ABC Upfront: Fall 2009 - Page 3 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Justafan65 · 05-21-2009, 01:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JulieSomoski

For me, I'd like to see The Middle similar to Roseanne, with the mother the strong, central character. While it should be a comedy, we need another sitcom like Roseanne on the air.

I saw the original pilot. It's no Roseanne but has potential for a good family comedy.

Pavan · 05-21-2009, 01:05 PM

We got info on ABC's pickups for comedy, drama and alternative series, but here are the details of other specials and movies:

Specials

2009 American Music Awards
November, 2009
8-11pm ET
American Music Awards pays tribute to popular musicians from various genres of music and puts audiences in touch with the latest phenomena in American music. Since its founding by Dick Clark in 1973, the AMAs have honored and showcased the talents of some of the biggest names in the music industry.
Live performances of the hottest pop, rock and country artists continue to make American Music Awards one of the country's top specials with young adults. Last year's telecast ranked third among Awards show (behind the Academy Awards® and the Grammys®) for the 2008-09 season. Per Nielsen research, more than 35 million viewers tuned in to watch some, or all, of the broadcast – and that's music to advertisers.

Barbara Walters Oscar Special
March, 2009
1-Hour
Superstars of the film world share their thoughts and perspectives on their success with Barbara Walters in the newsmaker's annual Oscar® Special. For the past 29 years, Barbara Walters has celebrated the Academy Awards® night with her interviews of the most popular Hollywood celebrities. Tune in as Barbara talks to the biggest motion picture and television stars of the year – getting them to reveal themselves better than anyone else can.

Barbara Walters' 10 Most Fascinating People of 2009
December, 2009
1-Hour
Last year, Barbara Walters' 10 Most Fascinating People of 2008 included President Barak Obama and was the season's fourth top-ranked Entertainment special on ABC in young adult C3 Nielsen ratings. Expect more fascinating results in 2009 when Ms. Walters hosts the hour-long ABC News special highlighting some of the year's most prominent names in entertainment, sports, politics and pop culture. It's the 17th season of the popular special, executive produced by Ms. Walters and Bill Getty (The View), who also directs.

Charlie Brown Specials
This season, ABC will again air seven distinctly special animated Peanuts programs. Each has a personality as unique as the notable characters created by award-winning cartoonist Charles M. Schulz. These engaging family favorites, based on Shultz' classic syndicated comic strip that began in the 1950s, impart worthwhile lessons while engaging large young audiences.

It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
October, 2009
Half Hour

There are three things I have learned never to discuss with people: religion, politics, and the Great Pumpkin. – Linus
In this Emmy-nominated Peanuts classic, Charlie Brown's security blanket-toting best friend Linus believes the Great Pumpkin rises out of the pumpkin patch on Halloween night and gives toys to all the good little children, just like Santa does at Christmastime. As Linus awaits the Great Pumpkin, the rest of the Peanuts gang go trick-or-treating, while Snoopy, dressed up as the famous World War I flying ace, focuses on shooting down the infamous Red Baron – from the top of his doghouse.

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
November, 2009
Half Hour

There's no problem so big you can't run away from it. – Linus
It's Thanksgiving at Charlie Brown's House! The true meaning of Thanksgiving is at the heart of this special, as Snoopy, Woodstock, Peppermint Patty and the rest of the Peanuts gang celebrate the traditions of Thanksgiving Day in a non-traditional way: having dinner at the ping-pong table with toast, popcorn and desserts! Despite much turmoil, Thanksgiving ends happily for the group with Charlie Brown's grandmother.

He's a Bully, Charlie Brown
Half Hour

Long before kids became addicted to computer and video games, one way to learn skill and strategy was to play with marbles – a game that originated with the Romans.
In the newest Peanuts special, Rerun loses his marbles – literally – in the game of marbles to a hustler and Charlie Brown goes up against the bully to try to win them back. The special is based on a story that appeared in the Peanuts comic strip in April 1995.

