00pm on Thursday nights. As for Duets, the Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Nettles, Lionel Richie and Robin Thicke series will air for two-hours on May 24, May 31 and June 7. ABC will then air the NBA Finals on June 14 and if necessary on June 21, so as a result, Duets will air on Wednesdays those two weeks (June 13 and June 20) from 9:30pm-11pm. Duets will return to Thursdays after the NBA Finals concludes, which will be June 28 but it will air one-hour episodes. The season five premiere of Wipeout will air at 9pm on Thursday nights starting June 28.

Moving on to Sundays, ABC will go the reality route. Following repeats of AFV at 7pm, we have all-new seasons of Secret Millionaire at 8pm and now two-hour episodes of Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition from 9-11pm, both starting Sunday, June 3. The next announced premiere will be on Tuesday, July 10 when ABC premieres new improv series from the people that brought you Whose Line Is It Anyway? This new series, Trust Us With Your Life will premiere with back-to-back episodes in the 9pm hour. It will then air in the 9pm half-hour on Tuesday nights for the next six weeks. ABC has ordered eight episodes. Hosted by Fred Willard, featured celebrities include David Hasselhoff, Ricky Gervais, Jerry Springer, Florence Henderson, Jack & Kelly Osbourne, Jane Seymour, Serena Williams and Mark Cuban. The exciting new format finds each celebrity reminiscing about key episodes that have happened in their lives, then brilliant improvisers acting out those moments which the celebrity has just described. These key moments in the life of the guest celebrity will be improvised as straight comedy or in game formats such as forward/rewind and sideways scenes. The tone of the show is friendly, funny and cheeky. Comedians on the show include Wayne Brady and Colin Mochrie (Whose Line Is It Anyway?), along with Jonathan Mangum as the main improvisers. They will be joined by guest starring performers such as Greg Proops and Nicole Parker.
Also premiering on Tuesday nights on July 10 will be Final Witness at 10pm. The series is a compelling hybrid of documentary and drama, featuring interviews with real-life witnesses, prosecutors, law enforcement, family and friends, along with riveting scripted scenes with actors, thrusting viewers into the heart of each crime. ABC has ordered seven episodes. And the final announced summer premiere for now is the season premiere of Bachelor Pad will be on Monday, July 23 from 8-10pm after The Bachelorette concludes on July 16.

So that is all for now. More announcements for ABC summer is still to come. We still don't know what is airing Mondays at 10pm (both after The Bachelorette and Bachelor Pad), Tuesdays at 8pm (could be reruns of Last Man Standing for the hour), and Wednesdays at 10pm (besides Duets for two weeks from 9:30-11pm). Also Tuesday nights at 9:30pm is a mystery as what will air starting July 17 after Trust Us With Your Life. We are assuming ABC Laugh On Wednesday comedy repeats will air all summer on Wednesdays from 8-10pm. Fridays is expected to be repeats of Shark Tank and What Would You Do? into 20/20. Stay with us for continued updates.


It's Friday, so it is time for "Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows" for the coming week. This is where we list what sitcom stars are appearing on talk shows for the coming week, the stars are both current and past sitcom stars, so this is for all sitcom fans of all eras!
For the week of April 9-13, 2012, we have many current sitcom stars and past sitcom stars on TV talk shows! All times listed are Eastern. So get your DVR's (or whatever you use) ready! Ready? Here is all what you need to know for the coming week!

Monday, April 9, 2012

• Cobie Smulders (How I Met Your Mother) - Watch Cobie on The Late Show with David Letterman at 11:35pm on CBS.
• James Van Der Beek (Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23) - James stops by Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 12am on ABC. Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 premieres on ABC on Wednesday at 9:30pm ET/PT.
• Billy Gardell (Mike & Molly) - Billy visits The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson at 12:37am on CBS.
• Ian Gomez (Cougar Town/Jake in Progress) - Ian appears on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson at 12:37am on CBS.
• Steve Harvey (The Steve Harvey Show) - Steve is a guest on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon at 12:37am on NBC.
• Sofia Vergara (Modern Family/The Knights of Prosperity/Hot Properties) - Sofia drops by LIVE! with Kelly, so check your listings.

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

• Sean Hayes (Will & Grace) - Catch Sean on The Late Show with David Letterman at 11:35pm on CBS. The Three Stooges opens in theaters on April 13.
• Jim Gaffigan (My Boys/Welcome to New York) - Jim visits The Late Show with David Letterman at 11:35pm on CBS.
• David Spade (Rules of Engagement/8 Simple Rules/Just Shoot Me) - David is a guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 12am on ABC.
• Jessica St. Clair (Best Friends Forever/In the Motherhood) - Jessica drops by The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson at 12:37am on CBS.
• Christina Applegate (Up All Night/Samantha Who?/Married with Children) - Christna appears NBC's Today between 7-9am. Then she will be on LIVE! with Kelly, so check your listings. Finally, she's a guest on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon at 12:37am on NBC.
• Steve Harvey (The Steve Harvey Show) - Steve chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
• Krysten Ritter and Dreama Walker (Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23) - Krysten and Dreama visit The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT. Krysten will also be on ABC's Good Morning America between 7-9am. Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment on 23 makes its debut on ABC on Wednesday at 9:30pm ET-PT.
• Kyla Pratt (Let's Stay Together/One on One) - The beautiful Kyla sits down with Wendy on The Wendy Williams Show at 12am on BET or on your local stations.

