Friday, November 30, 2007
Day 26: WGA's Strike; TV One January Highlights
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Day 25: WGA's Strike; ABC Family Acquires What I Like About You; TV Land Scores in November
Meanwhile NBC has made a schedule move that seems like it was done for the strike. NBC's new dramedy Lipstick Jungle, based on the best-selling novel by Candace Bushnell - and starring Brooke Shields, Kim Raver and Lindsay Price - will premiere on Thursday, February 7 at 10:00 p.m. ET. ER will continue in the Thursdays 10:00 p.m. ET time slot through January when the Emmy Award-winning drama series completes its current run of original episodes.
Fox finally announced its holiday line-up. Nothing really except on Christmas Eve we get the movie Cheaper by the Dozen and on Wednesday, December 26 we get the broadcast premiere of Christmas with the Kranks starring Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis. But why a day after Christmas?
I guess trying to bank on the success of Jennie Garth on Dancing with the Stars, cable network ABC Family will begin airing reruns of the sitcom What I Like About You in January. The sitcom starred Amanda Bynes and Jennie Garth as sisters. The show had a decent four season run on The WB/CW from 2002-06. The show will air weekday afternoons at 4:00pm & 4:30pm ET/PT starting Monday, January 7, replacing 7th Heaven. We asked ABC Family if 7th Heaven would return and they said no, as the show will be moving to The Hallmark Channel. So that answers that. As for What I Like About You, The CW Daytime will still air it at 3:30pm in January from what we see in their listings. We'll keep you posted if that changes. So fans can watch it basically from 3:30-5pm on two channels!
Elsewhere on ABC Family January, the second half of season two of the hit original drama Kyle XY will return on January 14 airing Mondays at 8pm for 10 episodes! A marathon of 9 of the 13 episodes from the first half of the season will air before it from 11am-8pm. The fourth season of another original drama, Wildfire will start a week later, Monday, January 21, and air Mondays at 9pm. Other highlights include, the annual The 700 Club Special Programming will air from 9am-11am for two weeks, week of Jan. 14 and 21, thus Step by Step will be pre-empted for those two weeks at 9am. A marathon of the 700 Club will air on Sunday, January 27 from 12pm-12am. As for movies, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants will get a basic cable premiere on Jan. 6, and a lot of movies will be airing on the ABC Family for the first time, such as Mean Girls, Pleasantville, Bring It On Again, and the TV premiere of Bring It On: In It To Win It.
TV Land scored huge gains among its target demo of Adults 25-54 as well as its core audience of Adults 40-54 for the month of November (10/29/07-11/25/07). The success of the network's regularly scheduled Friday Night Movie Block, a M*A*S*H Mail Call Marathon, the original special Entertainment Weekly and TV Land Present: The 50 Greatest TV Icons and the network's "Overstuffed Thanksgiving Weekend" led the network to score double-digit gains in rating and delivery among A25-54 and total viewers over last year. November was also the most-watched month among A25-54 for the year.
TV Land's November prime time line-up scored a 0.4 rating, 406,000 viewers, up +33% in rating and +24% in viewers among A25-54. Among total viewers in primetime, TV Land delivered nearly 944,000 total viewers, up +15% over last year. In total programming day, TV Land averaged a 0.3 rating and 295,000 viewers among A25-54 for the month, representing a +50% gain in rating and a +19% climb in viewers versus November 2006. It was also the most-watched month among A25-54 in total day this year. Additionally, the network attracted an average of 633,000 viewers for the total programming day, an increase of +13% over November 2006. Among its core audience, Adults 40-54, TV Land averaged a 0.6 rating, 317,000 viewers in prime time, up +50% in rating and +39% in viewers versus last year. In total programming day, the network posted a 0.4 rating, 227,000 viewers, up +33% in rating and +26% in viewers.
Click HERE for the full highlights.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Day 24: WGA's Strike; Hallmark Channel Acquires 7th Heaven, Cheers, I Love Lucy; Animated Dennis the Menace to DVD!
Hallmark Channel has just completed a major deal to acquire several award- winning series, including the critically acclaimed 7th Heaven, the ever popular Cheers and classic baby boomer favorite, I Love Lucy, along with additional episodes of Matlock and Touched By An Angel from CBS Television Distribution. The deal also includes rights to 12 off-net holiday movies, including Finding John Christmas, Town Without a Christmas and When Angels Come to Town.
7th Heaven is the first show that will be ready to launch on Hallmark Channel as early as January of 2008 with Cheers having the next window later in 2008 and I Love Lucy in January of 2009. Matlock has been renewed through 2011, with a similar extension for Touched By an Angel.
Now what does this mean for ABC Family still airing 7th Heaven? That fate will be revealed on tomorrow's blog as we announce ABC Family January. Come on back for that...it will include a new show for ABC Family!
As for Cheers and I Love Lucy, Hallmark says it is not an exclusive cable deal, so TV Land could still run it, but Cheers is expiring from TV Land in September 2008 and I Love Lucy expires on TV Land in December 2008, which makes me think TV Land will not renew both series and Hallmark will just air it. That is still awhile away, so we will find out more details soon. I bet Cheers will launch next fall on Hallmark. Anyway, stay tuned for further details! We hope to have the January line-up soon. For now click HERE to view the press release and to discuss this big news!
Finally, a personal favorite of mine, the '80s animated series Dennis the Menace is finally coming to DVD this March! Dennis The Menace: Trouble, Trouble Everywhere debuts on DVD March 18, 2008 from Fox Home Entertainment.
In Dennis The Menace: Trouble, Trouble Everywhere entire nations can't run and hide. If they did, they surely would when lovable troublemaker Dennis Mitchell pays a visit! Like most families, the Mitchells love taking vacations, but wherever they go, young Dennis seems to wind up in the center of numerous hilarious catastrophes. Whether he’s chasing crooks in Venice or kangaroos in Sydney, outrunning Mayans in South America, or bulls in Spain – or even proving that erupting volcanoes in Hawaii wreak less havoc than he does, Dennis is always drawn to find trouble, wherever it is!
I wish it was a full set with full episodes and not just a best of set. I hope this sells well so we can get all of them on DVD in the full form. Episodes on this set are: "Dennis in Venice," "Mayan Mayhem," "The Big Candied Apple," "A Royal Pain," "Dennis and the Kangaroo Cavalry," "Dennis Plasters Pamplona," and "Black and Blue Hawaii."
To read more about this and to discuss this, click HERE!
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Day 23: WGA's Strike; USA Network Acquires Becker, Drops Coach; More on ION's Drew Carey Show Deal
In order to boost Fridays a bit, Fox will switch timeslots for reality shows The Next Great American Band and Don't Forget the Lyrics! starting December 7. Band has done terrible at 8pm and Lyrics! has done much better, so let's see if this will benedit both shows.
USA Network has acquired the Ted Danson sitcom Becker for morning play starting in January. To introduce the show to the USA Network line-up, Becker will have two mini morning marathons on Wednesday, January 2 from 6am-12pm and Thursday, January 3 from 6am-12pm. The show will be airing Monday-Friday at 8am and 8:30am thereafter starting January 7, so JAG will move from 7-9am to 6-8am. '90s sitcom Coach will be off the line-up as a result. The show could be back soon, but they haven't lost the rights it seems. As for Becker, it looks like Superstation WGN will also continue to run it late nights. Becker will also air as late night fillers or general fillers like Coach does.
ION Television formally announced today that it has obtained from Warner Bros. Domestic Cable Distribution the rights to air the beloved, long-running sitcom, The Drew Carey Show. ION Television will launch the Emmy-nominated series with a New Year's Eve marathon from 7:00-11:00 pm (ET), and then add it to the network's weeknight primetime lineup New Year's Day with airings Mondays through Thursdays at 9:00 pm and 9:30 pm (ET). That will mean Who's the Boss?, the current time slot holder at 9:00 and 9:30 will either be moved or off the line-up. We will know when the January schedule is released and will let you know. We still haven't forgotten our promise to deliver the ION December holiday highlights. We are just waiting word on a few days, but it doesn't look to be a big deal like last year when we got shows like holiday episodes of McHale's Navy, Kate & Allie, and others. Stay tuned for that and more on Drew!
Monday, November 26, 2007
Day 22: WGA's Strike; Nick at Nite December Highlights; Sitcom Reminders for Tonight
Nick at Nite this December will give us a lot of Christmas episodes. Spend the 11 p.m. hour each day the week of Dec. 3 with classic Christmas episodes! Home Improvement holiday episodes air all-week at 11pm. 11:30pm will be Fresh Prince on Monday, Roseanne on Tuesday, another Fresh Prince on Wednesday, another Roseanne on Thursday and Cosby Show on Friday!
