"Futurama" returns

Well, how about this. Six years after Fox canceled the series, Twentieth Television and Comedy Central have agreed to revive the animated sci-fi comedy Futurama. New episodes of the series are expected to air in mid-2010. A broadcast network window (most likely Fox) could open up as well. 26 half-hours are planned. The move gives the series enough episodes to […]

CBS reveals schedule for 2009-10

The Tiffany Network unveiled its 2009-10 schedule to advertisers at Upfront Week. The Church of Tisch is keeping the status quo on some nights and has made changes to others, including the addition of former NBC stalwart Medium to Friday nights, leading out of Ghost Whisperer. Click here to read the press schedule and look at the lineup. Three new […]

Could Channel 2 dump its street-side studio?

If you’re one of those who waives to the few people watching Channel 2’s newscasts through the window of its street-side studio, time may be running out. CBS-owned WBBM-TV is considering moving its newscasts from the street-level studio it occupies along Dearborn Street at Daley Plaza to the second floor. Nothing is definite yet, but the station is considering moving […]

T Dog’s Groovy Grab Bag – The X Edition

– CBS X’s out The Ex List – Yeah, the lead in this show is hot. And I mean very hot. But that alone won’t bring the viewers to the set. CBS dropped The Ex List from its Friday after four episodes, and is being replaced by NCIS repeats. But man, I wish I was on her “Ex List”… Somebody, […]

T Dog’s Four on the Floors – Edition 9

One more on the floor! I’ve decided to add an extra item to both the Fab Floor and the Flop Floor this week, so instead of Four on the Floor – it’s Five. And when was the last time you saw both Family Guy and South Park on the same floor? T Dog’s Fab Four (make that Five) Lindsey Lohan […]

KPLR shifts CW primetime to 8 p.m.

Tribune’s KPLR-TV in St. Louis is moving its half-hour 9 p.m. newscast to 7 p.m. and expanding it to a hour beginning on Sept. 8. This means CW primetime fare currently airing at 7 p.m. is shifting to 8 p.m., with KPLR taking the Mountain Time feed. For example, when 90210 airs in St. Louis (8 p.m. Central), it’ll air […]

Off-network sitcoms on rebound… or are they?

Is the off-network sitcom drought about to come to an end in syndication? It very well may be. But stations may have other ideas. This story from TVNewsday reports on the off-network sitcom drought this coming season and the number of sitcoms coming down the pike in September 2009. For the first time in recent memory, there are no fresh […]

Warner Bros. scores a hat trick

This is the 1,200th post. Hurray for the blog! Three syndicated freshman strips from Warner – Two and a Half Men, TMZ, and George Lopez scored gains in the just-concluded May sweeps, according to Nielsen. Men ranked as the top off-network sitcom in syndication last month, while Lopez surprised everyone by finishing fifth among all off-net sitcoms, jumping up 41 […]

More sweeps numbers

Philadelphia: Like WLS here in Chicago, ABC-owned WPVI-TV swept away its competition in households (demos were not available.) Fox-owned WTXF also scored with its 10 p.m. news, thanks to American Idol, and managed to tie CBS-owned KYW-TV in rating in late news. Yay for local content? NBC O&O WCAU-TV’s 10! news/talk show, finished dead last in its’ 2 p.m. time […]

CBS’ new schedule for 2008-09

CBS is introducing a total of six new series: four new comedies and two dramas, and is moving existing shows to new nights. To see the complete schedule, click here (all times Eastern; programs air one hour earlier in Chicago and the rest of the Central and Mountain time zones.) New comedy Worst Week is slotted after Two And a […]

"Family Guy" renewed through 2012

Yes, I’m going to be around for four more years, so deal with it. I credit Dr. Smith from Lost in Space for my wonderful character change. He’s quite smart! He deals with that robot… I deal with Brian. It’s the same thing, basically… Television’s wackiest animated family (besides The Simpsons, that is), is returning for four more seasons. In […]

Tribune hires Compton for new TV post

Another hiring to report (now that’s more like it…) The Tribune Co. has hired radio veteran Sean Compton to senior VP of programming and entertainment for the 23-station Tribune group, which includes WGN-TV. Compton replaces Marc Schacher, who is stepping down after 29 years with the company. Schacher was behind the Tribune group purchases of programs such as Friends, Two […]

CBS, NBC sets return dates

For CBS, new episodes of Two and a Half Men and CSI: Miami resume next month, while it will not bring back The Unit, Shark, or Cane for the rest of the season (and maybe not ever for the latter show), while NBC will have original episodes of My Name Is Earl, The Office, 30 Rock, Law & Order and […]

The Most Bankable Stars in Syndication in 2008

Oprah No. 1; Family Guy and Two and a Half Men tie for No. 10; CBS dominates list TV Week’s annual 10 Most Bankable Syndication Stars issue is out this week, and it boasts a few surprises: – Oprah Winfrey’s star power continues to shine as she repeats at No. 1. (well, that’s not a surprise), thanks to her public […]