WORLD AIDS DAY: 'DESIGNING WOMEN'

October 5, 1987 - 'Designing Women' tackles the topic of AIDS when a young designer and friend of Sugarbakers asks the ladies for a special request. 

Kendall Dobbs (played by Scandal's Tony Goldwyn) has contracted AIDS and is dying. He asks the women to design his funeral with a Dixieland/New Orleans Jazz theme. While they come to terms with the news, Mary Jo finds herself battling parents at a PTA over the distribution of birth control at Claudia's school. At one time opposed to it, Mary Jo realizes that it isn't births that need to be prevented, but rather deaths.

#WorldAIDSDay 

WINTER 2014: ABC TRIMS 'SCANDAL'S CURRENT SEASON TO 18 EPISODES

ABC's Scandal has been full of on-the-edge drama this season and with the fall finale airing later this week, we've got news that the Gladiators team will be taking an early summer vacation in 2014.

Due to Kerry Washington's pregnancy, and the show's decision not to incorporate it into the current storylines, ABC has cut Scandal's episode order this season from 22 to 18. The actress' spring due date would make filming of the final four episodes nearly impossible. Producers considered shooting the final four without Washington but knew that they couldn't have Olivia Pope absent and off the canvas for such a long period of time. Expect a lot of close-up shots, heavy overcoats, and Olivia sitting or standing behind furniture as the episodes progress.

The remaining eight episodes of the season will begin on February 27, 2014.

FALL 2013: 'SCANDAL' CASTS KHANDI ALEXANDER AS OLIVIA'S DEAD MAMA

Scandal is bringing Olivia Pope's mama to the small screen.

The ABC drama has cast Khandi Alexander in the recurring role of Maya Lewis, Olivia's late mother. The character will appear in flashbacks starting with this Thursday's episode, and if Scandal fans recall last week, things were put in motion regarding mama Maya's ties to Operation Remington.

FALL 2013: KERRY WASHINGTON ANNOUNCES PREGNANCY; WHAT ABOUT OLIVIA POPE?

Could a baby storyline surface in the near future for ABC's political drama Scandal?

News broke that actress Kerry Washington and new husband Nnamdi Asomugha are expecting their first child. According to a source, Washington is about four months pregnant. Since several months remain for the taping and production of Scandal, many insiders are wondering if the show will take advantage of Washington's pregnancy and incorporate it to her alter-ego, Olivia Pope. Now that the President's affair has been exposed, it would only be naturally dramatic to have a "Who's your Daddy?" storyline.

It'll be interesting to see what the show plans to do with this news but definitely expect a pregnant Olivia Pope waddling in Prada or a ton of shots of Kerry Washington standing behind a piece of furniture. Congratulations to the expecting parents!

FALL 2013: WILL FLATLINING 'BETRAYAL' END UP ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK?

ABC is having a rough start to the fall season thus far. Last week, the alphabet network cancelled the boring, un-Lucky 7 after only two episodes. The drama featuring a group of gas station workers betting together and hitting the jackpot lost almost half of its audience for the second episode. Lottery plots usually don't work on television. Seven years ago, NBC tried the model with Windfall. The forgotten about series only lasted 13 episodes. So what can CBS, FOX, and The CW learn from this experiment? Don't do lottery-themed shows. Period.

Now ABC is hitting a snag with another show, Betrayal. The freshman drama just aired its second episode last night and it barely registered with anyone...just barely 4 million viewers. The serial drama focuses on photographer Sara Hanley and corporate lawyer Jack McAllister. The two are unhappily married to other people and the attraction to each other is too much for them to handle, so they have an affair. Cue a boring murder trial and Sara finds her mistress (Can a man be a mistress?) defending the murder case against her legal eagle, prosecuting husband. Let the snooze fest continue.

While Scandal brought the network powerhouse ratings, repeating the adulterous affair model in a semi-political setting is certainly not. Betrayal immediately makes you want to root for the other side of the unhappily cheating couple. Let the revelation occur and close the chapter on this unmoving drama. If the show continues its ratings nose dive, there may not be a revelation as we predict that the network will shortly remove this dud from its Sunday night lineup. 

