Worst Week: Final Fresh Episode Coming Up
June 6, 2009 by Chandra
Saturday TV is looking up this weekend.
Tonight (June 6), CBS will air “The Party,” the 16th and last new episode of the rookie comedy Worst Week. The network officially canceled the sitcom last month, although viewers and industry watchers saw it coming long before that.
Since the summer is almost here, some networks are doing a bit of seasonal cleaning to get rid of the residue left behind by all the series they just canceled last month or earlier. The good news for us TV fans is that we now get the chance to say a final goodbye to some of the axed shows we enjoyed despite their fate.
It’s a Finale for ‘Worst Week’
Worst Week fans, don’t forget that tomorrow night’s new episode is the first-season finale for the newbie.
Judging from the title “The Epidural,” it’s safe to guess that it’s baby time for Sam and Mel. Yet, before the big arrival, Sam manages to wind up at the wrong hospital after Mel calls him with the news she’s in labor and he misunderstands the name.
Worst Week hasn’t been renewed for a second season yet, but the show’s chances are more good than bad. I personally find it just mildly entertaining, but it pulls in decent ratings, no doubt thanks to its hugely popular lead-in Two and a Half Men.
Speaking of which, that Top 10 comedy — or should I say television’s only Top 10 comedy — will be rejoined by its more rambunctious lead-out Rules of Engagement when the David Spade sitcom opens its third season on March 2 at 9:30pm EST.
Worst Week airs Mondays on CBS at 9:30pm EST.
‘How I Met Your Mother’ Goes to ‘The Hills’ Tonight
January 12, 2009 by Chandra
Fans of CBS’ Monday-night comedy lineup can rejoice right now because the two-hour block resumes tonight with all new episodes from all four sitcoms.
The gimmick casting of note is the appearance of The Hills cast members Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt on How I Met Your Mother, along with additional guest stars Kendra Wilkinson, the Playboy Playmate from The Girls Next Door, and Kim Kardashian of Keeping Up with the Kardashians.
CBS is billing all of the guests as reality stars, but considering the female cameos, I thought the casting was going to have something to do with a wet-dream sequence for Barney. Turns out, Marshall comes down with a case of reality-star haunts, which is much less predictable and likely funnier.
The rest of tonight’s new comedy programming follows.
The Big Bang Theory
The Killer Robot Instability
Penny’s observations about Wolowitz’s romantic life (or lack thereof probably) depress him enough to cause him to lose interest in a future fighting robot competition. Fighting robots actually sound fun. [8pm, CBS]
Full Seasons for ‘Kath & Kim’ and ‘Gary Unmarried’
November 18, 2008 by Chandra
In case you missed the news, rookie sitcoms Kath & Kim on NBC and Gary Unmarried on CBS have both received full-season orders of 22 and 20 episodes, respectively, from their home networks.
Considering the fact that neither show is posting impressive ratings, the pickups seem to demonstrate a new reality in the current climate of sluggish viewership: nurture the shows with potential to perform better in the future, or at least hang on to those shows you already have in the stable to keep your schedule free of holes.
Less-than-stellar average ratings of about 6 million (Kath & Kim) and 7.4 million (Gary Unmarried) viewers aside, both sitcoms have demonstrated the ability to not only retain all of the viewers from their lead-in — My Name Is Earl in the case of NBC and The New Adventures of Old Christine on CBS — in key demographics, but also build on their predecessors’ audience in certain age brackets.
In addition, CBS has also ordered three more episodes of Monday night’s Britcom adaptation Worst Week, which brings the series to a freshman total of 16 episodes. It has averaged 9.9 million viewers for each episode, in (large) part thanks to its ultra popular lead-in Two and a Half Men. Since Rules of Engagement will likely return in the winter to air in the 9:30pm, post-Men time slot, the shorter season makes perfect programming sense.
Comedy TV Guide: Mon, Oct 20
October 20, 2008 by Chandra
Lifetime Premieres Rita Rocks
And Nicole Richie guests on Chuck.
Notable Comedy TV scheduled for Monday, October 20 follows.
All times are Eastern Standard.
The Big Bang Theory — The Euclid Alternative
Leonard confronts Sheldon about his fear of driving.
[8pm-8:30pm | CBS]
Chuck — Chuck Versus the Cougars
Nicole Richie guest stars as Sarah’s high school nemesis Heather, whose marriage to a major player in a new investigation, her husband Mark (Ben Savage), causes Sarah much anxiety, especially at their high school reunion.
[8pm-9pm | NBC]
Comedy TV Guide: Mon, Oct 13
October 13, 2008 by Chandra
Emmy-Winning Samantha Who? Is Back!
