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[06/22/07 - 04:35 PM]
ABC Slates 'Laughs' for Tuesdays, Confirms 'Masters' Installments
By The Futon Critic Staff (TFC)

LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- ABC had added "Just for Laughs" to its summer schedule as the half-hour entry is set to premiere on Tuesday, July 17 at 8:00/7:00c.

Back-to-back episodes of the series - which features a mix of practical jokes and other hidden camera pranks - will air on said night before it settles into its regular Tuesday, 8:30/7:30c slot the following week.

In addition, the network has also confirmed the lineup for its upcoming anthology series "Masters of Science Fiction" premiering Saturday, August 4 at 10:00/9:00c.

Here then are the official descriptions of the four installments set to air:

"A Clean Escape" (#101) - Four thought-provoking tales of present and future Earth are brought to life in "Masters of Science Fiction," an all-new anthology series featuring a stellar lineup of actors and directors, and narrated by acclaimed physicist Professor Stephen Hawking. The series premieres with "A Clean Escape" (SATURDAY, AUGUST 4), based on Nebula Award-winning author John Kessel's short story. Mark Rydell ("On Golden Pond," "The River," "The Rose") directed from a script by Sam Egan ("The Outer Limits"). In "A Clean Escape," set not too far in a post-Apocalyptic future, psychiatrist Dr. Deanna Evans (Judy Davis) interrogates a distinguished, if befuddled, man (Sam Waterston) who appears to be suffering from a lapse in memory. Why can't he remember - and why is it so important that she uncover the secret he holds deep inside?

"The Awakening" (#103, previously known as "The General Zapped an Angel") - Four thought-provoking tales of present and future Earth are brought to life in "Masters of Science Fiction," an all-new anthology series featuring a stellar lineup of actors and directors, and narrated by acclaimed physicist Professor Stephen Hawking. The second episode, "The Awakening" (SATURDAY, AUGUST 11), stars Terry O'Quinn and Elisabeth Rohm. Based on the short story by Hollywood Blacklist author Howard Fast ("Spartacus," "Citizen Tom Paine"), the episode opens outside Baghdad, where U.S. soldiers discover a mysterious casualty - one they can't even identify as human. William B. Davis ("The X-Files") guest stars as the President of the United States. Michael Petroni ("Till Human Voices Wake Us") directed from a script he wrote, based on the short story by Howard Fast.

"Jerry Was A Man" (#102) - Four thought-provoking tales of present and future Earth are brought to life in "Masters of Science Fiction," an all-new anthology series featuring a stellar lineup of actors and directors, and narrated by acclaimed physicist Professor Stephen Hawking. The third installment is "Jerry Was a Man" (SATURDAY, AUGUST 18), featuring Anne Heche and Malcolm McDowell. Michael Tolkin ("The Player," "The Rapture," "The Burning Season") directs from a script he wrote based on the classic Robert Heinlein story. Set in the future, the world's seventh richest couple, the van Vogels, find their lives changed forever when they acquire an anthropoid named Jerry.

"The Discarded" (#106) - Four thought-provoking tales of present and future Earth are brought to life in "Masters of Science Fiction," an all-new anthology series featuring a stellar lineup of actors and directors, and narrated by acclaimed physicist Professor Stephen Hawking. The series concludes with "The Discarded" (SATURDAY, AUGUST 25), based on the short story by seven-time Hugo Award winner, three-time Nebula Award winner and Science Fiction Grand Master Laureate Harlan Ellison. The episode is written by Harlan Ellison and 2005 Academy Award nominee Josh Olson ("A History of Violence"). Jonathan Frakes ("Star Trek") directed. Brian Dennehy, John Hurt and James Denton star in this ultimate story of despised minorities sentenced to drift in the darkness of outer space forever. These men and women make a desperate pact in the hope of being offered refuge at home on Earth.

Two other installments were also shot however it's not clear when or if they will air (descriptions are taken from ABC's original press release):

The fourth installment is "Little Brother," written and adapted for the screen by Walter Mosley ("Devil in a Blue Dress") and directed by Darnell Martin. Featuring Clifton Collins, Jr., and Kimberly Elise, "Little Brother" is set in the future, where courtrooms exist without human judges or juries, and automated justice is the law of the land.

Episode five is "Watchbird," based on the short story by the legendary Robert Sheckley and written Sam Egan. The episode stars Sean Astin and James Cromwell and is directed by Harold Becker. In "Watchbird," as society creates robotic droids to prevent killing before it takes place, they discover that all life depends on a fragile formula of killing and death.





