Saturday, November 30, 2013
SitcomsOnline Digest: NBC Thursday Night Reaching New Lows; Writers of Classic American Series Looking to China
Happy Thanksgiving weekend, and welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! It's a slow week for us this week due to the holiday, but we've got all of your regular features as usual. Let's get going!
HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB
- NBC is facing a serious dilemma with their Thursday night lineup, as the historically top-rated lineup came in at a historically low sixth place in the ratings race last week, falling behind even The CW in key demographics last week. Could it be time for a major shakeup in this lineup? (LA Times)
- Many TV writers of the 70's, 80's, and 90's still interested in working just aren't finding work on today's networks in line with their style, but as it turns out, China may be the perfect place to develop new series like the ones they wrote for in the past. Sitcom writers such as Marilyn Anderson (Murphy Brown and The Jeffersons) and Michael Elias (Head of the Class and The Bill Cosby Show) are just a few among thousands of other writers of past American hit series working with a Chinese production company to bring high quality productions to a nation that is claimed to be lacking in great stories for television. (The Hollywood Reporter)
- On Sunday's episode of Family Guy, fans were given one of the most shocking deaths to ever occur in an animated series as one of the major characters was killed off. This has caused quite an outrage from fans on the internet, even inspiring one of the largest online petitions ever revolving around the plot of a TV series. But is it all real, or a complicated publicity stunt to spike ratings? (LA Times)
- Actor Jay Leggett, who appeared as a cast member on the final season of In Living Color, died this week at the age of 50. (TV Guide)
- MeTV is adding a pair of classic Sid & Marty Krofft series to their Saturday morning lineup beginning December 29, with the addition of H.R. Pufnstuf and Land of the Lost. (SitcomsOnline)
HOME MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS
- Just before the April premiere of the sixth season of the Showtime series, Lionsgate is set to release Nurse Jackie - Season Five on DVD and Blu-ray on February 18. As usual, the set will contain plenty of special features.
- eOne Entertainment is prepared to bring a somewhat forgotten '80s syndicated gem to DVD with their release of Monsters - The Complete Series. For those unfamiliar with the series, it was a horror anthology series from the same producer who previously brought fans the syndicated series Tales from the Darkside.
RECENT HOME MEDIA REVIEWS ON SITCOMSONLINE
FOLLOW ME- Family Guy - Volume Eleven: The three-disc set brings all 23 episodes of the 2011-2012 season of the animated Fox series to DVD, along with a few nice special features.
- MADtv - The Complete Fourth Season: Shout! Factory's latest release of the late night Fox series that ran for 15 seasons brings fans one of the greatest seasons of the series.
Who to Follow: Kunal Nayyar (Twitter),
"I play Raj on the Big Bang Theory. I love playing Ping Pong, and long walks on the beach. Thats about all I like doing, especially on the sand."
Claim to Fame: Nayyar was born in London and raised in New Delhi, but came to the United States in 1999 to pursue a degree in finance. While in college, he appeared in a few stage performances and found that was what he really loved, and by 2007, the relatively unknown actor found huge success when he was cast as Raj Koothrappali in the CBS series The Big Bang Theory.
Pick of the Tweets: "FAQ- I can talk to women without alcohol now. On the show as well." (September 26, 2013)
New on DVD/Blu-ray (June/July/August)
06/13 - The Andy Griffith Show - Return to Mayberry
06/13 - That's My Mama - The Complete Series
06/20 - Workaholics - The Final (Seventh) Season
06/20 - Workaholics - The Complete Series
06/27 - The Jamie Foxx Show - The Complete Third Season
07/04 - Superstore - Season Two
07/18 - Father Knows Best - Season Six
07/25 - Diff'ernt Strokes - The Complete Sixth Season
07/25 - Girls - The Final (Sixth) Season (Blu-ray)
08/01 - Alice - The Complete Fifth Season (WBShop.com)
08/01 - Crashing - The Complete First Season (Blu-ray)
08/15 - Rhoda - Season Four
08/22 - Brooklyn Nine-Nine - Season Four
08/29 - Will & Grace - Season One (Universal)
More TV DVD Releases / DVD Reviews Archive / SitcomsOnline Digest
Sitcoms Airing Tonight
Wednesday, August 23
The Goldbergs - "O Captain! My Captain!" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Beverly substitutes for Barry’s chemistry class in hopes to inspire students in the same way as Mr. Keating from “Dead Poets Society,” much to Barry’s embarrassment. When Beverly refuses to give Barry special treatment, Murray pushes Barry to work hard and prove to her that he can get a good grade.
Speechless - "C-H-- CHEATER!" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Maya and Kenneth work together to hold JJ accountable for his academic future when he cheats on an exam at school. Meanwhile, Ray gets into a get-rich scheme; but when Jimmy bails him out and teaches him an important lesson, Ray’s motivation to make fast money is revealed.
