At the Upfronts: ABC 2008-2009 Comedy Slate
May 15, 2008 by Chandra
NOTE: Pictures indicate series currently covered at Comedy Centric
Good to Go
According to Jim — 18 Episodes
Eli Stone — 13 Episodes
Pushing Daisies — Full Order
Samantha Who? — Full Order
- Boston Legal — 13 Episodes, Final Season
- Desperate Housewives — Full Order
- Dirty Sexy Money — Full Order
- Ugly Betty — Full Order
On the Way
Scrubs — 18 Episodes, Final Season, Relocating from NBC
- The Goode Family — Half-Hour Animated Series, 13 Episodes
Given the Ax
- Big Shots
- Carpoolers
- Cashmere Mafia
- Cavemen
- Men in Trees
- Miss/Guided
- Notes from the Underbelly
ABC Comedy Series Post-Strike
February 24, 2008 by Chandra
According to Jim
- Currently airing its 18-episode seventh season
- Has not been renewed for an eighth season
Big Shots
- Will not return
- Last new episode aired on January 24
- Complete first season has 11 episodes (11 aired)
- CANCELED on February 12
Boston Legal
- Returns April 8 with 6 new episodes planned
- Last new episode aired on February 19
- Complete fourth season will have 20 episodes
- Has not been renewed for a fifth season
Carpoolers
- Currently airing its 13-episode first season
- Has not been renewed for a second season
Cashmere Mafia
- Completed its first season on February 20
- Complete first season has 7 episodes instead of 13 ordered
- Has not been renewed for a second season
Cavemen
- Will not return
- Last new episode aired on November 13
- Complete first season has 13 episodes (6 aired)
- CANCELED on February 12
Get Your ‘10 Items or Less’ Questions Answered
January 15, 2008 by Chandra
In honor of tonight’s second-season premiere, director Nancy Hower and the entire cast of the half-hour TBS sitcom 10 Items or Less will answer questions from viewers. If you’ve got something you’re just dying to know about the show, its characters, or its cast members, stop by the 11:30pm EST video webcast at tbs.com immediately after the series premiere, which airs tonight at 11pm.
According to the network, the 10 Items or Less Q&A session will reveal a number of interesting tidbits about the series, including what it’s like to film a television show in an actual functioning grocery store instead of a custom-made set, what it’s like working on a partly improvised series that has few or no scripts, and what’s in store during the second season.
This event and show might also be of particular interest to fans of ABC’s disappeared sitcom Cavemen since series star and co-creator John Lehr was one of the original cavemen in the initial Geico commercials. Don’t believe me? Check out his website and the video after the jump for proof.
‘Cavemen’ and ‘Carpoolers’ on Indefinite Hiatus
November 20, 2007 by Chandra
If you’re a fan of ABC’s Tuesday-night comedy hour featuring the rookie sitcoms Cavemen and Carpoolers, you might become a tad miffed upon learning that the network placed both series on indefinite hiatus following last week’s November 13 broadcasts. The reason would be the ratings, of course, which have not been good at all.
There’s no official word yet on the ultimate, final fate of each show. Just suffice it to say that the poorly reviewed and watched Cavemen is likely on its last leg.
Carpoolers did a bit better among critics and TV watchers. Reviews and viewership were mediocre enough for the series to receive an order for three additional scripts back on October 23. Isn’t it weird how that sounds almost like ancient history given the current chaos of the writers strike?
As of now, there are no additional installments of either show scheduled for the remainder of 2007. Six episodes of both have aired to date, leaving seven each on the shelf.
Next on ABC Sitcoms: Cavemen, Carpoolers
November 13, 2007 by Chandra
Cavemen
Rock Vote
NICK AND JOEL TRY TO SWAY ANDY’S VOTE FOR AN UPCOMING ELECTION
For the upcoming election, Nick and Joel try to influence Andy as to who is the best candidate—a fellow caveman or a Homo sapien.
Meanwhile, after the apartment is burglarized, Thorne tries to convince Andy that he should buy a gun.
Cavemen airs Tuesdays on ABC at 8:00pm EST.
Kids in the Hall member Scott Thompson guest stars in this episode of the series created by his fellow Kid Bruce McCulloch. He plays the conceited leader of a rival carpool group.
Carpoolers
A Divorce to Remember
THE GUYS TEST THE STRENGTH OF THE CARPOOLER CODE
The guys feel guilty but swear secrecy when they believe that a prank they pulled caused a rival carpool’s car to catch fire.
Meanwhile, Marmaduke’s latest money making venture, an ATM machine that levies an $8.00 service charge, is cut short after being vandalized by unsatisfied customers.
Carpoolers airs Tuesdays on ABC at 8:30pm EST.
Next on ABC Sitcoms: Cavemen, Carpoolers
November 6, 2007 by Chandra
NOTE TO UGLY BETTY LOVERS: Tonight’s Carpoolers is the episode that features super supermodel and actress Rebecca Romijn, who plays Alexis Meade on Ugly (not to mention Mystique in the X-Men film trilogy). She’ll be guesting as the ex-wife of her real life hubby, series regular and frequent focal point, Jerry O’Connell.
Cavemen
The Shaver
AFTER JOEL JOINS A MOTIVATIONAL PROGRAM LED BY A NEIGHBOR, NICK IS CONVINCED THAT THE NEIGHBOR IS A “SHAVER” — A CAVEMAN WHO SHAVES HIS BODY HAIR IN ORDER TO PASS HIMSELF OFF AS A HOMO SAPIEN
After being passed up for an executive training program at work, Joel joins new apartment neighbor Jake in a motivational networking program. But Nick is convinced that Jake is a “shaver,” a caveman who shaves his body hair in order to pass himself off as a Homo sapien.