Then on Sunday, December 16, Nick at Nite gives a four hour event with holiday episodes of Home Improvement, George Lopez, Fresh Prince, Cosby Show and Roseanne from 9pm-1am.
Then the week of Dec. 17 it is more 11pm hour time! Spend the 11 p.m. hour each day the week of Dec. 17 with classic Christmas episodes! Roseanne holiday episodes air all-week at 11pm. 11:30pm will be Home Improvement on Monday, Fresh Prince on Tuesday, Cosby Show on Wednesday, another Fresh Prince on Thursday and another Home Improvement on Friday!
And if that is not all, Nick at Nite will give us one last chance to watch holiday episodes on Christmas night from 9pm-12am of their best shows...Home Improvement, George Lopez, Fresh Prince and Cosby Show.
Finally, spend New Year's Eve with Nickelodeon, as Nick at Nite hands over the night to them. Tune in and catch some of your favorite Nick movies and specials as they count down the clock, all the way to midnight!
Click HERE for more details and to discuss this. Keep checking back there for constant updates.
Don't forget to catch the season premiere of sitcom Notes from the Underbelly at 9:30 ET/PT after an all-new Samantha Who at 9/8 central at a new time following part one of the season finale of Dancing with the Stars!
The CW and CBS will also have sitcoms tonight starting at 8/7 central, but CBS's Big Bang Theory and Rules of Engagement will be encores until the strike is resolved.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Week 9: How the Sitcoms Did
Week 9 numbers (first four nights, Mon-Thu):
Households: N/A
Total Viewers: N/A
Adults 18-49: N/A
Analysis: N/A.
Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for week of November 12-18)
- Aliens in America (The CW) - A repeat did just 1.13 million, but up from the previous two weeks, which was under 1 million (850,00 viewers and 910k).
- The Simpsons (Fox) - 10.56 million and a 5.3 18-49 rating...up from previous week...NFL overrun always helps it.
- King of the Hill (Fox) - Beat previous week's 7.6 million by a lot and grew to 9.23 million this week! The old timer showing some life!
- Family Guy (Fox) - 10.55 million tuned in, up from previous week and matched previous week's 5.4 18-49 rating!
- American Dad (Fox) - 8.12 million, up from previous two week's 7.77 million and 7.08 million.
Monday Sitcoms
- How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - 8.06 million tuned in, down from the previous week.
- The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - 7.51 million tuned in for a repeat, as this sitcom will be in repeats now until the strike is over.
- Two and a Half Men (CBS) - 13.91 million this week, down from previous week's 14.12 million.
- Rules of Engagement (CBS) - 11.48 million, up from the previous week's 10.46 million....this week it will be its last episode until the strike is over
- Samantha Who? (ABC) - 14.38 million and a 4.6/10 18-49 for week six, up from previous week and a series high in 18-49...impressive!
- CW Monday Comedies: Chris, Aliens in America, Girlfriends, The Game. Not doing that well at all. Aliens did a terrible 1.37 million, down from previous week, The Game did 2.35 million this week, down from previous week but still led the block.
Tuesday Sitcoms
- Cavemen (ABC) - Preempted for A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, will not be on the schedule until at the earliest in January now.
- Carpoolers (ABC) - Preempted for A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, will not be on the schedule until at the earliest in January now.
- Back to You (Fox) - Preliminary numbers for a repeat show 5.35 million and a 1.5/5 18-49 rating.
- 'Til Death (Fox) - Preliminary numbers show 4.67 million for a repeat...two new episodes air this coming week.
- My Name is Earl (NBC) - Preempted for Thanksgiving.
- 30 Rock (NBC) - Preempted for Thanksgiving.
- The Office (NBC) - An encore episode aired at 10:30 following a movie, did just 3.36 million in preliminary numbers, a big drop from the last half-hour of the movie...but NBC should have made the movie 3 hours.
- Scrubs (NBC) - Preempted for Thanksgiving.
None.
Saturday Sitcoms
- 30 Rock (NBC) - A special Saturday encore episode aired at 10:30 following a movie, did just 4.6 million, a big drop from the last half-hour of the movie...but NBC should have made the movie 3 hours...and it was the same movie that aired Thursday...odd.
Airing tonight (Sunday) is a repeat of Aliens in America on The CW at 7:30, and Fox's animated comedies starting at 8:00!
Summing it up. Two and a Half Men, Samantha Who?, and Rules of Engagement were impressive for the week. Everything else was OK (such as How I Met Your Mother, Big Bang Theory Repeat) or just plain old terrible (Aliens in America, Everybody Hates Chris).
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Mini-DVD Review: Christmas Time in South Park; Solomon's Weekly Rant: Cartoons on Thanksgiving on Nick at Nite; NFL Thanksgiving Games
Christmas Time in South Park (Comedy Central DVD, $19.99) lets us all celebrate the holidays with our favorite foul-mouthed children from South Park, Colorado. The single disc release brings seven Christmas themed episodes of the Comedy Central hit series together in one compilation. Some may be confused and think that this has already been released on DVD, but it hasn't--there was a 2000 release called Christmas in South Park which was released by Warner Brothers that contained only three episodes, only one of which carried over onto this DVD. Many great Christmas classics are included on this DVD. Kyle thinks he is going crazy when a piece of crap (literally) starts talking to him in "Mr. Hankey the Christmas Poo." The kids all decide to spend Christmas with Cartman's family when a family friend--Charles Manson--decides to break out of prison with Cartman's uncle in "Merry Christmas Charlie Manson!" Mr. Hankey returns in "Mr. Hankey's Christmas Classics." Mr. Hankey is too busy with his wife and three... nuggets... in "A Very Crappy Christmas," so it is up to the boys to return the Christmas spirit to South Park. Cartman has been naughty so he decides to help the citizens of Iraq, with the help of Jesus and Mr. Hankey, in "Red Sleigh Down." Kyle's brother Ike is going back to Canada after his birth parents come to take him back, but how will the boys react when they find out that the town is spending money to bring Ike back instead of buying Christmas gifts? Find out in "It's Christmas in Canada." Finally, Stan helps the Woodland Critters build a manger in "Woodland Critter Christmas," but it all backfires in the typical South Park fashion.
The DVD doesn't come in the standard type case that you would expect for a single disc release, but instead comes in packaging that looks like one of those Little Golden Books that we all used to read as a child. It almost makes the set appear to be a nice thing that you can watch with the whole family, but don't be fooled. After all, it IS South Park. The packaging includes a description and the original airdate of each and every episode and also includes a memorable quote from each episode. The video and audio quality of the episodes tends to vary from episode to episode, mostly because these episodes are taken from all of the first eight seasons, but in general there are no real issues to be concerned with. The episodes all appear to be unedited, running at their original 22 minutes each.
The DVD has nothing to offer as far as special features are concerned, and every single one of these episodes can be found in one of the previous season releases of South Park. So, this DVD may not be particularly impressive to the average South Park fan, but for those that must own everything related to South Park or those that simply love Christmas episodes are certain to enjoy the DVD. This isn't a bad DVD at all, but it would have been nice if they could have thrown in some holiday related special features to spice up the set a little bit. A release like this really shouldn't be a plain episodes only release, especially when every episode on it has already been released on DVD at least once. But if you can pick this set up at a reasonable price (under $10 or so), then you'd probably be happy with the set and be glad to have it. Head on up to South Park and look for the bargains!
-- Reviewed by skees53
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Solomon's Weekly Rant
Saturday, November 24, 2007
"Cartoons on Thanksgiving on Nick at Nite; NFL Thanksgiving Games Being Treated Like the Super Bowl"
By Solomon Davis
I came home around 11:10pm on Thanksgiving night to watch some sitcoms like George Lopez and Fresh Prince and found out that Nick at Nite decided to air Rugrats movies after 11pm?? How many children would be up watching cartoons after 11pm? And to make things worse, at midnight there was a filler airing of SpongeBob which made me think it was 9am in the morning. Do the people at Nick at Nite think parents let their kids stay up later at night because there is no school the day after Thanksgiving? There are no children up watching cartoons after midnight and Nick at Nite felt the need to remove all the regularly schedule sitcoms to entertain kids after 9pm to 12:30am which is the dumbest programming decision by Nick at Nite in 2007. Maybe Nick at Nite can air Christmas cartoon specials like Jimmy Neutron from 1am to 6am on Christmas Eve since there are no kids sleeping on Christmas Eve.
