Saturday, January 24, 2015

SitcomsOnline Digest: John Stamos and Shaquille O'Neal Looking at Comedy Pilots; New Multicast Networks Devoted to Comedies and Game Shows in the Works

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! We're now at the point of the year where everybody is working hard to get their pilots on the air, and we have news of those, news of some new over-the-air broadcast networks, and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB
  • It seems like only yesterday when John Stamos was in his 20s on Full House, and now, he may be playing a grandfather soon if a comedy pilot for Fox is picked up. (People)
  • TruTV has become a little less true and a little more scripted lately, and now they have ordered a workplace comedy pilot starring Shaquille O'Neal. (Entertainment Weekly)
  • The New England Patriots are currently in the news for many reasons, some good and others not so good. But since we're a sitcoms blog and not a sports blog, we think it is worth noting that a Growing Pats video, a "Throwback Thursday" about the team done in the exact same style as the Growing Pains opening credits, was posted on Twitter this week by wide receiver Julian Edelman. (Fox Sports)
  • In most cities these days, you'll find just as many (if not more) more broadcast TV networks as you would find on cable about two decades ago. Now, Buzzr TV, a digital network devoted to game shows, would like to join those ranks. (SitcomsOnline)
  • Meanwhile, comedy fans will be pleased to know that there is going to be another digital TV network coming in April devoted to all things comedy, LAFF. (SitcomsOnline)

HOME MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

JANUARY 27 HOME MEDIA RELEASES 

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00Q5998BM/ref=nosim/happydaysonline5-20
  • Mama's Family - Mama's Favorites: Season 4 (DVD, $12.98): StarVista brings more episodes of the classic Vicki Lawrence series to DVD in a value-priced "best of" collection for those who have no desire to own the entire series.
FOLLOW ME

Who to Follow: Geri Jewell (Twitter), "Actress/Comedian, Motivational Speaker, and Author of I'm Walking as Straight as I Can - Transcending Disability in Hollywood and Beyond."
Claim to Fame: We're still having Facts of Life fever (so to speak) this week, and this week, we're featuring one of the cast members who wasn't exactly a regular, but appeared in many episodes,  Geri Jewell, best known for playing Blair's cousin Geri on the series. Jewell was born with cerebral palsy, and even though TV had been around for three decades by the time Facts of Life debuted, she was the first actress with cerebral palsy to be featured on a TV series. While she had some difficulty finding roles following the end of the series, she did appear in a few guest roles, as well as a role in the HBO series Deadwood. Much of her work these days is that of a motivational speaker these days, and she maintains a positive attitude about life by having a sense of humor about her challenges that she deals with.
Pick of the Tweets: "I'm walking as straight as I can...and driving better than I ever walked - and dancing....okay, I will never make DWTS - bummer~" (November 7, 2011)
Posted by Skees -- SitcomsOnline.com at 3:00 PM
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New on DVD/Blu-ray (April/May/June)

Diff'rent Strokes - The Complete Fifth Season Father Knows Best - Season Five The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Second Season ALF - The Complete DVD Collection The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air - The Complete Series

04/04 - Diff'rent Strokes - The Complete Fifth Season
04/11 - Father Knows Best - Season Five
04/11 - Schitt's Creek - The Complete Third Season
04/11 - Silicon Valley - The Complete Third Season (Blu-ray)
04/11 - Veep - The Complete Fifth Season
05/02 - Red, White and Blue Collar Sitcoms - Make TV Great Again
05/09 - ALF - The Complete DVD Collection
05/09 - Divorce - The Complete First Season (Blu-ray)
05/09 - The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Second Season
05/16 - The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air - The Complete Series
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
More TV DVD Releases / DVD Reviews Archive / SitcomsOnline Digest

Sitcoms Airing Tonight

Wednesday, July 26

The Goldbergs - "Jedi Master Adam Skywalker" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
As the school year comes to a close, Barry and Erica wonder what they’ll be voted for in the yearbook and pressure Adam – who’s on staff – to see the rough layout before it goes to print. But when they accidentally delete it, mass panic ensues and messes up Adam’s relationship with Jackie. Meanwhile, Murray is annoyed when Marvin comes to visit for money, but Beverly convinces him to help Marvin out with a plan, because he’s family.

Speechless - "T-H-- THE C-L-- CLUB" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
JJ gets into an argument with Kenneth over their time together while Dylan decides she must “parent-trap” them both so they can get back together. Meanwhile, the family gets a chance to be members of a country club for a week. Ray sees it as a chance to live the high life while Maya jumps at the chance to spend mother-and-son time.

