Saturday, February 14, 2015
SitcomsOnline Digest: Shout! Factory Begins Streaming Service; Complete Series Sets for Cheers, What's Happening!!, and More
- Shout! Factory has (somewhat) quietly launched Shout! Factory TV, a new online streaming service featuring several classic movies and TV series, including Dennis the Menace, Father Knows Best, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Dick Van Dyke Show, Laverne & Shirley, and others. While many of these are already available on other streaming services, this service is ad-supported and free, and there is even a Roku app (although it has been reported that not all of the content can be found on the Roku app). (Shout! Factory TV)
- Annie Potts is looking to get back into a sitcom once again, and a pilot at ABC starring comedian Fortune Feimster and executive produced by Matt Hubbard, Tina Fey, and Robert Carlock could have her playing a southern belle (again). (Hollywood Reporter)
- Tomorrow night's SNL 40th Anniversary Special just got even bigger in the past few days, with NBC now giving it three and a half hours and will air 8-11:30 PM. (Deadline)
- Reboots of classic series have been big lately, but here is an interesting one: Amazon Studios is planning to reboot Sigmund and the Sea Monsters, with the help of Sid and Marty Krofft. (io9)
- Your hipster friends should (ironically) be thrilled to hear that Portlandia has been renewed for a sixth and seventh season. (SitcomsOnline)
- Weigel Broadcasting is now taking MeTV to the radio, with MeTV FM in Chicago. The radio station will air a classic hits (the new name for "oldies" as it has evolved to include the 80s) format. Technically, the station will be on the low-power TV channel 6, although audio from channel 6 can be heard on the FM dial on 87.7. (SitcomsOnline)
HOME MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS
- Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name, and if so, you'll love what CBS has in store: Cheers - The Complete Series. Although each season has been released (as well as a complete series that shrinkwrapped all of those seasons together), this is the first time fans will be able to get every episode in one box set. It is set to be released on May 5 at a $117.99 MSRP.
- CBS will also be re-releasing The Fugitive - The Complete Series on DVD on May 5, and it will come at a very low $79.99 MSRP.
- Mill Creek has another re-release of a Sony series in the works, and this time it is a complete series, with What's Happening!! - The Complete Series. It will be released April 21 at a $29.98 MSRP.
- Mill Creek will also be re-releasing Tour of Duty - The Complete Series on April 21, at a $44.98 MSRP.
Pick of the Tweets: "If you need me I'll just be here listening to Hall & Oates, drinking strong coffee and feeling pretty damn good about the weekend." (November 8, 2014)
Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows
Thursday, March 28
The Conners - "Keep On Truckin' Six Feet Apart" (The CW, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
The Conners are dealing with the pandemic and life's financial troubles.
The Conners - "Halloween and the Election vs the Pandemic" (The CW, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Halloween has been canceled, so the family works to create an unforgettable experience.
Son of a Critch - "Airing Out" (The CW, 9:00PM ET/PT)
The Critches are doing their annual airing-out-the-house ritual; some family secrets are uncovered.
Son of a Critch - "Cabaret" (The CW, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Mark finally gets the chance to take the stage as a stand-up comedian.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of March 25)
Thursday, March 28
- Joey King (Bent) - Joey talks about We Were the Lucky Ones on ABC's Good Morning America some time between 7-9am.
- Giancarlo Esposito (Bakersfield P.D.) - Giancarlo discusses his starring role in the AMC crime-thriller series Parish on Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
- Niecy Nash-Betts (Reno 911!/Getting On/The Soul Man/Do Not Disturb) - Niecy stops by to talk about her upcoming starring turn in Ryan Murphy's horror drama Grotesquerie on Sherri, so check your local listings.
- Lisa Ann Walter (Abbott Elementary/Emeril) - Lisa talks about Abbott Elementary on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
- Lorraine Toussaint (Where I Live) - Lorraine is a guest on PIX11 Morning News on WPIX in New York at 9:40am.
New on DVD/Blu-ray (November-March)
11/07 - South Park - The Complete Twenty-Sixth Season (Blu-ray) (DVD)
11/14 - Leave it to Beaver - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
12/05 - Father Knows Best - The Complete Series
12/05 - The Odd Couple - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
12/12 - The Dick Van Dyke Show - The Complete Series
12/12 - Looney Tunes Collector's Choice - Volume 2 (Blu-ray)
12/12 - That Girl - The Complete Series
12/15 - Letterkenny - Season 11
12/19 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Official Restored Complete Series
12/22 - Three's Company - The Official 40th Anniversary Collection (includes The Ropers and Three's a Crowd)
01/09 - South Park - Seasons 11-15 (Blu-ray)
01/16 - Ghosts (UK) - Season Five
02/13 - Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/27 - The Really Loud House - Season One
03/12 - Ghosts (UK) - The Complete Series
03/12 - Looney Tunes Collector's Choice - Volume 3 (Blu-ray)
03/12 - Rick and Morty - Season 7 (Blu-ray Steelbook) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
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