Tonight (May at 8pm ET, the CW sitcom Everybody Hates Chris presents its fourth-season finale, which may also end up being the show’s series finale, given the network’s current exclusive focus on teenage female viewers.

During “Everybody Hates G.E.D.,” Chris learns the sobering news that he’ll have to repeat the tenth grade if he receives one more tardy. Who wants that on their shoulders, right? So, of course, Chris does everything possible to arrive at school on time.

Nonetheless, he’s eventually late again when he misses the bus one day, and to make matters worse, he then has to tell his parents about the repercussions. I can hear Rochelle’s strident, angry voice right now.

Meanwhile, Chris’ younger brother Drew attempts to brainstorm a talent after he decides he wants to try out for Amateur Night at the Apollo. The boy certainly dreams big!

Continue reading for details about The Game…

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Everybody Hates Chris fans, make sure you catch the fresh May 1st and May 8th episodes of the series because it looks more and more like they will be the excellent comedy’s last ones.

The CW apparently has no more use for sitcoms or television shows that don’t target an audience of teenage girls, putting Chris and The Game, its current Friday-night companion, in grave danger of impending cancellation.

Tomorrow’s brand-new episode is called “Everybody Hates Bomb Threats.” After Chris and his classmates are required to memorize and recite a World War II speech as punishment for him disrupting the class, he decides to call in a fake bomb threat to avoid doing the work. Meanwhile, Rochelle gets walloped with a freaky voodoo hex when she refuses to give a disgruntled customer a refund.

Sneak a peek at the episode in the Director’s Cut video after the jump, which provides a behind-the-scenes look at the episode, guided by director Keith Truesdale (The Secret Life of the American Teenager, 7th Heaven, Girlfriends, The Bernie Mac Show).

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Should we be worried, Everybody Hates Chris and The Game fans?

Earlier this week, The CW announced its early decision to renew six series for an additional season: 90210, America’s Next Top Model, Gossip Girl, One Tree Hill, Smallville, and Supernatural. As the list clearly shows, Everybody Hates Chris and The Game aren’t included. Neither is the midseason dramedy Reaper, but that show is unique because it has yet to premiere during the current 2008–2009 season.

So, my question is do sitcom fans have cause for concern given that no pickup went to either of The CW’s only series in that genre? Sure, it’s still early days, but this looks like a lack of confidence in the merit of keeping the half-hour comedies around a while longer.

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There’s a fresh episode of Everybody Hates Chris coming up tonight, January 9, at 8pm EST called “Everybody Hates Mr. Levine.”

When a stranger helps Chris during a blackout, he decides to help the man in turn by encouraging him to meet new people.

Meanwhile, Greg becomes upset when he discovers that everybody at school refers to him as “Chris and Greg,” as if he’s not his own person, and Rochelle adopts a new attitude when she learns — get ready for a great twist — that her birth certificate indicates she’s actually one whole year younger than she thought she was. Now, how does something like that happen?!

Sneak a peek at the episode in the Director’s Cut video after the jump.

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If the deluge of holiday specials and repeats has you down in the dumps right about now, take pleasure in the fact that at least The CW is serving up fresh TV tonight on the sitcoms Everybody Hates Chris and The Game. Even better for some grinches, both episodes are free of holiday themes.

At 8pm EST, “Everybody Hates James” finds Rochelle convinced Julius is committing adultery after he overdoes the advice he learns from The Oprah Winfrey Show. Meanwhile, Chris strives to survive the experience of joining the Big Brothers program as a volunteer after the shock of learning who his Little Brother is. An encore of the current season’s premiere, “Everybody Hates Tattaglia,” follows at 9pm.

On The Game’s Debbie Allen-directed “Oh, What a Night” at 8:30pm, Melanie copes with her complicated relationships; Tasha decides to see other men besides Rick Fox when she decides their relationship has no future; and Jason tries to convince his daughter Brittany he’s still capable of being a good father despite the divorce, which she’s convinced is his fault. And, of course, an encore of the current season’s premiere, “Baby on Board,” follows at 9:30pm.