NFL games on Thanksgiving Day are still a regular season game so why do fans have to watch musical performances at halftime like it is Super Bowl Sunday? The guys in the studio can easily just talk about what happened during the first half of the game and preview the upcoming NFL games on Sunday. But to extend halftime just so someone can get on stage and sing is just plain stupid. It's bad enough we have to stomach these pointless musical performances like Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake during halftime of the Super Bowl, so can we at least have a regular halftime show on Thanksgiving day?
My Weird TV Moments of the Week:
Sunday, November 18, 2007: On Sunday Night Football, the Buffalo Bills kicked a field goal to cut the New England Patriots lead to 42-10 in the 4th quarter and the coach of the Bills started clapping? Think they were going to come back?
Monday, November 19, 2007: Good Morning America - On "Melody's Money Minute," her holiday shopping tips was, "use CASH instead of CREDIT." She gets paid to tell GMA viewers that OBVIOUS TIP? HA!
Agree or disagree with Solomon? Discuss it here.
DISCLAIMER: Remember, Solomon is not the voice of SitcomsOnline. He is just stating his opinions and does not reflect what SitcomsOnline says or thinks. It is just his 'View' but it is always quite entertaining.
Friday, November 23, 2007
Drew Carey Show Coming to ION Television, December Monthly Preview
And yes, I know we have not posted the ION December highlights yet. There seems to be no schedule changes except Alice getting a full hour at 7-8pm (replacing Designing Women at 7) starting Dec. 3 and Kung Fu is returning and airing Saturdays at 6PM starting Dec. 15, replacing the NFL Game of the Week episodes. They also plan to give us one holiday airing at least each night basically all month long, from holiday movies to holiday episodes of Amen, Alice, Who's the Boss?, and Mama's Family. We'll post the line-up very soon...let's hope they alter it a bit to have shows not on the lineup as well, like holiday episodes of Perfect Strangers, Growing Pains, and others. Stay tuned!
In addition to Alice returning on Monday at 7:30, Firebrand TV is finally launching Mon-Thurs at 11pm starting Monday.
OK, go back to your Black Friday sales!
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Happy Thanksgiving; Network Holiday Specials
Retro Television Network also thanks you and they have sent us a nice 10-second bumper wishing us a Happy Thanksgiving! Click HERE to view it!
Before we let you go back to your families...let's prepare for the Christmas holiday season! It is never too early to prepare. I have put together a holiday specials list that we all like to watch every year like Frosty the Snowman and A Charlie Brown Christmas and we even get some new specials this year like Shrek the Halls. These are just actual holiday related specials and movies, not movies or specials airing during the holiday season.
ABC
Tuesday, Nov. 27, 8-9pm: A Charlie Brown Christmas
Wednesday, Nov. 28, 8-9pm: Shrek the Halls (NEW!) and Dr. Suess' How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Friday, Nov. 30, 8-10pm: ABC Friday Movie of the Week: The Polar Express
Monday, Dec. 3 8-9pm: A Charlie Brown Christmas
Wednesday, Dec. 5, 8-9pm: Santa Claus is Comin' to Town
Saturdays, Dec. 8, 8-10pm: ABC Saturday Movie of the Week: Dr. Suess' How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Monday, Dec. 10, 8-9pm: I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown
Tuesday, Dec. 11, 8-9pm: Shrek the Halls and Winnie the Pooh and Christmas, Too
Saturday, Dec. 15, 8-10pm: ABC Saturday Movie of the Week: Surviving Christmas
Wednesday, Dec. 19, 10-11pm: A Christmas Celebration at Ford's Theatre
Sunday, Dec. 23, 7-8pm: Elmo's Christmas Countdown (NEW!)
Sunday, Dec. 23, 9-11pm: ABC Sunday Movie of the Week: The Santa Clause 2
Monday, Dec. 24, 8-9pm: Dr. Suess' How the Grinch Stole Christmas (expanded edition)
CBS:
Tuesday, Dec. 4, 8-9pm: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Friday, Dec. 7, 8-9pm: Frosty the Snowman and Frosty
Returns
Wednesday, Dec. 19, 8-9pm: Frosty the Snowman and Frosty
Returns
Friday, Dec. 21, 8-9pm: 9th Annual Home for the Holidays with Sheryl Crow
Saturday, Dec. 22, 8-10pm: CBS Saturday Movie: Elf
NBC:
Thursday, Nov. 22, 2-4pm: Miracle on 34th Street
Friday, Nov. 23, 8-11pm: NBC Movie of the Week: Family Man
Wednesday, Nov. 28, 8-9pm: Christmas in Rockefeller Center
Saturday, Dec. 1, 8-9pm: The Radio City Christmas Spectacular
Thursday, Dec. 13, 9:30-11pm: Saturday Night Live: Christmas Special
Friday, Dec. 14, 8-11pm: NBC Movie of the Week: It's a Wonderful Life
Monday, Dec. 24, 8-11pm: NBC Movie of the Week: It's a Wonderful Life
The CW:
Sunday, Dec. 2, 6-7pm: Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer
Sunday, Dec. 23, 8-9pm: The Story of Santa Claus
Fox has not announced anything, if they even are planning any specials and movies. We'll let you know. And also if there are any additions to the other networks.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Day 17: WGA's Strike; RTN Coming to Seattle; TV Land's 50 Greatest Icons Scores; Thanksgiving Marathons
Retro Television Network (RTN) announced today that it will partner with COX Television to bring RTN programming to Seattle, the nation's 14th largest television market. The new affiliate will launch in January on a digital stream of KIRO-TV, Seattle's CBS affiliate. Viewers will love seeing Don Adams and Barbara Feldon in Get Smart, prior to next summer's hit movie starring Steve Carell as Maxwell Smart and Anne Hathaway as Agent 99, and will enjoy escaping to Waikiki Beach each evening as they watch Hawaii 5-0 and Magnum P.I. In addition, the weekends are a cavalcade of hit shows, including It Takes a Thief, Gunsmoke, A-Team, Knight Rider, Emergency, Wild, Wild West and many more. Mission: Impossible and Happy Days are also slated to come.
The 50 Greatest TV Icons was a huge hit for TV Land with viewers for its premiere on Friday, November 16, scoring double-digit gains in rating and delivery among its target A25-54 audience and triple-digit ratings and delivery gains among its core audience A40-54. The two-hour special an editorial/on-air collaboration with Entertainment Weekly presented 50 timeless performers from the history of television like Johnny Carson, Lucille Ball and Jerry Seinfeld who have all made their indelible mark in TV history.
According to Nielsen Media Research, The 50 Greatest TV Icons posted a 0.5 rating (500,000 viewers) among A25-54, up +67% in rating and +67% in delivery over last year. Among its core audience, Adults 40-54, TV Land scored triple-digit gains in rating and delivery, averaging a 0.8 rating (432,000 viewers), up +100% in rating and +100% in delivery. The special scored triple digit gains among total viewers over last year, averaging nearly 1.1 million total viewers, a rise of +112% over from a year ago.
Finally, we leave you today with some Thanksgiving marathons for tomorrow and this weekend. Before and after you eat with your family tomorrow, you could spend some time watching some marathons together! We gave you details on TV Land's Overstuffed Thanksgiving marathon which has I Love Lucy, The Andy Griffith Show, among others. If you're in L.A. don't forget KTLA's 60th Anniversary celebration this weekend. ION will have its Thanksgiving marathon tonight with Mama's Family from 7p-11p!
TBS will share marathons of Saved by the Bell from 7a-10a, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air from 10a-4p and House of Payne from 4p-9p. On Fresh Prince, a holiday visit from Will's taskmaster mother puts the kibosh on conspicuous consumption and puts the kids to work preparing Thanksgiving dinner.
TNT goes Charmed this Thanksgiving with a marathon of the hit drama from 8am-6pm.
FX will give us movies on Thanksgiving, but the day after we get a marathon of Malcolm in the Middle! A 22-episode marathon begins with a 2000 episode in which Malcolm's cushy babysitting job provides relief from the trailer his family's using while their house is being fumigated. Meanwhile, the school's master key leads Francis to a corpse, for which he provides a proper send-off. Airs 7am-5:30pm.
Nickelodeon will have days worth of marathons, including some classics! I urge you to click HERE for the schedule.
GSN will give us two marathons. A Family Feud marathon on Turkey Day from 9am-7pm and a Viewer's Choice Marathon on Friday. The latter sounds VERY good and you all should click HERE to see what I mean!!
