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

Monday, June 26

Kevin Can Wait - "The Power of Positive Drinking" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Kevin takes a job as a bartender, he goes too far when he starts dispensing unsolicited advice to his customers.

Man with a Plan - "A Dinner Gone Wrong" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Andi and Marcy realize they were rivals in high school, Adam and Don are dragged into the feud and forced to take sides.

Mom - "A Safe Word and a Rib Eye" (CBS, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Christy feels left out when Bonnie and the ladies keep Jill’s pregnancy a secret.

Life in Pieces - "Tailgate Spiral Souvenir Seating" (CBS, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Colleen and Matt host the family tailgate party at the L.A. Rams game, they invite former NFL quarterback Kurt Warner to spice up their so far dismal event. Also, Tim’s in danger of missing the game when Sophia makes him take her to the restroom and they get sidetracked returning to their seats; Joan and Jen try to sneak into seats closer to the field; and Greg wins a chance to participate in a halftime contest involving a football toss.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of June 26)

Monday, June 26

  • Keri Russell (Running Wilde) - Watch Keri on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Michael Keaton (Working Stiffs/All's Fair) - Michael appears on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS. He will also be on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
  • Dave Franco (Scrubs/Do Not Disturb) - Dave visits Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Jane Fonda (Grace and Frankie) and Lily Tomlin (Grace and Frankie/Malibu Country) - Jane and Lily are guests on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Ray Romano (Everybody Loves Raymond) - Ray appears on a repeat of @midnight on Comedy Central at midnight.
  • Kumail Nanjiani (Silicon Valley) - Kumail is a guest on a repeat of @midnight on Comedy Central at midnight.
  • Charlie Day (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia) - Charlie appears on a repeat of Conan at 11pm on TBS.
  • Tracy Morgan (30 Rock/The Tracy Morgan Show) - Tracy is a guest on a repeat of Conan at 11pm on TBS.
  • Jillian Bell (Workaholics) - Jillian appears on a repeat of Conan at 11pm on TBS.
  • JoAnna Garcia Swisher (Reba/Better with You/Animal Practice) - JoAnna is a guest on a repeat of Conan at 11pm on TBS.
  • Marisa Tomei (A Different World) - Marissa previews the film Spider-Man: Homecoming on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
  • Alec Baldwin (30 Rock) - Alec appears on a repeat of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
  • Niecy Nash (The Soul Man/Reno 911!/Do Not Disturb - Niecy dishes on her friendship with This Is Us star Chrissy Metz on People Now at 8:30am.
  • Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation) - Amy will be on CBS This Morning sometime between 7-9am.
  • Alfonso Ribeiro (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air/In the House/Silver Spoons) - Alfonso is a guest on NBC's Today in the 9am hour.
  • Lake Bell (How to Make It in America/Childrens Hospital) - Lake appears on Access Hollywood Live, so check your local listings.