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

Thursday, May 7

Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - "Little Schmoozin’ and a Nose for the News" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Georgie’s plan to get on the news sparks a feud between Mandy and a rival weathergirl. Meanwhile, Mandy tries to use the conflict to help her career.

Ghosts - "Gate-gate" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
When an emotion‑driven decision puts Woodstone at risk, Sam and Jay step up to defend what they’ve built. Meanwhile, Isaac struggles to adjust to new surroundings, only to realize that some connections are too important to leave behind.

Animal Control - "Roosters and Moles" / "Donkeys and Weasels" (Fox, 9:02PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Templeton is nominated for Animal Control officer of the year, Frank sets out to rescue 24 animals in 24 hours; Victoria and Patel try to find ways to replace pet food that was destroyed in a fire.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of May 4)

Thursday, May 7

Molly Gordon (The Bear/Ramy) - Catch Molly on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
John Krasinksi (The Office) - John appears on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Jenny Slate (The Great North/Big Mouth/Married/Bob's Burgers) - Jenny makes a special appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Lisa Kudrow (The Comeback/No Good Deed/HouseBroken/Web Therapy/Friends/Mad About You) - Lisa stops by Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC. She also talks about The Comeback on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Casey Wilson (The Righteous Gemstones/Black Monday/The Hotwives/Marry Me/Happy Endings) and Andrew Rannells (Girls/The New Normal) - Andy Cohen interviews Casey and Andrew on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 9pm on Bravo.
Garcelle Beauvais (The Other Black Girl/Survival of the Thickest/The Jamie Foxx Show/Merry Happy Whatever) - NBC's Today catches up with Garcelle in the 9am hour.
Julie Bowen (Modern Family/Ed) - NBC's Today catches up with Julie in the 10am hour.
Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/Cafe Americain/Sydney/One Day at a Time) - Valerie talks about Lifetime's Love, Again on NBC's Today in the 10am hour. She is covering the news sunny-side up with Drew and Ross on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Kellee Stewart (My Boys) - Kellee shares her fertility journey on Sherri, so check your local listings.
Regina Hall (Black Monday/Grandfathered/Married/Second Generation Wayans) - Regina tells Drew all about her action-packed film One Battle After Another on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Teri Hatcher (The Odd Couple/Sunday Dinner/Karen's Song/The Love Boat) - Teri is whipping up a delicious meal in the kitchen with her Desperately Devoted Podcast Co-Hosts onscreen daughter Andrea Bowen and real-life daughter Emerson Tenney on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Fabrizio Guido (Running Point) - Fabrizio talks about Netflix's Running Point on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
Jessica Hecht (Special/Red Oaks/What About Joan?/The Single Guy) - Jessica is a guest on New York Living on WPIX in New York at 10:05am.