A Charlie Brown Christmas
December, 2009
1 Hour

Lights… That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown. – Linus
In the first-ever primetime animated TV special based upon the popular comic strip, the ever– unlucky Charlie Brown tries to do good by directing the Christmas school play. He tries to find a tree for the play and he chooses a pitiful little twig. At first the gang makes fun of Charlie for choosing such an ugly tree for the holiday but an assist from Linus makes the true message of the season come shining through. In the end, everyone realizes that a little affection can make all the difference in the world...even to a tree.
The popular TV special is considered a timeless holiday classic by millions of viewers. Its soundtrack by jazz composer Vince Guaraldi has become as well-known as the story itself, especially the piece entitled "Linus and Lucy," which has become seen as the signature musical theme to Charlie Brown and the Peanuts gang.

I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown
December, 2009
1 Hour

Yesterday I was a dog. Today I'm a dog. Tomorrow I'll probably still be a dog. Sigh! There's so little hope for advancement. – Snoopy
Linus' younger brother Rerun wants a dog for Christmas and involves the Peanuts gang in his quest. Will his mom allow him to get one? Can he handle the responsibility of caring for a dog? Find out in this post-Charles Schulz Christmas special based on his timeless Peanuts characters.

A Charlie Brown Valentine
February, 2010
Half Hour

Nothing takes the taste out of peanut butter quite like unrequited love. – Charlie Brown
Love is in the air and Valentine's Day is a week away. Charlie Brown hopes to get a Valentine from the little red-haired girl, as does Sally from Linus...Lucy from Schroeder...and Peppermint Patty from Charlie Brown. The usual heartbreak with all these relationships comes to a head on Valentine's Day, ending with the ill-fated Valentine's Dance.

It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown
April, 2010
Half Hour

Some Easter Beagle! He gave me my own egg! – Lucy
Easter is fast approaching, and that means there is a lot to do for the "Peanuts" pals. Charlie, Sally, Lucy and Marcie try to get ready for the big day by making several unsuccessful – yet creative – attempts to prepare eggs for coloring: frying, waffle-ironing, toasting, roasting, and finally soup, while Linus insists there is no preparation necessary. Not to worry…. The Easter Beagle steps in to save the day!
This classic Emmy nominated springtime special returned to ABC in the Spring of 2009.

Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve 2010 with Ryan Seacrest
December 31, 2009
3.5 Hours
Television's most popular New Year's bash is an annual tradition for millions who tune in to ABC's non-stop, bi-coastal entertainment show filled with special guests, musical performances, and celebrations from around the globe. Again, Ryan Seacrest will team up with Dick Clark at New York City's famous Times Square, where large crowds gather to count down to the New Year as the lighted ball drops. But the fun doesn't end there for viewers at home... ABC's event festivities continue until 2am ET.
Another tradition is the special's strong ratings performance. Last year's telecast delivered its largest Adult 18-49 audience in three years and topped every other Primetime entertainment program during the week by wide margins.
The celebratory broadcast consists of three specials: Dick Clark's Primetime New Year's Rockin' Eve 2010 with Ryan Seacrest (10-11pm, ET); Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve 2010 with Ryan Seacrest Part 1 (11:35pm - 1:05am, ET) and Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve 2010 with Ryan Seacrest Part 2 (1:05-2:05am, ET).
This December, viewers and advertisers can expect another exciting, high-performance New Year's showcase.

Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Half-Hour/1-Hour
He's big, mean and green. The Whos in Whoville fear him. Young viewers adore him. Now Dr. Seuss' popular book and cartoon character from the '60s returns for another holiday season to entertain a whole new generation of families.
In the classic special, The Grinch is pretending to be Santa. With absolutely no holiday cheer, the St. Nick imposter blasts off to Whoville to steal all he can get his furry green hands on to stop Christmas from coming. When Mayor May Who blames all the mischief on little Cindy Lou Who for getting the Grinch involved with Whoville, she reminds everyone what Christmas is really about and even the Grinch comes to realize the true meaning of Christmas.

2010 Oscars Red Carpet
Half-Hour
The biggest night of the year for Hollywood and for entertainment advertisers returns to ABC-TV in 2010 with more song and dance numbers, more film stars, and an impressive track record of ratings gains.
In 2009, the event generated double-digit ratings increases over the previous year in every key young adult, female and male demo. Over 33 million tuned in to some, or all, of the broadcast, making it the most-watched non-sports telecast on any network. And, indices for the special's Oscar®-quality audience of upscale, educated adult viewers were higher than all other specials, including Super Bowl!
That's the power – and magic – of the Academy Awards ®. For a night that delivers glitz, glamour, buzz, and consumers, join ABC and Hollywood's royalty for America's most engaging awards show on broadcast television.

