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Now, the next
Flavor of MyNetworkTV

VHI reality star Flav debuts in 'Under One Roof'

By Diego Vasquez
Apr 16, 2008

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Flavor Flav has appeared in a half dozen reality shows on VH1, but now he’s trying out a new genre. Tonight at 8 p.m. he headlines the premiere of MyNetworkTV’s first-ever scripted sitcom, “Under One Roof,” about an ex-con (Flav) who moves in with his wealthy brother and his family and turns the household upside down.

“Roof” marks the latest evolution of MNTV, which is still trying to find an identity nearly two years after its launch.

But after floundering in its first three months with a schedule consisting of telenovelas, the broadcast network’s ratings have jumped this year, as reality shows, movies and martial arts programming took over the schedule.

With “Roof,” which will be paired with repeats of the hit ‘90s Fox show “In Living Color” (hosted by original cast member David Alan Grier), MNTV seems to be courting the viewers who turned UPN’s urban sitcoms into hits during the early 2000s.

Flav’s current VH1 series, “Flavor of Love,” now in its third incarnation, is very popular with black viewers, at the same time as broadcast options featuring African-American casts have withered. The CW recently canceled the long-running sitcom “Girlfriends,” and “Girlfriends” spinoff “The Game” has not yet been renewed.

If MNTV can lure in some of the viewers who kept “Girlfriends” on for eight seasons, that would be a big coup.

The network, which next year will add WWE’s “Smackdown” to its lineup, has averaged a 0.4 adults 18-49 and 18-34 rating this year, up 33 percent from last year’s 0.3 in both demos.

A look at this week’s top TV draws
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16
Time	Network	Program	Description
7 a.m.	NBC	“Today” (N)	Richard Simmons shows off exercises for kids.
8 p.m.	ABC	“Democratic Presidential Candidate Debate” (N)	Obama and Clinton battle once again, this time in Philadelphia.
8 p.m.	CW	“ America’s Next Top Model” (R)	Paulina shows the models how to act during public appearances.
9 p.m.	Fox	“American Idol” (R)	Another contestant is voted off, bringing the field down to six.
9 p.m.	CBS	“Criminal Minds” (D)	A teen and his girlfriend are murdered in a small Texas town.
10 p.m.	MTV	“The Real World” (R)	Season premiere. The 20th season kicks off with new personalities living in Hollywood.
10 p.m.	TV Land	“The Big 4-0” (R)	Series premiere. Following people who try to do something big for their 40th birthdays.
THURSDAY, APRIL 17
Time	Network	Program	Description
7 a.m.	ABC	“Good Morning America” (N)	Deirdre Imus, wife of radio host Don, guests.
8 p.m.	NBC	“My Name is Earl” (C)	Randy and Joy try to finish off items on Earl’s karma list.
8 p.m.	CBS	“Survivor” (R)	The winners of this week’s challenge get a feast and the chance to see a show.
9 p.m.	NBC	“The Office” (C)	Michael develops a crush on an office catalog model.
9 p.m.	National Geographic Channel	“Big, Bigger, Biggest” (N)	A look at various bridges, including the world’s longest suspension bridge.
10 p.m.	ABC	“Eli Stone” (D)	Season finale. Eli tries to have his brain aneurysm removed, but it doesn’t go as smoothly as hoped.
10 p.m.	NBC	“ER” (D)	Neela attempts a tough surgery the morning after an all-night shift.
FRIDAY, APRIL 18
Time	Network	Program	Description
7 a.m.	NBC	“Today” (N)	Ashlee Simpson performs.
8 p.m.	Cartoon Network	“Ben 10: Alien Force” (K)	Season premiere. A 15-year-old has the ability to turn into 10 different alien heroes.
8 p.m.	HBO	“Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel” (S)	Among other things, an interview with Barack Obama, who’s apparently a big basketball fan.
9 p.m.	Fox	“ Canterbury’s Law” (D)	Season (series?) finale. Elizabeth defends an admitted rapist.
10 p.m.	CMT	“Ultimate Coyote Ugly Search” (R)	The final four direct their own photo shoots, which may not be a great idea.
10:30 p.m.	Versus	“NHL Hockey” (S)	A Stanley Cup playoff game, teams to be decided.
SATURDAY, APRIL 19
Time	Network	Program	Description
3 p.m.	ABC	“NBA Basketball” (S)	Coverage of the first round of the NBA playoffs, teams TBD.
3 p.m.	CBS	“PGA Golf” (S)	Third-round coverage of The Heritage, live from South Carolina.
8 p.m.	Fox	“Cops” (R)	Cops in Kansas City respond to a “shots fired” call.
8 p.m.	ESPN	“NBA Basketball” (S)	Another first-round playoff game.
9 p.m.	Sci Fi Channel	“Warbirds” (M)	A WWII fighter battles dinosaurs and Japanese adversaries.
11 p.m.	Fox	“Mad TV” (C)	The crew spoofs The Pussycat Dolls.
SUNDAY, APRIL 20
Time	Network	Program	Description
3 p.m.	ABC	“NBA Basketball” (S)	More coverage of the first round of the NBA playoffs.
3 p.m.	CBS	“PGA Golf” (S)	Final-round coverage of The Heritage, won last year by Boo Weekley.
8 p.m.	ABC	“Oprah’s Big Give” (R)	Season finale. The final contestants have one more challenge, but no money.
8 p.m.	ESPN	“Major League Baseball” (S)	The Mets take on the Phillies in an NL East showdown.
9 p.m.	ABC	“Desperate Housewives” (D)	Gaby is forced to adapt to Carlos’ blindness.
9 p.m.	CBS	“Sweet Nothing in My Ear” (M)	Parents debate on whether their deaf child should endure a risky surgery that might help restore hearing.
10 p.m.	VH1	“Viva Hollywood!” (R)	The contestants take part in nude yoga and a love scene challenge.
A = awards show or special, C = comedy, D = drama, DD = daytime drama, G = game show, K = kids, M = movie, N = news/documentary, R = reality, S = sports, T = talk/variety show.