ABC:
It's been a big week in comedy at ABC, with five new comedies being ordered. The latest is a comedy series set against a police precinct from writer Victoria Pile. CARPOOLERS is a single camera ensemble comedy about a group of guys in the same carpool group. FAMILY OF THE YEAR, from Erica Rivinoja, is a family comedy series about a family in New Mexico who have consistently won their town's Family of the Year competition, only to have another competing family move onto their turf. THE MIDDLE is a single camera comedy series centering on a lower-middle-class family in the Midwest, a la ROSEANNE. SAM I AM is a single camera comedy series about a woman who emerges from a coma with amnesia and sets about to reconnect with her past life. Don Todd is writing the script based on a story from Cecelia Ahern.
Also, ABC announced early pick-ups of "America's Funniest Home Videos," "Supernannny," and "Wife Swap" today. "AFHV" was picked up for a record breaking 18th season, while both "Supernanny" and "Wife Swap" were picked-up for fourth seasons.
Additionally, as of January 31, ABC announces the following schedule changes to the Wednesday night comedy lineup: "The Knights of Prosperity" will now air from 8:30-9:00 p.m., and "According to Jim" from 9:00-9:30 p.m., ET.
Further, Emily VanCamp ("Everwood") will join the cast of the hit drama series "Brothers & Sisters" as a series regular later this season in her second time teaming with executive producer Greg Berlanti. VanCamp will play Rebecca Harper, the daughter of William Walker (Tom Skerritt) and mistress Holly Harper (Patricia Wettig), whose existence has been kept secret for twenty years. The series airs Sundays (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.
Finally, Lucy Liu ("Charlie's Angels, "Kill Bill," "Ally McBeal") will appear in a two-episode arc, and Jerry O'Connell ("Crossing Jordan") will guest star in an upcoming episode of ABC's hit, Golden Globe-winning comedy, "Ugly Betty." Liu will play Grace Chin, a.k.a. "The Chin," a formerly frumpy college classmate whom Daniel Meade once stood up on a date. When Daniel needs Grace's help with a pressing family matter, he learns that she has a long memory. Her first episode, "Derailed," will air on February 15 on the network. O'Connell's will also guest star in the "Derailed" episode. He'll play Joel, a man Alexis Meade (Rebecca Romijn) meets while slumming in a sports bar with Wilhelmina Slater (Vanessa Williams).
CBS:
CBS has ordered three drama pilots this week. LOS DUQUES, from writer Cynthia Cidre, is set against Hispanic organized crime. TWILGHT, from writers Ron Koslow & Trevor Munson centers on modern day vampires. BABYLON FIELDS
is a dramatic series in which the dead are resurrected and try to resume their former lives.
CBS has also announced the following programs for February sweeps. CBS is going to Rock 'n' (Super) Bowl in February with the Network's coverage of SUPER BOWL XLI and THE 49TH ANNUAL GRAMMY AWARDS. The month also includes a special post Super Bowl episode of the hit sophomore drama CRIMINAL MINDS, with guest star James van der Beek; the debut of the new relationship comedy RULES OF ENGAGEMENT, starring Oliver Hudson, Bianca Kajlich, Megyn Price, David Spade and Patrick Warburton; the highly anticipated return of the freshman drama JERICHO; the spring premieres of the Network's two franchise reality hits, SURVIVOR and THE AMAZING RACE, and the return of Grissom (William Petersen) to CSI.
Guest starring in CBS series in February are multi-Grammy Award nominated singer Mary J. Blige in GHOST WHISPERER, Grammy Award-nominated Nelly Furtado in CSI: NY, NFL greats Emmitt Smith and Jerry Rice in HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER and THE CLASS, respectively, Brooke Shields, Allison Janney and Morgan Fairchild in TWO AND A HALF MEN, Armand Assante in NCIS and Don Rickles and Academy Award winner Linda Hunt in THE UNIT. Also, the reality series ARMED AND FAMOUS has been removed from the schedule.
