Fourth-place broadcast network NBC really demonstrated its determination to remain in that lowly position during The Peacock’s “Infront” presentation earlier today. Apparently, it cares not a lick about genuinely original yet thoroughly entertaining programs, as the confirmed cancellation of the stellar Damian Lewis and Sarah Shahi cop dramedy Life proves.
Also confirmed as canceled are the God-awful remakes Kath & Kim and Knight Rider. It actually pains me to see a terrific series like Life lumped together with two shows that never should have made it past go in the first place. Given the upcoming primetime Leno fiasco, …read more

Tonight’s brand-new episode of Kath & Kim called “Home” marks the show’s first-season finale. And, no, the series hasn’t been picked up for a second season.
Considering the critical bashing it’s received from all over, in addition to the less than impressive ratings, and it’s highly unlikely a renewal is coming. Sorry, fans.
During the finale, when Kath isn’t spiffing up her house in hopes it will be considered for something called the Parade of Homes, she asks Phil to move right on in with her. Elsewhere, her daughter Kim becomes upset when Craig forgets the anniversary of their second …read more

I guarantee that fans of old-school nighttime soaps are gonna love MY NAME IS EARL’s brand-new episode “Friends with Benefits” tonight at 8pm EST. It features Falcon Crest’s Morgan Fairchild and Knots Landing’s Joan Van Ark as guest stars. How sweet is that?
Now all we need is somebody from Dallas and the nostalgic circle of joy would be complete. Also dropping by during the episode is Less Than Perfect alumna Andrea Parker.
When Mr. Turtle finds his way home after being lost, Earl decides to return him to Darnell, who’s in Witness Protection and currently living in an …read more

I just know all the Mad Men fans out there can’t wait for the next fresh episode of 30 Rock called “Generalissimo.” That’s because it features the one and only John Hamm, who happens to play Don Draper on AMC’s Emmy-winning, critically acclaimed period drama.
On NBC’s own Emmy-winning sitcom, Hamm guest stars as Dr. Drew Baird, Liz Lemon’s cute single neighbor and latest love thang, as the photo above clearly shows. Somehow, I don’t think the relationship is going to work out too well because, well, these things never do for poor, lovelorn Liz. That’s one of …read more

Burn Notice fans are in for a huge delight tonight when the USA Network crime dramedy returns to resume its second season at 10pm EST with the premiere “Do No Harm.”
Longtime viewers will remember that the midseason hiatus began with a bomb waiting for Michael in his apartment. Well, I’m happy to say the former spy survives the disastrous explosion, but it does leave a noticeable mark on his attitude.
As a result, when he decides to help a father with a dying son who has been scammed by a shady drug company, Michael’s approach gives the series a fresh …read more

I’ve got bad news here, Kath & Kim fans. Just like the equally awful — no offense intended — NBC drama Knight Rider before it, the NBC sitcom Kath & Kim has suffered a sheering of sorts at the hands of network programming executives.
In the midst of all the Television Critics Association press tour madness last week, the Futon Critic learned that instead of making good on its 22-episode, full-season order for the Australian import back in November, NBC intends to decrease the comedy’s freshman season to just 17 episodes instead.
The reason is presumably the usual suspect, of course: …read more

NBC’s Thursday-night Comedy Done Right lineup returns almost intact tonight, save for The Office, which is a repeat of the current season’s “The Surplus.”
Add a new episode of Ugly Betty for America Ferrera et al fans, and that means there’s a pretty good night of primetime comedy on the way today, January 8.
My Name Is Earl
Got the Babysitter Pregnant
Now there’s a suggestive title, although it’s not what fans might think. Earl didn’t get the babysitter pregnant himself, but he sure plotted to mess her life up when she broke his heart. Older and wiser and with a Karma …read more

Tomorrow, NBC is intent on getting the fans of its Thursday-night sitcom lineup in the mood for Christmas by rolling out four back-to-back holiday episodes. That’s right — My Name Is Earl, Kath & Kim, The Office, *and* 30 Rock are all taking on Xmas in a very big way.
8pm – My Name Is Earl presents “Orphan Earl”: Earl decides to cross a man off of his list whom Joy and her pals have been conning for years.
8:30pm – Kath & Kim presents “Friends”: Kath and Phil throw a Christmas party to widen their circle of “couple friends.”
9pm – …read more

In case you missed the news, rookie sitcoms Kath & Kim on NBC and Gary Unmarried on CBS have both received full-season orders of 22 and 20 episodes, respectively, from their home networks.
Considering the fact that neither show is posting impressive ratings, the pickups seem to demonstrate a new reality in the current climate of sluggish viewership: nurture the shows with potential to perform better in the future, or at least hang on to those shows you already have in the stable to keep your schedule free of holes.
Less-than-stellar average ratings of about 6 million (Kath & Kim) and 7.4 …read more

NBC has a trio of previews for its upcoming adaptation of the hit Australian comedy Kath & Kim.
Some folks haven’t given the series a kind reception, but that’s not going to stop me from checking out the show when it premieres. Just the fact that Saturday Night Live veteran Molly Shannon stars is enough to get me interested, and having Hellboy’s Selma Blair in the cast, too, certainly doesn’t hurt.
Take a look at the previews after the jump to see if Kath & Kim looks promising (or not) from your perspective. The sitcom premieres on October 9 at …read more