NewsNation to Launch 6 AM ET News Program

Newsnation  TV News 

        The Nexstar owned news and entertainment cable channel is expanding it's news offering to 6AMET starting June 27.   

  

        Early Morning will air for 1 hour from 6-7AMET , anchored by Mitch Carr. Carr, joins News Nation from KPNX-TV in Phoenix where he was a weekend news anchor. Early Morning will lead into Morning in America  , the network's morning show.  Carr will also appear on Morning in America which his hosted by Andrienne Bankert. 

       News Nation currently runs reruns of the drama "Elementary" in the slot.  The network's morning line up look like this from  June 27: 

   

                          6am ET  : Early Morning

                          7amET : Morning in America (3 hours) 

                          10amET: Reruns  of off network syndicated programming 

 

     The channel's news offering has been expanding since the launch in 2020. It does 7 hours per weeknight, 3 hours on weekend evenings, and 3 hours in the morning, this expansion will put them at 86 hours. 

 

         Press release after the jump

                    

The Lookback: NBC's Saturday Morning 1991-1992: Countdown to TNBC

NBC The Flashback 

              This segment  of "The Flashback" returns as we this being the 30th year after NBC made a major change in network television history: they were washing their hands of the traditional Saturday morning block and adding news and shows for teens.  This wasn't out of the blue, they had been considering it since at least 1988. 

  

          Between 1988 and 1991, things had changed ever more. Cable's Nickelodeon was starting to make an in-roads, kid syndication was doing great, and Fox Kids was launched in 1990. Interestingly, NBC wasn't the last place kids block, they were first. If anything, it should have been  ABC getting out.   

  

      "Killed by the Bell" 

         One thing that could be a great indication of NBC's direction would be the 1989 series "Saved by the Bell" this live-action teen-lead series had become a hit. It was also cheaper to make (not trying to insult the show) than animation.  

  

  From the  NY Times article from 1988 

  

An average episode of a network Saturday cartoon show was nearly $300,000. Even though those programs can be played four times, effectively reducing the cost of each episode, Mr. Tartikoff noted that NBC can replace those shows with programs it produces for itself at a much lower rate, possibly striking a connection with an entirely new audience.

 

  The Saturday morning fare like "Smurfs" wasn't owned by NBC and  they could reap any benefits from the series, but "Saved By The Bell" could be, and it later did become that way. 

         This is Today... Saturday

        "Today" on NBC had launched in 1952, the show had never been a weekend affair, until it launched a Sunday version in 1987.  Saturday would naturally be next,  as Tartikoff, the head of NBC at the time, mentioned. The Today Show expanding would be cheaper than kid cartoons , NBC owns the show.  The mulling happened until December 1991, when it was announced : It's over. 

             Two hours of their Saturday morning block would be replaced by the "Today" show.  That wasn't the only plan, what about the other 2 hours?  That would be replaced by programming targeting 9-16 year-olds.  A centerpiece program would be "Saved by the Bell".  NBC looked at FOX, CBS,ABC,  and anything else and said, "Bye." 

   

          Also that new "Children's Television Act" was coming in and NBC was getting ready for that by jumping ahead, getting  a head start. Either way, this meant the 1991-92 season was the end of the traditional block on NBC.    So, this is our look at the the final season, mostly in order of show appearance, with brief overview of the shows and maybe some context of the time and bad humor, let's go! 

             First off, produced by DiC Entertainment it's not Saturday Night, but a skit comedy show with some cartoons with Canadian twin brothers  named Chip and Pepper (mmm chips and pepper : drools). 

       "Chip and Pepper's Cartoon Madness"  was classic style sketch show, where they would insert cartoons (read: Krusty the Clown, minus the clown) . The brothers were famous in Canada and Brandon Tartikoff decided to give them an NBC Saturday morning show.( "Eh, I'm torching this block soon anyway, might as well..." , he didn't say, but I wish he did.  )

                The show also interviews, ran vintage cartoons, with it's comedy shorts, it also sounds like NBC was keeping it uh low-cost.  This didn't save it, since NBC was going to give up 2 hours for "Today" this wasn't part of their 9-16 mention so, bye.

