Wednesday, January 04, 2006
2006 Sitcoms on DVD Preview
Today, we look at some sitcoms that are scheduled to be released on DVD sometime in 2006. We will also offer some of our own predictions of some new and returning sitcoms that we feel will have some chance to be available.
In 2005, the sale of TV Shows on DVD generated more than $2 billion in sales. Currently, there are over 5,400 TV related DVDs on the market. We expect that number to grow to over 6,000 by the end of the year. 2006 looks to be a big year for 1980's sitcoms as there will be several first-time releases as well as shows returning with additional seasons. There are currently over 150 different sitcoms available. It would not surprise us for that number to be near 200 by the end of the year.
The below links go to Amazon.com where you can pre-order these titles at up to 30% off their list price. We are an affiliate of Amazon.com and receive a commission for each sale. Please consider ordering through our links. Thanks for your support!
01/03:
All in the Family - The Complete Fifth Season
1st & Ten - Season 1
1st & Ten - Season 2
Comments: All in the Family returns after a nine-month break. I'm sure fans would like to see more than one season released per year as has been the case so far. I'm not sure why they are offering 1st & Ten season sets when the complete series can be bought at Walmart for under $20. The episodes on the complete series release are on six double-sided discs, and there are reportedly some altered and missing scenes.
01/17:
Doogie Howser, M.D. - Season Three
Good Morning, World - The Complete Series
The Mary Tyler Moore Show - The Complete Third Season
Titus - Season 3
Comments: Doogie has been released at about the rate of one season every 5-6 months. We have heard April 18th as the date for the final fourth season. Good Morning, World was a one-year wonder that helped give Goldie Hawn her start. I'm sure Mary Tyler Moore fans are excited to see season 3 released only 6 months after season 2. That sure beats the three year wait between the first and second seasons. This is Titus' third and final season. Give this show a try if you like dark comedies.
01/31:
All-American Girl - The Complete Series
Archie Bunker's Place - The Complete First Season
Diff'rent Strokes - The Complete Second Season
Drake & Josh Go Hollywood - The Movie
Comments: Margaret Cho's sitcom All-American Girl, which ran for only one season, brought an Asian-American family to a television series for the first time. I'm a bit surprised that we are seeing Archie Bunker's Place before All in the Family is finished. It ran for four seasons, and there are four seasons left of All in the Family to be released, so maybe we will see some faster releases. Diff'rent Strokes returns after a 16-month break. Whatchoo talkin' bout Sony? This series needs to be released at a much faster rate.
02/07:
Grounded for Life - Season One
Growing Pains - The Complete First Season
Hearts Afire - The Complete Third Season
Comments: Grounded for Life makes it debut on DVD. It ran for five seasons from 2001-2005 on FOX and TheWB. You can show me that smile again as Growing Pains comes to DVD with some nice bonus features, including scenes from the unaired pilot which featured a different Carol Seaver. This is Hearts Afire's third and final season. The series starred John Ritter, Markie Post, and Billy Bob Thornton.
02/14:
The Andy Griffith Show - The Complete Fifth Season
Charles in Charge - The Complete First Season
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air - The Complete Third Season
Gimme A Break - Season One
The Golden Girls - The Complete Fourth Season
Living Single - The Complete First Season
Significant Others (2004) - The Complete Series
Comments: Paramount is really flying through The Andy Griffith Show seasons. If only every sitcom were released at their rate! I think there's an excellent chance that all nine seasons will be available by the end of the year. Another 80's sitcom makes it debut on DVD: Charles in Charge. The first season aired on CBS before it moved to syndication several years later. A bonus episode from the second season will also be included. Will Smith and company return for The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air's third season -- only four months after the last release. This show is enormously popular on Nick at Nite, so I'm not surprised at the quickness of the releases. Gimme A Break is my most anticipated release of February. I remember watching it on the USA Network in the late 1990's, but the episodes were badly cut up. It will be a joy to see them unedited for the first time. The Golden Girls is back after only a three-month break. We could have the complete series by the end of the year at that rate. Living Single aired on FOX for five seasons from 1993-1998. The series starred Queen Latifah, Kim Fields, Erika Alexander, Kim Coles, John Henton, and T.C. Carson. Significant Others was an improv sitcom that ran on Bravo for two seasons in 2004. Only 12 episodes were produced.
