SitcomsOnline Digest: Big Bang Ratings Reach a Record Bang; The Bob Newhart Show Wrapping Up on DVD

Saturday, January 11, 2014

SitcomsOnline Digest: Big Bang Ratings Reach a Record Bang; The Bob Newhart Show Wrapping Up on DVD

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! This week, we've got news about The Big Bang Theory becoming bigger than ever, a possible new sitcom featuring Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo, a new Saturday Night Live cast member, and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

The Big Bang Theory has been the biggest thing on TV, so it certainly must be declining in ratings now, right? Perhaps not. Thursday night's episode set a record high for the series that seems to be coming about as big as the real big bang. (TV Guide)
Even if nobody likes to work with Chevy Chase, he still has plenty of fans, and many of those came from his work in the National Lampoon's Vacation movie franchise. Those fans will be particularly interested in seeing if a potential ABC project featuring Chase and Vacation co-star Beverly D'Angelo, eyed for the 2015-2016 season, makes it to air. If it ever does make it to air (and keep in mind, he's Chevy Chase and you're not, and unlike you, there's a lot he can do to destroy it before it even happens), the single camera comedy would feature Chase and D'Angelo as two grandparents who would rather be far away from their grandchildren, but unfortunate circumstances force them to care for them. (Deadline)
Saturday Night Live has been dealing with a mini-controversy lately over the fact that there are so many African American female characters in sketches (but no actual African American females in the cast), but now they've announced that Sasheer Zamata will be joining the cast to fill the roles that Kenan Thompson and Jay Pharoah won't do anymore, beginning next week. (Deadline)
Craig Robinson, who previously appeared in The Office, appears to be getting another chance in the NBC primetime lineup with another sitcom (but as the star this time). NBC has given a six episode order to Mr. Robinson, a comedy about a middle school music teacher. No word on when we'll see it. (A.V. Club)

HOME MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

We hinted a few months ago that Shout! Factory had some classic Fox sitcom that they would be finishing up on DVD, and that is getting much closer to reality now. On May 27, Shout! will bring fans The Bob Newhart Show - The Complete Series, and it will come at a $129.99 MSRP.
Shout! Factory will also be moving ahead with a pair of season releases of series that have already seen a complete series release, with The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis - Season Three on May 6 and Barney Miller - The Complete Fifth Season on May 13.

RECENT HOME MEDIA REVIEWS ON SITCOMSONLINE

Perry Mason - The Movie Collection - Volume One: The release from CBS brings the first six of these movies, which debuted decades after the end of the original series, in a three disc set. It's a barebones release, but fans are certain to appreciate seeing CBS move ahead with completing everything in the Perry Mason franchise.

JANUARY 14 HOME MEDIA RELEASES

www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00FM4S8IU/ref=nosim/happydaysonline4-20

The Courtship of Eddie's Father - The Complete Third Season (DVD, $34.95): The Warner Archive release compiles every episode from the third season of the series, which is also the final season.
Hazel - The Complete Final Season (DVD, $34.93): Despite once appearing to be unlikely to see any further releases after a long wait following the first season, Shout! Factory brings the fifth (and final) season of the Shirley Booth classic to DVD. This season, she has a whole new family, thanks to a network change.
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis - Season Two (DVD, $29.93): The second season of the classic sitcom appears on DVD once again for those who did not pick up the complete series release.

FOLLOW ME

Who to Follow: Bob Newhart (Twitter), "Official Twitter Page for Bob Newhart - comedian / actor / all around nice guy"

Claim to Fame: If you don't know who Bob Newhart is, you're probably on the wrong website. He is, by all means, one of the legends of TV. But you may not know about his history. Newhart actually started out his career as an accountant, and through a series of incidents, sort of landed himself into comedy. He had his own series on NBC by 1961, The Bob Newhart Show, but that isn't the sitcom that fans remember so well. The sitcom that fans remember, of course, is his 1972 sitcom, The Bob Newhart Show, which was followed by another successful sitcom, Newhart, in 1982. And if older sitcoms aren't what you're interested in, he has also made two recent appearances on The Big Bang Theory, one of which earned him his very first Emmy Award (after all those years!).

Pick of the Tweets: "I watch a lot of TV & see tons of commercials about whether to buy gold or get a reverse mortgage. So I bought three crinkly hoses instead" (July 31, 2013)

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Wednesday, June 18

Shifting Gears - "Restoration" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Matt, the widowed owner of a classic car restoration shop, is confronted with his most unexpected and challenging project yet when his estranged daughter, Riley, and her adolescent children come crashing back into his life.

Shifting Gears - "Accommodations" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Matt joins Riley at Carter’s high school open house, where he’s unsettled to learn about the “accommodations” made for his grandson’s anxiety. Meanwhile, Riley reconnects with Caitlin, a former classmate, and sets her up with Gabriel.

Shifting Gears - "Job" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Riley, desperate for work, reluctantly takes a job at Matt’s shop. Meanwhile, Gabriel and Stitch secretly stray from Matt’s vision on a high-stakes restomod project.

Shifting Gears - "Grief" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Riley discovers a closet filled with her late mother’s clothes, she insists Matt hasn’t processed her death and urges him to see a grief counselor. Meanwhile, Gabriel faces a crisis of confidence when he’s put in charge of the shop for a day.

Children Ruin Everything - "Emergencies" (The CW, 9:00PM ET/PT)
During a family emergency, with both James and Astrid busy at work, they need to rethink their childcare plan.

Children Ruin Everything - "Sex" (The CW, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Astrid and James get some much-needed adult time when they convince Nisha to take the kids for the night; their night gets complicated however, when a small lie grows out of control.

Tyler Perry's House of Payne - "House of Probation" (BET, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Calvin and Laura are met with unexpected news, while Curtis and Glo join forces against Mrs. Wellington; Calvin and Miranda must navigate the complexities of co-parenting.

Tyler Perry's Assisted Living - "It Takes a Village" (BET, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Vinny attempts to take matters into his own hands with the armed crimes around the neighborhood; the facility is in an uproar regarding their safety after the armed crimes around the neighborhood.

The Ms. Pat Show - "The Graduation Party" (BET, 10:30PM ET/PT)
Janelle has a big confession to make at her high school graduation party; Brandon's surprise decision sparks a huge fight with Ashley.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of June 16)

Wednesday, June 18

Charlie Day (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia/Luis) - Watch Charlie on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Miley Cyrus (Hannah Montana) - Miley is a guest on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Annie Murphy (Kevin Can F**k Himself/Schitt's Creek) - Annie appears on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Allison Williams (Girls) - Allison drops by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Cole Escola (Human Resources/Search Party/Mozart in the Jungle/Difficult People) - Cole appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Reid Scott (Veep/My Boys/It's All Relative) - Reid is a guest on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
Keke Palmer (Scream Queens/True Jackson, VP) - E! News has an interview with Keke at 11pm on E!.
Retta (Parks and Recreation) - NBC's Today catches up with Retta in the 9am hour.
Michelle Buteau (Survival of the Thickest/Bless the Harts/Enlisted) - Michelle guest co-hosts NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
Cynthia Nixon (And Just Like That.../Sex and the City) - Cynthia talks about The Gilded Age on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
Fortune Feimster (FUBAR/Kenan/Bless the Harts/Champions) - Fortune is sharing her hilarious take on the hottest headlines of the day and telling Drew about her latest Netflix standup special on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.