WGN will go with laughs on the day after Thanksgiving with America's Funniest Home Videos from 9am-8pm.
USA Network will have a marathon battle between Law & Order: Criminal Intent and Law & Order: SVU each airing after one another starting 6am Thursday and ending 9pm Friday!
Comedy Central will give us Drawn Together in the late night after our feast from 11pm-3am. Eight episodes of the animated comedy are featured.
G4 will showcase Jamie Kennedy Experiment from 9am-8pm. And on Friday Ninja Warrior from 10am-8pm.
Sci-Fi Channel will bring us episodes from the reality series Ghost Hunters investigating accounts of strange phenomena are featured. First up at 8am "Whispers and Voices" has the team probing two Massachusetts locales. Star Trek: Enterprise airs the day after.
Discovery Channel will have a Dirty Jobs marathon on Turkey Day from 9am-9pm.
Bravo will give a block of the delicious reality show Top Chef that features 10 Season 3 episodes from 8a-6p. It's a dessert storm in the first hour when the chefs are challenged to create a sublime pie crust, after which they must cook up tasty fare for personalities of the Telemundo television network.
TLC gives us two shows. Little People, Big World on Thursday from 9a-3a and What Not to Wear from 9p-3a on Friday.
News channel CNN will give us CNN: SIU episodes from 1p-6a with a break at 5p for a special on Larry King's 50 Years.
Cartoon Network will give us Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends all-day starting at 7am through 7pm, then we will have an all-new special Tom & Jerry: A Nutcracker Tale.
A&E; will give us marathons of Cold Case Files and First 48 on Thanksgiving and a CSI: Miami marathon the day after from 8am-4am.
BET gives us a 10-episode block of the reality series following singer Keyshia Cole from 9a-2p on Turkey Day and Baldwin Hills on Friday from 1p-6p.
Regional sports network YES will have a Yankeeography marathon from 12pm-12am featuring profiles on stars such as Catfish Hunter, Tino Martinez, Billy Martin, and Reggie Jackson.
I think that covers the majority of them.
Enjoy your Thanksgiving and don't forget to check back with us each day this Thanksgiving weekend for some news. We don't take any days off!
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Day 16: WGA's Writers' Strike; RTN Adds Atlanta Station, RTN Honors Dick Wilson; Remembering Sigrid Valdis
Retro Television Network (RTN) announced today that it will partner with COX Television to bring RTN programming to Atlanta, the nation's 8th largest television market. The new affiliate will launch on a digital stream of WSB-TV in January. WSB-TV is COX Television's flagship station that serves as the ABC affiliate in Atlanta. The station, which is the oldest television station in Georgia, began broadcasting in 1948 and is one of the premier ABC affiliates in the nation.
Viewers in Atlanta will soon enjoy RTN's 'Primetime All The Time' line-up, including Matlock, Hawaii 5-0, Magnum P.I., Mission: Impossible, Love American Style, Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous and Love, American Style.
Yesterday we gave you the sad news that Dick Wilson had passed away. Today, RTN honored the passing of "Mr. Whipple" in a retromercial. We have gotten the clip from RTN and will share it with you. So here is a taste of RTN, if you don't have a RTN station yet. Click HERE to see RTN's retromercial of Dick "Mr. Whipple" Wilson.
Sigrid Valdis, who played Col. Klink's sexy blond secretary on Hogan's Heroes and married the show's star, Bob Crane, has died. Valdis died of lung cancer Oct. 14 at her daughter Ana Sarmiento's home in Anaheim, but was just recently announced. Valdis played Hilda for five seasons on Hogan's Heroes, the 1965-71 CBS situation comedy about Allied prisoners in a World War II German POW camp. She and Crane were married on the TV show's set in 1970. Crane was found bludgeoned to death in a Scottsdale, Ariz., apartment in 1978. You can catch Hogan's Heroes on TV Land starting next June. She didn't have many other credits, but she did guest star on Wild Wild West and Kraft Suspense Theatre. Ms. Valdis will be missed by her fans. She was 72.
Monday, November 19, 2007
Day 15: WGA's Writers' Strike; Alice Returns to ION Television; Remembering Dick Wilson
ABC has announced that they have picked-up the back nine episodes of the addictive new drama Dirty Sexy Money. This is the first show to be picked-up for a full season during the strike. As of now 11 of the original 13 episodes have been completed, so when the strike ends, they will start working on the 11 episodes they need to for the season.
ABC is moving the holiday classic Santa Claus is Comin' to Town to Wednesday, Dec. 5 at 8pm now. It was slated for Tues., Dec. 4 at 8, but CBS will now program Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer there. So as a result, Pushing Daisies is pre-empted on Wed., Dec. 5. And a holiday encore of AFV, which was scheduled Tues., Dec. 4 at 9pm will move to 8pm. AFV will also air an encore on Dec. 18 at 9pm. Airing at 9pm and 9:30pm on Dec. 4 and Dec. 11 will be encores of According to Jim.
More network news: The CW's drama One Tree Hill returns for season five with a special two-hour premiere on Tuesday, January 8 from 8:00-10:00 p.m. ET. Subsequent episodes will take over the 9:00 p.m. ET timeslot beginning Tuesday, January 15, following encore presentations of Crowned: The Mother of All Pageants. Reaper will return to the schedule with original episodes later in the season.
NBC and Donald Trump return to New York City with The Celebrity Apprentice, with an all-star celebrity lineup of candidates in its seventh season. The Celebrity Apprentice with host Donald Trump begins its latest edition on Thursday, January 3 (9:00PM ET). Participating are Tracy Adkins, Stephen Baldwin, Nadia Comaneci, Tiffany Fallon, Jennie Finch, Nely Galan, Marilu Henner, Lennox Lewis, Omarosa, Piers Morgan, Tito Oritz, Vincent Pastore and Gene Simmons. I wonder what will happen to this show if the strike ends? NBC for sure would want The Office to air instead...
First we announced Amen is returning to ION Television (which starts tonight at 6p!), now we got word late last week that '70s sitcom Alice is also returning! Alice will air Mon-Thurs at 7:30 p.m. ET/PT starting next week (Monday, Nov. 26), replacing one of the Designing Women episodes (that show will still air in the 7 p.m. half-hour). And the good news for fans who watched Alice from April-June is that they will start from where they left off! So, episode 62 "Sweet Charity" will air first. So we won't have to start all over again! For those who felt like telling ION "kiss my grits" at the end of June, let's take that back and watch the show starting next week!
I should post the full December highlights shortly, so come on back either today or tomorrow for that.
Long-time Charmin bath tissue pitchman Dick Wilson -- known to millions as Mr. Whipple -- died today at the Motion Picture & Television Hospital in Woodland Hills, CA. Wilson portrayed grocer Mr. Whipple and made "Please don't squeeze the Charmin" a household phrase. Wilson appeared as Mr. Whipple in more than 500 spots for Charmin from 1964 through 1985. After a 14-year hiatus, Wilson reprised the role in 1999 to introduce a new version of Charmin. In 2001, Procter & Gamble, maker of Charmin, presented Wilson with a lifetime achievement award to commemorate his contribution to the brand.
Wilson's television credits include Captain Gruber on Hogan's Heroes, Assistant Mayor Dino Boroni on McHale's Navy, a popular recurring character on Bewitched as a drunk, and other roles in Alice, The Bob Newhart Show, Adam-12, Love American Style, Get Smart, I Dream of Jeannie, The Flying Nun, Gidget, My Favorite Martian, Perry Mason, The Hero, That Girl, Don Rickles Show, The Rifleman, Fantasy Island, Quincy M.E., The Rockford Files, Arrest & Trial, Petticoat Junction, Maude, The Partridge Family on the Bewitched spin-off Tabitha, and many more.
Wilson is survived by his wife Meg, three children (which includes Perfect Strangers co-star Melanie Wilson) and three grandchildren -- all located in the Los Angeles area. He will be missed. I always loved him as the drunk on Bewitched. Mr. Wilson was 91.
Share your thoughts and memories of Dick Wilson HERE.
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Week 8 Numbers (First Four Nights); How the Sitcoms Did
Households: CBS: 8.5/13.3; ABC: 8.3/13.0; Fox: 5.3/8.0; NBC: 5.1/7.9; The CW: 2.1/3.1; MNT: 0.8/1.2.
Total Viewers: CBS: 13.31 million; ABC: 12.52 million; Fox: 8.49 million; NBC: 8.1 million; The CW: 3.14 million; MNT: 1.23 million.
