fred willard

Iconic TV director James Burrows has joined the FOX series Back to You as an executive producer and the main director for at least the first season.

While I've personally never been a huge fan of the sitcoms Burrows has been involved with (Cheers, Friends, Dharma and Greg, Will and Grace, Fraiser, Two and a Half Men, countless others), it's no secret the man has a way of propelling sitcoms to new heights, which is undoubtedly what the hope is for Back to You. Also, let me quickly add that I understand the appeal of many of Burrows' series, I'm just not wired for their style of humor. It could be a factory defect, I don't know.

Back to You stars Kelsey Grammer, Patricia Heaton and Fred Willard as members of a news team in Pittsburgh who reunite after their main anchor, played by Grammer, returns after being disgracefully fired from his position in a bigger market.

(S10E18) Let's start with the best part of the episode first, which would happen to be the last scene. Teal'c, who had very little to say or do this week (he had his moment last episode) takes in a showing of The Virginia Monologues, at the recommendation of Vala's estranged father Jasec (more on him later). Of course, Jasec being from an alien planet and all, he kind of got the title of the play messed up. So, Teal'c got to see a wonderful production of The Vagina Monologues instead. Watching this feared Jaffa warrior squirm in his seat while sitting in a audience of solely women was the funniest part of the episode.

All of the scenes prior to that . . . not as funny or as interesting.

I used to work in a television newsroom, which is why I was interested in getting a sneak peek at the script for Action News. Fox has picked up the pilot for the fall season and has attached stars Fred Willard, Patricia Heaton, and Kelsey Grammer (and possibly Nate Corddry, but I'll get to that in a minute). The premise for the multi-camera sitcom is that egotistical anchorman Chuck Tatham (Grammer) has returned to his old stomping grounds of Buffalo, NY to reunite on-air with his former co-anchor, Patty Carr (Heaton).

Action News just got a whole lot more enticing. The initial news that Fox was picking up the newsroom sitcom, starring Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton, made me throw up in my mouth just a little bit. Now funnyman Fred Willard has been added to the cast. He'll join the comedy vets on the desk as the sports anchor.

I was a little surprised that he's doing sports, rather than weather. Doesn't Fred Willard strike you as a goofy weather guy? He may be the one who holds the show afloat a la Alec Baldwin (wow, I really have no faith in Grammer or Heaton). Willard appeared on later episodes of Everybody Loves Raymond with Heaton when he played Robert's super religious father-in-law.

Action News is about a former anchor team that reunites on the anchor desk of a local newscast. It should appear on Fox this fall.

[Via TV Tattle]

As Julia mentioned last month, NBC is launching a comedy improv series with an impressive guest list (details below). Thank God You're Here is adapted from an Australian improv series that's part game show, part Whose Line is it Anyway? Contestants will have to choose doors where a comedy sketch is taking place. The guest will be welcomed with the line, "Thank God You're Here!" and they will have to improv their way into the scene. Judges/hosts will be Kids in the Hall's Dave Foley and In Living Color's David Alan Grier.

Guests scheduled to appear include Jennifer Coolidge, Fred Willard, Bryan Cranston, Jason Alexander, Wayne Knight, Ana Gasteyer, Chelsea Handler, Joel McHale, George Takei, Tom Green, Nicole Sullivan, Tom Arnold, Fran Drescher, Shannon Elizabeth, Paul Rodriguez, Eddie Kaye Thomas, Mo'Nique, and Alanis Morrisette.

I have always been a sucker for Whose Line is it Anyway?, so I'm going to give this one a chance for sure. Thank God You're Here premieres on two Mondays, April 9 and 16 at 8 pm, before moving to its permanent timeslot on Wednesday, April 18 at 8 pm.

NBC Universal Television gets to go mining for comedy gold over at the famous Second City Improv Theatre. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the studio and the theatre have signed a two-year deal that allows NBC access to Second City shows, talent, and comedy library. NBC intends to use the information to develop comedy content for new television programs. "We look at it as a great resource of talent and ideas that we can share back and forth," said NBC Universal TV president Angela Bromstad.

Good move on NBC's part. Second City alumni include Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Andy Dick, Chris Farley, Bill Murray, Fred Willard, Bonnie Hunt, Amy Sedaris, Stephen Colbert... and the list goes on and on. These people know what funny is.

Add Ricky Gervais to the list of cool kids who get to star in Christopher Guest films (This is Spinal Tap, Best in Show, Waiting for Guffman). Gervais, creator and star of The Office and Extras, will make his big screen debut in Guest's new movie, For Your Consideration. It's about the cast of an indie flick that starts to get high hopes when their movie gets internet buzz and rumors fly about possible nominations. The movie stars the usual Guest actors, including Catherine O'Hara, Eugene Levy, Parker Posey and Fred Willard. Gervais and American The Office actor John Krasinski also have roles. Interestingly, Christopher Guest changed up his format for his new movie. It's not his typical, improvised 'mockumentary', but it's being called "a movie within a movie", with lots of scripted scenes. It's the first movie role for Gervais, who said he accepted the part because "Christopher Guest is the single biggest influence on my comedy."

For Your Consideration hits theaters in November.