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

• Joel McHale (Community) - Watch Joel on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon at 12:37am on NBC.
• Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie) - Edie chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
• Cheryl Hines (Suburgatory/Curb Your Enthusiasm) - Cheryl appears on LIVE! with Kelly, so check your listings.
• Brandy (The Game/Moesha) - Brandy visits LIVE! with Kelly, so check your listings.
• Jessica St. Clair (Best Friends Forever/In the Motherhood) and Lennon Parham (Best Friends Forever/Accidentally on Purpose) - Jessica and Lennon are guests on Last Call with Carson Daly at 1:35am on NBC.
• Martha Plimpton (Raising Hope) - Martha is a guest on Watch What Happens: Live at 11pm on Bravo.

Thursday, April 12, 2012

• Danny McBride (Eastbound & Down) - Catch Danny on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 12am on ABC.
• Tina Fey (30 Rock) - Tina chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT. She also appears on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon at 12:37am on NBC.
• Larry David (Curb Your Enthusiasm) - Larry is a guest on Conan at 11pm on TBS.
• Jim Gaffigan (My Boys/Welcome to New York) - Jim continues to make the rounds on Conan at 11pm on TBS.
• Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie) - Edie visits The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT. She will also be on Anderson, so check your local listings.
• Laura Linney (The Big C) - Laura appears on LIVE! with Kelly, so check your listings.
• Joel McHale (Community) - Joel guest co-hosts LIVE! with Kelly on Thursday and Friday, so check your listings.
• Maya Rudolph (Up All Night) - Tune in to see Maya on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check listings.
• Cheryl Hines (Suburgatory/Curb Your Enthusiasm) - Cheryl is a guest on Watch What Happens: Live at 11pm on Bravo.

Friday, April 13, 2012

• Julia Louis-Dreyfus (The New Adventures of Old Christine/Seinfeld) - Watch Julia on The Late Show with David Letterman at 11:35pm on CBS.
• Jason Segel (How I Met Your Mother) - Jason visits The Tonight Show with Jay Leno at 11:35pm on NBC.
• Sean Hayes (Will & Grace) - Sean continues to make the rounds The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check listings. He will also be on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson at 12:37am on CBS.
• Martha Plimpton (Raising Hope) - Martha appears on LIVE! with Kelly, so check your listings.
• Henry Winkler (Happy Days) - Henry discusses stroke therapy on The Doctors, so check your local 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!

This February on TV Land, they will have themed programming for the Super Bowl, Valentine's and President's Day! OK and Groundhog Day, too. There are no schedule changes, as of now, to the regular schedule. So you can expect new acquisition Murder, She Wrote and other series to stay put. February 2012 will all be about stunts. Want counter programming vs. The Super Bowl on Sunday, Feb. 5? You got it! TV Land presents its second annual marathon of Home Improvement during the big game from 6pm-9pm! Tim Allen beats the Super Bowl any day! More power! For Valentine's Day, TV Land will not have any stunts on the actual day itself, but they will premiere the movie Miss Congeniality on Saturday, Feb. 18 at 5pm. The movie will also air the next day on Sunday, Feb. 19 at 1pm. The 2000 movie stars Sandra Bullock, Michael Caine, Benjamin Bratt, and Candice Bergen. Moving on, Groundhog Day is on Feb. 2, but TV Land will celebrate it on Sunday, Feb. 19 with the 1993 Bill Murray & Andie MacDowell movie Groundhog Day at 3:30pm. The film will re-air the next morning on Monday, Feb. 20 at 8am. The last stunt is an Andy Griffith Show marathon on President's Day - Monday, Feb. 20 from 10:30am-4pm. Who needs Washington and Lincoln when you have Andy Griffith!
Other notable items for TV Land February 2012 has a Monday morning movie airing of the 1981 classic Stripes starring Bill Murray on Feb. 6, in addition to the movies we mentioned already. That one is a President's Day themed. And TV Land Wednesday nights original sitcoms Hot in Cleveland and The Exes will have their finales in February. The Exes will have its season finale on Wednesday, Feb. 1. Missed the first 9 episodes? TV Land will air a marathon on Saturday, Jan. 28 from 5pm-9:30pm in anticipation of the season finale. As for Hot in Cleveland, it will be the midseason finale on Wednesday, Feb. 15. The series will return for its second half of the season June 6 alongside the second season of Happily Divorced starring Fran Drescher. Anyway, catch up with Hot in Cleveland with a marathon on Saturday, Feb. 11 from 5-10pm. Stay with us for any further developments on TV Land February, if any. Coming in March: season two of original sitcom Retired at 35 with ten new episodes. Stay tuned...