Adults 18-49: ABC: 3.9/10.0; CBS: 3.9/10.0; NBC: 3.3/8.5; Fox: 3.2/8.1; The CW: 1.4/3.6; MNT: 0.5/1.3.
Analysis: Week 8 is nearly done...and we might not know who will win the week once again until after tonight! Last week ABC won the top spot in every category, with CBS a close second in HH and viewers. In 18-49, Fox was second, nipping CBS, which was in 3rd. NBC was fourth in all categories and Fox was in 3rd in HH and viewers. Through the first four days of this week, CBS a slight lead in all categories in week 8 with ABC a close second, Fox and NBC are way back, with Fox with the slight edge.
Monday it was all ABC thanks to Dancing with the Stars. A 92 minute performance show did an impressive 21.81 million and a 5.2/13 in 18-49, up a bit from the previous week, that lead into new sitcom Samantha Who doing 13.7 million (up from previous week) and a 4.3/10 18-49 rating. The Bachelor followed with 8.96 million, down a bit from the previous week, but this was a Women Tell All special...finale is this coming week. Next up was CBS with its comedies and CSI: Miami. The Big Bang Theory did 9.32 million, on par with the previous week and yet again it built on How I Met Your Mother's ratings of 8.42 million, almost a million increase...impressive for Big Bang, but due to the strike that was its last episode that they made, so repeats now. Two and a Half Men and Rules of Engagement followed with decent numbers (14.12 and 11.46 million). Men was over 14 million for the first time in awhile, and over 11 million for Rules. CSI: Miami followed with 15.46 million, up well over a million from previous. NBC was in third, lead by Heroes at 11.16 million and a 5.2 18-49, below its usual average once again...but it was up from previous week by a lot. Chuck opened the night with 7.56 million, down just a bit from previous week. Journeyman closed the night with 6.09 million, actually was up a million from previous week. Fox kicked off with the fall finale of Prison Break at 7.18 million, down from previous week and K-Ville returned for some reason and did bad once again with 4.72 million...how about sticking with Hang Time, Anthony Anderson? The CW aired their Monday sitcoms, with Aliens in America doing just 1.99 million, up a bit from the previous week's series low, and The Game finally went up and did 2.55 million, the best of the block.
Tuesday, it was a three network race, with Fox on top. CBS and ABC were also right behind. Fox's huge hit House did 16.95 million and a 7.0 18-49 rating (both down from previous week) and Bones started the night off with a solid 9.12 million, down a bit from previous week. The always reliable NCIS opened the night off for CBS with 17.39 million, down from previous week which was aa series high. The Unit followed with 11.04 million, on par from previous week, and Cane did 7.29 million, down from previous week. ABC's sitcom hour of Cavemen/Carpoolers did poor numbers for the second week in a row, doing just 4.58 and 5.05 million, Dancing with the Stars: The Results followed with 17.59 million saying goodbye to Cameron Mathison...why not Marie Osmond? Boston Legal followed and did a solid 11.36 million, a season high? NBC was fourth with another two-hour The Biggest Loser from 8-10 doing 8.16 million, followed by Law & Order: SVU at 12.48 million, both up from previous week a bit. The CW had Beauty & the Geek and Reaper do 2.48 and 2.46 million.
Wednesday it was CBS on top. CBS saw Kid Nation go up a bit to 7.42 million, and veteran dramas Criminal Minds and CSI: NY did well and were consistent doing 15.73 (up from previous week...season high maybe) and 13.13 million (up from previous week). ABC's trio of dramas returned after a week off for the CMA Awards, with Pushing Daisies doing 8.83 million, followed by Private Practice doing 11.48 million, and Dirty Sexy Money doing 7.9 million...the week off might have hurt these, but still solid. NBC and Fox again were battling for third, as Fox saw Back to You, 'Til Death and Kitchen Nightmares, all go up from previous week and did 7.31, 7.34, and 6.95 million each. NBC opened the night with Phenomenon doing 6.1 million (same as previous week), Bionic Woman fell to 6.29 million, as the fall in every episode continues. At 10pm NBC's Life did 6.9 million, up a bit from previous week for the second straight week. The CW had Top Model at a dominant 5.34 million (and second in the 8pm hour in 18-49 with a 2.6 rating!), while Gossip Girl did 2.95 million.
Thursday saw CBS and ABC duke it out again. CBS opened with Survivor: China at 14.68 million, down a tad from the previous week. CSI followed with 21.37 million, down from previous week, and Without a Trace did 14.41 million, down from previous week obviously (cross-over episode was last week). ABC opened the night with Ugly Betty doing a solid 10.67 million, on par from previous week. Grey's Anatomy followed with 19.6 million, up a bit from previous week and was number one in 18-49 with a 8.2/19 18-49 rating...should be good for #1 for the week. A special Thursday Women's Murder Club followed with a last place finish of 8.38 million...better than Big Shots, but it should have done better. Again Fox and NBC battled for third with NBC's comedies, My Name is Earl opened the night with 8.01 million, up from previous week, 30 Rock did 6.45 million, down from previous week. The Office followed with 8.8 million, up from previous week and this was the last episode they have made, so no more new episodes because of the strike. Scrubs has dropped every week since it returned, and this week was no different doing just 5.93 million. ER closed the night with 9.6 million, up from previous week. Fox's 5th Grader did a solid at 9.63 million (up from previous week)and Don't Forget the Lyrics followed with 6.03 million, down from previous week. Smallville on The CW did 4.51 million, followed by Supernatural at 2.88 million.
Now, final numbers for Friday and Saturday are not available, but NBC, CBS and ABC battled on Friday. NBC had a solid outing for Deal or No Deal at 8pm for a first place finish. CBS was also solid at 8pm for Ghost Whisperer. 10pm's NUMB3RS on CBS was #1 for the hour and the night and ABC was #1 at 9pm with Women's Murder Club.
Saturday saw CBS's crime repeats win the night again and Fox's crime reality won again in 18-49. ABC Sunday is preempted tonight for the American Music Awards, so it should lower than the usual Sunday line-up. CBS will do decent while NBC will do solid business for the NFL game, possibly #1 for the night. Fox's animated comedies will do well in young adults.
As for the week, CBS will likely win in HH and viewers, ABC will be second, with a close finish for 18-49...it could be ABC, CBS, or even NBC if the game does very well. Fox and NBC will battle for the distant third spot in HH/viewers, with NBC probably winning thanks to the NFL. More sweeps action this week! Enjoy your favorite shows as long as you can, you never know how long the strike will last.
Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for week of November 5-11)
- Aliens in America (The CW) - A repeat did just 850,00 viewers, down from previous week's 910k.
- The Simpsons (Fox) - 10.53 million and a 5.1 18-49 rating...not bad at all, down from previous week's Halloween show, but that was expected.
- King of the Hill (Fox) - Lost 3 million from the lead-in and did 7.6 million...this show should be done soon.
- Family Guy (Fox) - 10.39 million tuned in for the second part of a two-part episode, on par with previous week's first part which did 10.46 million. 5.4 18-49 rating!
- American Dad (Fox) - 7.77 million...up from previous week's 7.08 million.
Monday Sitcoms
- How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - 8.42 million tuned in, down from the previous week. This coming week will be the last episode because of the strike.
- The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - 9.32 million tuned in, on par from previous week and it still is building on the lead-in every single week...however this was the last episode because of the strike...repeats now.
- Two and a Half Men (CBS) - 14.12 million this week, up from previous week.
- Rules of Engagement (CBS) - 11.46 million, up from the previous week's 10.77 million.
- Samantha Who? (ABC) - 13.7 million and a 4.3/10 18-49 for week five, up from previous week's 12.86 million.
- CW Monday Comedies: Chris, Aliens in America, Girlfriends, The Game. Not doing that well at all. Aliens did a terrible 1.99 million, but up from previous week's series low, The Game did 2.55 million this week, up from previous week and led the block.
Tuesday Sitcoms
- Cavemen (ABC) - Just 4.58 million...now the show won't air for awhile because of Holiday specials. January here we come, probably!
- Carpoolers (ABC) - Just 5.05 million ... and also it won't be seen until January like the lead-in, see above.
- Back to You (Fox) - 7.31 million tuned in for a new episode, up from previous week, now Fox will air a repeat next week...2 more episodes left, but Fox hasn't scheduled them yet (probably not until January). Blame it on the strike.
- 'Til Death (Fox) - Built on the lead-in in every category again, 7.35 million tuned in. Repeat next week, then the following two all-new episodes!
