SitcomsOnline Digest: ABC Limiting Next Day Online Streaming; More Newhart on DVD

Saturday, January 04, 2014

SitcomsOnline Digest: ABC Limiting Next Day Online Streaming; More Newhart on DVD

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! This is the last weekend before everything gets back to normal on Monday, so we've still got a little bit of a light news week for you this week... but not too light! Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

If you enjoy watching your favorite ABC series the next day online, it could be coming to an end for you, depending upon your circumstances. The network announced that they will restrict next-day streaming of series to subscribers of a list of specific cable companies (which includes Comcast, but leaves large holes by not include DISH Network, DirecTV, or Time Warner Cable) and subscribers of Hulu+. This follows a similar move made by Fox in 2011, but for now, CBS and NBC continue to offer this programming for free to everybody. (TVLine)
Chevy Chase left the series Community at the end of the fourth season, and it appeared that there was no way that he could possibly return... but he did (at least temporarily). Dan Harmon discusses the hurdles that he had to go through to make this happen with TV Guide. (TV Guide)
If you're wondering when your favorite mid-season series will return (or debut), Deadline has a rather thorough rundown of debut dates for several series through March. (Deadline)
Netflix has plenty of categories for every type of television that anybody may possible want to see... 76,897, to be exact. As it turns out, the most popular actor in these categories is Raymond Burr, best known for his role as Perry Mason and Ironside. (Deadline)
We lost quite a few sitcom stars in 2013. Earlier this week, we compiled a 2013 tribute to some of these people. (SitcomsOnline)

HOME MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

We don't quite have Newhart - The Complete Second Season yet (at least not until February 11), but according to TVShowsOnDVD.com, it seems that Shout! Factory already has plans in place for Newhart - The Complete Third Season. It is scheduled for release on April 22.
Walmart has had an exclusive on these releases since October, but now it appears that a general release date for other retailers has been set for The Beverly Hillbillies - The Official Fourth Season and Petticoat Junction - The Official Third Season. Both should be available from general retailers on April 15.

JANUARY 7 HOME MEDIA RELEASES

www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00FM4S7P4/ref=nosim/happydaysonline4-20

Barney Miller - The Complete Fourth Season (DVD, $24.97): The season has already been released as part of Shout! Factory's complete series release, but now for those who didn't get that release, the season is available by itself.

FOLLOW ME

Who to Follow: Reginald VelJohnson (Twitter), "Actor"

Claim to Fame: We featured Jaleel White last week, and it seemed appropriate to feature another Family Matters star this week... and with that, we feature Reginald VelJohnson, who played Carl Winslow on Family Matters. He got his start in the movies, including a small role in the film Ghostbusters, and following a guest appearance on 227 and Perfect Strangers, he quickly settled in to his Family Matters role. Currently, he can be seen in recurring roles on Hart of Dixie and Mike and Molly.

Pick of the Tweets: "Fake winslow family twitters keep sending me msgs. Not gonna be your dad again so quit asking. #winslows #leavecarlalone @judithwinslow" (December 12, 2013)

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Monday, October 13

The Neighborhood - "Welcome to the new Normals" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
The Johnsons and Butlers face big changes and unexpected challenges as Tina discovers a new passion, Malcolm navigates work and family boundaries and Courtney takes a major step with Marty. Meanwhile, Dave’s tech experiment backfires and Gemma’s parenting plan goes awry.

DMV - "Pilot" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
East Hollywood Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) driving examiner Colette pines for her coworker Noa while enduring teasing from colleagues Gregg, Vic and Ceci. Also, new manager Barb rallies the crew to save their branch from government shutdown.

TV We Love - "I Love Lucy" (The CW, 8:00PM ET/PT)
A deep dive into "I Love Lucy," widely regarded as one of the greatest sitcoms of all time; exploring the groundbreaking partnership of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, whose comedic brilliance and bold business moves forever changed television.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of October 13)

Monday, October 13

Kat Dennings (Shifting Gears/Dollface/2 Broke Girls/Raising Dad) - Watch Kat on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Steve Martin (Only Murders in the Building), Martin Short (Only Murders in the Building/Mulaney/I'm a Big Girl Now/The Associates) and Selena Gomez (Only Murders in the Building/Wizards of Waverly Place) - Steve, Martin and Selena are guests on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Keanu Reaves (Swedish Dicks) - Keanu and Alex Winter are guests on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Jason Bateman (Arrested Development/George and Leo/Chicago Sons/Simon/The Hogan Family/It's Your Move/Silver Spoons) - Jason appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Laverne Cox (Clean Slate) - Andy Cohen intervews Laverne on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 9pm on Bravo.
Patricia Arquette (High Desert) - Patricia talks about Murdaugh: Death in the Family on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
Bradley Whitford (Perfect Harmony/Trophy Wife) - Bradley talks about The Diplomat on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
Colin Hanks (Life in Pieces) - Colin chats with the hosts about John Candy: I Like Me on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
Michael J. Fox (Family Ties/Spin City/The Michael J. Fox Show) - Michael discusses his new book Future Boy: Back to the Future and My Journey Through the Space-Time Continuum with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Ayo Edebiri (Big Mouth/The Bear) - Co-host Gayle King sits down with Ayo and Julia Roberts on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
Tim Meadows (DMV/Schooled/No Activity/Son of Zorn/Mr. Box Office/The Bill Engvall Show) - Tim talks about DMV on CBS Mornings Plus in the 9am hour.
Brian Baumgartner (The Office) - Brian talks about the We Need A Fourth podcast on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
Sherri Shepherd (Mr. Iglesias/Trial & Error/Sherri/Less Than Perfect/Suddenly Susan) - Sherri talks about The Sunshine Queens on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
Jaleel White (Family Matters/Grown Ups) - Jaleel joins Sherri to talk about the new season of his hit game show Flip Side on Sherri, so check your local listings.
Vanessa Lachey (Truth Be Told/Dads) - Vanessa and Nick Lachey talk about Netflix's Love is Blind on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
Cristela Alonzo (Cristela) - Cristela talks about Netflix's Stay Classy on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/Cafe Americain/Sydney/One Day at a Time) - Valerie is showing Drew how to make the perfect pumpkin spice meatballs on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.