Prep and Landing
December, 2009
Half-Hour
Half-hour animated event revolves around an elite elves unit -- known as Prep and Landing -- that makes sure homes are ready for Santa's visit. Story centers on an elf (Dave Foley) who thinks he's about to get a promotion -- but instead is paired with a new recruit (Derek Richardson). The duo then go on their Christmas Eve mission, where they encounter unexpected challenges. Sarah Chalke also provides a voice.

Santa Claus is Comin' to Town
December, 2009
1-Hour
You better watch out, you better not cry,
Better not pout, I'm telling you why ...
Santa Claus is comin' to town.
This classic animated holiday special, based on the traditional Christmas standard, continues to delight generations of viewers.
The perennial favorite features Fred Astaire narrating the timeless tale of Kris Kringle (Mickey Rooney), a young boy with an immense desire to do good things for others. In his home village of Sombertown, Kris has started a gift factory where he builds toys and gives them to all the local children. But when the evil ruler, Burgermeister Meisterburger (Paul Frees) bans toys from the land, Kris is forced to go directly to Mother Nature and ask her for assistance. With the help of magical elves and several special reindeer, Kris overcomes the Burgermeister and delivers toys to children all over the world – earning him the name Santa Claus.

Shrek the Halls
December, 2009
'Twas the night before Christmas
And I spent all the day
Finishing up on my Christmas display.
Now missing all this
Would be nothing but tragic,
So just follow me and I'll show you the magic.
It is Shrek's first Christmas, and wife Fiona (Cameron Diaz) wants it to be one to remember. But Shrek wants to do things his way, and just spend some quiet time with the kids. As Christmas Eve draws nearer, his plan for a sedate gathering explodes into a raucous party attended by all of the world's fairy-tale personalities. And Shrek learns to love this divine and chaotic time of the year.
DreamWorks' half-hour animated special features the Shrek characters putting their own spin on holiday traditions. And "like the movie sequels, Shrek the Halls keeps the gags flying..." "...for a made-for-TV version of a theatrical blockbuster, it looks utterly polished..." – Variety (Nov. 27, 2007)

44th Annual CMA Awards
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
8-11pm ET
'Country Music's Biggest Night' returns live from the Sommett Center in Nashville on November 11 with more music, more stars – and an estimated 35 million viewers, expected to tune in to some or all of the broadcast based on last year's time-period winning performance. For the 2008-2009 season, the CMA Awards show was the fourth-top ranked Awards show (behind the Oscars®, Grammy's and AMA's) with Adults 18-49 (4.7 C3 rating). Expect another dynamic performance when the nation tunes in to honor country music's top performers, songwriters, record producers and music video directors, as determined by the 6,000 industry professional members of Country Music Association.

82nd Annual Academy Awards
Sunday, March 7, 2010
8:30-11pm ET
The biggest night of the year for Hollywood and for entertainment advertisers returns to ABC-TV in 2010. There's no better way for sponsors to "put Madison Avenue's best foot forward" and generate buzz and press coverage while reaching a large, engaged audience in an environment that "outclasses the Super Bowl."
Oscar® remains the most powerful awards show in its elegance, star power and audience performance. The 2008 telecast posted an 18.0 rating among affluent Adults 18-49 (HHI $100K+); and has reached 35 million Adults 18-49 on average over the past three years.
Join ABC and Hollywood's royalty when America's most engaging awards show on broadcast television returns to celebrate the film industry's best performances.
NTI/NAD (2/24/08, 2/25/07, 3/5/06); The New York Times (2/27/07)

Theatricals

Blades of Glory (Premiere)
Casino Royale (Premiere)
Collateral
Dreamer
Dreamgirls (Premiere)
Flags of our Fathers (Premiere)
Flightplan
Flushed Away (Premiere)
Harry Potter and the Sorcer's Stone
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
The Haunted Mansion
The Island (Premiere)
Just Like Heaven
King Kong (Premiere)
The Last Kiss (Premiere)
Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde
Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events
Meet the Fockers
Memoirs of a Geisha
Miracle
Munich (Premiere)
Norbit (Premiere)
Over the Hedge (Premiere)
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
The Polar Express
Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (Premiere)
Red Eye (Premiere)
The Santa Clause 2
The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause (Premiere)
She's the Man (Premiere)
Shrek 2
Shrek the Third (Premiere)
The Sound of Music
The Ten Commandments 1956
Transformers (Premiere)
Wallace and Gromit in the Curse of Were-Rabbit (Premiere)
War of the Worlds
Wild Hogs (Premiere)

Looking at the movie list, they have some good ones they can use during the holidays like Casino Royale, Dream Girls, Transformers, Shrek the Third, Santa Clause 3, and Wild Hogs.