Notable Comedy TV scheduled for Monday, October 13 follows.
All times are Eastern Standard.
The Big Bang Theory — The Griffin Equivalency
After his article is published, Raj gets flush with momentary fame and puts the moves on Penny. It’s not too hard to guess how that will ultimately end (Poor Raj!).
[8pm-8:30pm | CBS]
Chuck — Chuck Versus the Break-Up
Oh, yeah! Chuck’s college nemesis Bryce Larkin (Matthew Bomer) appears out of nowhere — love it when he visits — and a touchy-feely assignment that requires him to team up again with his old partner and ex-lover Sarah makes Chuck insane with jealousy. Meanwhile, at Buy More, Morgan must cope with a ruthless group of bullies from the mall sporting goods store.
[8pm-9pm | NBC]
Comedy TV Guide: Mon, Oct 6
October 6, 2008 by Chandra
Catch the Final Monday-Night Life
In addition to new Chuck and CBS sitcoms.
Notable Comedy TV scheduled for Monday, October 6 follows.
All times are Eastern Standard.
The Big Bang Theory — The Barbarian Sublimation
Poor Penny gets addicted to online gambling when Sheldon shows her the ropes.
[8pm-8:30pm | CBS]
Chuck — Chuck Versus the Seduction
The long-anticipated arrival of guest star John Larroquette (Boston Legal, Night Court) is finally here. He plays renowned debonair spy Roan Montgomery, while The O.C. veteran Melinda Clarke portrays an enchanting spy known as the Black Widow. In order to go undercover to successfully retrieve the Cipher from the Black Widow, Chuck must first turn to Roan for a few lessons in the difficult art of seduction.
[8pm-9pm | NBC]
Worst Week: 1.02 ‘The Bird’ Recap
October 6, 2008 by Chandra
Original Air Date: September 29, 2008
I’m sensing possible issues ahead for Worst Week because the second episode is nowhere near as funny as the series pilot. Hopefully, the difference is just a fluke.
Realizing he’ll probably never make any headway with her father, Sam decides to focus all of his energy and charm on Mel’s mother Angela instead. The idea is to get her to like him so that her approval will somehow rub off on her husband Dick. First things first, though, such as getting over the vomit in the vase incident (Mel’s morning sickness) and walking in on Mel’s sister Sarah while she’s using a breast pump.
After he clears those hurdles, Sam makes the fatal — at least for the pet — mistake of feeding Dick’s beloved pet birds the avocado he can’t admit to Angela he hates. So, instead of just coming clean when she serves him an omelet loaded with the stuff, he decides to pretend to like it and sneak the food to the birds later.
‘Worst Week’ Lures Oscar Winner Olympia Dukakis
September 29, 2008 by Chandra
This just in: Best Supporting Actress Academy Award winner (1987’s Moonstruck) and multiple Emmy nominee Olympia Dukakis is taking her act to CBS’ new hit sitcom Worst Week.
Dukakis is set to guest star on the episode called “The Ring” as Melanie’s paternal grandmother June Clayton. That would make her the mother of intimidating judge Dick Clayton, so hopefully her appearance will explain a thing or two about her son’s sour disposition.
But, of course, Worst Week is mostly about bumbling Sam. That’s why the plot centers around him losing the invaluable wedding rings that belonged to June’s own grandparents when she gives them to him and Melanie for their upcoming marriage. I wonder if Sam will find the jewelry before the judge rips him a new one with his steely glare alone. Hmmm…
Although “The Ring” is currently unscheduled, it will likely air this fall.
Comedy TV Guide: Mon, Sep 29
September 29, 2008 by Chandra
Get Ready for Some Chuck!
And an all-new CBS lineup, too.
Notable Comedy TV scheduled for Monday, September 29 follows.
All times are Eastern Standard.
The Big Bang Theory — The Codpiece Topology
Uh-oh. Not only do Penny and Leonard break up on this episode, but they also begin competing with each other to see who can hook up with someone else the fastest. What a perfect time, then, for new regular Sara Gilbert to make her first appearance of the season as Leonard’s old flame — and Sheldon’s rival — Leslie Winkle.
[8pm-8:30pm | CBS]
Chuck — Chuck Versus the First Date
It looks like Chuck can finally say goodbye to the spook life and focus on Sarah when he succeeds in preventing scary spy Colt (Michael Clarke Duncan) from securing a device that could help create a new Intersect. Of course, looks can be deceiving, however, and nothing is ever so simple for poor Chuck.
[8pm-9pm | NBC | Second-Season Premiere | Trailer]