The shocker in this press release is how many episodes have already been produced of one of the more forgettable "hit" comedies on CBS (or any network). The show is a half-season order away from 100 episodes, which is the golden threshold a sitcom needs to achieve in order to be sold in syndication. Maybe it's already been sold in syndication, though I don't read much from that corner of the industry anymore. (Domestic syndication: the business that makes the newspaper business look good.)
PR follows....
LIFETIME TELEVISION ACQUIRES EXCLUSIVE OFF-NET CABLE RIGHTS TO HIT COMEDY THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE FROM WARNER BROS. DOMESTIC TELEVISION DISTRIBUTION
Sitcom Starring Emmy(R) Award-Winner Julia Louis-Dreyfus to Premiere on Network in Fall 2010
LOS ANGELES, CA (July 9, 2009) - Lifetime Television, the number one women's network, has acquired the exclusive off-net cable rights to Warner Bros. Television's critically acclaimed hit comedy The New Adventures of Old Christine, starring Emmy(R) Award-winner Julia Louis-Dreyfus, in a deal with Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution.
Under the terms of the agreement, Lifetime will hold the exclusive cable rights to all 88 existing episodes of the program, as well as the exclusive cable rights to all episodes produced in future seasons. The comedy, for which Louis-Dreyfus won an Emmy in 2006 for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series and which won a Humanitas Prize(R) in 2007, will make its off-net cable premiere on Lifetime in fall 2010.
"We couldn't be more excited to bring The New Adventures of Old Christine to Lifetime," said JoAnn Alfano, Executive Vice President, Entertainment, Lifetime Networks. "The show is funny, modern, smart and relatable - a perfect fit for our brand. Julia Louis-Dreyfus is one of the most talented comedic actors of this - or any -generation."
Yep... Tribune and a few other station groups picked it up. I only watch for the Wanda Sykes scenes. You collect those scenes together, you could get maybe one season of solid comedy. The rest of the series is good as a cure for insomnia.
Posted by: Wesley McGee | July 10, 2009 at 03:40 AM
Nice comparison to the Royals! It's a bit of a stretch for anybody to refer to this show as a "hit" :)
Posted by: Abby | July 12, 2009 at 04:52 PM
Christine was many times the funniest comedy of the week on CBS last year. Aside from 2.5 Men (which I won't watch), BBT and HIMYM went through a very long dry spell last winter that was just painful. I'm very pleased that Christine and Gary are coming back.
Posted by: Jason | July 13, 2009 at 08:55 AM