The Big Bang Theory got the New Year off with a real bang last week with its biggest numbers ever on TBS. The show scored a whopping 4.3 million viewers Tuesday night (Dec. 27) at 9:30 p.m., making it basic cable's #1 comedy telecast for the week. Overall, The Big Bang Theory on TBS accounted for all 20 of the week's top sitcom telecasts on basic cable with viewers, adults 18-34 and adults 18-49, with 15 of them drawing 3 million or more viewers. With The Big Bang Theory firing on all cylinders, TBS ranked as basic cable's #1 entertainment network in primetime among adults 18-34 and adults 18-49. The Big Bang Theory airs in primetime on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays on TBS. The series joined the TBS line-up in September.
In other Turner network ratings news, on truTV on Friday night (Dec. 30) at 10 p.m., Wipeout scored 1.5 million viewers, its biggest audience since joining the truTV lineup. The show ranked among ad-supported cable's Top 5 programs in the timeslot with key adult and male demos, which also scored the best deliveries for the series on truTV. The series airs in syndication on Fridays on truTV since early September.

Today we are revealing FX's Fall 2011 schedule. This will be easy because most of the day schedule will be movies. However, they are adding a sitcom, which we hinted at in April. How I Met Your Mother joins the FX line-up starting Monday, Sept. 5, 2011 with a Labor Day Marathon to kick-off its FX premiere! The marathon will air from 12 noon to 12 midnight. The series will then join the schedule the following day. Now due to movie timings, FX's sitcom do not have set times, so it is hard to post an actual schedule, but you can expect most of the time to get two full hours of How I Met Your Mother every weekday, paired with two-hours of Two and a Half Men. These are the only off-network sitcoms left on the line-up, as they recently lost Bernie Mac and Malcolm in the Middle.
You can expect How I Met Your Mother usually weekdays anytime between 2pm-10pm, but looks like it isn't airing on Wednesdays. As we mentioned a few weeks ago, they are airing the game show Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? as a filler on some weekday mornings, usually in the 7am hour. How I Met Your Mother will also remain on Lifetime and broadcast syndication on WGN America and your local stations. That's legendary status airings!
Of course FX is known for their original series. FX opens its fall season with the return of the award-winning hit drama Sons of Anarchy on September 6, and will continue to run Tuesdays at 10 PM ET/PT. The 13-episode season kicks off with a special 90-minute premiere episode.
Next, a mainstay on FX's fall schedule since 2007, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia begins its seventh season on September 15, airing Thursdays at 10 PM ET/PT for 13 weeks. Sunny has grown into a huge success to become one of the top scripted comedies on cable. FX's new drama series American Horror Story makes its debut on October 5 and will run Wednesdays at 10 PM ET/PT. The akl-star cast features Dylan McDermott, Connie Britton, Taissa Farmiga, Jessica Lange, Evan Peters and Denis O'Hare.
Comedy The League kicks off its third season on October 6, airing Thursdays at 10:30 PM ET/PT for a 13-episode run. The League, which debuted in September of 2009, is set against the backdrop of a fantasy football league. Finally, FX's acclaimed animated series Archer will get a special three-week run with all new episodes September 15, 22 and 29, Thursdays at 10:30 ET/PT behind It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. It will officially be launching its third season in early 2012 with a 13-episode run.
This summer FX is getting strong performances from its original series. The new critically acclaimed comedy series Wilfred is delivering the highest first-season ratings ever of any FX comedy. Wilfred's season one finale airs on Thursday, September 8 at 10 PM ET/PT. Louie, starring Louis C.K., is having an impressive second season, posting year-over-year gains and C.K. recently received Emmy(R) Award nominations for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series (an FX first) and Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series. The season two finale of Louie airs on Thursday, September 8 at 10:30 PM ET/PT. And finally this summer, FX's award-winning drama Rescue Me debuted its seventh and final season last Wednesday. The groundbreaking series will air its series finale on Wednesday, September 7.

There's going to be a sitcom reunion on TV Land's original sitcom Happily Divorced starring Fran Drescher! Charles Shaughnessy (The Nanny), who played Fran's employer-turned-husband in the popular sitcom, The Nanny, guest stars as Gregory, a guy that both Fran and her ex-husband Peter (John Michael Higgins) want to date in the season finale of Happily Divorced, airing August 17. To date, the series is averaging over 2.2 million viewers every week. Last week, Happily Divorced was renewed for a second season of 12 episodes.
And that's not all! Also making a special guest appearance this season will be Fran's nosy and overbearing mother from The Nanny, Renée Taylor, who will play Marilyn, an old friend of Fran's mother, Dori (Rita Moreno) on the August 3 episode. Additionally, Angie Everhart guest stars as the sister of Fran's ex-boyfriend, Elliot (D.W. Moffett), Lou Diamond Phillips will appear as a man that chooses Judi (Tichina Arnold) over Fran, and Jennifer Holliday will guest star as herself. Most recently, Ian Ziering (Beverly Hills, 90210) guest-starred as a handsome support group leader who helps Fran realize that she has not moved on from her divorce.
Happily Divorced airs on Wednesday nights at 10:30pm ET/PT immediately following new episodes of Hot in Cleveland.

Finally the TCA Summer 2011 Press Tour started yesterday with cable day one and there wasn't much to update. The only thing of note is that truTV will air their off-network acquisition Wipeout (which we announced in April) on Friday nights at 8:00pm beginning Friday, Sept. 2. truTV has acquired exclusive, off-network cable rights to air this exciting series in which contestants face wildly outrageous barriers, from Big Balls to complex contraptions, for the chance at winning a cash prize. Wipeout, which is also shown in numerous international versions around the globe, ranks among the world's top-rated game shows. The series was recently voted by Entertainment Weekly's readers as "Reality TV's Guiltiest Pleasure" and is a big hit on ABC, now in its fourth season.
Stay with us for more notable updates from cable and then more in-depth coverage of the broadcast networks.

