Monday, July 14, 2008

Summer 2008 TCA Press Tour: Fox, Day 1; Happy Days Duo Reunite for Possible New Series; MySpace Adds Krofft Classics

The broadcast portion of the summer 2008 TCA press tour started Saturday with PBS, and among the series they announced were a revival of the classic '70s children's series The Electric Company, returning in January 2009 and a new children's series launching Sept. 1 called Sid the Science Kid. Also, of note from PBS was a comedy special coming in January 2009. Make 'Em Laugh: The Funny Business of America is a landmark six-part series that will chronicle the funniest moments in American entertainment, from the pratfalls that entertained immigrants in the early 1900s to the most biting satire and stand-up today, to illuminate how comedy has been a mirror of our changing society. Among those interviewed: Sid Caesar, George Carlin, Dick Gregory, Carl Reiner, Joan Rivers, Shelley Berman, the Smothers Brothers, Jonathan Winters, Mort Sahl, Steve Martin, Jason Alexander, Phyllis Diller, Cheech Marin, Bill Maher, Lily Tomlin, Lorne Michaels, and a Who's Who of other groundbreaking comic minds. Should be good.
Today and tomorrow Fox and Fox cable networks are up. Today it is all about the Fox broadcast network. The cast and crew of many hit Fox series and upcoming series will be on hand today on the panel. They started today with a Prison Break themed breakfast called Prison Break-fast. Then it was on to the panels with casts and crews of many Fox shows and entities: So You Think You Can Dance, Fringe, Fox News, Do Not Disturb, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, 24, Secret Millionaire, and a panel featuring producers of Fox's animated series.
As of this writing nothing new was really learned. Fox did say the 250th episode of King of the Hill will air in May 2009 and Erica Ash, Matt Braunger, Eric Price and Lauren Pritchard have joined MADtv for its 14th season. Earlier, we found out that Sanaa Lathan, Nia Long and Kevin Michael Richardson were joining the animated Family Guy spin-off The Cleveland Show. Keep checking back in this spot for new updates or for sure in tomorrow's Fox day 2 notes.

Don Most and Anson Williams, who of course starred as Ralph Malph and Potsie on the long-running sitcom, Happy Days, have reunited to produce a potential new series, Take 2. In addition to executive producing the series, the pair also star in the pilot episode.
"Each episode of Take 2 is like a short independent film," says Williams, "and will reunite different iconic duos of the present and past, but in all-new stories, as completely different characters. They'll still have the established on-screen chemistry that audiences know and love -- but I think people will be stunned when they see just how different they can be." "I thought about Lemmon and Mathau or Tracy and Hepburn. The reason they worked together over and over again was because they had chemistry on-screen. In our favorite TV shows growing up, you saw that same kind of chemistry -- Ralph and Potsie, Will and Grace, Laverne and Shirley. Why not utilize that already established chemistry -- bring together these beloved stars - in these provocative scripts that Frederick Stroppel had written?"
We will have more information on this series should it go forward and get picked-up for a series. Best of luck to them! Read the full press release. Check out clips on YouTube.

Sid and Marty Krofft's classic '70s shows are now on MySpaceTV! H.R. Pufnstuf, Land of the Lost, Electra Woman & Dyna Girl, Lidsville, Sigmund & the Sea Monsters, Dr. Shrinker and The Bugaloos, will make their exclusive global home on the social-networking platform. The license extends to put condensed versions of Krofft-produced TV episodes as well as taped messages from the Kroffts themselves.
In addition to the condensed episodes, which they are calling "Kwikies," which run 3-5 minutes, the Kroffts are also making available highlight clips. MySpace subscribers will also make theme music from the shows available.
Too bad the whole episode won't be on MySpace, but it is better than nothing. Head on over to the Krofft section to watch these condensed episodes. This is similar to Sony's Minisode Network.


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Monday, July 28

The Neighborhood - "Welcome to the Vote" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Dave gathers everyone for a lengthy ballot-palooza party to discuss the merits of every candidate and prop on each of their election ballots. Also, Gemma is determined to run a tight ship as their local precinct captain when polls open at Walcott Academy. Kevin Pollak guest stars as Lamar.

The Neighborhood - "Welcome to Great Beyond" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Marty and Courtney prepare for Daphne’s christening. Meanwhile, Malcolm is dating someone new and Tina is delighted to meet her.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of July 28)

Monday, July 28

  • Matt Rogers (No Good Deed/I Love That for You) and Bowen Yang (Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens) - Watch Matt and Bowen on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
  • Sandra Oh (Arli$$) - Sandra appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Jason Ritter (Another Period/The Class), Skylar Astin (Ground Floor) and Riki Lindhome (Another Period/Enlightened) - Jason, Skylar and Riki are guests on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Jamie Lee Curtis (The Sticky/Anything But Love/Operation Petticoat) - Jamie Lee talks about Freakier Friday on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
  • Eddie Murphy (The PJs), Keke Palmer (Scream Queens/True Jackson, VP) and Pete Davidson (Bupkis) - Eddie, Keke and Pete talk about The Pickup on NBC's Today in the 9am hour. Eddie will also be on sometime between 7-9am.
  • Julia Butters (American Housewife) and Sophia Hammons (Up Here) - Julia and Sophia talk about Freakier Friday on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
  • Paul Walter Hauser (The Afterparty) - Paul talks about Marvel's Fantastic Four: First Steps on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
  • Kathy Bates (Disjointed) - Kathy talks about Matlock on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.


New on DVD and Blu-ray

The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series Frasier (2023) - Season Two Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* (missing 4 episodes and some music has been replaced or altered) Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (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)

More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD and Blu-ray Releases / TV Shows on DVD, Blu-ray and Prime Video / DVD Reviews Archive


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