Pavan · 05-22-2009, 03:19 PM

First three on-air ABC House promos (I saw more at upfront though, so more are coming):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iu_NQcv-JVA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRHCVg3sE0o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUUMMArRU2k

Brent88 · 05-22-2009, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pavanbadal

First three on-air ABC House promos (I saw more at upfront though, so more are coming):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iu_NQcv-JVA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRHCVg3sE0o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUUMMArRU2k

Awesome promos, say what you will about ABC's programming but they have by far the best marketing department of any network. I love the first one, and how they also incorporate Wipeout(a summer show) in with the fall shows.

Pavan · 05-22-2009, 03:51 PM

The newest one aired last night during Betty's finale. It is similar to the first one but the end has Amanda from Betty and Hurley from Lost. Dude, indeed! There were two other ones I saw at upfront. Sally Field and Jimmy Kimmel bedtime story and another variation of the first one, with McDreamy, Ed O'Neill, and Charlie from Lost even. That was a great one. They also incorporated the summer hit The Bachelorette in these promos.

Buffyboy323 · 05-22-2009, 05:05 PM

I'll be watching "Eastwick" and "Modern Family" this fall, and the final season of "Lost" midseason.

I'll probably check out "Hank" for Kelsey Grammar and "The Middle" for Patty Heaton (these two should have done another show together!). And though "Cougar Town" doesn't sound very interesting, I'll tune in because I love me some Courteney Cox Arquette. And the remake of "V" could be good.

I'll skip the others. "Flash Forward" sounds a little too much like a "Lost" ripoff. And "Happy Town" sounds a little bit like Desperate Housewives - minus the comedy. Also, I cant believe they're bringing Private Practice back....

Brent88 · 05-22-2009, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buffyboy323

Also, I cant believe they're bringing Private Practice back....

Why are you surprised? It was hurting ER in the final weeks and totally ruled the 10pm slot once ER left. It's the first real hit ABC's had after Grey's Anatomy.

Buffyboy323 · 05-22-2009, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brent88

Why are you surprised? It was hurting ER in the final weeks and totally ruled the 10pm slot once ER left. It's the first real hit ABC's had after Grey's Anatomy.

I'm surprised because it's really bad, IMHO. It's the only real hit after Grey's Anatomy...because of Grey's Anatomy. ABC tried, but the show couldn't stand on it's own. It's had better luck following Grey's Anatomy on Thursdays.

Buffyboy323 · 05-22-2009, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JulieSomoski

I'll definitely be catching all 4 sitcoms this fall!

It's a gamble premiering them all at once, but I think it's great that ABC is having a two hour block of sitcoms, just like the old days.

JulieSomoski · 05-22-2009, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buffyboy323

It's a gamble premiering them all at once, but I think it's great that ABC is having a two hour block of sitcoms, just like the old days.

Definitely a risk, especially airing them against CBS' comedy block. But, they hould achieve moderate success.

mtlguy · 05-22-2009, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buffyboy323

I'm surprised because it's really bad, IMHO. It's the only real hit after Grey's Anatomy...because of Grey's Anatomy. ABC tried, but the show couldn't stand on it's own. It's had better luck following Grey's Anatomy on Thursdays.

That is exactly it, this is your opinion, but a lot of people I know, including myself think the show is great. It`s not the best drama on TV, but I am really happy it is coming back. Love all the actors on it and they have great chemestry.

It may be helped by GA for ratings, but it still gets great rating for any ABC 10pm shows. As long as they don't have numbers like CBS is getting all over their schedule, they cannot afford to cancel middle rating success.

Buffyboy323 · 05-23-2009, 12:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtlguy

That is exactly it, this is your opinion, but a lot of people I know, including myself think the show is great. It`s not the best drama on TV, but I am really happy it is coming back. Love all the actors on it and they have great chemestry.