We haven't given much updates on MeTV Network affiliate signings, as we were waiting for the official details, but now we can tell you where MeTV has been brought on-air! MeTV Network started of course in Chicago, then South Bend and Milwaukee but now has gone national as of December, but for months only these three markets were getting the digital network. Now that has changed! Officially on board are: WSB 2.2 Atlanta, GA; KDOC 56.3 Anaheim, CA; WPXI 11.2 Pittsburgh, PA; WRAZ 402. Raleigh, NC; KAZT 7.2 Phoenix, AZ; KPXJ 21.2 Shreveport, LA; WFLI 53.2 Chattanooga, TN; KWWL 7.3 Waterloo-Cedar Rapids-Dubuque-IWC, IA; WITN 7.2 Greenville-New Bern-Washington, NC; WJAC 6.2 Johnstown-Altoona-State College, PA; WFXB 43.4 Myrtle Beach-Florence, SC/Lumberton, NC; WTLH 49.3 Tallahassee, FL-Thomasville, GA; KAME 21.2 Reno, NV; KRCR 7.2 Chico-Redding, CA; WFXS 55.2 Wausau-Rhinelander, WI; KXLT 47.2 Rochester-Austin, MN-Mason City, IA; WYME 9.2 Gainesville, FL; KECI 13.2/KCFW 9.2 Missoula-Kalispell, MT; WZMQ 19.1 Marquette, MI; and KTVM 6.2 Butte-Bozeman, MT.
These are not the only stations that are signed on. These are the ones on-air right now and there are many more to come such as WFMZ in Allentown/Philadelphia and WLKY 32.2 in Louisville. Keep checking back with us for more station clearances as soon as they are official and of course we will be on top of any programming news/stunts and changes! The network airs classic sitcoms and dramas such as I Love Lucy, The Bob Newhart Show, The Beverly Hillbillies, The Brady Bunch, Cannon, Perry Mason, Hawaii Five-0, Bonanza, Gunsmoke, Happy Days, Taxi, M*A*S*H and many more classics from the CBS Paramount, 20th Century Fox and independent studio vaults.
View the MeTV Network website for much more details on your station!

ABC has announced that television personality Vanessa Minnillo will be the new co-host of the popular hit reality series, Wipeout, beginning next season. The fifth season pickup includes Winter and Summer edition Wipeout episodes for 2011-2012. Next season will also feature new camera technology, bringing viewers even closer to the action to witness the best "wipeouts" to date. Minnillo will first appear during Winter Wipeout. Twenty-four energetic contestants of all shapes and sizes will compete on the world's largest extreme obstacle course, highlighting contestants bouncing off the iconic Big Balls and falling head over heels throughout the qualifier until the final three make it to the ever challenging Wipeout Zone, providing laughs for the entire family. Wipeout is currently hosted by John Anderson (ESPN's SportsCenter), John Henson (E! Entertainment's Talk Soup) and co-hosted by Jill Wagner, who will leave after this season to purse more acting.
The fourth summer premiere of Wipeout is tonight, as season four continues on. The series will air air a special all-new sneak peek episode tonight before moving to Thursdays at 8:00pm for the rest of the summer starting this Thursday. Special episodes will also appear on Tuesdays the next few weeks, so it's double the wipeouts!

Speaking of Wipeout, ABC has launched a brand new series of hilarious video eCards called Wipeout Yourself. Each week, game show contestants take on extreme obstacle courses and experience some epic spills. Now it's time for you and your friends to star in your very own Wipeout! To get started, choose from 3 different obstacle courses, upload a photo of yourself or your friends and family, and customize with a soundtrack and sound effects. Then add a personal message and share your Wipeout through Facebook, Twitter, or Email. Have a colleague who needs cheering up, a sibling you'd love to see knocked into a pool of mud, or a friend who deserves a healthy dose of humiliation? Create as many cards as you want and make it happen.
Begin creating your own Wipeout Yourself video eCards now: http://abc.go.com/shows/wipeout/wipeout-yourself?cid=WIPyourself_proutreach_lbi_general

Winning? TV Guide Network is shaking up its programming with the '90s sitcom, Spin City, which starred Charlie Sheen for the last two seasons. Beginning this Saturday (April 16), TV Guide Network will air the "Sheen Seasons" of the political satire sitcom every Saturday. Seasons five and six will continue to air in marathon form every Saturday (with the exception of April 30 due to the Royal Wedding programming) from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., engaging new and long-time fans. The series will also air in a special primetime block Monday, April 18 from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. with an encore from 12:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. There will be airings on most weeknights in the 1:00 a.m. hour besides the Saturday airings. Late night Sheen!
Spin City ran for six seasons from September 17, 1996 until April 30, 2002 on ABC. The series starred Michael J. Fox as Deputy Mayor Mike Flaherty, with Charlie Sheen taking over Fox's role as new Deputy Mayor Charlie Crawford. The cast also starred Richard Kind as Press Secretary Paul Lassiter, Alan Ruck as Chief of Staff Stuart Bondek, Michael Boatman as Head of Minority Affairs Carter Heywood, and Heather Locklear as Mayor Winston's campaign manager, Caitlin Moore.
Spin City was last seen on cable on FX until this past fall, so it hasn't been airing on TV since. No word if TV Guide plans to air the first four seasons starring Michael J. Fox, but as of now it's only Charlie Sheen's seasons! Watch out for warlocks! Finally, as you all know, TV Guide Network also airs Ugly Betty, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Weeds, Punk'd, and The Hills.