Also, CBS placed first in viewers and adults 25-54 for the third consecutive Sunday with 60 MINUTES, COLD CASE and the Hallmark Hall of Fame Presentation of "The Valley of Light," according to preliminary Nielsen Live Plus same-day ratings for Jan. 28. 60 MINUTES was first in households (9.3/15), viewers (14.35m), tied for first in adults 25-54 (3.7/09, with ABC) and second in adults 18-49 (2.6/07).
Additionally, CBS won Thursday in viewers as CSI delivered over 21 million viewers and a rebroadcast of SHARK exceeded its first-run delivery in viewers and key demographics in a time period win, according to Nielsen Live Plus same-day ratings for Jan. 25. At 8:00 PM, CSI: MIAMI (R) (S) was first in households (7.9/12), viewers (12.23m) and adults 25-54 (4.2/10). At 9:00 PM, CSI was a solid second in households (13.2/20), viewers (21.17m, -330,000 viewers behind ABC), adults 25-54 (8.3/18), adults 18-49 (6.7/16) and adults 18-34 (4.6/12). SHARK (R) was first in households (9.3/16), viewers (14.11m), adults 25-54 (5.2/13) and adults 18-49 (3.8/10), topping a first-run episode of "Men In Trees" in key measurements.
The CW:
The CW has ordered two drama pilots this week. GRAVITY is a presentation written by Caleb Kane centering on rookie cops. REAPER from writers Tara Butters & Michele Fazekas is a one-hour drama series that revolves around a young man who becomes Satan's bounty hunter, reclaiming souls that have somehow escaped from hell.
Also, The CW has announced that REBA will not be returning next season. The one-hour Series Finale of "REBA" airs Sunday, February 18.
FOX:
FOX ordered three more comedy pilots this week. DEEPLY IRRESPONSIBLE, from Victor Fresco depicts the life of a family of overachievers as seen through the eyes of their 10 year-old son. Denise Moss has written a single camera comedy series about a brilliant, bitter and misogynistic former literary luminary who ends up teaching English at a lower rung public American high school in Ohio. There is also a single camera project from Barbara Wallace & Tom about two sets of adult siblings who live together and discover that they had the same father growing up.
Also, fresh off its sold-out, cross-country performance tour, SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE, last summer’s No.1 hit, begins another search for America’s favorite dancer Thursday, March 1, in New York City. Entering its third season this summer on FOX, the hot series from the producers of AMERICAN IDOL and “American Bandstand” is hosted by Cat Deeley, one of the UK’s top television personalities and a correspondent for “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” and “Good Morning America.” Once again SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE promises to keep America moving to a different beat, as dancers skilled in everything from the “street” styles of hip-hop, krumping and popping to “the best of ballroom” – salsa, quickstep, jive and more – compete to be named America’s favorite. Producers will travel to New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and Atlanta in search of dancers who best represent the rhythm of America! . Talented dancers who spark the judges’ interest during auditions will be invited to call-backs, where they will work with top choreographers. During the call-back week, the judges will choose the Top 20 dancers who will continue in the competition.
FOX has also announced its February sweeps programming. Mondays this February, FOX unleashes three all-new episodes of PRISON BREAK and five all-new, heart-racing hours of 24, including a night of back-to-back, Jack-to-Jack episodes.
