Friday, March 20, 2009

Retroality.TV Interviews Joyce DeWitt and...Me; CBS/Warner Bros. Officially Renew Big Bang, Men for Multiple Seasons; Sci Fi Renames to Syfy

Our buddy Chris Mann of Retroality.TV has put up his March 2009 cover story and it is a great one, like usual. This time he goes one-on-one with Joyce DeWitt...yes, Janet Wood from Three's Company! Chris talks to Joyce about a lot of different things and they are all interesting. See what Joyce has to say about John Ritter, when she last saw him, her feud with Suzanne Somers, friendship with Priscilla Barnes & the late Don Knotts, her stage roots with Richard Kline, the NBC Three's Company tell-all movie, her spiritual journey, and her upcoming projects (which includes stage work and two upcoming movies). And she talks in detail about those topics and much more topics. It's a nice three-part interview and you will find yourself reading every word and the time will just breeze by. It is a great read, and I urge you all you to read it. It starts off on the cover page on Retroality.TV, and continues on part two and part three.
That is not all for March! Chris has a few other new features and interviews, including an interview with ME! He interviewed me for my Jack's Bistro Three's Company website. How odd does it feel going from Joyce to me? But I am honored to be in great company! I talk to Chris about how I started the website, what my inspiration was, my favorite Three's Company episodes, John Ritter, the Suzanne-Joyce feud, and more! Check out me being interviewed by the great Chris Mann! And if you missed it back in October, both Todd and I were interviewed by Chris for SitcomsOnlline, so check that out, too, if you missed it.
All this is just in time for Three's Company's 32nd anniversary, which was on Sunday (March 15). Has it really been 32 years? I remember the 25th anniversary in 2002 and that didn't feel like too long ago. Chris says "more coming soon" so we cannot wait for that! We'll let you know what that is when he posts it! So 'Come and Knock on Retroality.TV's Door' today!

CBS Entertainment and Warner Bros. Television have reached a multi-year broadcast agreement for the hit comedy series Two and a Half Men and The Big Bang Theory. The agreement renews television's Number One comedy, Two and a Half Men, through the 2011-2012 season, and one of television's fastest-growing series, The Big Bang Theory, through the 2010-2011 season.
The ratings success of Two and a Half Men and The Big Bang Theory has helped establish CBS's Monday night as the Number One comedy block on television. This season, CBS's Monday night comedy lineup is up 13% in viewers, 11% in 18-49 and 9% in adults 25-54, so far.
Two and a Half Men, currently in its sixth season, is the Number One comedy in both viewers and adults 18-49, averaging 15.09 million viewers (up 14%), 5.1/11 in adults 18-49 (up 13%) and 6.3/13 in adults 25-54 (up 11%), so far.
The Big Bang Theory, in its sophomore season, is averaging 10.05 million viewers (up 20%), 3.7/10 in adults 18-49 (up 12%) and 4.4/10 in adults 24-54 (up 10%), so far.

Building upon sixteen years of water cooler programming and soaring ratings growth following its most-watched year ever, SCI FI Channel is evolving into Syfy on air and online beginning Tuesday, July 7.
By changing the name to Syfy, which remains phonetically identical, the new brand broadens perceptions and embraces a wider and more diverse range of imagination-based entertainment including fantasy, paranormal, reality, mystery, action and adventure, as well as science fiction. It also positions the brand for future growth by creating an ownable trademark that can travel easily with consumers across new media and non-linear digital platforms, new international channels and extend into new business ventures.
"Imagine Greater" will become the new brand message and tagline, inviting both consumers and advertisers into a new era of unlimited imagination, exceptional experiences and greater entertainment. Syfy more clearly captures the mainstream appeal of the world's biggest entertainment category, and reflects the network's ongoing strategy to create programming that's more accessible and relatable to new audiences. Syfy will continue to celebrate the traditional roots of the genre, while opening the brand aperture to accommodate a broader range of imagination-based entertainment.
The premiere of the new scripted drama, Warehouse 13, and the return of breakout summer series Eureka, will be launched in tandem to this new evolution. An aggressive trade marketing campaign will kick off this spring. Scifi.com will assume the URL Syfy.com at that time. As long as we see some more Mork & Mindy, who cares, right?