The 10 pm Sunday time slot has been a difficult spot for ABC to fill in the past couple of years. Last year, supernatural-drama 666 Park Avenue was just a mess of a show that had trouble finding its footing. It was replaced mid-season by the intriguing yet poorly rated Red Widow. In 2011, the network aired Pan-Am and GCB in the same time slot. Both dramas generated a lot of buzz and fanfare but were ratings duds in the long-run. If ABC removes Betrayal from its lineup, it would have better luck with encore programming (a.k.a. reruns) than with another new show. Whatever the network decides, it needs to act fast! Sunday night staples Once Upon a Time and Revenge have declined in viewership this season, and with the return of cable stronghold The Walking Dead quickly approaching, ABC needs to pump some life into its lineup.

Stay Tuned is adding Betrayal to its Deathwatch list.

FALL 2013: COMING TO TV TONIGHT (10/3)!

The vampires and adulterers return tonight!

The fifth season of The Vampire Diaries gets started in a whole new different realm: College. Elena ends a passionate summer with Damon and enters college life. Of course nothing is as easy as it appears. 8 pm on The CW.

New comedy The Millers debuts tonight with recently divorced Nathan Miller (Will Arnett) throwing his parents marriage into disarray. When his parents separate, Nathan ends up rooming with his momma. Shenanigans ensue with this new roommate arrangement. 8:30 pm on CBS.

Hey look! Burt Hummel is on a new show! Glee's Mike O'Malley and Desperate Housewives' Ricardo Antonio Chavira portray the patriarch leads on Welcome to the Family. The dads and their respective families are suddenly united when their teenage kids become expectant parents. Yay Planned Parenthood! That's how you do comedy. You'll definitely want to check this one out. 8:30 pm on NBC.

The Vampire Diaries spin-off, The Originals, kicks off tonight in a special time slot. It will normally air on Tuesdays after the first episode. In the premiere, Klaus, the original vampire/werewolf hybrid, returns to New Orleans where he is joined by his siblings Elijah and Rebekah. If you followed the flagship show then you'll know who these people are exactly. 9 pm on The CW.

Sean Hayes returns to sitcom television with his new outing, Sean Saves the World. Hayes portrays a divorced gay dad who suddenly has his teenage daughter show up on his doorstep to live with him. Alice's Linda Lavin portrays Hayes' character's mother who arrives to help her son with this new transition. Another plus, Megan Hilty from the ill-fated musical drama Smash co-stars as one of Hayes' co-workers. 9 pm on The CW.

Scandal fans get a double helping of the hottest political affair to hit the airwaves. First at 8 pm on ABC, Scandal: The Secret is Out recaps every juicy, jaw-dropping moments from the first two seasons of the show. The new episode of the third season then airs at 10 pm as Olivia handles the fallout of her exposed affair and the appearance of her shady pops.

Also on TV tonight

Comedy powerhouses The Big Bang Theory and Parks and Recreation air new episodes, while The Crazy Ones and The Michael J. Fox continue to gather an audience; Glee concludes its Beatles tribute with the second of a two-parter; Elementary and Parenthood bring the drama.

NEW RELEASE TUESDAY 8/27 AND 9/3

Stay Tuned went on a brief hiatus last week and did not post last Tuesday's new releases. So to make up for lost time, we are going to rerun the past week's TV-on-DVD releases and include them in this week's post. That's a lot of releases!

Blu-ray Picks-of-the-Week

The Walking Dead - The Third Season

It's The Walking Dead, nuff' said. Viewers are introduced to the abandoned prison, the Governor, and Michonne. The 16-episode season keeps up the pace and teaches us to not get too attached to characters because they can be killed off in an instant. AMC does its usual great packaging job and loads the set with tons of extras.

Sons of Anarchy - The Fifth Season

Sons of Anarchy kicked off its fifth season with one of the cruelest paybacks and death in television history. The motorcycle crime drama continued rolling the punches throughout the season as the war with new villain Damon Pope escalated.