- My Name is Earl (NBC) - 8.01 million tuned in, up from the previous week's 7.66 million.
- 30 Rock (NBC) - 6.45 million...down from previous week's 6.6 million.
- The Office (NBC) - 8.8 million tuned in, up from the previous week...and this one is the last episode because of the strike.
- Scrubs (NBC) - 5.93 million tuned in ... has dropped every week so far.
None.
Saturday Sitcoms
Airing tonight (Sunday) is a repeat of Aliens in America on The CW at 7:30, and Fox's animated comedies starting at 8:00!
Summing it up. Two and a Half Men, Samantha Who?, The Office, My Name is Earl, Big Bang Theory, and Rules of Engagement were impressive for the week. Everything else was OK (such as How I Met Your Mother, 30 Rock) or just plain old terrible (Cavemen, Carpoolers).
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Mini-DVD Review: Captain N and the New Super Mario World; Solomon's Weekly Rant
Captain N and the New Super Mario World (Shout!, $29.99) brings all 10 half-hours of two of the most popular animated powerhouses into one half-hour time slot with Captain N & Super Mario World!
Based on the hit video game of the same name, Super Mario World completes the animated adventures of Nintendo's iconic heroes, Super Mario Brothers, Princess Toadstool and their new dinosaur friend, Yoshi.
In this third and final season of Captain N: The Game Master, Mother Brain (Metroid) and her Forces of Chaos continue to threaten the freedom of Videoland. Only game master Kevin Keene and the N-Team-Princess Lana, Simon Belmont (Castlevania), Mega Man, Kid Icarus and Gameboy-can keep them from conquering the universe. Each episode runs approx. 22:30...combining both shows. There are 3 chapter stops, which is always handy...one chapter is the opening credits, then the Super Mario World segment, then the Captain N segment. There are 10 half-hours, but actually it is 20, since each half-hour has two mini-episodes. The video is decent but it looks dusty with debris...Super Mario Bros. 3 looked better. The audio is decent, nothing too bad about it. Packaging has a nice outer box with Captain N and the gang on the top, followed by the logos of both shows, then Mario and the gang on the bottom. The back cover has information on the series and a cast picture of both shows together. Inside the box is two slim cases. Each disc has its own slim case. The slim cases are colorful and have a character each from both shows on the covers with nice episode listings on the back of each slim case. First disc is in blue and the second disc is in yellow, and both discs have the same artwork with the entire cast of both shows.
The menu screen has Play All, Captain N Only, Super Mario World Only, Episode Selection, and whatever the extra is on the disc. The main menu starts with the opening theme of the show..then it comes to the options. Episode Selections lists the episodes where you can choose the scenes (the same as the chapter stops). What is cool is that when you highlight one, a preview plays on a screen on the right, but it lags the menu.
Moving on to the extras. Both discs have one each. Disc one has a Storyboard-to-Screen: Opening title Sequence that lasts about a minute. See how it was made! Disc two has Original Concept Art for Yoshi of Super Mario World that runs like 54 seconds.
I highly do recommend any fan of Super Mario or Captain N to pick up the set. Now, I'm not a fan of Captain N (I never watched it really), so I'm not familiar with the show much, but it seems a complete series set already came out. I remember there was a Captain N and the Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3...I wonder why the Super Mario Bros. 3 set didn't have Captain N, but this set does? I'm not an expert, so I can't really tell why they did it...but I think this marks the end of all the Mario series on DVD! I like the original better (Super Mario Bros. Super Show) of them all, but the last two were good, too! Pick it up!
-- Reviewed by Pavan
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Solomon's Weekly Rant
Saturday, November 17, 2007
"Still No Fresh Prince DVD; Strange Combination of Marathons on TV Land Thanksgiving"
By Solomon Davis
Why was the last season of Full House released this month and still no Fresh Prince DVD releases no where to be found? What is the big holdup with the final two seasons of Fresh Prince? I mean Full House has had three DVD releases in 2007 and you mean to tell me that Fresh Prince couldn't at least get a season 5 release in 2007? It has been 14 months since the last Fresh Prince DVD release and us fans have been waiting and waiting to get more releases to complete the series on DVD and to see no releases at all in 2007 from Warner Brothers really STINKS.
Why does the marathon schedule on TV Land for Thanksgiving have to be a mixture of all types of TV programming? Why not have either a marathon of a sitcom, marathon of movies, or a reality show? No need to mix everything up and have viewers watch Sanford and Son, I Love Lucy, a movie, and then a reality show all in the same day. And even if TV Land wanted to slice the day in half and have one part with sitcoms and the other with movies and reality shows that would be better. Looks more like a "whatever-thon" which is not surprising coming from the network we call "The Land of All Types of TV."
My Weird TV Moments of the Week:
Tuesday, November 13, 2007: Today Show Hour 4 - Segment on whether you should have sex with your ex since the weather is getting colder. What the?
Tuesday, November 13, 2007: Today Show Hour 4 - Kathie Lee Gifford took questions from the crowd and a woman asks her, "I heard you mention you were going through menopause so how are you dealing with aging?" Kathie Lee's look was like HUH?
Agree or disagree with Solomon? Discuss it here.
DISCLAIMER: Remember, Solomon is not the voice of SitcomsOnline. He is just stating his opinions and does not reflect what SitcomsOnline says or thinks. It is just his 'View' but it is always quite entertaining.
Friday, November 16, 2007
Day 12: WGA's Strike; KTLA in LA Celebrates 60 Years On-Air with Classic Marathon
Picketing today: elected officials will pick up picket signs and march with film and TV writers on Day Twelve of the Writers Guild of America strike fight for a fair and just contract at CBS Television City. Following his public statement of solidarity with the Writers Guild of America last week, U.S. Senator John Edwards will join striking writers on the picket line today to support the WGA in its ongoing fight to secure a fair and reasonable deal in front of the NBC sign in Burbank.
KTLA in Los Angeles is celebrating 60 years on air and they will celebrate with a 60-hour Retro Marathon to celebrate their 60th anniversary year. The shows they will air will be some of the greatest shows that they have aired in the last 60 years! The marathon begins on Friday, November 23 at 10pm and runs all-day Saturday, all-day Sunday, and lasts until Monday, November 26 at 10am. KTLA will have an awesome variety of shows representing what KTLA has aired in reruns over the past 60 years - The Jack Benny Program, The Honeymooners, Kung Fu, Rawhide, The Big Valley, Hopalong Cassidy, Bonanza, Little House On The Prairie, Lassie, Uncle Waldo's Cartoons, Underdog, Popeye & Friends, Little Rascals, Gidget, Charles In Charge, Doogie Howser, M.D., Dr. Kildare, Emergency!, Highway Patrol, C.H.i.P.s., Dragnet, 21 Jump Street, Wonder Woman, Peter Gunn, I Spy, Hunter, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, McHale's Navy, F Troop, Mayberry R.F.D., The Andy Griffith Show, The Munsters, The Three Stooges, The Monkees, The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Family Matters, What's Happening!!, Cheers, Friends, Laverne & Shirley, Happy Days, Please Don't Eat The Daisies, The Partridge Family, Father Knows Best, The Brady Bunch, Leave It To Beaver, The Twilight Zone, Lost In Space, Star Trek, Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea, Tarzan, Gilligan's Island, and Time For Beany! Even KTLA's newscasts will participate by bringing you current and then retro news stories that they've covered during the past 60 years!
Wow! So many classics! Sounds like a great weekend! Lucky people in Los Angeles! To see the schedule grid, head on over to their website!
If we have more news, we will come back later today. Enjoy your weekend.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Day 11: WGA's Writers' Strike; In2TV to Re-Launch; M*A*S*H Marathon Score for TV Land
NBC has announced that its struggling new series Life, which airs Wednesdays at 10, will have a special two-part episode which will air following the finale of Heroes on December 3 at 10pm. Part two will air in its regular timeslot on Dec. 5. NBC will also have a special three night Deal or No Deal stunt a week later, on Dec. 10-12 starting at 8pm. Following that NBC will launch the new series Clash of the Choirs, which will air Dec. 17-21 at 8pm. Michael Bolton, Patti LaBelle, Nick Lachey, Kelly Rowland and Blake Shelton will embark on a musical challenge as they return to their hometowns to assemble an amateur choir and prepare them to compete live in studio for the title of America's best choir. ABC will counteract with a new gameshow called Duel the same four nights, but with also an airing on Sunday, Dec. 23 at 8pm. Duel is a tournament style competition featuring head-to-head matches with nerve rattling game play rewarding contestants who embrace shrewdness and manipulation to win. If a contestant can react quickly under pressure and outsmart their opponent using strategy and deception, intellect and skill, they could walk away with up to $2 million.