Modern Family - "Grab It" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Jay’s favorite place in the world, and only refuge, may be losing some of its charm when Phil considers becoming a member. At the Dunphy house, Claire mistakes her influence on Alex’s life choices, and Hayley cares too much about what Alex thinks about hers. Meanwhile, when Cam doesn’t give Mitchell the full story on what his play is really about, it really puts Mitchell in the spotlight.

American Housewife - "Other People's Marriages" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Katie encourages Viv (Leslie Bibb) to stand up to her boorish husband, Alan, but things backfire when Viv succeeds and decides to leave him – and move in with the Ottos.

Modern Family - "Snow Ball" (ABC, 10:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Manny and Luke put on the school’s lavish winter dance and end up over their heads due to a texting error, it is up to them to fix it before the end of the night. Meanwhile, Gloria, Claire, Mitchell and Cam all volunteer at the dance while Jay’s thinly veiled guise to get out of it by pretending to want to spend time with Phil backfires. During the dance, Claire and Gloria attempt to set up Marjorie (“Saturday Night Live”’s Vanessa Bayer), an overbearing mom, with the school’s principal. Finally, Mitchell is unnerved to be back in high school and is shocked to see a lot of himself in the school bully and feels he needs a little guidance.

The Goldbergs - "Crazy Calls" (ABC, 10:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
After getting their first-ever answering machines, Murray and Pop-Pop wage a message war on one another. Fed up, Erica, Barry and Pops try to stop the fighting by offering a trip to a hockey game as an olive branch. Meanwhile, Adam finally finds a lunch-time home with some lovable geeks in the computer room, but Beverly worries about his social standing and intervenes.

The Carmichael Show - "Maxine's Sister" (NBC, 9:00PM ET/PT)
When Maxine (Amber Stevens West) brings her sister (guest star Aurora Perrineau) to meet the Carmichaels, Bobby (Lil Rel Howery) reveals that they've previously met under unexpected circumstances forcing an exploration on judgment, hypocrisy and what it means to be family.

The Carmichael Show - "The Blues" (NBC, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Maxine (Amber Stevens West) finds Cynthia (Loretta Devine) in the kitchen crying, she uncovers an uncomfortable possibility that is hard for the whole family to face: Cynthia may be suffering from depression and in need of therapy.

Nightcap - "The Show Might Go On, Part 1" (Pop, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Jimmy's girlfriend, Christie Brinkley, urges him to quit the show; saving her voice for a speaking engagement, TV personality Bethenny Frankel makes Penny do her dirty work; actor David Hasselhoff tells embarrassing stories about his nephew, Marcus.

Younger - "The Gift of The Maggie" (TV Land, 10:00PM ET/PT)
Liza hunts for a new romance author, bringing her closer to Charles. Maggie slashes an art competitor.

Odd Mom Out - " M.F.A. in B.S." (Bravo, 10:00PM ET/PT)
Jill struggles to make the right impression at her art show; New York Times best-selling author Derek Blasberg pays a visit to Brooke and Devon at Von Weber headquarters, but things do not go as planned; Lex gets advice from a stranger.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of July 24)

Wednesday, July 26

  • Sutton Foster (Younger) - Watch Sutton on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
  • Jim Gaffigan (The Jim Gaffigan Show/My Boys/Welcome to New York) - Jim visits Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Laura Linney (The Big C) - Laura stops by The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS. She also chats on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
  • Sanaa Lathan (The Cleveland Show/LateLine) - Sanaa is a guest on a repeat of Last Call with Carson Daly at 1:35am on NBC.
  • Reid Scott (Veep/My Boys) - Reid appears on Last Call with Carson Daly at 1:35am on NBC.
  • Steve Agee (The Sarah Silverman Program) - Steve is a guest on @midnight on Comedy Central at midnight.
  • Baron Vaughn (Grace and Frankie) - Baron appears on @midnight on Comedy Central at midnight.
  • Alice Wetterlund (People of Earth/Silicon Valley) - Alice is a guest on @midnight on Comedy Central at midnight.
  • Charlie Hunnam (Undeclared) - Charlie appears on a repeat of Conan at 11pm on TBS.
  • Kristen Schaal (The Last Man on Earth/Bob's Burgers) - Kristen is a guest on a repeat of Conan at 11pm on TBS.
  • T.J. Miller (Silicon Valley/The Goodwin Games/Carpoolers) - T.J. discusses his upcoming film The Emoji Movie on People Now at 8:30am.
  • Jade Pettyjohn (School of Rock) - Jade appears on Home & Family on Hallmark Channel at 10am ET/PT.
  • Nico Tortorella (Younger) - Nico is a guest on Access Hollywood Live, so check your local listings.
  • Kelsey Grammer (Frasier/Cheers) - Kelsey talks about The Last Tycoon on the AOL Build Show at 10:30am.