SitcomsOnline Digest: NBC Thursday Night Reaching New Lows; Writers of Classic American Series Looking to China

Saturday, November 30, 2013

SitcomsOnline Digest: NBC Thursday Night Reaching New Lows; Writers of Classic American Series Looking to China

Happy Thanksgiving weekend, and welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! It's a slow week for us this week due to the holiday, but we've got all of your regular features as usual. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

NBC is facing a serious dilemma with their Thursday night lineup, as the historically top-rated lineup came in at a historically low sixth place in the ratings race last week, falling behind even The CW in key demographics last week. Could it be time for a major shakeup in this lineup? (LA Times)
Many TV writers of the 70's, 80's, and 90's still interested in working just aren't finding work on today's networks in line with their style, but as it turns out, China may be the perfect place to develop new series like the ones they wrote for in the past. Sitcom writers such as Marilyn Anderson (Murphy Brown and The Jeffersons) and Michael Elias (Head of the Class and The Bill Cosby Show) are just a few among thousands of other writers of past American hit series working with a Chinese production company to bring high quality productions to a nation that is claimed to be lacking in great stories for television. (The Hollywood Reporter)
On Sunday's episode of Family Guy, fans were given one of the most shocking deaths to ever occur in an animated series as one of the major characters was killed off. This has caused quite an outrage from fans on the internet, even inspiring one of the largest online petitions ever revolving around the plot of a TV series. But is it all real, or a complicated publicity stunt to spike ratings? (LA Times)
Actor Jay Leggett, who appeared as a cast member on the final season of In Living Color, died this week at the age of 50. (TV Guide)
MeTV is adding a pair of classic Sid & Marty Krofft series to their Saturday morning lineup beginning December 29, with the addition of H.R. Pufnstuf and Land of the Lost. (SitcomsOnline)

HOME MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

Just before the April premiere of the sixth season of the Showtime series, Lionsgate is set to release Nurse Jackie - Season Five on DVD and Blu-ray on February 18. As usual, the set will contain plenty of special features.
eOne Entertainment is prepared to bring a somewhat forgotten '80s syndicated gem to DVD with their release of Monsters - The Complete Series. For those unfamiliar with the series, it was a horror anthology series from the same producer who previously brought fans the syndicated series Tales from the Darkside.

RECENT HOME MEDIA REVIEWS ON SITCOMSONLINE

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00E0FW054/ref=nosim/happydaysonline4-20

Family Guy - Volume Eleven: The three-disc set brings all 23 episodes of the 2011-2012 season of the animated Fox series to DVD, along with a few nice special features.
MADtv - The Complete Fourth Season: Shout! Factory's latest release of the late night Fox series that ran for 15 seasons brings fans one of the greatest seasons of the series.

FOLLOW ME

Who to Follow: Kunal Nayyar (Twitter), "I play Raj on the Big Bang Theory. I love playing Ping Pong, and long walks on the beach. Thats about all I like doing, especially on the sand."

Claim to Fame: Nayyar was born in London and raised in New Delhi, but came to the United States in 1999 to pursue a degree in finance. While in college, he appeared in a few stage performances and found that was what he really loved, and by 2007, the relatively unknown actor found huge success when he was cast as Raj Koothrappali in the CBS series The Big Bang Theory.

Pick of the Tweets: "FAQ- I can talk to women without alcohol now. On the show as well." (September 26, 2013)

Sitcoms Airing Tonight

Thursday, December 9

Young Sheldon - "The Yips and an Oddly Hypnotic Bohemian" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Sheldon gets the science yips and has to learn how to not think. Also, George Sr. plays handyman at Brenda Sparks’ house.

United States of Al - "Christmas / Krismis" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Vanessa becomes upset when Riley invites his new girlfriend to a family Christmas party. Also, Art is uncomfortable when Lois gets him an incredibly expensive sweater as a gift.

Ghosts - "Possession" (CBS, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Hetty accidentally possesses Jay’s body just as he and Sam are to about show Woodstone Mansion to a renowned wedding planner.

B Positive - "A Dog, a Mousse and a Bat" (CBS, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Gina promises to help Harry give his ailing wife a special anniversary dinner. Also, Drew connects with a charming young woman while on the road.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of December 6)

Thursday, December 9

Will Forte (MacGruber/The Last Man on Earth/The Cleveland Show) - Catch Will on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Miley Cyrus (Hannah Montana) - Miley appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Michael B. Jordan (The Assistants) - Michael is a guest on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS. He talks about his new movie A Journal for Jordan on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your local listings. He chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Hannah Waddingham (Ted Lasso) - Hannah will be on The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Rachel Dratch (30 Rock) and Ana Gasteyer (American Auto/Lady Dynamite/Suburgatory) - Rachel and Ana are guests on Watch What Happens: Live at 10:30pm on Bravo.
Nicholas Braun (10 Things I Hate About You) - Nicholas is a guest on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
Eugenio Derbez (Acapulco/Rob) - Eugenio appears on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
Kristin Davis (And Just Like That.../Sex and the City) and Nicole Ari Parker (And Just Like That.../Second Time Around) - Kristin and Nicole talk about the next chapter of the iconic TV series Sex and the City on Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
Ariana DeBose (Schmigadoon!) - Ariana discusses playing Anita in the highly anticipated new film West Side Story on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Brooke Shields (Suddenly Susan) - Brooke is a guest on a repeat of Rachael Ray, so check your local listings.
Cristela Alonzo (Cristela) - Cristela talks about Lifetime's Holiday in Santa Fe on Access Daily, so check your local listings.
Sara Ramirez, Sarita Choudhury, Nicole Ari Parker and Karen Pittman (And Just Like That...) - Sara, Sarita, Nicole and Karen talk about And Just Like That... on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.