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Wednesday, July 22

Shifting Gears - "Loyalty" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Matt’s dream build turns into a nightmare when controversy between Stitch and the client threatens to derail everything. Meanwhile, Riley hires Carter at her coffee business and quickly learns that working with family brews more tension than drinks.

Shifting Gears - "License" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When he finds out Carter’s getting driving lessons, Matt’s plan to prove he’s the better teacher hits a snag when he learns his license is expired. Meanwhile, Riley’s two worlds collide as she struggles to keep both her business and family afloat.

Shifting Gears - "Nutcracker" (ABC, 10:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
This holiday season, the Parkers discover that romance isn’t always a smooth ride as Matt and Eve are on thin ice, Gabe enlists Riley to help Amelie impress his mom, and Carter seeks help with his “promposal.” Pamela Adlon guest stars.

Shifting Gears - "Dog" (ABC, 10:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Matt refuses to let Carter bring a dog into “his” house, Riley starts to wonder if it’s time for her and the kids to find their own place. Meanwhile, Gabe seeks Riley’s advice amid second thoughts about moving in with Amelie.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of July 20)

Wednesday, July 22

  • Colman Domingo (The Four Seasons) - Colman guest hosts Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Arsenio Hall (Arsenio) - Arsenio appears on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • John Leguizamo (The Brothers Garcia) - John is a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
  • Tracee Ellis Ross (black-ish/Girlfriends) - Tracee drops by Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC. She also talks about Solo Traveling with Tracee Ellis Ross on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am and in the 9am hour.
  • Terry Crews (Brooklyn Nine-Nine/Are We There Yet?/Everybody Hates Chris) - Tamron Hall has a repeat of a DAYTIME EXCLUSIVE with Terry and Rebecca King-Crews revealing for the first time Rebecca's health battle, so check your local listings.
  • Patricia Clarkson (Davis Rules) - Patricia talks about Ransom Canyon on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
  • Pamela Adlon (King of the Hill/Better Things/The Facts of Life) - Pamela dishes on Hulu's King of the Hill on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
  • Kevin Sussman (Stuart Fails to Save the Universe/The Big Bang Theory) - Kevin talks about Stuart Fails to Save the Universe on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
  • Kaley Cuoco (The Big Bang Theory/8 Simple Rules/Ladies Man) - Kaley talks about her new miniseries Vanished on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
  • Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/One Day at a Time) - Valerie appears on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
  • Jack Whitehall (The 'Burbs) - Jack tells Drew about starring alongside Keke Palmer in new murder comedy The 'Burbs on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.


New on DVD and Blu-ray

Abbott Elementary - The Complete Fourth Season (DVD) The Office - The Complete Series - Superfan Extended Episodes (Blu-ray) The Bill Dana Show - The Complete Series (DVD) I Love Lucy - The Complete Series - 75th Anniversary Edition (Blu-ray) Perfect Strangers - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)

01/20/26 - The Woody Woodpecker and Friends Golden Age Collection (Blu-ray)
01/27/26 - The New Fred and Barney Show - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/11/26 - Tom and Jerry - The Complete CinemaScope Collection (Blu-ray)
03/24/26 - Looney Tunes Collector's Vault - Volume 2 (Blu-ray)
04/11/26 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Fourth Season (DVD)
04/21/26 - Famous Studios Champion Collection (Blu-ray) (DVD)
05/19/26 - I Love Lucy - The Complete Series - 75th Anniversary Edition (DVD)
05/19/26 - Looney Tunes Cartoons - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (DVD)
06/16/26 - Difficult People - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
06/30/26 - Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
07/14/26 - The Office - The Complete Series - Superfan Extended Episodes (Blu-ray)
07/28/26 - The Bill Dana Show - The Complete Series (DVD)
07/28/26 - I Love Lucy - The Complete Series - 75th Anniversary Edition (Blu-ray)
08/25/26 - Perfect Strangers - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
09/22/26 - Bridget Loves Bernie - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)