We gave you ABC's holiday plans (with more coming probably), now we will give you CBS's. The classic holiday special Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer will air Tuesday, December 4 from 8-9pm on CBS, head-to-head against ABC's Santa Claus is Coming to Town. CBS will also air the classic special Frosty the Snowman on Friday, December 7 at 8pm, followed by Frosty Returns at 8:30. CBS will also air the holiday movie Elf on Saturday, Dec. 22.
MediaPost is reporting that AOL/Warner Bros. plan to relaunch their In2TV co-venture sometime next year, as the broadband network with full episodes of old-time hits has failed to gain traction since debuting in early 2006. They said it would be "reinvented" by the second quarter next year. A redesign and the addition of some sort of social networking capabilities are expected. The service's section, with memorable show theme songs, might also be an untapped resource. The site's experience is "not immersive" enough.
The coming relaunch is an example of the commitment of the studio--which produces a run of current prime-time hits--to exploiting its library via new distribution channels.
Also next spring, the company has said it will launch TWorks.com--a site focusing on animation with shows such as Looney Tunes and Hanna-Barbera series. The company said the venture, which will have original content produced by Warner Bros., will also include games and virtual worlds.
So what does this mean? We are not 100% sure...but let's hope they don't remove all of the classic TV on In2TV. So this is the reason why there have not been many new episodes for series on In2TV. They started by giving us 4 new episodes a month, but that hasn't happened in many months now. We will keep you up to date on any further development.
TV Land's M*A*S*H Mail Call Marathon averaged big gains across several key categories during the programming event, which aired on Saturday, November 10 and Sunday, November 11, in honor of Veteran's Day. The eighteen episode programming salute scored double-digit gains in rating and delivery among its target A25-54 audience and total viewers over last year while doubling delivery among its core audience of A40-54. The M*A*S*H Mail Call featured episodes about members of the 4077th sending and receiving letters from loved ones. M*A*S*H averaged a 0.5/524,000 among A25-54, representing a +67% lift in ratings and +95% increase in delivery over the same period last year. TV Land averaged over 1 million total viewers, an increase of +79% over YAGO. Among its core audience, Adults 40-54, TV Land secured substantial gains in rating and delivery, averaging a 0.7/404,000, representing a rise of +75% in rating and +108% in delivery.
In other TV Land news, starting in December Mondays 4-5PM will now be Sanford & Son, thus it will be Mon-Fri instead of Tues-Fri. Gunsmoke will be 2-4pm on Mondays now, with Bonanza 11a-2p Mondays.
On Saturday, Dec. 8, the 12PM encore of the movie Beaches will be replaced by I Love Lucy from 12pm-2:30pm. I Love Lucy's morning airing that morning from 10a-12p will be Designing Women instead. On Saturday, December 15, encores of the movie Wall Street are canceled in the afternoon, so we will get a Three's Company marathon from 1-5pm. Wall Street encore will now air from 7-9:30pm, with Andy Griffith following at 9:30pm.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
SitcomsOnline.com Exclusive: Interview with Retro Television Network and a RTN T-Shirt Contest; TV Land's The 50 Greatest TV Icons
We have had the pleasure to interview Neal Ardman and Mark Dvornik of Retro Television Network (RTN)! RTN is a new television network that provides each affiliate a customized feed with classic hit shows, in addition to local programming including news, weather and sports. RTN is specifically designed to go on a broadcast digital channel and provides local broadcasters with a way to get ratings and successfully monetize their digital spectrum.
Mark Dvornik has been very good and helpful to us, so we thank him in making this happen. Neal Ardman and Mark Dvornik sat down with me with their TV Dinners watching RTN (Retro Television Network) in another installment of SitcomsOnline's Seven Questions Series.
"Seven Questions with Retro Television Network's Neal Ardman and Mark Dvornik"
SitcomsOnline: Hi Neal and Mark, this is Pavan from SitcomsOnline.com. Thanks for this opportunity. We are loving what Retro Television Network (RTN) is doing. We know what the network is and have promoted the news and details to our readers, but maybe you can explain how you guys work a bit better. So, what is RTN and how can we get it? How did it start?
RTN: Mark turns to Neal and says, "Tell the folks that story of how RTN came to be." Neal says, Well Mark, I was out hunting near my cabin when I missed fired a shot, it hit the ground, and all of a sudden a crude format of a network came out of the ground! (They both laugh at the TV reference to an opening of a classic hit show.) That was 2005, and the first RTN was born on KKYK-TV in Little Rock, AR. Mark adds, Call your favorite local television station, ask for the program director, and tell them you would like for them to put RTN on their digital channel.
SitcomsOnline: So RTN has gone national, right? We read it was going to in July, but we didn't start to see any news until late August. We got lots of e-mails asking when RTN was going national and if their cities would get it.
RTN: Mark says, RTN is the first customized local network, and we are signing on markets one city at a time. Neal adds, RTN is one of the most cutting edge broadcaster out there. We are broadcasting now in MPEG4!
SitcomsOnline: What is the coverage goal for the network? I don't think there were any announcements for RTN stations in the top markets, like New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. Are we close to having RTN's in those markets? WPIX-DT would be good in NY I think, since the Tube Music Network is now gone. That would be a major step!
RTN: Mark says, The coverage goal is National. We will not comment on any discussions going on in any markets. However, as I stated earlier that if you would like to see RTN on your market, you should contact your local station and request that they pick up RTN on their local digital channel.
SitcomsOnline: Right now we see classics from the CBS/Paramount and Universal libraries. Can we expect shows from other studios soon? And for the CBS/Paramount and Universal libraries, are you able to choose any TV show or is there some sort of system? Personally, I've been missing shows like Webster, Dear John (both Paramount), and Out of this World (Universal) and would love to see those on RTNs. But I still like the shows you already air like Happy Days, Family Ties and The A-Team!
RTN: Neal says, We love all the shows that you listed, too. As they say, stay tuned...
SitcomsOnline: So does the local affiliate get full rights to choose what shows they want to air, or does RTN help as well?
RTN: Neal is chuckling as he says, We can not answer any questions of a legal nature, without consulting our attorney Perry Mason. We will have to get back to you...
SitcomsOnline: Where can fans call or e-mail the network? Does RTN have a website that is live? I know there used to be one, but that doesn't seem to be working right now.
RTN: Mark says, The fans of RTN in each local market should let the local station know via e-mail how much they like that they have RTN on the air. Neal adds, Our new wonderful website is under construction. We did a focus group and found that our Etch-A-Sketch was not refreshing the page quick enough!
SitcomsOnline: So, we heard that your network has a mascot?
RTN: Neal says, His name is Beau, and he is a chocolate lab. He can be seen in promos with SIT, STAY, WATCH, which we also have on t-shirts. Mark adds, Pavan has secured some t-shirts for a lucky few. He will unveil how you can win one later in this interview. Neal concludes with, Beau is everything you want in a network mascot. First he is loyal to RTN. He only wags his tail at our shows. He brings us the morning trades so we can stay up on the goings on. And he has not accidents like the other network mascots.
SitcomsOnline: Well, thanks once again for taking some time out for us in your busy schedules! And much success to RTN!
RTN: Mark says, We are honored that you asked for us to speak to your readers, we love television and bringing these great shows to you. Thanks for watching us, and contact your local station if we are not on in your market yet. RTN is adding markets each week, and Pavan is doing an excellent job keeping you all informed on the progress.
Our thanks to to Neal and Mark of RTN, and best wishes to them in making RTN a big success! Some great humor even in their responses! Our apologies to Matt Damon, we ran out of time. For more information on Retro Television Network, continue to stay with us for info and don't forget to log-on to their website when it goes up at http://www.retrotelevision.net. So, stay tuned right here on the blog for news updates for this wonderful network! We seem to be getting new affiliates each week! Fast growing indeed!
And as Mark mentioned in the interview we have a contest for you RTN fans! We have 10 RTN T-shirts to give away with Beau the mascot. The contest starts today (Nov. 14) and ends Dec. 13...so hopefully you'll get your RTN T-Shirt in time for Christmas! That is our gift to you! Before you enter, please make sure you read the rules and regulations. So, without further adieu click HERE to enter our RTN T-Shirt Contest!