No, not that Big Bird. Everybody loves him to death, of course.

The title of the next Everybody Hates Chris episode, “Everybody Hates Big Bird,” refers to Kelly, a geeky girl from his high school with the nickname Big Bird, who asks Chris out on a date, just as he’s starting to feel comfortable in his new academic digs.

Predictably, Chris isn’t interested, but he goes out with Kelly anyway to avoid hurting her feelings. The upside of the situation is he then realizes she’s not so bad after spending time with her.

Kelly is played by tall, gangly, and clearly pretty actress Nina Mansker; she looks just like a teen model to me. Preview her guest-star appearance in the behind-the-scenes video after the jump.

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Notable Comedy TV scheduled for Friday, October 24 follows.

All times are Eastern Standard.

Everybody Hates Chris — Everybody Hates the English Teacher
Chris tries to get out of reading Ralph Ellison’s novel Invisible Man by watching the movie with the same name, and Mr. Omar introduces Drew and Tonya to the vice of gambling when he moves in with the Rocks temporarily after Julius and Rochelle raise his rent.
[8pm-8:30pm | The CW]

The Game — Just the Three of Us
Melanie becomes jealous when Derwin goes with Janay to her first pregnancy checkup, and Jason refuses to help Kelly break the news of their separation to their daughter Brittany.
[8:30pm-9pm | The CW]

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Everybody Hates Chris Pays Tribute to The Cosby Show

Notable Comedy TV scheduled for Friday, October 17 follows.

All times are Eastern Standard.

Everybody Hates Chris — Everybody Hates Homecoming
Orlando Jones guest stars as Dr. Clint Huxtable, the father of Jenise (Tristin Mays), who asks Chris to be her date for Tattaglia’s homecoming dance. Clint insists on meeting Chris at their Cosby lookalike home before the couple goes to the event. Also, when Drew takes over Chris’ job at Doc’s, he has an immediate impact.
[8pm-8:30pm | The CW | Sneak Peeks]

The Game — Just When I Thought I Was Out… She Pulls Me Back In
Fatherhood anxiety messes with Derwin and Melanie’s sex life; Tasha tries to hide her relationship with Rick Fox, who’s ready to go public; and Malik’s marriage to Robin Givens becomes troubled when he realizes she’s too into their status as a celebrity couple. Rick Fox and Robin Givens guest star as themselves.
[8:30pm-9pm | The CW]

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Tonight’s episode of Everybody Hates Chris is called “Everybody Hates Homecoming,” and it’s a homage to one of the most popular sitcoms in recent decades, The Cosby Show.

7 Up Man Orlando Jones guest stars as Dr. Clint Huxtable, the father of Jenise (Tristin Mays), who asks Chris to be her date for Tattaglia’s homecoming dance. Before they can go, however, her father Clint wants to meet Chris at their Cosby lookalike home.

Sneak a peek at the episode in the two clips after the jump.

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Original Air Date: October 10, 2008

There are many standout moments during this episode of Everybody Hates Chris, first and foremost the scenes featuring former Martin co-stars Tichina Arnold and Tisha Campbell Martin. Tisha plays Peaches, a recently released ex-convict (she unintentionally aided and abetted her thieving boyfriend by sitting in the getaway car and not running away when the cops came) who also happens to be the mother of Tasha, Chris’ first and former crush from the building.

Despite Rochelle’s initial disdain for loudmouthed Peaches and her brash ways — such as barging in on the Rocks for a meal … with her man … uninvited … over an hour after they already ate — the two mothers end up having some thing in common. That would be their mutual disrespect for meter maids, as the funny scenes with them abusing their neighborhood version in identical manners show.

Meanwhile, still trying to get used to high school at Tattaglia without his best friend Greg there, Chris quickly realizes the only fellow student he has a connection with is Caruso, who still abuses him whenever possible. At least he can be happy about Home Ec, where all the girls look like they’re from Victoria’s Secret and the classroom always smells like biscuits.

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