SitcomsOnline Digest: Marcia Wallace Tribute on The Simpsons; Flo Arrives on DVD

Saturday, November 02, 2013

SitcomsOnline Digest: Marcia Wallace Tribute on The Simpsons; Flo Arrives on DVD

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest, our new weekly feature here on SitcomsOnline! We've created this new feature in response to the changing dynamics of home media limiting the news we were able to bring you in our previous Saturday feature, Digital Digest, and also to allow us to bring you other pieces of news relating to sitcoms in general that we did not have the opportunity to cover earlier in the week. Don't worry, we'll still have all of your favorite components of Digital Digest each week (in a reorganized and easier to read format), but we'll also have more! So let's get started on this inaugural edition of SitcomsOnline Digest!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

We reported on the death of actress Marcia Wallace earlier this week, and now on Sunday night at 7:30 PM ET/PT, Fox will pay tribute to her by airing a classic third season episode "Bart the Lover," which garnered an Emmy Award for the actress in 1992. They will also conclude the new episode airing at 8 PM ET/PT with a tribute card to the actress from the producers. (Entertainment Weekly)
How I Met Your Mother is set to come to an end in May on CBS, but could a How I Met Your Father be in the works? It appears that CBS is in talks with 20th Century Fox to create some sort of spinoff, but it appears that it would include a new cast if it were to happen... although they would be introduced in the current series. (TV Guide)
Speaking of spinoffs and remakes, a journalist at Zap2it has observed that of the 250-plus projects in development for the five major networks for the 2014-2015 TV season, about 20% of them are spinoffs or remakes of series that we've seen before, including updated versions of Charmed and even Murder, She Wrote. Of course, a very small number of these projects will actually make it to air, but even so, is this the direction that TV is headed? (Zap2it)
Bret McKenzie, best known for his work with Jermaine Clement as part of the duo Flight of the Conchords, could be joining the ranks of Matt Groening and Seth MacFarlane on the Fox Animation Domination lineup. It is far from a done deal, but Fox has given a script and presentation order for McKenzie to produce, according to TV Guide, "(an) untitled workplace comedy (that) follows the exploits of a group of employees toiling away at an almost-obsolete NASA space center in Boulder, Colorado." (TV Guide)
The Greatest Event in Television History, a sporadically appearing (as in once every few months) series that airs on Adult Swim featuring Adam Scott from Parks and Recreation and others doing shot-for-shot recreations of classic TV series opening credits, has a third installment coming up on November 7th at midnight ET/PT. The newest installment is said to be a recreation of the opening credits of a "not-so-classic" sitcom... we think we know which one, but we'll let you decide what you think. (Entertainment Weekly)
Actress Mary Carver, best known for her role as Cecilia Simon on the series Simon & Simon, passed away this week at the age of 89. In addition to her role on Simon & Simon, she also appeared in roles on The Donna Reed Show, The Twilight Zone, Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, Mannix, Lou Grant, and other series. (The Hollywood Reporter)
In case you missed it, check out our Seven Questions interview with Masiela Lusha, who played Carmen on George Lopez, from earlier this week. (SitcomsOnline)

HOME MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

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Warner Archive has been steadily releasing seasons of the classic sitcom Alice, and this week they took things a bit further by announcing a release of spinoff series Flo. Flo - The Complete Series will begin shipping from Warner Archive.
Halloween may have already passed by us two days ago, but Nickelodeon gave fans of Are You Afraid of the Dark? a treat in their bag this week with their release of Are You Afraid of the Dark? - Volume 1. Not too many details are known about this release, but it can be owned for under $15.
Fans of the TNT series Dallas get a chance to say goodbye to J.R. in Warner Home Video's release of Dallas - The Complete Second Season. It'll be available to own on February 11.

