"We shoot in front of a live studio audience every week, but nothing is more exciting than working without a net," said Larry W. Jones, President, TV Land. "The thrill of knowing that viewers at home are seeing exactly what's happening live on stage really amps up the pressure and makes the energy on set electrifying."
Hot in Cleveland previously did a live episode on June 19, 2013 to kick off the second half of its fourth season. The upcoming live edition will be first for The Soul Man. The premieres will be broadcast live during their East Coast airings while the West Coat will get the live-to-tape version.
The network also announced that Hot in Cleveland with help from Animation Studio Titmouse, Inc. will produce an animated episode for its upcoming season.
"Viewers love that we take their favorite sitcom stars and put them in our original sitcoms, so we're sure they are going to love seeing these characters in an entirely new, animated universe," said Jones.
The animated episode will see Melanie (Valerie Bertinelli), Joy (Jane Leeves), Victoria (Wendie Malick) and Elka (Betty White) as cartoon characters embarking on an around-the-world adventure, including scenes with homages to Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory, The Walking Dead and Frankenstein.
