‘Hank’ Has Been Axed

Honestly — who didn’t see this coming? Variety and just about every other TV-industry rag report that ABC has gotten it over with already and canceled the so-not-funny rookie sitcom Hank, which stars Cheers and Frasier great Kelsey Grammer in the not-so-great title role.

Kelsey Grammer

As a result of the recent development, viewers can kiss all unaired episodes in Hank’s ten-episode first season goodbye for the moment.

The network has yanked each and every one of them from the schedule, opting to replace the remaining five episodes with other stuff, like repeats and holiday-appropriate specials. Production of additional episodes has ceased, as well.

As Grammer fans know, this is the second comedy failure in a row for the actor, who last starred in Fox’s promising Back to You. Meanwhile, two of his co-stars from that series have moved on to very successful and wildly funny freshman sitcoms on the same network.

Everybody Loves Raymond veteran Patricia Heaton stars as Frankie on The Middle and Ty Burrell plays Phil on the ensemble comedy Modern Family. Both shows were quickly and deservedly picked up for full seasons a month ago.

Apparently, three wasn’t the charm in this case, however, and we saw the writing on the wall back then when Hank was the lone newbie left out in the cold. May better luck befall Grammer next time.

Photo: Kelsey Grammer (Newscom)

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Hank: ‘Hanksgiving’ Preview

Pushing Daisies alumna Swoosie Kurtz guest stars on the fresh November 4 episode of ABC’s Hank called “Hanksgiving.”

Kelsey Grammer

She plays the title character’s loathed mother-in-law, who arrives at her daughter and son-in-law’s downscaled new home to help celebrate the family’s first annual so-called “Hanksgiving.”

Preview the episode in the following sneak peek, which features Hank and his wife Tilly having a tiny holiday-themed spat.

Hank airs Wednesdays on ABC at 8pm ET.

Photo: Kelsey Grammer (Newscom)

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Hank: ‘Relax, Don’t Do It’ Preview

The title character tackles the problems of doing absolutely nothing on the new October 21 episode of Hank called “Relax, Don’t Do It.”

Kelsey Grammer

When unemployed Hank finds it difficult to live a life with no professional responsibilities, he focuses all of his unused energy on being the best husband and hunter — yes, hunter — ever. I’m sure his wife and two kids are gonna love that and, if viewers are lucky, this episode might actually even be funny.

Sneak a peek at “Relax, Don’t Do It” below, featuring Kelsey Grammer as Hank and Melinda McGraw as Hank’s wife Tilly.

Hank airs Wednesdays on ABC at 8pm ET.

Photo: Kelsey Grammer (Newscom)

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Hank: ‘Drag Your Daughter to Work Day’ Preview

Viewers are probably going to get the munchies while watching “Drag Your Daughter to Work Day,” the new October 14 episode of ABC’s new Kelsey Grammer comedy Hank.

Kelsey Grammer

When Hank decides it’s time for his daughter Maddie (Eureka’s Jordan Hinson) to get a job just like he used to have at her age, the only way to make that happen is for him to get a job working right with her at the mall.

As the following sneak peek shows, they both then end up slinging tasty frozen treats in a modern-day ice cream parlor with the cute name Chilly Charlies. Yummy.

Hank airs Wednesdays on ABC at 8pm ET.

Photo: Kelsey Grammer (Newscom)

Post from: Comedy Centric

Next on ‘Hank’: Yard Sale

Kelsey Grammer’s new ABC sitcom Hank presents the fresh episode “Yard Sale” on October 7.

Kelsey Grammer

But the fact that Hank is the only one of ABC’s four Wednesday-night sitcoms that doesn’t have an October 7 sneak peek (just a promo uploaded today at the last minute) makes me wonder if the newcomer is joining CBS’ Gary Unmarried in the sitcom doghouse. Hmmm…

During the latest installment, the down-but-not-yet-out title character gets back into a workday routine when he decides to test his entrepreneurial skills by putting together a neighborhood yard sale.

Since I didn’t find the September 30 premiere funny, here’s hoping the series picks up some steam — and finds some laughs — during the second episode.

Hank airs Wednesdays on ABC at 8pm ET.

Photo: Kelsey Grammer (Newscom)

Post from: Comedy Centric

New ABC Sitcom: ‘Hank’ Premiere Preview

Frasier veteran Kelsey Grammer returns to comedy television at 8pm ET on September 30 in the new ABC sitcom Hank.

Kelsey Grammer

The five-time Emmy winner’s latest series finds him playing the title character Hank Pryor, a successful sports entrepreneur whose high-class world tumbles down a whole lotta notches when he’s pushed out of his executive job and forced to relocate his family to a small Virginia town called River Bend. Much culture shock and disappointment ensue.

Besides star and co-executive producer Grammer, the show’s cast includes Melinda McGraw (Mad Men) as Hank’s unhappy wife Tilly, David Koechner (The Office) as his gloating brother-in-law Grady Funk, Jordan Hinson (Eureka) as his hip teenage daughter Maddie, and Nathan Gamble (The Dark Knight) as his quirky young son Henry.

Get an advance look at the comedy in the two sneak peeks and series preview below.

Hank airs Wednesdays on ABC at 8pm ET.

Photo: Kelsey Grammer (Newscom)

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‘Samantha Who?’ Star Heading to Kelsey Grammer Sitcom

Samantha Who? may not have made it past a sophomore season, but already former star Melissa McCarthy has lined up a new comedy-TV gig.

Melissa McCarthy

Entertainment Weekly scoops that the Gilmore Girls alumna is next set to appear in another ABC sitcom, the new Kelsey Grammer series Hank.

After describing the upcoming show as “painfully unfunny” (I wouldn’t know personally since I haven’t watched any clips yet), EW reports that McCarthy will have a recurring role portraying a character named Dawn, who just happens to be the sister-in-law of Grammer’s title character via marriage to his brother Grady (The Office’s David Koechner).

Unfunny or not, I’m glad McCarthy will still be around on the small screen next season. Maybe her presence will give the sitcom a much-needed boost if it does actually have problems in the laughs department.

Photo: Melissa McCarthy (Newscom)

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