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

Sunday, July 25

Where Have All the Theme Songs Gone? (CNN, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Don Lemon reviews the most popular TV theme songs in history with Gary Portnoy of "Cheers", Christopher Knight from "The Brady Bunch", Fran Drescher from "The Nanny", and composer Kurt Farquhar.

History of the Sitcom - "Working for Laughs" (CNN, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Work families can be even funnier than our biological ones, since the endless array of wacky sitcom characters on the job offers hilarious insights into the state of the American workplace.

Duncanville - "Crimes and Misters Demean Her" (Fox, 7:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Jack coaches Jing's little league soccer team, but when he feels he's too easy on the kids he calls on Duncan to yell at the team to get them to win; Annie takes Kimberly to work with her after she has a falling out with her friends.

HouseBroken - "Who's Going to the Vet?" (Fox, 7:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
After Chief eats Jill's vibrator, he's taken to the vet and ends up leading his own version of group therapy; Tabitha goes to live with The Gray One and learns she has to sing and dance if she wants to survive.

The Simpsons - "The 7 Beer Itch" (Fox, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Marge and the kids take a seaside vacation, Homer is unwittingly tempted by a British femme fatale.

The Great North - "My Fart Will Go on Adventure" (Fox, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
While the family prepares for Wolf and Honeybee's wedding, an unexpected guest RSVPs.

Bob's Burgers - "Y Tu Tina También" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Tina is forced to listen to Spanish audio lessons in the library to improve her grade, she develops an unexpected crush; Louise and Gene want to dunk Mr. Frond at the Wagstaff Spring Fair.

Family Guy - "The Marrying Kind" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Stewie gets a mail order bride and experiences domestic life; Peter and Chris become addicted to free hotel breakfast buffets.

Wellington Paranormal - "She-Wolf" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Officers O'Leary and Minogue investigate what they believe are dog attacks, but stumble upon something more mysterious.

Dead Pixels - "The Chair" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Alison becomes concerned over Meg's physical downturn and tries to sway her to a healthier regime; everyone worries about Nicky.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of July 19)

Friday, July 23

Wanda Sykes (The Upshaws/The New Adventures of Old Christine/Wanda at Large) - Wanda guest hosts a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Kim Fields (The Upshaws/Living Single/The Facts of Life/Baby, I'm Back) - Watch Kim on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Jason Sudeikis (Ted Lasso/Son of Zorn/The Cleveland Show) - Jason will be on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Christine Baranski (Happy Family/Welcome to New York/Cybill) - Christine appears on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Minnie Driver (Speechless/About a Boy) - Minnie is a guest on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Sarah Levy (Schitt's Creek) - Sarah appears on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
Leah Remini (Kevin Can Wait/The Exes/Family Tools/The King of Queens) - Leah is a guest on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.