Posted on 03/07/2009 11:26:29 AM PST by My Favorite Headache
One Cancellation, One New Deal For Caliendo TBS cancels 'Frank TV' while Fox Sports re-ups his NFL deal
By Alex Weprin -- Broadcasting & Cable It is good news and bad news for comedian Frank Caliendo.
TBS will not be bringing back his sketch comedy series Frank TV for another season, but he has signed a new deal to continue his role with Fox NFL Sunday for another two years.
The TBS comedy series, which debuted in November 2007, gained notoriety early on mostly because it was heavily promoted by the network during its baseball playoff broadcasts that year, enough so that even Caliendo would joke about it in subsequent interviews.
Frank TV premiered strong, garnering 3.2 million viewers its first night, and averaging 2.1 million viewers during its inaugural run of five episodes.
That success led the network to order an additional eight episodes in February of 2008, which aired beginning in October. The last of the eight new episodes, "Frank the Halls," debuted December 23.
The series featured Caliendo impersonating celebrities such as George W. Bush and John Madden in a series of sketches.
But Fox Sports is confirming Caliendo’s Madden will return along with his other characters – ranging from Charles Barkley to Fox’s own Terry Bradshaw -- on Fox’s NFL coverage. Caliendo will continue to provide his taped pieces, at the end of which he offers predictions of that week’s games.
Caliendo replaced Jimmy Kimmel on the Fox NFL studio coverage.
“Frank is an integral part of the success that has made Fox NFL Sunday the number one pregame show in NFL history,” said Scott Ackerson, the show’s coordinating producer.
Life on Mars' has been cancelled, reports Variety. The decision was made after the show earned middling ratings. On the bright side: 'Mars'' five remaining episodes will still air as planned, allowing the show to finish up its central mystery. Giving fans time to ponder which 'stache they'll miss the most.
'Sarah Silverman' Renewed
'The Sarah Silverman Program' has been renewed, reports Variety. The show will officially move forward with its third season under a brand new 10-episode order. It was previously reported that the show's executive producers -- among them, Silverman -- had threatened to quit due to proposed budget cuts.
Hughley Breaks Bad News
D.L. Hughley is switching gears at CNN. His show 'D.L. Hughley Breaks the News' is ending so the host can be permanently based in L.A. with his family, according to EW. However, Hughley isn't leaving CNN entirely: The funnyman will reportedly stay on as a contributor from Los Angeles. Talk about breaking news.
Hadn’t heard of FrankTV and Hughley is a racist idiot, good riddance.
“D.L. Hughley: The funnyman will reportedly stay on as a contributor from Los Angeles. Talk about breaking news.”
How is he distuinguisable from the ither “funny men” at the network???
That Frank guy did the worst Bush impressions ever.
I never thought Frank TV was all that funny anyway.
In general, Frank Caliendo is the Worst. Impressionist. Ever.
His Al Pacino is hysterical
It was more like a poor imitation of Will Farrell’s impression of Bush. And all his other impressions were the same way. He sucked.
I guess Mike Steele will miss Hugeley.
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