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


Recent SitcomsOnline.com News Blog Posts

07/22 - Nirvanna the Band the Show on Hulu & Hulu on Disney+; Netflix's Untold Returns August 25
07/21 - First Look at Netflix's A Different World; Great American Family's 6th Annual Christmas Slate Begins in October with Laura Vandervoort Movie
07/20 - Stuart Fails to Save the Universe Official Podcast; All-Star Cast for Elizabeth Banks Apple TV Comedy
07/19 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of July 20, 2026)
07/18 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Warner to Release Perfect Strangers - The Complete Series on Blu-ray; Chloe Fineman Exits Saturday Night Live
07/17 - Remembering Hal Williams of Sanford and Son, 227 and More; The CW Renews Sullivan's Crossing
07/16 - Trailer for Wizards Beyond Waverly Place Finale Event; HGTV's Totally '90s House with '90s TV Stars
07/15 - Fox Fall 2026 Premiere Dates; FX's The Shards Trailer
07/14 - Netflix's Monopoly Coming in 2027; Prime Video Carrie Series Premieres This Fall
07/13 - The Hawk Premieres Thursday on Netflix; Snoopy Presents: There's No Place Like Home, Snoopy Trailer
07/12 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of July 13, 2026)
07/11 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Rob Reiner Receives Posthumous Emmy Nomination; Season Premiere Date Set for American Horror Story
07/10 - Great Entertainment Television Acquires House; Remembering Louise Lasser of Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman
07/09 - 78th Primetime Emmy Award Nominations; Disney's The Cheetah Girls: Next Gen
07/08 - Ian Ziering Hosting The CW Road Trip Series; Shark Tank Season 18 Guest Sharks
07/07 - Great Entertainment Television's Psych 20th Anniversary Marathon; Netflix Announces Cast for Myron Bolitar
07/06 - Life, Larry, and the Pursuit of Unhappiness Capsule; Michael Weatherly Returns to NCIS
07/05 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of July 6, 2026)
07/04 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Elle Renewed for Second Season; NBCUniversal to Separate from Comcast
07/03 - Impractical Jokers Returns with Guest Star Appearance by Alyssa Milano; Marla Gibbs Day in Chicago
07/02 - Mark Harmon Returns as Gibbs in NCIS: Origins; Disney's Camp Rock 3 Details
07/01 - S.W.A.T. Spin-off Set for STARZ; Willy Wonka Reality Series Coming to Netflix
06/30 - Netflix Adds to the Cast of A Hundred Percent; Disney Channel's Descendants: Wicked Wonderland Trailer
06/29 - Tubi's Breaking Bear Premieres July 24; Adult Swim Greenlights Heist Brothers, Announces Robot Chicken Specials
06/28 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of June 29, 2026)
06/27 - SitcomsOnline Digest: First Look at New Seasons of King of the Hill and The Paper; Ben Feldman Upped to Regular for Season Six of Ghosts
06/26 - The Paper Season 2 Premieres September 9; President Curtis Trailer and Premiere Date
06/25 - NBC Fall 2026 Premiere Dates; Leanne Season 2 Premieres August 27 on Netflix
06/24 - Trailer for Stuart Fails to Save the Universe; Terry Crews to Host 50th Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular
06/23 - Netflix Releases Alley Cats Trailer; BET's Ms. Pat Comedic Courtroom Series Returns June 30
06/22 - Remembering Legendary Sitcom Director James Burrows; The Audacity Season 2 Coming in 2027