As we sitcom fans already know, the NBC comedy The Office has scored the post-Super Bowl XLIII time slot, which happens to be this very coming Sunday, February 1st.
Follow the jump for a slew of videos featuring various Office people involved with the special two-part, hourlong-episode “Stress Relief,” including guest stars Jack Black and Cloris Leachman in the fourth clip. Actress Jessica Alba is also slated for an appearance and is shown briefly in the fifth video.
Although I reiterate how refreshing it would have been if NBC had given the coveted spot to a struggling yet worthy show like …read more

On the next episode of Burn Notice, tonight’s “Hot Spot,” Michael, Fiona, and Sam pretend to be a gang of ruthless car thieves.
The undercover work is for their latest case targeting a thug who has been threatening a local high school football star. When they’re not busy with that, Michael and Fiona also manage to locate the person responsible for trying to murder Michael by setting up the bomb that torched his loft.
Michael Irving guest stars as Coach Sean Martin on this one. And, unless my eyes are deceiving me, that’s former Blade: The Series star Kirk Jones, …read more

NBC is rolling out the sneak peeks and behind-the-scenes clips for next Monday’s Chuck, “Chuck Versus the Third Dimension,” the first fresh episode of the sophomore series in 2009.
This is the one in 3D where Lost alum Dominic Monaghan drops by to reprise his role as Charlie Pace play a rock star who causes Chuck Bartowski some serious headaches after the team rescues him from certain death.
Take a look at the earlier post “Preview: Dominic Monaghan in ‘Chuck Versus the Third Dimension’” to see the guest star in action, and follow the jump for a couple of video clips that …read more

Well, there’s no doubt how much TBS loves Tyler Perry, the man responsible for one, going on two now, of the network’s most popular original series.
Yesterday, the basic-cable network announced that it has ordered an additional 80 — yes, eighty — episodes of Perry’s second sitcom, Meet the Browns, based on premiere ratings that are only surpassed by those that Perry’s first sitcom, House of Payne, earned when it debuted in June 2007. I must say I’m happy about this news because Meet the Browns has proven to be a funny and engaging comedy so far.
Variety reports that Meet …read more

Director and writer Kevin Smith has done it again. Combining the talents of Seth Rogen (Pineapple Express, Superbad, Knocked Up) and Elizabeth Banks (Scrubs, The 40 Year Old Virgin, the Spider-Man trilogy) with a hilarious script helped him create his latest hit flick, last year’s distinctively titled sex comedy Zack and Miri Make a Porno.
The movie follows the adventures of Zack Brown (Rogen) and Miriam Linky (Banks) as they attempt to do exactly what the title says. Nobody can claim they don’t know what they’re getting themselves into when they sit down to watch this one.
But, Zack and …read more

The comedy drama Soul Men was a bittersweet film release for two major reasons: the cast includes comedian Bernie Mac and musician Isaac Hayes, both of whom passed away unexpectedly within a day of each other, on August 9th and August 10th of last year, respectively. Fans of the entertainers will have the chance to own a memento next month when the music-themed movie is released on DVD on Tuesday, February 10.
Soul Men is about two estranged soul music legends (Mac and Samuel L. Jackson) who discover their friend and former bandleader has died. Afterwards, they decide to …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

If you haven’t heard yet, Lost alum Dominic Monaghan has an upcoming guest-star gig on the very special February 2 episode of Chuck called “Chuck Versus the Third Dimension.”
The episode’s not just a big deal because of Monaghan, of course, but also because (1) it’s the first new Chuck of 2009 and (2) it will supposedly be broadcast in exciting 3-D. I say supposedly because I’ve tried watching 3-D TV and movies before, and neither ever did a thing for me. Maybe this time will be the charm.
Monaghan plays — surprise … not! — a rock star, this …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

In what qualifies as complete no-brainer news, NBC has given sitcoms 30 Rock and The Office early pickups for a fourth and sixth season, respectively.
The network announced the decision on January 15 during its presentation at the Televsion Critics Association press tour. Also the recipient of another season is weight-loss reality hit The Biggest Loser.
In addition, while no decision has been made about new comedy Kath & Kim, it was announced that Amy Poehler’s still untitled sitcom will take over the Australian import’s time slot, beginning on Thursday, April 9, at 8:30pm EST.
I’m really looking forward to that one, …read more