I made sure to put "IMHO" in there, just so I don't get negative feedback from certain people. I did try watching it in the beginning, and a cousin of mine actually put me through an episode not too long ago. I thought it was one of the worst shows I've ever seen. Again, just my opinion.

Buffyboy323 · 05-23-2009, 12:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtlguy

It may be helped by GA for ratings, but it still gets great rating for any ABC 10pm shows. As long as they don't have numbers like CBS is getting all over their schedule, they cannot afford to cancel middle rating success.

Agreed.

Pavan · 05-23-2009, 03:32 PM

Cast photos for Modern Family, Cougar Town, Hank and The Middle are available here:
http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/...d.php?t=244452 (on post #11 and post #15)

Also, I think Romantically Challenged will get picked-up for midseason. Why? Because on an ABC password-protected site it is listed with all of the ABC new shows. And no, they don't list any other pilots that didn't get picked-up, just Romantically Challenged. I hope it happens. Alyssa Milano would be perfect for a comedy.

clj2 · 05-24-2009, 01:47 AM

JMO, but I think Cougar Town looks to be one of the worse sitcoms of the 2009-2010 season. Just isn't my cup of tea

05-21-2009, 01:05 PM	#32
Pavan SO News/Reviews Director Administrator Forum Superstar Join Date: Feb 17, 2000 Location: Linden, NJ (Where Hal Linden got his last name from!) Posts: 26,821	We got info on ABC's pickups for comedy, drama and alternative series, but here are the details of other specials and movies: Specials 2009 American Music Awards November, 2009 8-11pm ET American Music Awards pays tribute to popular musicians from various genres of music and puts audiences in touch with the latest phenomena in American music. Since its founding by Dick Clark in 1973, the AMAs have honored and showcased the talents of some of the biggest names in the music industry. Live performances of the hottest pop, rock and country artists continue to make American Music Awards one of the country's top specials with young adults. Last year's telecast ranked third among Awards show (behind the Academy Awards® and the Grammys®) for the 2008-09 season. Per Nielsen research, more than 35 million viewers tuned in to watch some, or all, of the broadcast – and that's music to advertisers. Barbara Walters Oscar Special March, 2009 1-Hour Superstars of the film world share their thoughts and perspectives on their success with Barbara Walters in the newsmaker's annual Oscar® Special. For the past 29 years, Barbara Walters has celebrated the Academy Awards® night with her interviews of the most popular Hollywood celebrities. Tune in as Barbara talks to the biggest motion picture and television stars of the year – getting them to reveal themselves better than anyone else can. Barbara Walters' 10 Most Fascinating People of 2009 December, 2009 1-Hour Last year, Barbara Walters' 10 Most Fascinating People of 2008 included President Barak Obama and was the season's fourth top-ranked Entertainment special on ABC in young adult C3 Nielsen ratings. Expect more fascinating results in 2009 when Ms. Walters hosts the hour-long ABC News special highlighting some of the year's most prominent names in entertainment, sports, politics and pop culture. It's the 17th season of the popular special, executive produced by Ms. Walters and Bill Getty (The View), who also directs. Charlie Brown Specials This season, ABC will again air seven distinctly special animated Peanuts programs. Each has a personality as unique as the notable characters created by award-winning cartoonist Charles M. Schulz. These engaging family favorites, based on Shultz' classic syndicated comic strip that began in the 1950s, impart worthwhile lessons while engaging large young audiences. It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown October, 2009 Half Hour There are three things I have learned never to discuss with people: religion, politics, and the Great Pumpkin. – Linus In this Emmy-nominated Peanuts classic, Charlie Brown's security blanket-toting best friend Linus believes the Great Pumpkin rises out of the pumpkin patch on Halloween night and gives toys to all the good little children, just like Santa does at Christmastime. As Linus awaits the Great Pumpkin, the rest of the Peanuts gang go trick-or-treating, while Snoopy, dressed up as the famous World War I flying ace, focuses on shooting down the infamous Red Baron – from the top of his doghouse. A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving November, 2009 Half Hour There's no problem so big you can't run away from it. – Linus It's Thanksgiving at Charlie Brown's House! The true meaning of Thanksgiving is at the heart of this special, as Snoopy, Woodstock, Peppermint Patty and the rest of the Peanuts gang celebrate the traditions of Thanksgiving Day in a non-traditional way: having dinner at the ping-pong table with toast, popcorn and desserts! Despite much turmoil, Thanksgiving ends happily for the group with Charlie Brown's grandmother. He's a Bully, Charlie Brown Half Hour Long before kids became addicted to computer and video games, one way to learn skill and strategy was to play with marbles – a game that originated with the Romans. In the newest Peanuts special, Rerun loses his marbles – literally – in the game of marbles to a hustler and Charlie Brown goes up