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· JUST FOR LAUGHS (ABC)
· MASTERS OF SCIENCE FICTION (ABC)
· X-FILES, THE (FOX)





[02/03/26 - 06:06 AM]
98th Oscars Production Team Announced
Executive producer and showrunner Raj Kapoor and executive producer Katy Mullan today announced members of their production team for the 98th Oscars, hosted by Conan O'Brien and airing live on ABC and streamed live on Hulu on Sunday, March 15.

[02/03/26 - 05:31 AM]
Josh D'Amaro Named Next Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company
Concurrent with D'Amaro's appointment, Dana Walden, Co-Chairman of Disney Entertainment, has been named President and Chief Creative Officer of The Walt Disney Company, also effective March 18.

[02/03/26 - 01:18 AM]
Viaplay Content Distribution Boards Seasons 2 & 3 of Acclaimed Nordic Noir Crime Series "Veronika"
"Veronika" follows police officer Veronika Gren, a woman haunted by visions from the dead, as she navigates complex investigations while struggling to keep her personal life from unravelling.

[02/02/26 - 04:01 PM]
Netflix and HYBE Announce Global Live BTS Comeback Performance and Feature-Length Documentary
Streaming live from the historic Gwanghwamun in Seoul on March 21, this monumental performance celebrates the release of their highly anticipated new album, ARIRANG.

[02/02/26 - 03:34 PM]
"The Kelly Clarkson Show" to Conclude After Season Seven
Season seven episodes will air through Fall 2026.

[02/02/26 - 01:17 PM]
NBC Renews "St. Denis Medical" and "Happy's Place" for 2026-27 Season
"Both 'St. Denis Medical' and 'Happy's Place' have delivered comedic brilliance over their first two seasons, truly connecting with our audience with hilarious characters, and remain hugely important and successful programs to our primetime and Peacock lineup," said Lisa Katz.

[02/02/26 - 01:15 PM]
NBC Sports Presents First Ever Live Broadcast from Alcatraz Island as Part of Super Bowl LX Pregame Show This Sunday, Feb. 8 on NBC & Peacock
Hall of Fame head coach Tony Dungy, fellow two-time Super Bowl winner Rodney Harrison, and co-host Jac Collinsworth will broadcast live from multiple locations on the island beginning at 1 p.m. ET.

[02/02/26 - 12:31 PM]
E! to Air the 2026 EE BAFTA Film Awards Hosted by Alan Cumming on Sunday, February 22
The EE BAFTA Film Awards ceremony will be held at the Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall in London and will premiere as-live on BBC One and iPlayer in the UK.

[02/02/26 - 11:01 AM]
Video: "Final Siren: Inside the AFL" - Official Trailer - Prime Video
Inside the highs, the heartbreak, and the hunt for glory.

[02/02/26 - 10:38 AM]
New Year, New Viewership Milestones for ESPN: Signature Events Deliver Second-Best Month in 30 Years
Continuing ESPN's landmark viewership success to start the year, January 2025 and 2026 now account for two of the top three most-watched months in the platform's history.

[02/02/26 - 10:01 AM]
Video: "Sommore: Chandelier Fly" - Sneak Peek - Netflix
From hot topics to celebrity scandals, "The Queen of Comedy" Sommore delivers her unapologetic perspective with a combination of bravado and elegant style.

[02/02/26 - 09:06 AM]
CNN FlashDoc "Bad Bunny and the Halftime Show: Rhythms of Resistance" Now Streaming in the CNN App
The special is now streaming on demand for subscribers of CNN's streaming offering and will premiere Saturday, February 7 at 10pm ET on CNN.

[02/02/26 - 09:01 AM]
"Last Week Tonight with John Oliver" Returns February 15
The weekly series has received 32 Emmys since its premiere in 2014.

[02/02/26 - 09:00 AM]
Video: AMC/AMC+ Release Final Teaser Trailer for the New Season of the Critically Acclaimed Noir Thriller, "Dark Winds"
Consisting of eight hour-long episodes, Season 4 premieres on Sunday, February 15 at 9pm ET/PT on AMC and AMC+.

[02/02/26 - 09:00 AM]
Video: Prime Video Reveals Official Trailer for "Soul Power: The Legend of the American Basketball Association"
Directed by Kenan Kamwana Holley, all four episodes of the docuseries will premiere February 12 exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide. Soul Power is the latest addition to the Prime membership.