Meanwhile, Thorne can barely keep her hands off Andy when she discovers that he goes wild with road rage behind the wheel
Cavemen airs Tuesdays on ABC at 8:00pm EST.
Carpoolers
A Divorce to Remember
THE CARPOOLERS RALLY AROUND THEIR FRIEND WHEN LAIRD’S HOT BUT DESTRUCTIVE EX-WIFE RETURNS
Laird hooks up with his hot but crazy ex-wife, Joannifer (Guest Star Rebecca Romijn), who disrupts all of the carpoolers’ lives.
Meanwhile, Dougie and Cindy decide to renew their wedding vows to wipe out the memory of their catastrophic first wedding ceremony.
Carpoolers airs Tuesdays on ABC at 8:30pm EST.
Next on ABC Sitcoms: Cavemen, Carpoolers
October 23, 2007 by Chandra
Cavemen
The Mascot
NICK LANDS A JOB AS A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER AND DISCOVERS THAT THE SCHOOL MASCOT IS AN OFFENSIVELY STEREOTYPICAL CAVEMAN
Nick takes a job as a substitute teacher and discovers that the school’s mascot is an offensive, stereotypical caveman, which leads him on a quest to have the mascot removed.
Meanwhile, Andy’s search for an accounting job comes to an end when Leslie hires him to balance her books. But he’s torn about what to do when he discovers that Leslie has been dabbling in some creative financing for her lover that could both estrange her from her family and land her in jail.
Guest Star: Jeff Daniel Phillips from the Geico commercials as Maurice
Cavemen airs Tuesdays on ABC at 8:00pm EST.
Carpoolers
Down for the Count
LAIRD’S DOMINANT ROLL IS CALLED INTO QUESTION WHEN HE DISCOVERS GRACEN HAS A HIGHER FERTILITY COUNT
Leader-of-the-pack Laird loses his stud status when he learns his sperm count is low and Gracen’s is high.
Meanwhile, Dougie is reduced to doing manual labor for Aubrey to score a spot in a pre-school, and Marmaduke navigates the modern-day world of bartering
Carpoolers airs Tuesdays on ABC at 8:30pm EST.
Next on ABC Sitcoms: Cavemen, Carpoolers
October 16, 2007 by Chandra
Cavemen
The Cavewoman
NICK FALLS FOR THE CAVEWOMAN WHO WORKS AT A TRENDY, FROZEN YOGURT SHOP
Joel, Nick and Andy fall under the spell of the deliciousness of Fruitberry, a frozen yogurt shop. Though Nick is wary of falling for a fad, he can’t help but fall for the hot cavewoman who works at the shop. Meanwhile, Kate is upset with Joel for not coming to her defense when the cavewoman insults her.
Guest Stars: Kim Director as Heather, Peter James Smith as Fred, Josh Reaves as kid, and Ian Wolterstorff as Dylan
Cavemen airs Tuesdays on ABC at 8:00pm EST.
Ain’t It Cool News has high praise for guest star Kim Director in “Cavewoman” and thinks this episode is actually pretty funny in some spots. That’s saying a lot considering all of the negative attention the series has received of late. I guess now would be the time to give the show a look if you haven’t already.
Carpoolers
Who Would You Do?
GRACEN GETS MORE THAN HE BARGAINED FOR WHEN HE TRIES TO SPICE UP HIS SEX LIFE WITH LEILA
When, in a playful attempt to spice up his marriage, Gracen asks Leila whom she fantasizes about sleeping with, she answers “Laird,” which creates an issue between Gracen and his best friend.
Guest Stars: Jordan Robinson as Aubrey’s kid #1, Don Perry as old man, and Bre Blair as Shayla
Carpoolers airs Tuesdays on ABC at 8:30pm EST.
Next on ‘Cavemen’: Nick Get Job
October 9, 2007 by Chandra
Nick Get Job
JOEL GETS NICK A JOB AT NORSKBILD, BUT WHEN NICK IS FIRED FOR BEING A TERRIBLE WORKER, HE FILES A DISCRIMINATION LAWSUIT AGAINST THE COMPANY
Jeff Daniel Phillips (from the Geico Commercials) Guest Stars as Maurice
After tiring of Nick’s excuses for not having enough money to pay the rent, Joel gets him a job at the home improvement center, Nrskbild [sic]. But when Nick is fired for being a terrible worker, he instantly assumes it’s because he is a caveman and files a lawsuit against the company. Meanwhile, Andy scares a woman while trying to show her that he’s not a scary guy.
Cavemen airs Tuesdays on ABC at 8:00pm EST.
ABC’s ‘Cavemen’ and ‘Carpoolers’ Seem Doomed
October 3, 2007 by Chandra
…at least if you judge by TV fans in the forums.
After catching ABC’s so-called Man Date hour of Tuesday-night comedy last night, I just had to pay a visit to the online TV-show forums to get a taste of how the general public perceived the rookie sitcoms Cavemen and Carpoolers. Unfortunately, the news is NOT looking good for ABC.
Although a few people commented that, like me, they found the shows less painful to watch than expected, the majority of opinions ran the squeaky-thin gamut from “I’ve been struck blind!” to “What the hell is ABC thinking?!”
And, that’s only from the people who bothered to watch in the first place. A large number of participants simply noted that they didn’t give either show a chance based on the lousy advance reviews from others who saw early cuts.
Let’s hope that Christina Applegate’s Samantha Who? receives a warmer reception when it premieres on October 15. Fingers crossed.