02/21:
Action - The Complete Series
3rd Rock From the Sun - Season 3
Comments: Action ran on FOX in 1999. Only 13 episodes were produced. Jay Mohr, Illeana Douglas, and Buddy Hackett starred. 3rd Rock From the Sun returns after only four months since the last release. Fans of these shows must love the short wait between seasons.
02/28:
The Adventures of Pete & Pete - Season Three
The Beverly Hillbillies - Ultimate Collection, Volume 2
The Drew Carey Show - Television Favorites
Ellen - The Complete Season Three
NewsRadio - The Complete Third Season
Night Court - Television Favorites
Welcome Back, Kotter - Television Favorites
Comments: The Adventures of Pete & Pete's third season comes just three months after the second season was released. This Beverly Hillbillies release will include 27 episodes of the series. It will be up to Paramount to release the remaining episodes as MPI only had the rights for a limited amount. Ellen's third season comes out nearly a year after the second season release by A&E. NewsRadio's third season was delayed a bit as they wanted to record some commentaries for the episodes. The Drew Carey Show, Night Court, and Welcome Back Kotter are being released as part of Warner Brothers Television Favorites lineup. These releases will include six episodes of that particular series. The Drew Carey Show and Welcome Back, Kotter were Best Buy exclusvies originally, but they will be widely available on this date. If you are a fan of these shows, I think it is important that you support these sets. They are usually very inexpensive. I would think if they have strong sales for these releases, it will increase the chances of season sets greatly. Night Court fans might be disappointed as season 1 was already released, but maybe they didn't sell as well as expected. I think the Markie Post years are more popular. Some early seasons of sitcoms are not the best, and unfortunately if those first season releases don't sell well, studios seem to push off future releases.
03/07:
The Brady Bunch - The Complete Fifth Season
The Cosby Show - Season 2
The Flintstones - The Complete Fifth Season
Hogan's Heroes - The Complete Third Season
Three's Company - Season 6
Comments: This is The Brady Bunch's last season. Kudos to Paramount for releasing the entire series in a little over a year! It was a bit disappointing, however, that only the first season had any special features. The Cosby Show returns after a seven-month break. These episodes will be the original network versions and not the syndicated versions that they used on the first season set. Hogan's Heroes continues to be released about every six months. Three's Company has also been released at about the rate of one season every six months. You can expect the usual big amount of extras on this set.
03/14:
I Dream of Jeannie - The Complete First Season (Original Black & White Edition)
I Dream of Jeannie - The Complete First Season (Colorized Edition)
Comments: This was recently announced by Sony. There will be two versions available for this release just like Bewitched: original black & white and colorized. Special features will include commentaries on the pilot episode and other cast interviews. An I Dream of Jeannie theatrical movie, starring Jimmy Fallon, will be released in September 2006. We could see the second season then.
03/21:
Roseanne - Season 3
Comments: Roseanne's third season is on the schedule after about only five months since season two was released. We can once again expect the original network versions, just like season 2.
04/04:
Full House - The Complete Third Season
Comments: Full House is hugely popular as new generations discover it on Nick at Nite. I'm sure these sets sell like hotcakes. It will only be a four-month break since season two was available.
05/02:
That Girl - Season 1
Comments: Nine episodes of That Girl were released in 2001 by Anchor Bay. That seems like quite a rare set. It would cost you an arm and a leg (currently $210) to buy that release now from Amazon.com marketplace sellers. A better bet would be to rent it from Netflix. Shout! Factory will release all 30 episodes from the first season on this date.
05/30:
A Different World - Season 2
The Doris Day Show - Season 3
Comments: A Different World will return after about a six-month break between releases. We can expect this set to have the original broadcast versions and not the syndicated versions which were used on the first season release. The Doris Day Show will be released by MPI. A Doris Day Special will be available on the same date. The first two seasons of this series had some nice bonus features.
06/27:
Alice - Television Favorites
Perfect Strangers - Television Favorites
Step by Step - Television Favorites
Comments: Alice will be a 6-episode release as part of a Television Favorites set. Visitors to SitcomsOnline.com helped select some of the episodes that were chosen for this set. The episodes are listed here. Perfect Strangers is another 6-episode Television Favorites release. SitcomsOnline.com visitors helped vote for episodes that they would like to see on this set, but we haven't heard which episodes the studio has selected yet. Step by Step is the third Television Favorites release set scheduled for this date. If these sets sell enough, it seems possible we could see season sets in the future.