                

      Next on NBC, it's "Yo Yogi!" or really just switch over to FOX they have  "Bobby's World" just watch that, the Today show is taking this slot soon anyway. 

       

At least they weren't babies? / (watch intro here) 

     "Yo Yogi!" is about Yogi Bear,  Boo-Boo Bear, Huckelberry Hound,  Snagglepuss, and Cindy Bear (no relation to Yogi or Boo-Boo? Right, unless bears don't use last names the way we do , what?)  but with a twist,  someone at Hanna-Barbera missed making "Scooby Doo" because this was them as teenage crime fighters. (What's a teenage bear?)  They also do cool late 80's , early 90's stuff of hanging out at the mall, which is owned by Doggie Daddy. 

      Yogi and his friends work at the mall where they solve mall crimes. (like who stole the Sabro Pizza?) 

         The show lasted 13 episodes, it's final episode aired the day after NBC announced they were axing the block. ("Yo Yogi was a mistake, and it killed the block," I wish he had said that too) 

      

More after the jump 

Fall TV 2022: FOX: Premiere Dates

FOX  TVLookFall2022 

          FOX decided to not release their fall line up during the traditional upfront week.  After some wait, we now have a glimpse at their line up with the premiere dates.   Fox holds it close to not rock the boat too much, like how the other networks have gone more safe.  Though this will be their first season in sometime without Thursday Night Football. 

   

       Monarch, which was deferred from their mid season line up this year,  gets a September 11th launch after the NFL games. The series will be having a Tuesday 9PMET slot from after that.   

   

       Sundays are still the same Animation Domination, the new season of which will start September 25th.   

 Here's the premiere dates and schedule , all times ET/PT unless otherwise noted. 

Sunday, September 11

8PM Monarch (Series premiere part I, simultaneous in all time zones) 

  Monday 

Starting September 19 

8pm 9-1-1 

9pm The Cleaning Lady 

Tuesday 

Starting September 20 

8pm  The Resident 

9pm  Monarch (new series) 

Wednesday 

Starting September 21

8pm The Masked Singer

9pm Lego Masters

Thursday 

Starting September 29 

8pm Hell's Kitchen 

9pm  Welcome to Flatch 

9:30  Call me Kat 

Friday

Ongoing 

8-10PM  WWE Friday Night Smackdown 

Sunday

Starting September 25

8pm The Simpsons 

8:30  The Great North 

9pm  Bob's Burgers

9:30pm Family Guy 

   You'll notice that Monarch  is the only new series in the fall line up, other new series : Accused  and Krapopolis, and Alert held to mid-season.   Fox has made Wednesday night their reality night a carry over from the past seasons, while Thursday is interesting where they put  Hell's Kitchen as a lead in to their comedies.  Waiting in midseason are: 9-1-1 Lone Star, new animated comedy Grimsburg,  Housebroken, Fantasy Island, Gordon Ramsay's Food Stars, Next Level Chef,  MasterChef, Beat Shazam, Crime Scene Kitchen and Don't Forget the lyrics. 

       Anyway, that's it, full press release after the jump

One Shot Posts: Simpsons in the Current Times

One Shot Posts Fox  Disney The Simpsons

           I'm not a big on the idea of shows that aren't like soaps running for on and on and on, and of course with "The Simpsons" many would have the same view about why it keeps running and running?  Mentioning "The Simpsons" in general then opens the door to the takes that surround the show.  Personally, I enjoy seasons 1-8, a lot more, but also still watched past season 8, in reruns and premieres, but at some point, around season 28 or sometime around then, I did kind of just stop watching every Sunday. I'd check in once in a while, especially the Halloween ones, but mostly checked out of the show.  

   

    When the multi day marathons on FXX happened, I'd probably be engaged with it for a while, but then around season 14 my engagement drops a little, but there are episodes I like and would be engaged to seeing. Same with TV reruns or streaming reruns. The thing I think that happens in some conversations about the show is the time you first see the show if you liked it, is the time your attachment to it is closest. When the show shifts in later seasons, and sometimes is rough and bumpy, it does feel a little strange and it's like an old friend has lost something about him and makes you feel kind of bad.   