Modern Family - "Pig Moon Rising" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
During a quick workout session in the garage, Mitchell accidentally knocks over an urn filled with the ashes of Cam’s beloved pet pig Lilly. He quickly attempts to cover up his blunder and devises an appropriate cover-up. Hoping to catch Mitchell in his lie, Cam makes up a tall tale to trap him, but his own lie soon becomes a little too big to manage.
American Housewife - "The Otto Motto" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Taylor keeps quitting school activities, Greg says that Katie, quite the quitter herself, sets a poor example. He challenges her to finally learn French after quitting lessons so long ago, so she reluctantly enrolls in a college class.
Modern Family - "Do It Yourself" (ABC, 10:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Feeling empowered after his successful do-it-yourself project, Phil convinces Jay to co-invest in a property he has always wanted to develop. Meanwhile, Claire’s new obsession with a TV chef and her new love of cooking Sunday dinners hasn’t been as tasty as she thinks. Haley is the family’s only hope to add a little spice to the situation. At the Pritchett-Tucker house, Cam and Mitchell see that the family is too reliant on technology, so they attempt to teach Lily the importance of hard work, which ends disastrously. Back at the Pritchett’s, Jay feels replaced when he sees Gloria has hired Coach Gary (Payton Manning) to coach Joe and serve as a handy man.
The Goldbergs - "Recipe for Death II: Kiss the Cook" (ABC, 10:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
After learning of Murray’s love of action movies, Adam uses the moment to garner the courage to ask his dad for money to film his own action film. But the production goes from bad to worse when Barry goes missing for playing the lead, and an unlikely replacement steps in. Meanwhile, Erica takes Beverly to go clothes shopping. When a situation at the hip store goes awry, Erica decides to make her own version of the popular outfit she wants –using Beverly’s own sweaters.
Marlon - "Boys Only Want One Thing" (NBC, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Marlon (Marlon Wayans) struggles to come to terms with his daughter bringing home a boy for the first time. Yvette (Bresha Webb) uses Stevie (Diallo Riddle) to get great seats to a Beyoncé concert.
Marlon - "Exes With Benefits" (NBC, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Marlon (Marlon Wayans) and Ashley (Essence Atkins) contemplate whether to have no strings attached 'ex-sex.'
Swedish Dicks - (Pop, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Porn actress Taylor Slow asks the guys to find her stalker; Sarah asks her father to check out her new boyfriend, Steve; Ingmar is sure he'll find some dirt on Steve; Axel infiltrates Jane McKinney's agency.
Younger - "The Incident at Pound Ridge" (TV Land, 10:00PM ET/PT)
Sparks fly at the annual Empirical Publishing picnic. Liza finds herself caught between Josh and Charles.
Odd Mom Out - "Weber M.D." (Bravo, 9:30PM ET/PT)
By day, Jill shoots Brooke's new line of Von Weber wares, and by night, she and Vanessa investigate a rash of infections plaguing the Upper ``Yeast'' Side; Candace seeks answers for why she keeps getting called ``Candy Ass.''
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of August 21)
Wednesday, August 23
- David Alan Grier (The Carmichael Show/Bad Teacher/Life with Bonnie/DAG) - Watch David on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Gillian Jacobs (Love/Community) - Gillian appears on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
- Kelly Ripa (Hope & Faith) - Kelly is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Fred Savage (The Grinder/Working/The Wonder Years) - Fred appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Kathryn Hahn (I Love Dick/Happyish/Transparent) - Kathryn is a guest on a repeat of Last Call with Carson Daly at 1:35am on NBC.
- Kathy Bates (Disjointed) - Kathy stops by Conan at 11pm on TBS.
- Jessica Capshaw (Odd Man Out) - Jessica guest co-hosts a repeat of The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
- Anna Chlumsky (Veep) - Anna appears on a repeat of Harry, so check your local listings.
- Nicole Ari Parker (Second Time Around) - Nicole is a guest on a repeat of The Real, so check your local listings.
- Marlon Wayans (Marlon/The Wayans Bros.) - Marlon discusses his new NBC show Marlon on People Now at 8:30am.
- John Lithgow (Trial & Error/Twenty Goods Years/3rd Rock from the Sun) - John joins Clinton to create a classic carnival treat in the kitchen on a repeat of ABC's The Chew at 1pm ET/12pm PT/CT.
- Fran Drescher (Happily Divorced/Living with Fran/The Nanny) - Fran talks about reducing your cancer risk and see her own anti-cancer regimen on a repeat of The Dr. Oz Show, so check your local listings.
- Tamera Mowry (Sister, Sister/Roommates) - Tamera is a guest on Home & Family on Hallmark Channel at 10am ET/PT.
- James Van Der Beek (What Would Diplo Do?/Friends with Better Lives/Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23) - James appears on Access Hollywood Live, so check your local listings.
- Josh Henderson (One on One) - Josh is a guest on a repet of Steve Harvey, so check your local listings.
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