'Surviving Suburbia' may survive, ABC eyes Saget sitcom - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 01-29-2009, 12:53 AM

Link

ABC is in talks to pick up the orphaned Bob Saget sitcom "Surviving Suburbia."
The comedy from Media Rights Capital was set to bow this March as part of MRC's Sunday-night block on the CW. But those plans were scrapped after the CW reclaimed the night and terminated its pact with MRC in November.

Production nonetheless continued on the 13 episodes of "Surviving Suburbia," with MRC shopping the show to nets since then.

Kevin Abbott ("Reba") exec produces the laffer, along with Acme Prods.' Michael Hanel and Mindy Schultheis. "Suburbia" revolves around Keith and Anne Stevers and their two children, all of whose lives are upended when they get new next-door neighbors.

Series also stars Cynthia Stevenson, Jared Kusnitz, G Hannelius, Jere Burns and Lorna Scott.

"Suburbia" meshes with ABC Entertainment Group prexy Steve McPherson's desire, expressed to reporters earlier this month at the TV Critics press tour, to schedule more traditional comedies at the net.

It's also a homecoming for Saget, who starred in "Full House" and hosted "America's Funniest Home Videos," both on ABC, in the early 1990s. More recently, Saget hosted the NBC gamer "1 vs. 100." He's also the uncredited narrator on CBS' "How I Met Your Mother."

MRC also produces upcoming animated comedy "The Goode Family" for ABC.

Pavan · 01-29-2009, 01:23 AM

You know something? I think ABC will pick this up and air it after Dancing with the Stars starting March 30. Put two and two together...Samantha Who is moving to Thursdays and In the Motherhood is not getting the post-Stars slot anymore...so what else can air? Hmmm... If it happens, I called it!

ryan423 · 01-29-2009, 02:37 AM

I'm looking forward to this, could end up being a very funny show. It's single camera right?

Pavan · 01-29-2009, 02:38 AM

No, it is multicamera.

ryan423 · 01-29-2009, 02:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pavanbadal

No, it is multicamera.

What Saget is best at

Have you seen the pilot Pav? Is it any good? And BTW, the second season of 8 Simple Rules is coming out on dvd in April, and I made a post for you to see in the 8SR board.

tvcrazed · 01-29-2009, 03:13 AM

If The Bachelor has taught them anything its to leave DWTS for 2 hours every week, especially on Mon which is now the most competetive night of the week. Plus CASTLE has 2 hits airing against it, it could use the DWTS lead in, not to mention ABC will have their hands full with promoting new series in March. They don't need SS. Also the comedy competition is ROE which has a more compatible and higher rated lead in with 2 and a half men. DWTS into SS into CASTLE is one mess of a flow. DWTS should run 2 hours all the way. SS should be a cheap acquistion for them so maybe they can pair it with The Goode Family as Summer programming. TGF wont launch til May at the earliest.

JulieSomoski · 01-29-2009, 01:37 PM

I'm still interested in checking this show out - I was going to on the CW, and I stll will if ABC gets it. It probably wouldn't be the best show to air after DWTS on Mondays, but it's cheap programming, and it still could turn out okay ratings, especially with Saget as star.

Summer programming would also be an option, pairing it up with The Goode Family.

Or maybe even in the fall - ABC wants a sitcom block. They could make a nice 2-hour sitcom block in the fall, like on Wednesdays where the schedule will be open in the fall.

ryan423 · 01-29-2009, 01:39 PM

Wednesday's in the fall, depending on how the sitcoms do can be;

08:00 - In the Motherhood / Better off Ted
08:30 - Surviving Suburbia
09:00 - Samantha Who?
09:30 - The Goode Family

JulieSomoski · 01-29-2009, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryan423

Wednesday's in the fall, depending on how the sitcoms do can be;

08:00 - In the Motherhood / Better off Ted
08:30 - Surviving Suburbia
09:00 - Samantha Who?
09:30 - The Goode Family

And don't forget about any new sitcoms they'll have for the fall. Depending on how In the Motherhood/Better off Ted/Goode Family do, and whether or not they decide to bring in Surviving Suburbia for the fall, they could have a great Wednesday lineup next season.

ryan423 · 01-29-2009, 10:58 PM

As great as 2009-10's Wednesdau might be next year, nothing in my opinion can beat fridays with Boy Meets World! Those were the days!