        I think the thing that has to be kind of understood is that the Simpsons is still running, it's not going ever feel like season 4 again, it's impossible. If you want to watch season 4 it's easy to access, so the show continues and tries to find ways to adapt and live in our time. The show was essentially the 90's (including some eighties, just like how the 80's slightly carried into the 90's.)  When the times changed the show had to find ways to adapt to the current times, since the show is always about the current times.  That puts it at odds being what we know the show and characters. I think the best way is to think that the show was so good at connecting us to the characters and concept, that it's hard to see it be not exactly the same. 

This continues after the jump 

DCOM Doesn't Horse Around: Horse Sense

Disney  The lookback 

      This time we head to a 1999 Disney Channel Original movie with the Lawrence brothers well Joey Lawrence and his younger brother, Andy. (The Latter shows up in 4 Disney Channel Original Movies) At the time Andy was the voice of T.J on "Disney's Recess". "Horse Sense" premiered on November 20, 1999.  Let's get started. 

         The movie starts with Andy Lawrence playing a boy named Tommy who lives on a ranch in Montana. (Also shots of food, yum)  He's going on a trip to see his cousin Michael, who is played by Andy's older brother, Joey.  Tommy sets up some stuff for the movie, like there's some money issues and his father is no longer alive. (We paid money for the Lawrence brothers, we had to cut somewhere, Disney Probably) Michael lives in Beverly Hills (That's where I want to be) and he is better off than his cousin, you can see by his fancy room and alarm clock. He's more a lazy college student, who's also selfish which we need for the plot. 

The way he's wearing the sweater shows he's kind of a jerk/ Copyright Disney

         Michael has this new girlfriend named Gina, who is also a rich girl (She can rely on the old man's money) whom he seems to really like. He finally picks up Tommy after forgetting, and this is going to set up how this going to go with him and Tommy.  (The Disney movie is bold enough to mention Disneyland in the Disney movie ; Disney) Tommy's aunt and uncle get to be conveniently  out of the movie to make sure we make sure Michael can be a jerk. (Well done!)   It is kind of funny they make Tommy seemingly so nice, that anything done to him would make it seem like a worse slight than it already was.  You know what? This movie is a divorced dad is busy,which is why he's divorced, plot. Just swap out that with a selfish 20-year-old and cousin.  

It would be weird if his brother was playing as his father / Copyright Disney 

more after the jump

Fall TV 2022: The CW

The CW TvLookFall2022  Upfronts 

The CW has been through a lot this year, the network is in a spot of a potential sale from it's current parent owners : Paramount and Discovery,  the network has canceled more series than it usually does.  It's feeling downsized more than anything else.  

   

     Riverdale is ending, and the show is moving to midseason for it's final season. The Flash will be moving to midseason.  Nancy Drew is also moving to midseason. Supernatural prequel spinoff, The Winchesters,  and an acquisition  Professionals will be taking up Tuesdays. Stargirl moves from summer to Wednesdays in fall. It's joining Kung Fu which moved from midseason. 

   

         For the fans of the  All American series those will be on Monday nights  and Walker with it's new spinoff series , Walker :Independence  will be on Thursdays. Fridays and Saturdays are now all alternative programming.  Sunday will be with Canadian imports : Family Law and Coroner. 

  Here's the schedule all times ET/PT (Denver and St. Louis as well)  ; new series highlighted in Blue 

Monday 

8pm All American 

9pm All American: Homecoming 

Tuesday

8pm The Winchesters 

9pm Professionals 

      

Wednesday 

8pm DC'S Stargirl (new night) 

9pm  Kung Fu 

Thursday 

8pm Walker 

9pm Walker: Independence 

Friday 

8pm Penn & Teller :Fool Us

9pm  Whose Line Is It Anyway?

9:30pm Whose Line Is It Anyway?