From Charlie Sheen to big balls, in one of the most significant programming acquisitions in the network's history, truTV has licensed the exclusive, off-network cable rights to the smash hit comedic series Wipeout from Disney-ABC Domestic Television, beginning in fall 2011. Wipeout will join truTV's successful lineup, which currently includes such hit original series as Operation Repo, Hardcore Pawn, All Worked Up and Lizard Lick Towing.
truTV's acquisition of WIPEOUT comes as the network has been enjoying tremendous success with its lineup of original series. truTV now ranks as one of basic cable's Top 10 networks among men 18-49 and Wipeout will certainly help in that demo.
Created and produced by Endemol USA, the hit reality competition series Wipeout premiered on ABC in summer 2008. The show challenges contestants to complete what is billed as the world's largest obstacle course. They must face wildly outrageous barriers, from Big Balls to complex contraptions, for the chance at winning a cash prize. Wipeout, which is also shown in numerous international versions around the globe, ranks among the world's top-rated game shows. The series was recently voted by Entertainment Weekly's readers as "Reality TV's Guiltiest Pleasure."
The series, which is currently in its fourth season on ABC, is hosted by John Anderson (SportsCenter), John Henson (Talk Soup) and co-hosted by the sexy Jill Wagner. The series starts its new summer season on ABC on Tuesday, June 21.

And we have one more rerun acquisition to announce! GMC, America's favorite channel for uplifting music and family entertainment, announced that the recently-acquired family drama Heartland will make its network premiere tonight (Thursday, April 14) with back-to-back episodes at 7 and 8 pm ET (encores at 9 and 10 pm ET and 11 pm and midnight ET, and on Sunday at 11 pm and midnight ET). The series has been airing in local broadcast syndication in many markets on weekends since the fall.
The hour-long Heartland, a top-rated series in Canada called "a modern-day Little House on the Prairie," was acquired by GMC in a U.S. cable deal with Genesis International Television and Film.
Starring Amber Marshall (The Elizabeth Smart Story), Heartland is the struggle of a debt-ridden family of Rocky Mountain horse ranchers fighting to keep a dream alive against a backdrop of young love, conflict and intrigue. Veteran actor Shaun Johnston (Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee); Michelle Morgan (Stargate: Atlantis) and Graham Wardle (In the Land of Women, Yesterday) also star. In Canada, the series - now in its fifth season -- leads in households and all key individual female and male demos in its 7 p.m. time slot on Sundays on CBC Television (Canada's national broadcaster).
This series is not to be confused with the TNT original series that aired in 2006-07 with Treat Williams and Kari Matchett. This series on GMC will join such series like The Waltons and Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman.

ABC has announced its summer 2011 schedule for original programming. Wipeout, 101 Ways to Leave a Game Show, Rookie Blue, Expedition Impossible, The Hot Zone, Take the Money and Run, Bachelor Pad and America's Karaoke Challenge, join previously announced The Bachelorette and Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition. ABC's summer schedule launches on Thursday, June 16 with a special preview episode of Wipeout, followed by the series premiere of game show 101 Ways to Leave a Game Show and the season premiere of drama Rookie Blue, now at 10pm. If there is a Game 7 of the NBA Finals, these programs will move to Thursday, June 23, though. The NBA Finals begin Thursday, June 2 on ABC and could last until June 16, should all 7 games be needed like last year. Wipeout repeats will remain in the Thursday at 8pm hour for the rest of the summer and some originals could be mixed in since it has 16 episodes. 101 Ways to Leave a Game Show will last 6 weeks before a new series takes over, the reality series from Jerry Bruckheimer Take the Money and Run will start Thursday, July 28. Rookie Blue will last all summer for 13 episodes. ABC's Tuesday summer line-up starts on Tuesday, June 21 with all-new episodes of Wipeout at 8pm leading into the new Mark Burnett reality series Expedition Impossible, which will last 10 weeks at 9pm. At 10pm, ABC will air the new drama The Hot Zone for all summer, lasting 13 weeks. Moving on to Mondays, The Bachelorette and Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition we knew already, but when they finish, The Bachelor Pad and new reality series America's Karaoke Challenge will air starting Monday, August 8 for 6 weeks each. So, ABC is all-new all summer long on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. TBD favorite series repeats will air on Sundays and Wednesdays, with the most obvious repeat candidates being the Wednesday comedies (The Middle, Modern Family, Cougar Town), AFV, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Secret Millionaire, Castle, and perhaps Body of Proof. Stay tuned for info on the repeat schedule as soon as we know. View more info on the ABC summer 2011 series. TV Land announced that platinum recording artists and the pioneers of "Rock 'N Soul," Daryl Hall and John Oates, will receive the Music Icon Award at the 2011 TV Land Awards. The duo will also perform some of its most popular songs which topped the pop charts throughout the '70s, '80s and '90s. With eight number one singles including "Rich Girl," "Private Eyes" and "Maneater," Grammy®-nominated Daryl Hall and John Oates have sold more than 60 million albums worldwide. Their musical legacy continues today, with their classic tunes featured in film and on television including Oscar®-winner The Fighter, 500 Days of Summer and the popular television series Glee and Grey's Anatomy. As we have said many times, the 2011 TV Land Awards will be held on Sunday, April 10, 2011 in New York City at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and airs on TV Land the following week on Sunday, April 17, 2011 at 9 PM ET/PT. The ninety-minute telecast will feature exhilarating tributes to some of the most iconic television casts and musical performers. Previously announced honorees include: New York legend Regis Philbin, who will receive the Legend Award; the full cast of Family Ties, (Michael J. Fox, Meredith Baxter, Michael Gross, Justine Bateman, Tina Yothers, Marc Price, Tracy Pollan and Billy Vera) who will be honored with the Fan Favorite Award and The Cosby Show cast (Bill Cosby, Phylicia Rashad, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Tempesst Bledsoe, Keshia Knight Pulliam, Sabrina LeBeauf and Raven Symone) who will be honored with the Impact Award. TV Land will also honor the entire cast of Welcome Back, Kotter (John Travolta, Gabe Kaplan, Ron Palillo, Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, Robert Hegyes, Marcia Strassman and Ellen Travolta) with the 35th Anniversary Award and the cast of The Facts of Life (Lisa Whelchel, Nancy McKeon, Kim Fields, Mindy Cohn and Charlotte Rae) with the Pop Culture Award.

