Saturday, February 22, 2014

SitcomsOnline Digest: The Simpsons to Air Lego Episode; Special Features Update for CBS Classic TV Blu-rays


Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! Today, we've got news about The Simpsons 550th episode, updates on some Blu-ray releases of classic TV series from CBS Home Entertainment, and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB
  • The Simpsons is approaching yet another milestone in May, with the 550th episode of the series, and in honor of this amazing achievement, the 550th episode will be a special episode that will be created with Lego building blocks. (Reuters)
  • Barney Miller isn't celebrating a milestone anniversary just yet (although it will be 40 years old next year), but even so, International Business Times has a nice interview about the series with a communications professor at Fordham University who discusses the complicated dynamics of the series, which he considers to be "the most intelligent, literate US sitcom ever." (International Business Times)
  • It may not be a sitcom, but the CSI franchise has been big thing for CBS since 2000, eventually expanding into three series (but now back down to just the original). Now, it appears CBS wants to expand the franchise once again with a series that would focus on international cyber crime. (Entertainment Weekly)
  • What happens when you cross the sitcom Community with The Walking Dead? One truly devoted Community fan answers that question (as well as what it would look like if you cross it with The Wonder Years) by creating some rather creative (but well done) opening credits for Community. (Huffington Post)
  • Three's Company and Too Close for Comfort, two series that helped the Antenna TV lineup (but left over a year ago), will be returning to that lineup in April. (SitcomsOnline)

HOME MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

    RECENT HOME MEDIA REVIEWS ON SITCOMSONLINE

    FEBRUARY 23 HOME MEDIA RELEASES

    http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00GT7GYVW/ref=nosim/happydaysonline5-20
    • Mama's Family - The Complete Third Season (DVD, $29.98): The classic Vicki Lawrence sitcom returns to DVD for another season, this one being the first season of the retooled version of the series that aired in first-run syndication.
    • The Middle - The Complete Fourth Season (DVD, $44.98): The ABC series that lagged behind a season on DVD releases finally gets caught up with this release.
    • L.A. Law - Season One (DVD, $29.93): The groundbreaking NBC legal drama that began in the '80s comes to DVD for the very first time (at least for the first time in the United States).

    FOLLOW ME

    Who to Follow: Danielle Brisebois (Twitter), "here and now"
    Claim to Fame: Danielle Brisebois is probably not a huge household name to every sitcom fan out there. However, as a child, she gained significant prominence in her regular role of Stephanie on the series All in the Family (as well as spinoff Archie Bunker's Place). After that series ended, her acting career turned to Knots Landing for a while, then went on single episode guest roles in series such as Mr. Belvedere, Hotel, Murder She Wrote, and other series. While her acting career essentially ended before 1990, her attention has turned to music where she has found major success, beginning as a member of the New Radicals (best known for their 1998 single, "You Get What You Give") and later going on to write songs for many prominent artists, such as Natasha Bedingfield (Brisebois was actually the writer for Bedingfield's "Pocketful of Sunshine" and "Unwritten"), Kelly Clarkson, Donna Summer, Clay Aiken, Kylie Minogue, and more. Despite all of this success, she still looks back very fondly at her acting career, particularly working with Carroll O'Connor and Jean Stapleton.
    Pick of the Tweets: "Me and #jeanstapleton good memories pic.twitter.com/71QyTXEAVb" (June 1, 2013)
    Posted by Skees -- SitcomsOnline.com at 2:00 PM
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    New on DVD/Blu-ray (June/July/August)

    Father Knows Best - Season Six Diff'rent Strokes - The Complete Sixth Season Alice - The Complete Fifth Season Rhoda - Season Four Brooklyn Nine-Nine - Season Four

    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

    Thursday, September 21

    The Big Bang Theory - "The Long Distance Dissonance" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
    The gang is concerned when Sheldon’s former admirer, Dr. Ramona Nowitzki (Riki Lindhome), resurfaces while Amy is away at Princeton.

    Mom - "A Few Things and a Hawaiian Funeral" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
    Christy and Jill take Emily to see her biological mother, Natasha (Missi Pyle), in rehab where they make a surprising discovery, and Bonnie watches Adam’s dog while he’s out of town.

    The Big Bang Theory - "The Recollection Dissipation" (CBS, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
    Sheldon pushes himself to the limit when he collaborates on projects with Leonard and Wolowitz as well as Amy on the same day. Also, Bernadette is nearing the end of her maternity leave and must return to work.

    Mom - "Lockjaw and a Liquid Diet" (CBS, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
    Christy tries to help when Bonnie gets into trouble with the IRS but, realizing she’s in over her head, she encourages Bonnie to seek help from her newfound brother, Ray (Leonard Roberts).

    The Guest Book - "Story Nine" (TBS, 10:00PM ET/PT)
    Jacob, an Amish kid on Rumspringa, follows the signs to God's Country and ends up at the cabin, where he is convinced God is directing him to meet the love of his life in any way possible.

    Better Things - "Rising" (FX, 10:00PM ET/PT)
    Sam clears her head.

    Complete TV Listings

    Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of September 18)

    Thursday, September 21

    • Dave Franco (Scrubs/Do Not Disturb) - Catch Dave on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:34pm on NBC. He will also be on the AOL Build Show at 11am.
    • Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory/Young Sheldon) - Jim appears on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
    • Kaitlin Olson (The Mick/It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia) - Kailtin is a guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC. She will also be on the AOL Build Show at 1:45pm.
    • Kyle MacLachlan (Sex and the City) - Kyle visits The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
    • Amy Landecker (Transparent/The Paul Reiser Show) - Amy stops by Last Call with Carson Daly at 1:35am on NBC.
    • Kelly Ripa (Hope & Faith) - Kelly appears on Watch What Happens: Live at 11pm on Bravo.
    • Minnie Driver (Speechless/About a Boy) - Minnie chats on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
    • Essence Atkins (Marlon/Mr. Box Office/Are We There Yet?/Half & Half/Smart Guy) - Essence appears on Home & Family on Hallmark Channel at 10am ET/PT.
    • Kumail Nanjiani (Silicon Valley) and Zach Woods (Silicon Valley/Playing House/The Office) - Kumail and Zach are guests on the AOL Build Show at 11am.
    • Pamela Adlon (Better Things/The King of Queens/The Facts of Life) - Pamela appears on the AOL Build Show at 1pm.
    • Peter Facinelli (Nurse Jackie) - Peter is a guest on Steve, so check your local listings.