JulieSomoski · 01-30-2009, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryan423

As great as 2009-10's Wednesdau might be next year, nothing in my opinion can beat fridays with Boy Meets World! Those were the days!

I wouldn't mind seeing ABC try TGIF again. Especially if they have over 4 sitcoms ready for fall. Supernanny and Wifeswap, while cheap programming, aren't cutting it with their 4 million viewers - comedies could easily do better than that 8pm-10pm, and could get ABC back in the game on Fridays.

Pavan · 01-30-2009, 05:49 PM

It wouldn't hurt them to air this cheaper sitcom Mondays at 9:30pm after DWTS this spring. First off, viewers would love to see Bob Saget back (I never liked Full House though). And if it works, ABC could bring this show back and it could help launch a new comedy night with some companions. It's really a win-win situation for them.

Of course ABC would love to have DWTS 2-hours a week every week, but that is not going to happen. The first 3-4 weeks, they can do that because they have many contestants but as the weeks go on, the contestants are going down and if they do two-hours, they will need time fillers and fans would get bored. 90-minutes is perfect, and 60-minutes would be way too short. 120-minutes is pushing it. The Bachelor can stay two-hours because they have hours and hours of footage to air from. That is a taped show, while Dancing is live. Big difference. Plus The Bachelor wouldn't have any fillers for time.

Who cares about the flow. Dancing-Suburbia is a good flow though, but Castle might not be...but then again it might be. This could be a retro type night for ABC, as Castle is a traditional procedural, while Dancing viewers are more traditional viewers, and a traditional sitcom is following it. It makes sense to me and I think ABC will do this if they can get this sitcom. I don't think ABC would care if it can beat Rules in the demo or not (Men is a great lead-in), I think it won't but it will beat it in viewers.

JulieSomoski · 01-30-2009, 05:56 PM

I wouldnt mind seeing it on Mondays at all - I'm not a huge fan of Rules of Engagement, so if ABC airs this on Mondays at 9:30, it would give me something else to watch. I do like Bob Saget - he's a great comedic, and I'm a fan of traditional sitcoms. Hopefully ABC will get this soon to start airing.

And like you said Pavan, if it does do well, ABC could use it to launch a new night of comedy next fall. And, it's cheap, so ABC won't be losing much from it, if losing any at all.

ryan423 · 01-30-2009, 07:00 PM

I love "Rules," and Suburbia will in no-way beat out CBS comedies, even if its Saget! I'd love TGIF back! If it ends up on Mondays, I'll be dvr-ing it.

Pavan · 02-04-2009, 02:06 PM

I called it...
http://www.sitcomsonline.com/blog/20...surviving.html

ABC ANNOUNCES NEW COMEDY, “SURVIVING SUBURBIA,”
TO PREMIERE MONDAY, APRIL 6

Series Starring Bob Saget and Cynthia Stevenson
Will Air Mondays at 9:30 p.m., Following “Dancing with the Stars”

ABC announces the premiere of new half-hour comedy series, “Surviving Suburbia,” starring Bob Saget and Cynthia Stevenson, on MONDAY, APRIL 6 (9:30-10:00 p.m., ET), following “Dancing with the Stars.”

In the family-centered tradition of “Roseanne” and “Home Improvement,” “Surviving Suburbia” opens the curtain to follow Saget (“How I Met Your Mother,” “Full House”) and Stevenson (“Men in Trees,” “Dead Like Me”) as Steve and Anne Patterson, a seemingly normal couple who have been married for 20 years, have two children and a cookie cutter house in the idyllic suburbs. But Steve maintains a rather cynical point of view on family, friends, neighbors, society -- pretty much everyone and everything -- as he tries to survive suburban life. “Surviving Suburbia” takes a contemporary look at family life and the reasons one might have to question the system -- How does exchanging keys with a neighbor for emergencies result in house sitting? Why do kids’ classroom projects inevitably become the parents’ responsibility? When did we start needing mediators to handle disagreements between adults? – all of which goes to prove that it’s never just another sunny day in the suburbs.

Also starring in the half-hour comedy series are Jared Kuznitz (“Otis,” “Dance of the Dead”) and G Hannelius (“Interrogation”) as the Patterson kids. Jere Burns (“Good Morning Miami,” “Something So Right”) and Dan Cortese (“What I Like About You”) are recurring guest stars.

