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, April 9

Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - "A Stuffed Monkey and an Ex-Girlfriend" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
When CeeCee loses her favorite toy, Mandy and Meemaw (Annie Potts) take it as an opportunity to make some money. Meanwhile, Connor contemplates revisiting an old relationship.

Ghosts - "Michael Jackson Goes to HR" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Trevor lands himself in trouble when an inappropriate gift to a co‑worker forces him into an HR meeting only Jay can handle. Meanwhile, Pete unintentionally sparks drama with Alberta after casually mentioning a surprise visit to his ex.

Animal Control - "Scaredy Cats and Card Sharks" (Fox, 9:02PM ET/PT)
When Frank and Daisy lose $5,000 in union funds, they try to win the money back by gambling; Shred and Patel cover the late-night shift at the precinct.

Going Dutch - "The Heart Locker" (Fox, 9:32PM ET/PT)
After throwing out his back, the Colonel is ordered to bed rest; the base is sent to sweep for landmines at a local farm, where Major Shah suddenly finds himself in serious danger when he steps on one.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of April 6)

Thursday, April 9

Kerry Washington (UnPrisoned) - Catch Kerry on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Riz Ahmed (Bait) - Riz is a guest on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Nathan Lane (Mid-Century Modern/Only Murders in the Building/Modern Family/Charlie Lawrence/Encore! Encore!/One of the Boys) - Nathan appears on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Arsenio Hall (Arsenio) - Arsenio is a guest on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Jim Parsons (Young Sheldon/The Big Bang Theory) - Jim appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Judy Reyes (Scrubs) - Judy talks about Scrubs and High Potential on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
Dany Levy (Big Mistakes/Schitt's Creek) - Dan talks about Big Mistakes on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
Felicity Huffman (Sports Night) - Felicity dishes on Doc on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
Bryan Cranston (Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair/Malcolm in the Middle/The Louie Show), Frankie Muniz (Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair/Malcolm in the Middle) and Jane Kaczmarek (Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair/Malcolm in the Middle/Help Me Help You) - Bryan, Frankie and Jane talk about Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair on ABC News Live Prime with Linsey Davis at 7pm.
John C. Reilly (Moonbase 8) - NBC's Today has "Head or Tails" with John in the 9am hour.
Billy Magnussen (The Franchise/Made for Love) - NBC's Today catches up with Billy in the 9am hour.
Terry Crews (Brooklyn Nine-Nine/Are We There Yet?/Everybody Hates Chris) - Tamron Hall has a DAYTIME EXCLUSIVE with Terry and Rebecca King-Crews revealing for the first time Rebecca's health battle, so check your local listings.
Kenya Barris (blackAF) - Kenya talks about Prime's Jerry West: The Logo on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
Juliette Lewis (Camping/I Married Dora) - Juliette tells Drew about her current run in Broadway show The Rocky Horror Show on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.