‘The Big Bang Theory’ Gets 3 More Seasons; ‘Raising Hope’ Renewed

CBS has picked up its hit comedy The Big Bang Theory for whopping three year deal, landing it a safe spot on the network’s lineup until 2014. In other comedy news, Fox has granted freshman sitcom Raising Hope a second season after extending its first season run to 22 episodes in October.

The Big Bang Theory has been steadily growing in the ratings since it premiered in 2007. For the 2009-2010 season the show averaged almost 15 million viewers an episode, and viewership was down only slightly last fall. The Big Bang Theory was secured in a two-year deal in 2009, and the extension means that at least seven seasons will be produced.

It gets a lot of play for its depiction of geeky twenty-somethings, and often features commendable fan-service to the same group. In addition to consistent nerdy humor arising from its socially awkward, rocket scientist male leads, the show regularly recruits sci-fi staples like Summer Glau and Wil Wheaton as guest stars.

The extension granted to The Big Bang Theory further cements its place as one of CBS’ biggest comedies. The show has roughly the same amount of viewers as Two and a Half Men, now in its seventh season and scheduled for at least two more. In 2010 The Big Bang Theory was successfully moved to Thursday night to spread CBS’s comedy viewers around, and has remained steady.

Fox has once again gone to its dysfunctional family comedy niche with Raising Hope. The show centers around a 23-year-old single father raising his daughter after a one-night stand. Beside the off-kilter comedy (not unlike Malcolm in the Middle or Arrested Development), the reversal of traditional gender roles has endeared it to fans. The show has averaged more than six million viewers in its initial episodes, and was nominated for Favorite New TV Comedy in the 2011 People’s Choice Awards. Raising Hope lost to the Twitter-inspired $h*! [Bleep] My Dad Says, which follows The Big Bang Theory on CBS.

Fans of Raising Hope can breathe a sigh of relief at the news. Fox is notorious for their ruthless attitude towards new shows, and comedies The Good Guys and Running Wilde were dropped earlier this week at the Winter TCA. Fox announced Raising Hope‘s renewal at the same event.

-

The Big Bang Theory airs Thursday nights at 8:00 PM on CBS. Raising Hope will return to Fox’s Tuesday night lineup on February 11th.

Source: Deadline Hollywood, The Futon Critic

View the original article here

Jason Lee Talks ‘Raising Hope,’ ‘Memphis Beat’ & Future Projects

On Tuesday night’s episode of Raising Hope – titled “Burt Rocks” – Jason Lee reunites with My Name is Earl creator Greg Garcia on his new television venture. In it, Lee will play hair-band rocker Smokey Floyd. Smokey is character Burt Chance’s (Garret Dillahunt) music idol and in this new episode he will be rocking out at an event called Grocery-Palooza.

Lee, currently starring in TNT’s Memphis Beat, took part in a conference call on Monday to discuss his guest spot on Fox’s hit comedy.

Given his history of playing musicians in both film and TV, I asked him about the importance of music in his life and for him to fill us in on his musical tastes.

“Music is something I listen to every day, I play guitar and I’m always fiddling about. I listen to everything from classic rock to John Coltrane to The Pixies to Hank Williams. It’s a part of how I wake up in the morning and go to bed at night.”

As for the preparation required for playing a rock star, Lee says it was a challenge first to let it all go for the role, even if it was a slightly ridiculous role.

“It’s difficult at first. Musicians are a special breed, they let it all hang out and just go for it. Even with something silly like Smoky Floyd, you just have to let it all hang out and not really care because rock stars are the ultimate care-free spirits. In the case of Smoky Floyd, you have to make a complete ass of yourself.”

Highlights from the call follow, which should give us a good idea of what to expect from the former My Name Is Earl star for Raising Hope, and into the future.

On the cast of Raising Hope and re-teaming with Greg Garcia:

“It was sort of a reunion of: Greg Garcia, writers, crew members… just having fun. It was like going back to camp. They are all extremely talented. How strange it was that I was going on a set that was just like Earl, but it was their own well-oiled machine. They’re good solid people, light-hearted. I got a really good vibe. Raising Hope has a lot of good Karma.”

On the role of Smoky, and thoughts on the episode:

“You feel for him even though you hate him. He’s annoying and full of himself. I like playing characters with likability, even though they are just jerks. It was like doing an SNL skit… but this episode is very redeeming. I like when people maintain the same style and don’t think they look older but they do, who wears the same clothes as the 80s because he thinks he’s badass. I tried to pull a lot of comedy out of the fact that he looks like a lizard. I made him one of those ridiculously obnoxious people that you love to hate. I hope it’s a redeeming quality.”

On whether Memphis Beat is a preparation for Smoky Floyd:

“Maybe Memphis Beat is a preparation. All those episodes prepared me, but it’s a totally different character… one is likable and one’s an idiot.”

On the hair and makeup required for Smoky:

“I went from bad-ass to even badder-asser. It was three hours in makeup, a lot of work… I even took a photo as it was such good work. I’m not used to dressing like that. I would walk around the set and forget that I looked like a ridiculous rock star.”

On if there were a movie about his life, who he’d want to play him:

“I’m stumped. No funny or witty comeback.”

On the potential of any more half-hour comedies:

“This made me miss what I had on Earl, but it was a lot of hectic work. It was nice seeing the Earl memorabilia on set. I said to Greg, ‘If you do this again, I’d want back in.’ It was an easy decision to do this one character.”

On his preference between drama and comedy roles:

“Just when I think I love exploring Memphis Beat and making it better, [after] playing this part on Raising Hope [I find] that comedy is the best thing. But it’s good to mix it up.”

On being a fan of Raising Hope:

“I’ve watched every episode. I love that there’s a redeeming quality to it. It’s a beautiful thing.”

As for future TV projects, Jason is working on a pilot for Adult Swim, and I asked him if he could let us in on any details. “It takes place in the skateboarding world, I’m starring in it and directing the pilot episode in December. Adult Swim is doing an 11-minute episodic comedy series and if we get picked up we’ll be one of them. It’s very twisted and it’s very out there. Not much is done in that world, and I get to play with that. We’re gearing up to shoot that in a few weeks.”

-

Raising Hope airs Tuesdays @9pm, on FOX

View the original article here