ABC has announced the season finale dates for the 2010-11 season during May. The first season finale will be on Sunday, May 8 at 10:01pm for Brothers & Sisters. It is still on the bubble, so no word yet if it will be back next season. On Wednesday, May 11 at 8:30pm the season finale of freshman sitcom Better With You will air. On Sunday, May 15, there will be two finales. At 8:00 p.m. it is the season finale for Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, which is returning to the schedule on April 17 following the season finale of Secret Millionaire on April 10. Then from 9:00-11:00pm, Desperate Housewives gets a special two-hour season finale. On Monday, May 16 at 10:01pm it is the season finale of Castle. And on Tuesday, May 17 at 8pm, reality series Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution closes its second season. The reality series has its season premiere on April 12.
The final Thursday of the season (May 19) will feature three finales. At 8:00pm it is the season finale of Wipeout (Spring Edition). ABC has ordered three more Spring Wipeout episodes so it can fill the Thursday 8pm slot for the rest of the season. Previously, it was going to be a repeat on March 31 after new episodes (March 17/24) because it only had 4 episodes, but now ABC will air an all-new episode on March 31 with Grey's/Private being new. Repeats will air on April 7, 14 and 21, just like Grey's/Private. Then it will be back for sweeps for the remaining four Spring episodes (April 28, May 5, 12 and 19). The regular summer edition will start over a month later after the NBA Finals are over with and 16 all-new episodes will air, as previously planned. This means Wipeout will produce 31 total episodes this season (8 for winter, 7 for spring and 16 for summer). Airdates for the summer edition will be announced soon. So stay tuned. Anyway, back to Thursday May 19, following the Spring Wipeout finale are the season finales of Greyis Anatomy and Private Practice from 9-11pm. On Friday, May 20 at 8pm, Shark Tank closes its second season. The final Sunday of the season will have the season finale of America's Funniest Home Videos on Sunday, May 22 at 7pm leading into the Billboard Music Awards from 8-11pm. As we knew, Monday, May 23 will have the final Dancing with the Stars performance show at 8pm leading into the summer staple The Bachelorette from 9-11pm. On Tuesday, May 24 from 9:00-11:00pm it is the grand finale for season 12 of Dancing with the Stars. And finally on the last day of the TV season, Wednesday, May 25, the ABC comedies get their finales. At 8:00pm it is The Middle, followed by a repeat then at 9:00pm the megahit Modern Family has its season finale leading into the one-hour Hawaiian season finale of Cougar Town from 9:31-10:30pm.
ABC has not announced season finale dates for Mr. Sunshine, Happy Endings or Body of Proof since all three will have leftover episodes. Depending on their plans for them, they could air in summer or be held for next season. Everything else is pretty much set except ABC News series Primetime What Would You Do? and 20/20, which are likely to continue into summer.