against the bully to try to win them back. The special is based on a story that appeared in the Peanuts comic strip in April 1995. A Charlie Brown Christmas December, 2009 1 Hour Lights… That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown. – Linus In the first-ever primetime animated TV special based upon the popular comic strip, the ever– unlucky Charlie Brown tries to do good by directing the Christmas school play. He tries to find a tree for the play and he chooses a pitiful little twig. At first the gang makes fun of Charlie for choosing such an ugly tree for the holiday but an assist from Linus makes the true message of the season come shining through. In the end, everyone realizes that a little affection can make all the difference in the world...even to a tree. The popular TV special is considered a timeless holiday classic by millions of viewers. Its soundtrack by jazz composer Vince Guaraldi has become as well-known as the story itself, especially the piece entitled "Linus and Lucy," which has become seen as the signature musical theme to Charlie Brown and the Peanuts gang. I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown December, 2009 1 Hour Yesterday I was a dog. Today I'm a dog. Tomorrow I'll probably still be a dog. Sigh! There's so little hope for advancement. – Snoopy Linus' younger brother Rerun wants a dog for Christmas and involves the Peanuts gang in his quest. Will his mom allow him to get one? Can he handle the responsibility of caring for a dog? Find out in this post-Charles Schulz Christmas special based on his timeless Peanuts characters. A Charlie Brown Valentine February, 2010 Half Hour Nothing takes the taste out of peanut butter quite like unrequited love. – Charlie Brown Love is in the air and Valentine's Day is a week away. Charlie Brown hopes to get a Valentine from the little red-haired girl, as does Sally from Linus...Lucy from Schroeder...and Peppermint Patty from Charlie Brown. The usual heartbreak with all these relationships comes to a head on Valentine's Day, ending with the ill-fated Valentine's Dance. It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown April, 2010 Half Hour Some Easter Beagle! He gave me my own egg! – Lucy Easter is fast approaching, and that means there is a lot to do for the "Peanuts" pals. Charlie, Sally, Lucy and Marcie try to get ready for the big day by making several unsuccessful – yet creative – attempts to prepare eggs for coloring: frying, waffle-ironing, toasting, roasting, and finally soup, while Linus insists there is no preparation necessary. Not to worry…. The Easter Beagle steps in to save the day! This classic Emmy nominated springtime special returned to ABC in the Spring of 2009. Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve 2010 with Ryan Seacrest December 31, 2009 3.5 Hours Television's most popular New Year's bash is an annual tradition for millions who tune in to ABC's non-stop, bi-coastal entertainment show filled with special guests, musical performances, and celebrations from around the globe. Again, Ryan Seacrest will team up with Dick Clark at New York City's famous Times Square, where large crowds gather to count down to the New Year as the lighted ball drops. But the fun doesn't end there for viewers at home... ABC's event festivities continue until 2am ET. Another tradition is the special's strong ratings performance. Last year's telecast delivered its largest Adult 18-49 audience in three years and topped every other Primetime entertainment program during the week by wide margins. The celebratory broadcast consists of three specials: Dick Clark's Primetime New Year's Rockin' Eve 2010 with Ryan Seacrest (10-11pm, ET); Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve 2010 with Ryan Seacrest Part 1 (11:35pm - 1:05am, ET) and Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve 2010 with Ryan Seacrest Part 2 (1:05-2:05am, ET). This December, viewers and advertisers can expect another exciting, high-performance New Year's showcase. Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas Half-Hour/1-Hour He's big, mean and green. The Whos in Whoville fear him. Young viewers adore him. Now Dr. Seuss' popular book and cartoon character from the '60s returns for another holiday season to entertain a whole new generation of families. In the classic special, The Grinch is pretending to be Santa. With absolutely no holiday cheer, the St. Nick imposter blasts off to Whoville to steal all he can get his furry green hands on to stop Christmas from coming. When Mayor May Who blames all the mischief on little Cindy Lou Who for getting the Grinch involved with Whoville, she reminds everyone what Christmas is really about and even the Grinch comes to realize the true meaning of Christmas. 