NOVEMBER 5 HOME MEDIA RELEASES

Boy Meets World - The Complete Collection ($99.98): Lionsgate has released every season of this series, but now they've got every single one compiled in one release.
Family Ties - The Complete Series ($220.98): CBS brings all of the episodes of this classic series together in one collection, along with extra bonus material not included on the previous season release.
Flo - The Complete Series ($29.95): Warner Archive brings fans all 29 episodes of the grit kissin' Alice spinoff on DVD.
I Love Lucy - Colorized Christmas ($16.99): This single-disc release brings fans three classic episodes of the series (including, of course, the Christmas episode) in full color.
Naked City - The Complete Series ($179.98): Despite never having any proper season releases of the series, RLJ Entertainment has every episode of this classic police drama on DVD on this set.
Saved by the Bell - The Complete Collection ($49.98): Lionsgate brings together all of the episodes of the classic Saturday morning teen comedy in this set.
Seinfeld - The Complete Series ($149.98): In case you missed out on the classic series about nothing on the now out-of-print complete series set, a re-release is now available at a slightly lower price.
Weeds - The Complete Collection (Blu-ray) ($119.98): Lionsgate brings all of the episodes of the Showtime series that follows a woman that goes from neighborhood soccer mom to the FBI's most wanted in this release, along with some new special features.

FOLLOW ME

Who to Follow: Adam Scott (Twitter), "dancer, poet."

Claim to Fame: Adam Scott began his sitcom career several years ago in the role of Griff, the high school bully, on the series Boy Meets World. He followed up with many movie roles and roles in HBO series Tell Me You Love Me and the Starz series Party Down (the latter of which he tends to poke fun of himself for doing, but still appreciates the fans). Most recently, he has played the role of Ben Wyatt on the NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation, and, as we mentioned in today's SitcomsOnline Digest, the irregularly occurring The Greatest Event in Television History opening credit recreations that air on Adult Swim.

Pick of the Tweets: "Party Down Season 2 on DVD today. Join the dozens who already love the show and pick up a copy! Or just find it for free on the internet!" (September 28, 2010)

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Thursday, March 12

Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - "A Big Birthday and Tequila Shots" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Mandy struggles to celebrate Georgie’s 21st birthday after hitting a rough patch in her career.

Ghosts - "St. Hetty’s Day 2: The Help" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
A St. Patrick’s Day staffing emergency gives Hetty the chance to step into an unlikely role at the restaurant as she regains her once-a-year ability to be seen and heard by the living. Meanwhile, Kyle returns to watch over the ghosts and finds himself caught in an amusing supernatural dynamic.

Animal Control - "Squirrels and Fat Cats" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Frank uncovers Emily and Shred's secret romance during a break-in at city supply; Victoria and Patel confront his daughter's school bully.

Going Dutch - "Tinker, Tailor, Colonel, Spy" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Rick takes a sabbatical from the CIA and returns to the base, hoping to rekindle his strained relationship with Capt. Maggie; paranoia runs high when a mole is suspected to be operating inside the base.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of March 9)

Thursday, March 12

Will Forte (The Four Seasons/HouseBroken/MacGruber/The Last Man on Earth/The Cleveland Show) - Catch Will on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Minnie Driver (Emily in Paris/Speechless/About a Boy) - Minnie is a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Wanda Sykes (The Upshaws/The New Adventures of Old Christine/Wanda at Large) - Wanda appears on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Robert Smigel (Let's Be Real) - Robert stops by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Kristin Chenoweth (Stumble/Trial & Error/Kristin) - Kristin is a guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Jennifer Tilly (Out of Practice) - Andy Cohen interviews Jennifer on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 10pm on Bravo.
Nathan Lane (Mid-Century Modern/Only Murders in the Building/Modern Family/Charlie Lawrence/Encore! Encore!/One of the Boys) - Nathan talks about Broadway's Death of a Salesman with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Ariana DeBose (Schmigadoon!) - Ariana joins Tamron to talk about her fashion evolution and her role in the all-star cast of the new series Scarpetta on Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
Lauren Graham (The Z-Suite/M.Y.O.B./Conrad Bloom/Townies/Good Company) - Lauren talks about Reminders of Him on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/Cafe Americain/Sydney/One Day at a Time) - NBC's Today catches up with Valerie in the 10am hour.
Phil Rosenthal (Creator of Everybody Loves Raymond) - Phil and Lily Rosenthal join Drew for a taste test of weird foods and talk about their children's book Just Try It! Someplace New! (A Phil & Lil Book) on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.