“Surviving Suburbia” is produced by Media Rights Capital. Kevin Abbott (“Reba,” “Roseanne,” “Grace Under Fire”) and Acme Productions’ Michael Hanel & Mindy Schultheis (“Rita Rocks,” “The War at Home,” “Reba,” “Titus”) are executive producers. Thirteen episodes have been shot.

01-29-2009, 12:53 AM	#1
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,380	'Surviving Suburbia' may survive, ABC eyes Saget sitcom Link ABC is in talks to pick up the orphaned Bob Saget sitcom "Surviving Suburbia." The comedy from Media Rights Capital was set to bow this March as part of MRC's Sunday-night block on the CW. But those plans were scrapped after the CW reclaimed the night and terminated its pact with MRC in November. Production nonetheless continued on the 13 episodes of "Surviving Suburbia," with MRC shopping the show to nets since then. Kevin Abbott ("Reba") exec produces the laffer, along with Acme Prods.' Michael Hanel and Mindy Schultheis. "Suburbia" revolves around Keith and Anne Stevers and their two children, all of whose lives are upended when they get new next-door neighbors. Series also stars Cynthia Stevenson, Jared Kusnitz, G Hannelius, Jere Burns and Lorna Scott. "Suburbia" meshes with ABC Entertainment Group prexy Steve McPherson's desire, expressed to reporters earlier this month at the TV Critics press tour, to schedule more traditional comedies at the net. It's also a homecoming for Saget, who starred in "Full House" and hosted "America's Funniest Home Videos," both on ABC, in the early 1990s. More recently, Saget hosted the NBC gamer "1 vs. 100." He's also the uncredited narrator on CBS' "How I Met Your Mother." MRC also produces upcoming animated comedy "The Goode Family" for ABC.

01-29-2009, 01:23 AM	#2
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	You know something? I think ABC will pick this up and air it after Dancing with the Stars starting March 30. Put two and two together...Samantha Who is moving to Thursdays and In the Motherhood is not getting the post-Stars slot anymore...so what else can air? Hmmm... If it happens, I called it!
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01-29-2009, 01:37 PM	#7
JulieSomoski Roseanne Reboot - March 27! Forum Veteran Join Date: Nov 06, 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 7,558	I'm still interested in checking this show out - I was going to on the CW, and I stll will if ABC gets it. It probably wouldn't be the best show to air after DWTS on Mondays, but it's cheap programming, and it still could turn out okay ratings, especially with Saget as star. Summer programming would also be an option, pairing it up with The Goode Family. Or maybe even in the fall - ABC wants a sitcom block. They could make a nice 2-hour sitcom block in the fall, like on Wednesdays where the schedule will be open in the fall.
	__________________ Click here to view some great articles written by my husband and I! All views are appreciated! Watch: Medium, Fridays at 9pm, on CBS! Big Bang Theory, Mondays at 9:30pm, on CBS! The Mentalist, Thursdays at 10pm, on CBS! Old Christine, Wednesdays at 8pm, on CBS! ABC's Comedy Lineup, Starting Wednesdays at 8:30pm, on ABC!

01-29-2009, 02:37 AM	#3
ryan423 Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 15, 2007 Posts: 1,829	I'm looking forward to this, could end up being a very funny show. It's single camera right?

01-29-2009, 02:38 AM	#4
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	No, it is multicamera.

01-29-2009, 03:13 AM	#6
tvcrazed Member Forum Regular Join Date: May 01, 2008 Location: ny Posts: 952	If The Bachelor has taught them anything its to leave DWTS for 2 hours every week, especially on Mon which is now the most competetive night of the week. Plus CASTLE has 2 hits airing against it, it could use the DWTS lead in, not to mention ABC will have their hands full with promoting new series in March. They don't need SS. Also the comedy competition is ROE which has a more compatible and higher rated lead in with 2 and a half men. DWTS into SS into CASTLE is one mess of a flow. DWTS should run 2 hours all the way. SS should be a cheap acquistion for them so maybe they can pair it with The Goode Family as Summer programming. TGF wont launch til May at the earliest.

01-29-2009, 01:39 PM	#8
ryan423 Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 15, 2007 Posts: 1,829	Wednesday's in the fall, depending on how the sitcoms do can be; 08:00 - In the Motherhood / Better off Ted 08:30 - Surviving Suburbia 09:00 - Samantha Who? 09:30 - The Goode Family

01-29-2009, 10:58 PM	#10
ryan423 Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 15, 2007 Posts: 1,829	As great as 2009-10's Wednesdau might be next year, nothing in my opinion can beat fridays with Boy Meets World! Those were the days!

