SitcomsOnline Digest: Is Another Writers Strike Looming?; The McCarthys Arrives on DVD

Saturday, March 25, 2017

SitcomsOnline Digest: Is Another Writers Strike Looming?; The McCarthys Arrives on DVD

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! This week, we're hearing about a possible strike of the Writers Guild of America (we're hopeful it can be averted before it happens), a lawsuit about a series that ended two decades ago that will seemingly never end, and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

The Writers Guild of America may be on the verge of going on strike again, something that last happened in the 2007-2008 TV season and caused shortened seasons and a plethora of reality shows to that season, though it's still too early to tell what effect (if any) this one may have on your favorite TV series, if it even happens at all. (Variety)
Home Improvement hasn't aired a new episode in almost two decades, but it lawsuits over syndication royalties still persist to this day. (Hollywood Reporter)
One of next season's episodes of The Carmichael Show is going to address a certain racial slur without censoring it, which seems shocking in 2017, but as cast member Loretta Devine mentions, was not so uncommon on series such as All in the Family and Sanford & Son. (Variety)
Leah Remini and Kevin James are set to reunite on the season finale of Kevin Can Wait. . (Hollywood Reporter)
Chuck Barris, who hosted The Gong Show and created The Dating Game and The Newlywed Game (and claimed to be CIA assassin, though the CIA disagrees with that), died this week at age 87. (NBC News)
The Big Bang Theory has gotten a renewal for two more seasons. (SitcomsOnline)

HOME MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

Sony has quietly released a MOD release of the CBS sitcom The McCarthys, with The McCarthys - Season 1.

TUESDAY (MARCH 28) HOME MEDIA RELEASES

Archer - The Complete Season Seven (DVD, $29.98): The seventh season of the FX animated comedy arrives on DVD in this release, although many fans are not to happy that the studio has chosen to discontinue Blu-ray releases beginning with this season.

FOLLOW ME

Who to Follow: David Faustino (Twitter), "Actor/DJ. (#LegendOfKorra #DragonsRaceToTheEdge #MarriedWithChildren etc) #MusicFiend Host of #OldScratchRadio on Dash Radio."

Claim to Fame: David Faustino has been acting for virtually his entire life, and got his start in guest starring roles on series such as Little House on the Prairie and Family Ties. His big break came, of course, in 1987, with Married... with Children. Since then, he has been doing a lot of voice work and is also a radio DJ on Dash Radio. He has also continued to make some guest appearances on TV, most recently on Modern Family and Bones.

Pick of the Tweets: "I forgot I'm on @BONESonFOX tonite. If you're on the east-coast you prolly missed it already. Anyway, 9pPT. Funny episode...I hope.." (March 14, 2017)

Sitcoms Airing Tonight

Thursday, October 19

Superstore - "Workplace Bullying" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Tensions arise among the employees after an attempted robbery, pitting Dina (Lauren Ash) against Jonah (Ben Feldman). Meanwhile, Glenn (Mark McKinney) has a tough time firing the store security guard, and Amy (America Ferrera) discovers that her coworkers have been hanging out without her.

The Good Place - "The Trolley Problem" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Chidi (William Jackson Harper) and Eleanor (Kristen Bell) tackle a famous ethical dilemma, leading to a conflict with Michael (Ted Danson). Meanwhile, Tahani (Jameela Jamil) harbors a secret and confides in Janet (D'Arcy Carden).

Will & Grace - "Grandpa Jack" (NBC, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Jack (Sean Hayes) is stunned to learn that his estranged son, Elliot (guest star Michael Angarano) has a son of his own, Skip (guest star Jet Jurgensmeyer). Moreover, Skip needs the kind of help only Will (Eric McCormack) and Jack can provide. Grace (Debra Messing) and Karen (Megan Mullally) behave badly with the hot new guy at work.

Great News - "Award Show" (NBC, 9:30PM ET/PT)
For the first time in years, "The Breakdown" has been nominated for an American Journalism Award. Katie (Briga Heelan) is looking forward to spending the night as a peer with the very reporters she has admired her whole life. Fearing her mother will ruin it, Katie tries to stop Carol (Andrea Martin) from attending but is unsuccessful when Carol secures a position as a seat-filler. Katie is stuck babysitting her mom all night but gets distracted by Jeremy (guest star Reid Scott), a handsome New York Times reporter who looks down on cable news. Chuck (John Michael Higgins) is excited to reunite with all of his old anchormen friends, especially Len Archer (guest star Christopher McDonald), an idol of Chuck's who is receiving a lifetime achievement award.

Better Things - "Eulogy" (FX, 10:00PM ET/PT)
Sam demands satisfaction.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of October 16)

Thursday, October 19

Tracy Morgan (30 Rock/The Tracy Morgan Show) - Catch Tracy on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Paul Shaffer (A Year at the Top) - Paul sits in with Cleto and The Cletones on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory) - Jim is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Michael Keaton (Working Stiffs/All's Fair) - Michael appears on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Amy Landecker (Transparent) - Amy is a guest on a repeat of Last Call with Carson Daly at 1:35am on NBC.
Carl Reinder (The Dick Van Dyke Show) - Carl appears on a repeat of Conan at 11pm on TBS.
Garcelle Beauvais (The Jamie Foxx Show) - Garcelle guest co-hosts The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
Cedric Yarbrough (Speechless/Reno 911!) - Cedric is a guest on Steve, so check your local listings.
Angela Kinsey (Haters Back Off/Your Family or Mine/The Office) - Angela talks about the new season of her Netflix show Haters Back Off on the People Now at 8:30am.
Jeff Garlin (The Goldbergs/Curb Your Enthusiasm) - Jeff appears on New York Live on WNBC in New York at 11:30am ET.
Henry Winkler (Happy Days/Out of Practice) - Henry is a guest on Home & Family on Hallmark Channel at 10am ET/PT.
Hayley Orrantia (The Goldbergs) - Hayley appears on Home & Family on Hallmark Channel at 10am ET/PT.
Joanna Garcia Swisher (Reba/Better with You) - Joanna teams up with Michael Symon in the kitchen, giving the scoop on her new show and whipping up a tasty dish on ABC's The Chew at 1pm ET/12pm PT/CT. She also talks about Kevin (Probably) Saves the World on the AOL Build Show at 11am.
Redman (Method & Red) - Redman appears on the AOL Build Show at 3pm.
Debra Messing and Eric McCormack (Will & Grace) - Debra and Eric are guests on Access Hollywood Live, so check your local listings.