Other Sitcoms Expected On DVD In 2006:
No official dates have been announced yet, but these are expected to be released in 2006.
New Shows:
Returning Shows:
Predictions:
These are my predictions and opinions only. Some of them probably have zero chance, but I still have them on my wishlist. None of these titles have been announced.
Returning and New Shows:
I would also predict that we will see additional seasons for ALF, All in the Family, Arrested Development, The Beverly Hillbillies, Bewitched, The Bob Newhart Show, Charles in Charge, The Cosby Show, Diff'rent Strokes, Ellen, Everybody Loves Raymond, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Full House, Gimme A Break, The Golden Girls, Green Acres, Grounded for Life, Growing Pains, Hogan's Heroes, Home Improvement, The King of Queens, Leave it to Beaver, Married with Children, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, My Favorite Martian, The Nanny, NewsRadio, Night Court, The Partridge Family, Reba, Scrubs, The Simpsons, That '70s Show, 3rd Rock From the Sun, Too Close for Comfort, and Who's the Boss?.
Do you agree or disagree with my predictions? Post your predictions here.
Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows
Wednesday, July 9
Shifting Gears - "Gummies" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Riley is horrified when she finds weed gummies in Carter’s pocket, prompting surprising advice from Matt. Meanwhile, Eve inadvertently lands Gabriel and Stitch in hot water after asking them to donate to a charity auction.
Shifting Gears - "Kiss" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Jimmy returns with a new job and a proposition for Riley and the kids to move into his house, Riley is torn between her past and her future. Meanwhile, Matt's feud with Eve flares up once again after she damages his car.
Abbott Elementary - "Volunteers" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Ava announces the school district is sending a group of volunteers to help out at Abbott; however, when they arrive, things don’t go as planned.
Abbott Elementary - "100th Day of School" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
During Abbott’s 100th day of school celebrations, Barbara receives a surprise from her daughter. Melissa, Jacob and Mr. Johnson join forces to conduct a search party.
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - "The Gang F***s Up Abbott Elementary" (FXX and FX, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Months after the Gang visited, Abbott's Principal Ava walks viewers through some of the unseen footage of the Gang's volunteerism and reveals their true intentions.
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - "Frank Is in a Coma" (FXX and FX, 9:33PM ET/PT)
The five stages of grief set in for Dee as Frank lies on his deathbed; the Guys plot their new path forward by pitching their business ventures to Philadelphia's elite.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of July 7)
Wednesday, July 9
- Anthony Anderson (black-ish/Guys with Kids/All About the Andersons) - Anthony guest hosts Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Salma Hayek Pinault (The Sinbad Show) - Watch Salma on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
- Jean Smart (Hacks/Samantha Who?/Center of the Universe/In-Laws/Style & Substance/Designing Women) - Jean is a guest on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
- Cole Escola (Human Resources/Search Party/Mozart in the Jungle/Difficult People) - Cole appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Richie Moriarty (Ghosts), Betsy Sodaro (Ghosts/Duncanville/Disjointed/Animal Practice) and Punam Patel (Ghosts/Return of the Mac/Kevin from Work) - Richie, Betsy and Punam are guests on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
- Ronny Chieng (Young Rock/Ronny Chieng: International Student) - Ronny hosts Comedy Central's The Daily Show at 11pm.
- Tika Sumpter (mixed-ish/Final Space/The Game) - Tika sits down with the Tam Fam to talk about her new children's book I Got It From My Mama a repeat of Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
- Isabela Merced (100 Things to Do Before High School/Growing Up Fisher) - Isabela chats about her film Superman on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
- Anna Camp (Perfect Harmony/Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt/The Mindy Project) and Justin Bartha (The New Normal/Teachers) - Anna and Justin discuss their film Nuked on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
- Simon Helberg (The Big Bang Theory) - Simon talks about Peacock's Poker Face on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
New on DVD and Blu-ray
01/28 - Wait Till Your Father Gets Home - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/04 - The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series
03/11 - Frasier (2023) - Season Two
04/01 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season
05/13 - The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* (missing 4 episodes and some music has been replaced or altered)
06/06 - Shoresy - Season 2
06/17 - Looney Tunes - Collector's Vault - Volume 1 (Blu-ray)
07/22 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
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