01-30-2009, 05:49 PM	#12
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	It wouldn't hurt them to air this cheaper sitcom Mondays at 9:30pm after DWTS this spring. First off, viewers would love to see Bob Saget back (I never liked Full House though). And if it works, ABC could bring this show back and it could help launch a new comedy night with some companions. It's really a win-win situation for them. Of course ABC would love to have DWTS 2-hours a week every week, but that is not going to happen. The first 3-4 weeks, they can do that because they have many contestants but as the weeks go on, the contestants are going down and if they do two-hours, they will need time fillers and fans would get bored. 90-minutes is perfect, and 60-minutes would be way too short. 120-minutes is pushing it. The Bachelor can stay two-hours because they have hours and hours of footage to air from. That is a taped show, while Dancing is live. Big difference. Plus The Bachelor wouldn't have any fillers for time. Who cares about the flow. Dancing-Suburbia is a good flow though, but Castle might not be...but then again it might be. This could be a retro type night for ABC, as Castle is a traditional procedural, while Dancing viewers are more traditional viewers, and a traditional sitcom is following it. It makes sense to me and I think ABC will do this if they can get this sitcom. I don't think ABC would care if it can beat Rules in the demo or not (Men is a great lead-in), I think it won't but it will beat it in viewers.

01-30-2009, 05:56 PM	#13
JulieSomoski Roseanne Reboot - March 27! Forum Veteran Join Date: Nov 06, 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 7,558	I wouldnt mind seeing it on Mondays at all - I'm not a huge fan of Rules of Engagement, so if ABC airs this on Mondays at 9:30, it would give me something else to watch. I do like Bob Saget - he's a great comedic, and I'm a fan of traditional sitcoms. Hopefully ABC will get this soon to start airing. And like you said Pavan, if it does do well, ABC could use it to launch a new night of comedy next fall. And, it's cheap, so ABC won't be losing much from it, if losing any at all.

01-30-2009, 07:00 PM	#14
ryan423 Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 15, 2007 Posts: 1,829	I love "Rules," and Suburbia will in no-way beat out CBS comedies, even if its Saget! I'd love TGIF back! If it ends up on Mondays, I'll be dvr-ing it.

02-04-2009, 02:06 PM	#15
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	I called it... http://www.sitcomsonline.com/blog/20...surviving.html ABC ANNOUNCES NEW COMEDY, “SURVIVING SUBURBIA,” TO PREMIERE MONDAY, APRIL 6 Series Starring Bob Saget and Cynthia Stevenson Will Air Mondays at 9:30 p.m., Following “Dancing with the Stars” ABC announces the premiere of new half-hour comedy series, “Surviving Suburbia,” starring Bob Saget and Cynthia Stevenson, on MONDAY, APRIL 6 (9:30-10:00 p.m., ET), following “Dancing with the Stars.” In the family-centered tradition of “Roseanne” and “Home Improvement,” “Surviving Suburbia” opens the curtain to follow Saget (“How I Met Your Mother,” “Full House”) and Stevenson (“Men in Trees,” “Dead Like Me”) as Steve and Anne Patterson, a seemingly normal couple who have been married for 20 years, have two children and a cookie cutter house in the idyllic suburbs. But Steve maintains a rather cynical point of view on family, friends, neighbors, society -- pretty much everyone and everything -- as he tries to survive suburban life. “Surviving Suburbia” takes a contemporary look at family life and the reasons one might have to question the system -- How does exchanging keys with a neighbor for emergencies result in house sitting? Why do kids’ classroom projects inevitably become the parents’ responsibility? When did we start needing mediators to handle disagreements between adults? – all of which goes to prove that it’s never just another sunny day in the suburbs. Also starring in the half-hour comedy series are Jared Kuznitz (“Otis,” “Dance of the Dead”) and G Hannelius (“Interrogation”) as the Patterson kids. Jere Burns (“Good Morning Miami,” “Something So Right”) and Dan Cortese (“What I Like About You”) are recurring guest stars. “Surviving Suburbia” is produced by Media Rights Capital. Kevin Abbott (“Reba,” “Roseanne,” “Grace Under Fire”) and Acme Productions’ Michael Hanel & Mindy Schultheis (“Rita Rocks,” “The War at Home,” “Reba,” “Titus”) are executive producers. Thirteen episodes have been shot.