Moving on to NBC, they have pulled Perfect Couples starting April 14. NBC announced that The Paul Reiser Show, a new comedy series starring Paul Reiser (Mad About You), will premiere on Thursday, April 14 at 8:30pm ET.
NBC's The Paul Reiser Show is a new single-camera comedy from Emmy and Golden Globe Award-nominated actor/writer/producer Reiser and writer/producer Jonathan Shapiro. The show stars Reiser as -- Paul Reiser. It's been a few years since his hit TV series went off the air. Since then, he's been enjoying the quiet life at home with his lovely wife, Claire (Amy Landecker), and kids and generally minding his own business, writing and producing television but enjoying life out of the spotlight. Getting him into trouble -- and into adventures -- are a group of new "friends," most of which he didn't choose since they're the husbands of his wife's friends and the dads of his kids' classmates. Thrown together by circumstance, Reiser and his cohorts, including Jonathan (Ben Shenkman), Habib (Omid Djalili), Fernando (Duane Martin, All of Us) and Brad (Andrew Daly, MADtv), form an unlikely comradeship -- and a pretty lame basketball team.
The new comedy will air Thursdays at 8:30pm through Thursday, May 19. It will also air at a special time of 8pm leading into the finale on May 19. As a result of the premiere of the new sitcom, Community will now be all-new on April 14, thus its season finale on Thursday, May 12 is no longer two episodes. The Community season finale is now a half-hour on Thursday, May 12 at 8pm. As for Perfect Couples, as of this writing it would have 4 episodes still to air after April 14, though it could be as low as only 2 because on March 31 and April 7, currently repeats are listed, so NBC could change those to new episodes--then only two would remain. It is almost 100% certain this series is all but done though.

TV One will celebrate Black History Month in February 2011, like they did last year. Thee will not be any changes to the regular schedule, but there will be plenty of stunts. To celebrate "Our History Month," beginning Monday, Jan. 31 at 10 PM ET, and airing each weeknight over four weeks, TV One will present "Way Black When," a month of high-profile programming designed to reflect back on the golden age of black culture that emerged during the 1970s, '80s and '90s. The centerpiece of the initiative is Way Black When: Prime Time, a high-energy, one-hour talk show that will showcase Black pop culture icons across three decades – the '70s, '80s and '90s -- including actors, comedians, athletes, musicians and many more--from Black Power through Hip Hop. Guiding a live studio audience and television viewers on their trip back through 'blackness,' will be three hosts, each of whom embodies a decade's essence. Comedian and actor Sinbad will conduct a fantastic voyage through the 70's...Niecy Nash keeps it moving and groovin' through the 80's... and comedian and actor Chris 'Kid' Reid picks up the final leg of the Way Black When journey with 90's Hip Hop.
Each night, guests who characterize the specific week's decade will be showcased, along with a musical act and a comedian who provide the tunes and the tone of the time. The series will include a "Retro Trek" segment of nightly comedic sketches spoofing memorable hairstyles, fashion trends, and cultural fads from each decade. Each week, TV One will feature Heroes, Newsmakers, Icons and Celebs (HNIC) segment in which "Washington Watch" host Roland Martin will provide a look back at the major news events of the day.

Among the many guests (including performers and comedians) included in Way Black When, which airs weeknights at 10 PM and repeats weeknights at 1 AM, will be:

• Way Black When: The '70s – hosted by Sinbad (Monday, Jan. 31-Friday, Feb. 4) – actor and pro football Hall of Famer Jim Brown; Peabody Award-winning comedian and radio personality J. Anthony Brown; comedian Don "DC" Curry; The Emotions (Best of My Love) ; former NFL great Vince Evans; actor Antonio Fargas (Huggy Bear from Starsky and Hutch); Cuba Gooding, Sr (The Main Ingredient, Everybody Plays the Fool); singer/songwriter/musician Larry Graham; comedian and activist Dick Gregory; The Hues Corporation (Rock the Boat); Grammy Award-winning and Oscar-nominated singer/musician James Ingram; groundbreaking model, actress and sportscaster Jayne Kennedy; vocalist Evelyn "Champagne" King; comedian Paul Mooney; actress Denise Nicholas (Room 222, In the Heat of the Night); Freda Payne; actor/producer, husband/wife duo Daphne and Tim Reid; actor Ernest Thomas (What's Happening!!); singer/songwriter and fashion icon Jody Watley (originally of Shalamar); and actor and martial artist Michael Jai White.
• Way Black When: The '80s – hosted by Niecy Nash (Monday, Feb. 7-Friday, Feb. 11) – R&B duo Alexander O'Neal & Cherrelle; singer/songwriter Bobby Brown; rapper and record producer Kurtis Blow; actor Todd Bridges (Diff'rent Strokes); comedian Joe Clair; actor/director Bill Duke (Sister Act 2); rap trailblazer Doug E. Fresh; recording industry executive André Harrell; Anna Maria Horsford (Amen); R&B singer and actress Miki Howard; rapper Kool Mo Dee; R&B singer Louis Price (The Temptations) and his wife, actress Fay Hauser; director/producer Michael Schultz (Cooley High); hip hop pioneer Roxanne Shante; drummer and percussionist Sheila E.; R&B star Al B. Sure; actor Taimak (The Last Dragon); actor Glynn Turman (A Different World, The Wire); and The Whispers.
• Way Black When: The '90s – hosted by Chris "Kid" Reid (Monday, Feb. 14-Friday. Feb. 18) – Tatyana Ali (Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, TV One's new original sitcom, Love That Girl!); R&B group Bell Biv DeVoe; producer and former actor Carl Craig; comedian and actor Tommy Davidson; commentator and author Dr. Michael Eric Dyson; comedian Earthquake; R&B singer/songwriter Johnny Gill; singer and performer Ginuwine; actress Jasmine Guy (A Different World); comedian and actress Jackée Harry (227, Sister, Sister); R&B superstars K-Ci & JoJo (originally of Jodeci); Christopher "Play" Martin; actor Darius McCrary (Family Matters); Grammy Award-winning hip hop group Naughty By Nature; comedian and actress Ajai Sanders (A Different World); new jack swing/R&B group Tony! Toni! Toné!; director, actor and comedian Robert Townsend; actor Ben Vereen; actress Lynn Whitfield; actor Malik Yoba; comedian YoYo; and from New Jack City - director Mario Van Peebles and cast members Vanessa Williams, Christopher Williams, and William Cobbs, plus New Jack Swing group Guy, who sang the title song from the groundbreaking film.
• The fourth week of Way Black When: Primetime, Monday, Feb. 21 – Friday, Feb. 25, will offer a "Best Of" week that will feature the best interviews, comedy sketches and performances of the prior three weeks, plus original, unseen material, with the Best of the '70s airing on Monday, Feb. 21; the Best of the '80s airing on Tuesday, Feb. 22; the Best of the '90s airing on Wednesday, Feb. 23; plus an all-stand-up comedy show on Thursday, Feb. 24 and an all-musical performance show on Friday, Feb. 25.