2010 Oscars Red Carpet Half-Hour The biggest night of the year for Hollywood and for entertainment advertisers returns to ABC-TV in 2010 with more song and dance numbers, more film stars, and an impressive track record of ratings gains. In 2009, the event generated double-digit ratings increases over the previous year in every key young adult, female and male demo. Over 33 million tuned in to some, or all, of the broadcast, making it the most-watched non-sports telecast on any network. And, indices for the special's Oscar®-quality audience of upscale, educated adult viewers were higher than all other specials, including Super Bowl! That's the power – and magic – of the Academy Awards ®. For a night that delivers glitz, glamour, buzz, and consumers, join ABC and Hollywood's royalty for America's most engaging awards show on broadcast television. Prep and Landing December, 2009 Half-Hour Half-hour animated event revolves around an elite elves unit -- known as Prep and Landing -- that makes sure homes are ready for Santa's visit. Story centers on an elf (Dave Foley) who thinks he's about to get a promotion -- but instead is paired with a new recruit (Derek Richardson). The duo then go on their Christmas Eve mission, where they encounter unexpected challenges. Sarah Chalke also provides a voice. Santa Claus is Comin' to Town December, 2009 1-Hour You better watch out, you better not cry, Better not pout, I'm telling you why ... Santa Claus is comin' to town. This classic animated holiday special, based on the traditional Christmas standard, continues to delight generations of viewers. The perennial favorite features Fred Astaire narrating the timeless tale of Kris Kringle (Mickey Rooney), a young boy with an immense desire to do good things for others. In his home village of Sombertown, Kris has started a gift factory where he builds toys and gives them to all the local children. But when the evil ruler, Burgermeister Meisterburger (Paul Frees) bans toys from the land, Kris is forced to go directly to Mother Nature and ask her for assistance. With the help of magical elves and several special reindeer, Kris overcomes the Burgermeister and delivers toys to children all over the world – earning him the name Santa Claus. Shrek the Halls December, 2009 'Twas the night before Christmas And I spent all the day Finishing up on my Christmas display. Now missing all this Would be nothing but tragic, So just follow me and I'll show you the magic. It is Shrek's first Christmas, and wife Fiona (Cameron Diaz) wants it to be one to remember. But Shrek wants to do things his way, and just spend some quiet time with the kids. As Christmas Eve draws nearer, his plan for a sedate gathering explodes into a raucous party attended by all of the world's fairy-tale personalities. And Shrek learns to love this divine and chaotic time of the year. DreamWorks' half-hour animated special features the Shrek characters putting their own spin on holiday traditions. And "like the movie sequels, Shrek the Halls keeps the gags flying..." "...for a made-for-TV version of a theatrical blockbuster, it looks utterly polished..." – Variety (Nov. 27, 2007) 44th Annual CMA Awards Wednesday, November 11, 2009 8-11pm ET 'Country Music's Biggest Night' returns live from the Sommett Center in Nashville on November 11 with more music, more stars – and an estimated 35 million viewers, expected to tune in to some or all of the broadcast based on last year's time-period winning performance. For the 2008-2009 season, the CMA Awards show was the fourth-top ranked Awards show (behind the Oscars®, Grammy's and AMA's) with Adults 18-49 (4.7 C3 rating). Expect another dynamic performance when the nation tunes in to honor country music's top performers, songwriters, record producers and music video directors, as determined by the 6,000 industry professional members of Country Music Association. 82nd Annual Academy Awards Sunday, March 7, 2010 8:30-11pm ET The biggest night of the year for Hollywood and for entertainment advertisers returns to ABC-TV in 2010. There's no better way for sponsors to "put Madison Avenue's best foot forward" and generate buzz and press coverage while reaching a large, engaged audience in an environment that "outclasses the Super Bowl." Oscar® remains the most powerful awards show in its elegance, star power and audience performance. The 2008 telecast posted an 18.0 rating among affluent Adults 18-49 (HHI $100K+); and has reached 35 million Adults 18-49 on average over the past three years. Join ABC and Hollywood's royalty when America's most engaging awards show on broadcast television returns to celebrate the film industry's best performances. NTI/NAD (2/24/08, 2/25/07, 3/5/06); The New York Times (2/27/07) Theatricals Blades of Glory (Premiere) Casino Royale (Premiere) Collateral Dreamer Dreamgirls (Premiere) Flags of our Fathers (Premiere) Flightplan Flushed Away (Premiere) Harry Potter and the Sorcer's Stone Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban The Haunted Mansion The Island (Premiere) Just Like Heaven King Kong (Premiere) The Last Kiss (Premiere) Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events Meet the Fockers Memoirs of a Geisha Miracle Munich (Premiere) Norbit (Premiere) Over the Hedge (Premiere) Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest The Polar Express Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (Premiere) Red Eye (Premiere) The Santa Clause 2 The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause (Premiere) She's the Man (Premiere) Shrek 2 Shrek the Third (Premiere) The Sound of Music The Ten Commandments 1956 Transformers (Premiere) Wallace and Gromit in the Curse of Were-Rabbit (Premiere) War of the Worlds Wild Hogs (Premiere) Looking at the movie list, they have some good ones they can use during the holidays like Casino Royale, Dream Girls, Transformers, Shrek the Third, Santa Clause 3, and Wild Hogs.
	__________________ SitcomsOnline.com News Blog -- The best news out there! SitcomsOnline.com DVD Reviews -- We are #1 in reviews! Last edited by Pavan; 05-22-2009 at 03:34 PM.