The quest for the next American Idol is on! America gets closer to finding its next singing superstar during FOX February, and Tuesday nights boast four not-to-be-missed episodes of AMERICAN IDOL, plus two all-new HOUSE calls and a special Tuesday night airing of ‘TIL DEATH. On Wednesday nights this February, FOX presents two all-new episodes of BONES, both featuring guest stars Stephen Fry and Eddie McClintock; four installments of AMERICAN IDOL, including two special expanded editions; and a bonus episode of ‘TIL DEATH. Thursdays in February feature three all-new episodes of FOX comedies ‘TIL DEATH and THE WAR AT HOME; four all-new chapters of THE O.C., including the momentous series finale; and the season’s very first LIVE results show of AMERICAN IDOL. Fridays are FOX family nights this February with four all-new installments of NANNY 911 and four all-new switcheroos on TRADING SPOUSES. This February, FOX Saturday is chock-full of action-packed ha! ppenings: three all-new episodes of COPS; three all-new, special-edition episodes of AMERICA’S MOST WANTED: AMERICA FIGHTS BACK; four all-new airings of MADtv, featuring guest stars Mary Lynn Rajskub and Kate Walsh; four all-new sit-downs with TALKSHOW WITH SPIKE FERESTEN, including chats with Tom Arnold, John C. McGinley, Melinda Clarke and Bobby Lee; and a special primetime broadcast of NASCAR ON FOX. FOX February Sunday features the theatrical blockbuster X2: X-MEN UNITED and all-new episodes of THE SIMPSONS, KING OF THE HILL, FAMILY GUY and AMERICAN DAD.
NBC:
NBC has ordered a pilot presentation for THIS IS CULDUSAC from Luke Barats & Joe Bereta. It's a buddy comedy series that incorporates sketch comedy centering on the small town of Culdesac, where series leads Luke Barats and Joe Bereta play most of the residents.
Also, NBC brightens February sweeps with "comedy night done right," fan-favorite dramas, high-stakes game shows -- and a gallery of guest stars that include Oscar nominee Forest Whitaker, Isabella Rossellini, George Takei, Paul Reubens, Kim Delaney, Mary Stuart Masterson, D.L. Hughley, Magic Johnson, Ron Silver, Beau Bridges, Natalie Cole, Sandra Bernhard, Eric Roberts, Mary Stuart Masterson, Kim Delaney, Stacy Keach, Michael Nouri, Oscar-winning hip-hop group Three 6 Mafia, Los Lonely Boys, Elizabeth Banks, Christopher Eccleston, Jessalyn Gilsig, wrestling champion Goldberg, Kali Rocha, Rita Moreno, Tom Arnold, Cary Elwes, Donna Murphy, Sticky Fingaz, Michael Weston, Xander Berkeley, Tony Goldwyn, and sports stars Scottie Pippen, Dick Butkus and Jason Giambi. In addition, NBC salutes Valentine's Day with a Thursday night of Cupid-worthy comedies on February 8 as well as Valentine-themed episodes of "Las Vegas" on February 9 and "Medium" on Febr! uary 14.
Additionally, paced by the triumphant return of "Heroes" to Monday night, NBC averaged a 2.6 rating, 7 share in adults 18-49 and 7.7 million viewers overall for the week of January 22-28, according to "live plus same day" in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research. "Heroes" returned to NBC's schedule as television's top-rated Monday show in primetime's key demographic of adults 18-49. For the week, "Heroes" ranked #5 out of 103 primetime programs in adults 18-49, and ranked among the week's top 10 by all key measures including adults 18-34, 25-54 and total viewers. In adults 18-34, "Heroes" was the #4 show on television (trailing only the Tuesday and Wednesday editions of "American Idol" and "Grey's Anatomy") and among men 18-49 and men 18-34, "Heroes" ranked #3, behind only the two editions of "Idol." "Heroes" is the #1 new primetime series of the 2006-07 television ! season in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures.
Finally, Oscar, Grammy and Tony Award-winning composer Andrew Lloyd Webber will make a special appearance as a guest judge on NBC's newest reality competition series "Grease: You're the One That I Want" on Sunday, February 11 (7-9 p.m. ET). The two-hour live show begins with the results of America's vote following the January 28th episode and the first dramatic elimination of one Sandy and one Danny hopeful. The remaining 12 finalists will then compete in a Broadway-themed episode with half of the contestants performing songs from Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals and the other half singing an array of songs from other popular musicals.