There will also be stunt programming to go along with these weeks. Both TV series and movies will surround these specials. TV series airs weeknights at 9 and the movies at 11. Series for the '70s week will be The Flip Wilson Show (Tuesday and Wednesday) and The Richard Pryor Show (Thursday and Friday). Movies for the '70s week are Cooley High, Superfly, Shaft, Black Caesar and Cotton Comes Harlem. Every Saturday will feature a marathon block in February of the week's shows. On Saturday, Feb. 5 TV One airs a marathon of The Flip Wilson Show from 12pm-8pm, followed by the movie Shaft, and a marathon of The Richard Pryor Show from 8pm-6am. Also on Sunday, Feb. 6, TV One will air two classic '70s sitcoms in Sanford & Son from 12pm-7pm and Good Times from 8pm-2am.
Moving on to the '80s week, series will be A Different World (Tuesday and Wednesday) and Amen (Thursday and Friday). Movies for the '80s week are Disorderlies, Harlem Nights, Beat Street, Young Blood and Purple Rain. On Saturday, Feb. 12 TV One airs a marathon of A Different World from 12pm-8pm, followed by the movie Purple Rain, and a marathon of Amen from 8pm-6am.
And then on to the '90s week, series will be Martin (Tuesday and Wednesday) and Living Single (Thursday and Friday). Movies for the '90s week are Juice, Distinguished Gentleman, Fresh, Double Platinum and Livin Large. On Saturday, Feb. 19 TV One airs a marathon of Living Single from 12pm-8pm, followed by the movie Two Can Play That Game, then the movie Three Can Play That Game, and then another marathon of Living Single from 12am-6am. Martin got a special stunt on Sunday, Feb. 13 from 1pm-4am instead. On Sunday, Feb. 20, TV One will air 6 episodes of NY Undercover from 12pm-6pm.
Finally, the last week of the month will be a best-of week. Series will be A Different World on Tuesday, Martin on Wednesday, Living Single on Thursday and Amen on Friday. Movies for the best-of week are Don King: Only in America, Blood Done Sign My Name, Tyson, Dead Presidents and A Raisin in the Sun. On Saturday, Feb. 26 from 12pm-4:30am, TV One airs a movie marathon featuring Young Blood, Black Caesar, Cotton Comes Harlem, Superfly, Cooley High, Harlem Nights, Distinguished Gentleman, and Cooley High again. Random airings of Martin and Good Times follow from 4:30am-6am.

Finally, ABC has added two more pieces to its mid-season 2011 schedule. We broke the news for both on Twitter last night. Reality series Shark Tank will return for a second season on Friday, March 25 at 8pm. The series was ordered for a second season with 8 all-new episodes including guest panelists Mark Cuban and Jeff Foxworthy joining for a few episodes each. The series also had one episode left-over from last season that they could air. Shark Tank will replace Supernanny on Fridays at 8pm. Supernanny is ending its run this season, so it looks like the series finale will air on March 18.
Meanwhile, after Wipeout's Winter edition ends, ABC will have to plug in something on Thursdays at 8pm for the last 6 weeks of the season. Replacing Wipeout starting Thursday, April 14 at 8pm will be Take The Money and Run, from Jerry Bruckheimer. This six-week series is a game of cat and mouse between two teams to try and win $100,000. Wipeout was supposed to end its Winter run starting March 4, but it seems like they have ordered four more episodes, bringing the total to 12 (instead of 8). Thursdays, March 3-April 7 is 6 weeks, so Wipeout will be repeats for two weeks in that span.
Still yet to be scheduled for ABC is game show Million Dollar Mind Game, reality series Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition, Mark Burnett's new reality series Expedition Impossible, and returning reality series Wife Swap & Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution. Most of these could be for summer now. Everything else for ABC is scheduled for mid-season including comedy Mr. Sunshine (Feb. 9), reality series Secret Millionaire (March 6), drama Body of Proof (March 29), and comedy Happy Endings (April 13). Stay with us for updates.