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

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

After conducting a few logical analyses of upcoming programming details, the Futon Critic has determined that Samantha Who? fans will be left out in the cold until at least the end of March.
The 2009 premiere of Christina Applegate’s entertaining sitcom has already been delayed three times as ABC continually bumped episodes originally scheduled to air on January 12, January 19, and January 26.
Now, with the reality series The Bachelor airing extended two-hour episodes and Dancing with the Stars expected to do the same when it returns in March, there’s no room for Samantha Who? on ABC’s Monday-night roster during the …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

Uh-oh, fight lovers!
It looks like tonight’s new episode of The Office, 2009’s first of the year called “Duel,” is going to be the one where Andy learns about the hanky panky happening between his fiancée Angela and their officemate Dwight. And, of course, the news will come not from one of the cheaters, but from Mr. Big Mouth himself, also known as bossman Michael.
When he’s not busy revealing stuff that’s none of his business, Michael deals with the stress of being told to report to the corporate offices in order to speak with Wallace. What could possibly be …read more

Talk about a nostalgic throwback to the good ol’ days of TV. Original CHiPs man Erik Estrada, better known to some folks as just Ponch, guest stars on the next episode of My Name Is Earl, tomorrow’s “Darnell Outed.” Sadly, however, he won’t be playing a tight-pants-wearing motorcycle cop from Cali.
Instead, Estrada is taking on the role of — surprise! — himself as the host of a fictional new reality show with the catchy name Estrada or Nada. When the program heads to Camden in search of talent, Earl convinces Joy to give it a go, and …read more

Kelsey Grammer’s previously reported ABC sitcom pilot Roman’s Empire is no more after the network failed to move forward with it. No worries, though, because now he’s been given another chance to return to the tube with a second, currently untitled ABC comedy pilot.
The latest project stars Grammer as a wealthy businessman derailed by a downsizing that leaves him without his high-power job. As a result, he finds himself with lots more time to hang out with his family.
Fingers crossed the four-time Frasier Emmy winner has better luck with this potential series, although I’d watch him in just …read more

Neil Flynn, the versatile actor who plays the notoriously nameless Janitor on Scrubs, has just landed a starring role in Patricia Heaton’s forthcoming ABC sitcom pilot called The Middle.
Flynn will play the husband of Heaton’s character, both middle-class parents who live in middle America and struggle to bring their three children up properly. Obviously, the family comedy’s title is extremely accurate, and the lead pairing sounds like a promising match.
I hope this one makes it through the pilot process for a pickup and fares better than Heaton’s most recent sitcom, Back to You on cancel-em-quick Fox.
…read more

Here’s a stunner of sorts.
The Brad Garrett/Joely Fisher sitcom ‘Til Death has been off the air since October 8 of last year, with not a word about a return date. This caused many industry watchers to believe the likelihood of the show returning was slim to none, especially since just seven episodes of ‘Til Death have aired thus far during its current third season, three of which were holdovers from the writers strike-shortened second season.
Yet, Fox recently announced at the Television Critics Association Press Tour currently underway that the network has renewed the comedy for not just a fourth …read more