The major networks are hoping you'll laugh -- or at least tune in -- in the 2006-2007 fall season. The lineups, being announced this week, include many new comedies and several returning favorites.
NBC's TV Comedy Lineup in 2006:
The Wednesday comedy drought finally ends with two new sitcoms scheduled. 30 Rock, a sitcom starring Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey, goes backstage at a Saturday Night Live-style sketch comedy show. Twenty Good Years has John Lithgow and Jeffrey Tambor as two "old guys" who decide to live it up. Thursdays, My Name Is Earl and The Office return. Later in the season, look for The Singles Table, which loosely follows the Friends formula; and Andy Barker, P.I., with Conan O'Brien regular Andy Richter. It will be a long wait for Scrubs, which will also return later in the season, hopefully with more doubled-up episodes. New, returning and cancelled NBC shows for 2006.
ABC's TV Comedy Lineup in 2006:
There are several new comedies coming down the road at ABC. On Tuesday nights, The Knights of Prosperity brings back Donal Logue from Grounded for Life, who hatches a plot to rob Mick Jagger (making a cameo appearance). Opposite a strong NBC comedy lineup, Thursday nights will see two new sitcoms. Big Day is 24 meets Father of the Bride, with a whole season based around one couple's wedding day. Following that is Notes from the Underbelly, about a young couple expecting their first baby. On Friday nights, Ugly Betty is an hour-long comedy about a normal girl thrown into the superficial world of high fashion.
According to Jim and George Lopez survived another season, but Hope & Faith and Freddie did not. And I for one am glad to see America's Funniest Home Videos return yet again. Get the full scoop on the new and returning ABC shows, plus the full ABC schedule for 2006-2007.
CBS's TV Comedy Lineup in 2006:
Good news for Friends and Seinfeld fans. Friends co-creator David Crane has a new sitcom, The Class, about a group of twenty-somethings who are long-time friends. Later in the season, Seinfeld's Puddy (Patrick Warburton) will star in Rules of Engagement, about relationships in New York City.
How I Met Your Mother, Two and a Half Men, The New Adventures of Old Christine and King of Queens are all returning.
Courting Alex and Out of Practice are not.
Fox's TV Comedy Lineup in 2006:
Good news and bad news for those of you who voted in the Fox comedy poll. Good news, The Loop is returning for a second spin, although we have to wait until January. Bad news, The Bernie Mac Show won't be returning.
Fox announced three new comedies. Seth MacFarlane of Family Guy and American Dad is taking a stab at a live-action sitcom, The Winner. Brad Garrett from Everybody Loves Raymond stars in an updated version of Married, With Children called 'Til Death. The folks behind That 70s Show have put together Happy Hour, about a small-town boy trying to make it work in the big city.
CW's TV Comedy Lineup in 2006:
The WB and UPN merged to create a new network, CW. When the two schedules came together, many shows were left out in the cold. In fact, none of the WB's comedies made the switch. CW did add one comedy to the lineup, a spin-off of Girlfriends that will follow it on the schedule. Called The Game, it goes behind the scenes with the wives and girlfriends of NFL players.
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