SitcomsOnline Digest: NBC Renews Trial & Error; Three Cast Members Exit Saturday Night Live

Saturday, May 27, 2017

SitcomsOnline Digest: NBC Renews Trial & Error; Three Cast Members Exit Saturday Night Live

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! The news has died down a bit this week, but we do have one post-upfront renewal for a comedy on NBC, we're hearing about some departures from Saturday Night Live, and we're still trying to figure out what ABC was thinking with that Dirty Dancing revival. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

It took a little while to happen, but NBC ultimately decided to renew Trial & Error for a second season. (Entertainment Weekly)
Viacom's cable networks (which have had significant woes in recent years with declining ratings and being moved to cable packages that few people subscribe to) are going through a realignment, and Deadline has a guide to where you can find some of the original programming that has been or will be moved. (Deadline)
When Saturday Night Live returns in the fall, it will be without three cast members who've been a significant part of the show for several years. (Daily Mail)
ABC hyped their remake of Dirty Dancing one of their highlights for the season, and it did bring in viewers, but it was not very well received by viewers at all. (Vox)
The past few months have caused quite a shakeup in cable ratings, with long-time number three network MSNBC taking top honors and long-time number one network Fox News falling to number three. (Variety)
Jared Martin, best known for his role of Dusty Farlow on Dallas, died this week at age 75. (Hollywood Reporter)
The timing seems a little odd, given that the trial for the star of the series is set to begin soon and jury selection happened this week, but The Cosby Show has returned to cable on TV One (after first returning to the broadcast digital network Bounce TV a few months ago) for the first time in years this week. (SitcomsOnline)

TUESDAY (MAY 30) HOME MEDIA RELEASE

Hart to Hart - The Complete Series (DVD, $159.99): Shout! Factory brings together every season of the classic series (though not the post-series reunion movies) in this set.

FOLLOW ME

Who to Follow: Lauren Adams (Twitter), "Gretchen on Netflix Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. NYC. Pizza. Onassis Comedy. Insta: imlaurenadams."

Claim to Fame: Lauren Adams is not exactly a household name, and you won't find her name in the credits of any broadcast or cable network TV series. But she has found her first claim to fame on the Netflix comedy, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, as well as the Hulu comedy Deadbeat. In Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, she plays Kimmy's fellow former cult member, Gretchen, who often finds herself missing the cult lifestyle and wanting to relive it however she can, something that ultimately leads to an unexpected crossover that we won't spoil here in the third season of the series (now streaming on Netflix). We don't know what's next for her character, but of all of the cult members, her story is interesting enough to have her own spinoff based upon the events in the most recent season of the series. While these may be her first roles, we certainly anticipate that they won't be her last, and we'll be seeing her in more comedy series and movies over the years.

Pick of the Tweets: "Happy unbreakablekimmyschmidt day! So honored to be a part of this show! Enjoy some #bts photos… (link)" (May 19, 2017)

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Wednesday, April 16

The Conners - "Danny Boy, the Interview, the New Hire, and the Hanging Chad" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Dan sidesteps vulnerable emotions surrounding Roseanne’s death ahead of an upcoming deposition. Meanwhile, Becky prepares for a job interview, and Harris impulsively hires a new server at the Lunch Box.

Abbott Elementary - "Please Touch Museum" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Abbott Elementary goes on a schoolwide field trip to the Please Touch Museum, which has some of the older kids skeptical.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of April 14)

Wednesday, April 16

Rashida Jones (Sunny/BlackAF/Duncanville/Angie Tribeca/Unhitched/The Office) - Watch Rashida on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Kate Hudson (Running Point) - Kate is a guest on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Alan Cumming (Schmigadoon!) - Alan appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Skylar Astin (Ground Floor), Jason Ritter (Another Period/The Class) and Riki Lindhome (Another Period/Enlightened) - Skylar, Jason and Riki are guests on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
Hannibal Buress (Broad City/30 Rock) - Hannibal appears on Everybody's Live with John Mulaney at 10pm on Netflix.
The cast of Abbott Elementary - E! News chats with the cast of Abbott Elementary at 11pm on E!.
Ronny Chieng (Young Rock/Ronny Chieng: International Student) - Ronny hosts Comedy Central's The Daily Show at 11pm.
Michael B. Jordan (The Assistants) - Michael talks about Sinners on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
Hank Azaria (The Simpsons/Brockmire/Free Agents/Herman's Head) - NBC's Today has the Citi Concert Series: Hank Azaria & The EZ Street Band in the 9am hour.
Yvonne Orji (Insecure) - Yvonne talks about Pop the Balloon on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
Soleil Moon Frye (Punky Brewster/Sabrina the Teenage Witch) - Soleil and Angel Carter Conrad, the late Aaron Carter's twin sister, whose new documentary The Carters gives an intimate look inside the Carter family with never-before-seen footage on Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
Lake Bell (Bless This Mess/How to Make it in America/Childrens Hospital) - Lake talks about All About Brains: A Book About People on ABC News Live Prime with Linsey Davis at 7pm.
Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/Café Americain/Sydney/One Day at a Time) - Valerie is joining Drew for a brand-new Drew's News on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Lisa Ann Walter (Abbott Elementary/Emeril) - Lisa talks Abbott Elementary on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.