The Vampire Diaries - The Fourth Season

The vampire drama's fourth season continues the saga of Elena and the Salvatore brothers. The action keeps rolling through each episode as revelations and answers come to light. Also, the backdoor pilot episode for the spin-off show, The Originals, is included in this set.

Revolution - The First Season

Ok, we have to admit that Revolution's first season was a crazy roller coaster ride. The show shifted away from its original premise around mid-season, and everything we thought we knew just wasn't what it was supposed to be. Taking on a new direction in the second half, the show focused on the internal strife between the surviving territories and some questions were answered. Sort of. At least we know what happened to the power. Sort of. Definitely pick up this set if you plan on buckling up for the ride this coming fall season.

Spartacus: War of the Damned (The Third Season)

War of the Damned was the title given to the historical drama's third and final season. The massacre and bloodshed continues as the slave rebellion enters its second year. The series ends with a victory and a loss of the rebel hero.

The Office - The Ninth and Final Season

The Office finally closes down after its ninth season and despite losing some of its initial appeal during the show's lengthy run, it still manages to bring humor to the most loyal fan. The final episode provides closure to the nine-year office documentary and leaves its cast in the right places. Now we won't have a reason to talk about Scranton.

Drama Picks-of-the-Week

Elementary - The First Season

The contemporary version on the Sherlock Holmes/Watson dynamic has been a surprising success for CBS. An ex-consultant for Scotland Yard and drug rehab extraordinaire, Holmes relocates to New York City and uses his deducing skills to solve crimes. Dr. Watson, originally a surgeon hired as Holmes' sober companion, gradually becomes his apprentice as they solve the murder-of-the-week. This crime drama also succeeds in maintaining the intrigue as shades of Holmes' previous love Irene and mortal enemy Moriatry become central to the plot.

Scandal - The Second Season

The political drama's second season ups the ante and each episode becomes more fast-paced and action-packed. Revelations, truths, and scandal have kept viewers tuned in for Olivia Pope's next moves. Re-live this second season in preparation for this coming fall season's biggest reveal yet.

Comedy Pick-of-the-Week

Parks and Recreation - The Fifth Season

Hilarity continues at the Pawnee parks department as Leslie Knope embarks on her first year as a city councilwoman. One of NBC's underrated gems, Parks and Recreation gives a mockumentary view of local city politics. The ensemble cast functions perfectly and this fifth season will be the last full year of on-again-off-again couple Ann and Chris (Rashida Jones and Rob Lowe) before they depart this year.

Retro Pick-of-the-Week

Diagnosis Murder - The Fourth Season (Part 1 & 2); The Fifth Season (Part 1 & 2)

The Dick Van Dyke murder mystery drama got two releases last week. Originally a spin-off of Jake and the Fatman, Diagnosis Murder followed the crime solving adventures of Dr. Mark Sloan and his detective son, Steve. LAPD relied on the medical consultant to help solve its open cases and crimes of the week. Each week the show had a bevy of guest stars and usually relied on stunt casting to wrangle in viewers during the show's eight-year run.

Well that about sums up the past two weeks' worth of new releases. What releases are you looking forward to? Share with us in the comment box below, and we'll be back next week with another batch of releases.

FALL 2013: 'FRIENDS' KUDROW JOINS ABC'S 'SCANDAL'

ABC's Scandal will have a new face joining its ranks this coming fall. Friends star Lisa Kudrow is joining the political drama in a recurring role. Not much detail has been given about her character but she will be playing a powerful politician (rumored to be) named Shelley Meyers. We'll have to wait and see if Kudrow's character will bring new problems to Olivia Pope's complicated world.

Scandal's third season premieres October 3.

FALL 2013: 'SCANDAL' RELEASES SEASON 3 POSTER

Scandal's Jeff Perry released the political drama's upcoming third season poster. Olivia Pope's secret is out.

What do you think about it? Are you looking forward to the show's return on October 3?