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

30 Rock! 30 Rock! 30 Rock!
Honestly — if you haven’t yet heard, Tina Fey’s masterful NBC sitcom 30 Rock is on an awards-show roll, and January 25th’s 15th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards was no different than all of the other ceremonies in recent memory.
The NBC sitcom positively swept the comedy television awards in all three categories: Best Actress, Best Actor, and Best Series. I don’t even have to specify the names of the first two winners because savvy viewers already know.
The biggest loser among the nominees? Ugly Betty, which dropped out of two categories all …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

Yeah, I know — I only mentioned two names in the title. However, the magical number three refers to the number of Chuck episodes that upcoming top-notch guest stars Chevy Chase and Scott Bakula will each be appearing in, according to current reports.
Quantum Leap and Enterprise star Bakula has come onboard to play Chuck and Ellie’s oft-mentioned yet never-before-seen daddy. Considering his huge background and following in the science-fiction television genre, I’m sure fans everywhere are feeling all kinds of thrilled about his casting.
Says series creator Josh Schwartz to E! Online: “They [the Bartowski kids and their estranged …read more

This news truly sucks.
E! Online’s Kristin and tons of other TV industry insiders in the know all report pretty much the same dismal development: ABC is holding off on airing the final episodes of canceled gems Dirty Sexy Money, Eli Stone, and Pushing Daisies until the summer.
For those of us who remember the vastly boring wasteland the summer TV season used to be before basic cable swooped in and made it a legitimate occasion for new stuff, waiting isn’t such a big deal. But, for fans who wanted closure as soon as possible, it’s a whole ‘nother story I’m …read more