Saturday 

8pm Magic with the Stars

9pm  World's Funniest Animals 

9:30pm World's Funniest Animals 

Sunday 

8pm Family Law 

9pm coroner (new night) 

Press Release after the Jump 

FALL TV 2022: CBS

CBS TVLookFall2022  Upfronts 

     CBS' fall line ups are not normally radically changed, and the structures have been mostly the same. This up coming season, there as has been a slight change to Thursday. For many years CBS had devoted 2 hours of comedy on Thursday ,especially after cutting the amount of comedy on Monday nights, but this season CBS has given the 9pm ET hour to a drama that being a new drama called So Help Me Todd . As two Chuck Lorre comedies have been canned, which is also interesting for CBS.  The cutting of comedies also seems to be a theme at networks as well.  Fire Country, a new drama, takes the Magnum P.I slot on Friday. 

    Wednesday is full reality show now, with CSI: Vegas moving to Thursday nights. The Real Love Boat  joins  Survivor and The Amazing Race. Sunday Nights have a new drama as well, with East New York taking up the post Equalizer slot.  NCIS: Los Angles moves down. 

      They have set up True Lies, a drama based off the film, for midseason.  Along with a few alternative series making their way to midseason as well. So far, it seems, CBS hasn't picked up a new comedy series. 

        

        There's not much other changes, otherwise CBS has a stable programming slate. Ghosts moves up to 8:30pm after Young Sheldon on Thursday Nights; the FBI shows still have Tuesdays and there's still 2 NCIS series on the line up.

Here's the line up all times ET/PT (unless otherwise noted) new series are highlighted in blue 

Monday 

8pm The Neighborhood 

8:30pm Bob ♥ Abishola

9pm  NCIS 

10pm  NCIS: Hawai'i 

Tuesday 

8pm FBI 

9pm FBI: International 

10pm FBI: Most Wanted 

Wednesday 

8pm Survivor 

9pm The Amazing Race

10pm The Real Love Boat 

Thursday

8pm  Young Sheldon 

8:30pm Ghosts (new time) 

9pm So Help Me Todd 

10pm CSI : Vegas (new time) 

Friday

8pm S.W.A.T (New Time) 

9pm Fire Country 

10pm Blue Blood 

Saturday

8pm Saturday Encores 

9pm Saturday Encores 

10pm 48 Hours 

Sunday 

7pm 60 Minutes 

8pm The Equalizer 

9pm East New York 

10pm NCIS: Los Angeles (new time) 

Press Release after the Jump

Fall TV 2022: ABC

ABC  TVLookFall2022  Upfronts 

       Football! Well sometimes. ABC is not going back to the full glory of having Monday Night Football on the network as most of the games will still be on ESPN, so ABC will still have some programs on a Monday night. What you won't be seeing is Dancing with the Stars which has moved to Disney Plus, at least for now. Summer staple Bachelor in Paradise will be running instead.  The series will be running twice weekly on Mondays and Tuesdays. 

      Abbott Elementary gets the prime Wednesday 9pm ET slot; three new series  have been added with Alaska, The Rookie: Feds, and Celebrity Jeopardy!  .  This also means the Tuesday comedy block has been put way with. "The Wonder Years" was renewed, but won't on until midseason.   "A Million Little Things" also has been shifted to midseason 

 Here's the line up all times ET/PT (unless otherwise noted)  New series highlighted in Blue 

Monday 

8pm Bachelor in Paradise

10pm The Good Doctor 

Tuesday

8pm Bachelor in Paradise 

10pm The Rookie: Feds

Wednesday

8pm The Conners 

8:30pm The Goldbergs

9pm Abbott Elementary (new night) 

9:30pm Home Economics 

10pm Big Sky (new night) 

Thursday 

8pm Station 19 

9pm Grey's Anatomy 

10pm Alaska 

Friday

8pm Shark Tank 

9pm 20/20 (two hours) 

Saturday

8pm College Football 

Sunday 

7pm America's Funniest Home Videos

8pm Celebrity Jeopardy! 

9pm Celebrity Wheel of Fortune 

10pm The Rookie 

Press release after the jump