05-24-2009, 01:47 AM	#45
clj2 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 16, 2005 Location: SC Posts: 3,501	JMO, but I think Cougar Town looks to be one of the worse sitcoms of the 2009-2010 season. Just isn't my cup of tea
	__________________ -Chris

05-22-2009, 03:19 PM	#33
Pavan SO News/Reviews Director Administrator Forum Superstar Join Date: Feb 17, 2000 Location: Linden, NJ (Where Hal Linden got his last name from!) Posts: 26,821	First three on-air ABC House promos (I saw more at upfront though, so more are coming): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iu_NQcv-JVA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRHCVg3sE0o http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUUMMArRU2k

05-22-2009, 03:51 PM	#35
Pavan SO News/Reviews Director Administrator Forum Superstar Join Date: Feb 17, 2000 Location: Linden, NJ (Where Hal Linden got his last name from!) Posts: 26,821	The newest one aired last night during Betty's finale. It is similar to the first one but the end has Amanda from Betty and Hurley from Lost. Dude, indeed! There were two other ones I saw at upfront. Sally Field and Jimmy Kimmel bedtime story and another variation of the first one, with McDreamy, Ed O'Neill, and Charlie from Lost even. That was a great one. They also incorporated the summer hit The Bachelorette in these promos.

05-22-2009, 05:05 PM	#36
Buffyboy323 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Jun 24, 2005 Posts: 6,102	I'll be watching "Eastwick" and "Modern Family" this fall, and the final season of "Lost" midseason. I'll probably check out "Hank" for Kelsey Grammar and "The Middle" for Patty Heaton (these two should have done another show together!). And though "Cougar Town" doesn't sound very interesting, I'll tune in because I love me some Courteney Cox Arquette. And the remake of "V" could be good. I'll skip the others. "Flash Forward" sounds a little too much like a "Lost" ripoff. And "Happy Town" sounds a little bit like Desperate Housewives - minus the comedy. Also, I cant believe they're bringing Private Practice back....

05-23-2009, 03:32 PM	#44
Pavan SO News/Reviews Director Administrator Forum Superstar Join Date: Feb 17, 2000 Location: Linden, NJ (Where Hal Linden got his last name from!) Posts: 26,821	Cast photos for Modern Family, Cougar Town, Hank and The Middle are available here: http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/...d.php?t=244452 (on post #11 and post #15) Also, I think Romantically Challenged will get picked-up for midseason. Why? Because on an ABC password-protected site it is listed with all of the ABC new shows. And no, they don't list any other pilots that didn't get picked-up, just Romantically Challenged. I hope it happens. Alyssa Milano would be perfect for a comedy.