Day: January 18, 2011

This afternoon, I happened to catch part of the daytime chat show, The Talk, the very idea of which makes me want to hit myself with a hammer. Which, interestingly enough, is how guest Bob Newhart described growing up with three sisters! Newhart, married for 48 years, said he met his wife when Buddy Hackett set him up with her on a blind date. Newhart also argues that laughter is the key to a lengthy marriage, and cited Hackett, Don Rickles, George Burns as evidence that comedians — of all the performing artists — make for the best spouses. As I pointed out on Twitter earlier today, there are some obvious exceptions to that rule. I know that all too well. Roll the clip already!...

After being off the air for the fall and first part of winter, Parks and Recreation returns to the NBC lineup this Thursday. Apparently, nobody told Rob Lowe until Funny or Die could get camera crews in place for this NSFW video. Kidding. We're all kidding. But seriously. Just keep an eye on Aziz Ansari during this video. Roll it!...

The winter press tour for the TV Critics Association in Pasadena, Calif., wrapped up business over the weekend, so it might be good to catch you all up on what's what in terms of TV comedy in the coming months. By network. ABC: Early renewals for next fall already for Castle, Cougar Town, The Middle and Modern Family. Mr. Sunshine, starring Matthew Perry, debuts on Feb. 9. Happy Endings will show up on April 13. CBS: The Big Bang Theory has been renewed for three additional seasons. FOX: Raising Hope will return next fall for a second season, while Running Wilde and The Good Guys are done. Bob's Burgers debuted two episodes ago. Catch up! Traffic Light will debut on Feb. 8. FX: Wilfred, the show based on an Australian series in which a man (Elijah Wood) sees a dog as a man in a dog costume (Jason Gann, reprising his Aussie role), will debut at 10 p.m. Thursday sometime this summer. Followed by the second season of Louis CK's Louie. CK has filmed some of his stand-up for it, but no full production just yet. The seventh and final season of Denis Leary's Rescue Me kicks off July 12. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and The League both will return in the fall. GSN: Not sure they were part of TCA (probably not), but during it, the Game Show Network...