Legendary Johnny Carson -- the "King of Late Night TV" -- is ranked the number one TV icon in Entertainment Weekly and TV Land Present: The 50 Greatest TV Icons, premiering on Friday, November 16 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. The two-hour TV Land special looks at individuals like Carson in addition to the great Lucille Ball and the hilarious Jerry Seinfeld, who have all made their indelible mark in TV history. The complete list will be revealed in the TV Land Original special and in Entertainment Weekly's annual DVD issue on stands that day. The magazine feature celebrates each icon's contribution to television along with DVD recommendations from each of the icons' work. The TV special is produced by Gay Rosenthal Productions.
For more info on this two-hour special and the complete top 50 list, click HERE (if you want to be spoiled).
The list they made is actually a top 100 list, but the TV special will only cover the top 50. 100-51 is listed on the TV Land website, if you want to take a look at that.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Day 9: WGA's Writers' Strike; TV Land January Schedule and Highlights; Charles in Charge - The Complete Second Season DVD Giveaway
Let's hope negotiations start up again soon, so we can end all this. This better not last months because if it lasts through like March or April, not only we won't get any more new episodes of our favorite shows, but the pilot season could be lost and we won't get any new shows next fall.
TV Land is bringing in The Beverly Hillbillies this January! But before we get to that, they have announced three items before that. Starting Monday, November 26, the overnight hours will be back "on the clock." Which means you will see your shows actually on time, and we get 30 minutes less commercials, so an Three's Company will be added at 1:30am! No more shows starting at weird times like 1:17am. At the end of December, TV Land has added two stunts. A special week-long movie stunt and a Beverly Hillbillies preview! After Christmas, catch TV Land Movies all-week long at noon and 8pm! You'll see movies like Running Scared, Thelma & Louise, Wall Street and Beaches at noon and 8pm Dec. 25-28. On Saturday, Dec. 29 and Sunday, Dec. 30 we get a taste of some Texas Tea in The Beverly Hillbillies preview stunt! A mini-marathon both days from 10am-12pm. For episode info on these December stunts, click HERE.
NOW we will move to January! TV Land rings in the New Year with a bang: a marathon of the "Best Dang" episodes of The Beverly Hillbillies. Stay up all night and on the couch all day with 27 hours of non-stop Beverly Hillbillies fun. Tune in for the most rip-roaring, possum stew making, happy go lucky chicanery you ever did see! Starts Dec. 31 at 6pm and lasts through Jan. 1 at 9pm. TV Land will air the show regulary weeknights at 6 & 6:30pm, everynight at 12 & 12:30am, Monday marathons from 9-11pm, and weekend afternoons from 12-2pm! Because of this, we will see some shows shifted over, like I Love Lucy will move from 6-7pm weekdays to 5-6pm weekdays. For more changes, click on the link at the end of this story.
Next, what do Ron Howard, Laurence Fishburne and Shelly Long have in common? They're all Hollywood celebrities visiting the 4077 for two days of drama, laughs and romance in TV Land's M*A*S*H Guest Stars and Stripes Weekend. Don't miss 24 episodes featuring your favorite stars in marathons on Saturday, Jan. 5 and Sunday, Jan. 6 starting each night at 8p and lasting through 2a.
On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, tune in to Gunsmoke on January 21 starting at 12p for a marathon of marauding outlaws and despicable bandits. These 8 episodes feature some of the most devious villains in the series' history. Log on to TVLand.com to watch additional full-length episodes of Gunsmoke, as well as streaming clips of some of the best fights in Gunsmoke history. While at TVLand.com, make sure to play the new "Get-Out-of-Dodgeball" game and enjoy the sounds of their new Western-themed streaming radio station.
TV Land will have an All-Star Movie Week, the week of Jan. 21! Showtime is every night at 8p, starting with Clint "make my day" Eastwood as the conflicted agent on In The Line of Fire. Then, it's National Lampoon's Class Reunion. Chevy Chase joins the schedule as the bumbling detective in Fletch and Fletch Lives and finally see Steve Martin in his most memorable movie role in The Jerk.
Finally, Just Shoot Me hits TV Land with a 16-hour weekend launch party you won't want to miss: a whopping 36 episodes over 2 nights from 9pm-6am on Saturday, Jan. 26 and Sunday, Jan. 27. TV Land has gathered some of the best episodes from the series along with fun guest appearances from stars like Megan Mullaly, Carmen Electra and Pamela Anderson that will make everyone at this launch party "blush." It will then join the line-up on Monday, January 28, but the timeslot is not confirmed yet, but we hear it could be 8-9pm weeknights. Jan. 28 is considered the start of the February schedule, so we will confirm that then.
For complete details on January's stunts and ALL the schedule changes for the month, I REALLY urge you to click HERE! Yall come back now, ya hear?
We have 5 Charles in Charge - The Complete Second Season DVD sets for giveaway, thanks to the fine folks at Arts Alliance America. It arrives on DVD on November 20, 2007.
One of the most entertaining family sitcoms of the 80's is back as all 26, Season Two episodes are available on DVD for the first time. Tag along with teen idol Scott Baio (Happy Days) as he takes on the role of live-in helper for a new family. Between his college friend, Buddy (Willie Aames) and the mischievous Powell kids, Charles has his hands full! Can he keep up with his social life while keeping the household going? Even when things spiral out of control, Charles still manages to be a positive role model for his three teenage charges. The high profile Season 2 cast members include Ellen Travolta, Willie Aames (Eight is Enough) and Baywatch beauty Nicole Eggert.
Enter the contest.
Order it online at Amazon.com .
Sitcoms Airing Tonight
Monday, October 24
The Neighborhood - "Welcome to the Hot Prospect" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
When Calvin stumbles upon a big business opportunity, he must convince Malcolm to help him so he can seal the deal. Also, Gemma is forced to confront a secret from her beauty pageant past when a friend from her hometown arrives.
Bob Hearts Abishola - "Two Rusty Tractors" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Abishola is thrilled when Bob gets back to work and goes on an impromptu road trip with Goodwin.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of October 24)
Monday, October 24
- Josh Gad (Central Park/Avenue 5/The Comedians/1600 Penn/Back to You) - Watch Josh on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Pamela Adlon (Better Things/King of the Hill/The Facts of Life) - Pamela appears on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Danny DeVito (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia/Little Demons/Taxi) - Danny is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Tyler James Williams (Abbott Elementary/Go On/Everybody Hates Chris) - Tyler will be on The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
- Monica Barbaro (Splitting Up Together) - Monica appears on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
- John David Washington (Ballers) - John sits down to discuss his role in the Broadway play The Piano Lesson on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
- Lena Dunham (Girls) - Lena will be on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
- Fortune Feimster (Kenan/Bless the Harts/Champions) - Fortune appears on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
- Jennette McCurdy (Sam & Cat/iCarly) - Jennette, author of the best-selling memoir, I'm Glad My Mom Died, has a very honest and revealing conversation with Drew discussing everything from their shared experience of complicated relationships with their own mothers, how Jennette found the strength to share her story, and how she is healing and moving forward on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
- Zazie Beetz (Atlanta) - Zazie appears on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
- Jerry O'Connell (We Are Men/Do Not Disturb/Carpoolers/My Secret Identity) - Jerry and his wife Rebecca Romijn are guests on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
- Raymond Lee (Made for Love/Kevin Can F**k Himself) - Raymond talks about Quantum Leap on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
- Michael Boatman (Instant Mom/Arli$$/Spin City/Muscle/The Jackie Thomas Show) - Michael is a guest on PIX11 Morning News on WPIX in New York at 10:25am.
New on DVD/Blu-ray (June-October)
06/14 - Curb Your Enthusiasm - The Complete Eleventh Season
06/14 - Hacks - Season One (Blu-ray) (DVD)
06/14 - Rutherford Falls - Season One (Blu-ray) (DVD)
06/21 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Complete Season One / The Complete Season Two
07/19 - The Neighborhood - Season Four
07/19 - Reno 911! - The Hunt for QAnon (Blu-ray) (DVD)
07/26 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Complete Season Three / The Complete Season Four
08/16 - And Just Like That... - The Complete First Season (Warner Bros. - Canada)
08/16 - South Park - The Complete Twenty-Fourth Season (Blu-ray) (DVD)
09/06 - Young Sheldon - The Complete Fifth Season (Blu-ray) (DVD)
09/20 - Kim's Convenience - The Complete Series
09/27 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Complete Season Five / The Complete Season Six
10/04 - Mr. Mayor - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (DVD)
10/04 - The Munsters - Marineland Carnival with The Munsters TV Cast
10/18 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete First Season
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