Saturday, March 15, 2014

SitcomsOnline Digest: CBS Looking to Fall 2014; Eight is Enough Wrapped Up on DVD

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! Today, we've got news about CBS fall renewals, new Warner Archive updates, and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB
  • The potential reboot of The Odd Couple on CBS now has a Felix to go with the previously cast Oscar (already announced to be Matthew Perry). This week, it was announced that Thomas Lennon will play the role of Felix Unger. (Deadline)
  • The headline for this article pretty much says it all: "CBS Renews Practically Everything for Fall 2014." Not included here is The Crazy Ones, but it hasn't exactly been canceled yet either. (Huffington Post)
  • One series didn't get renewed just for next season though. It looks like we'll be seeing more of The Big Bang Theory for the next three years. (Deadline)
  • Famed production manager Abby Singer died this week at the age of 96. Even if the name doesn't sound familiar, Singer served in this role for countless hit series from MTM Productions during their heyday in the '70s and early '80s.  (Variety)
  • The Simpsons included a very touching tribute to the late Marcia Wallace in the episode that aired this week. (New York Daily News)
  • We don't normally get too excited about reality shows around here, but when one stars Alan Thicke and is considered to be a "reality sitcom" (talk about "blurred lines!"), we do. This week, it was announced that will in fact happen on TVGN... and he'll be getting by with a little help from some friends from another sitcom. (SitcomsOnline)

HOME MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

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  • It took years for Warner to even begin releasing Eight is Enough, and it seemed that it would never happen until about two years ago (April 2012, to be specific) when Warner Home Video released the first season. Now, not even two years later, Warner Archive is finishing up the run of the series, as they released Eight is Enough - The Complete Fifth Season this week.
  • Warner Archive has another new release next week, with their release of Medical Center - The Complete Fourth Season. This release leaves only three more seasons to complete the series on DVD.
MARCH 18 HOME MEDIA RELEASES
  • Medical Center - The Complete Fourth Season (DVD, $49.95): The classic medical series arrives on DVD once again from Warner Archive.
  • Groundbreaking Sitcoms of the '70s (DVD, $9.98): A Mill Creek release containing selected episodes of Benson, Diff'rent Strokes, Good Times, The Jeffersons, and What's Happening!!
  • Great Comedies of the '90s (DVD, $9.98): A Mill Creek release containing selected episodes of 3rd Rock from the Sun, Action, That '70s Show, The Nanny, Newsradio, Just Shoot Me, The Larry Sanders Show, Mad About You, Ned and Stacey, and The Jeff Foxworthy Show.
  • Leading Ladies of Comedy (DVD, $9.98): A Mill Creek release containing selected episodes of Bewitched, I Dream of Jeannie, The Flying Nun, Gidget, and Maude.

FOLLOW ME

Who to Follow: The Lonely Island (Twitter)
Claim to Fame: This week's Follow Me may be confusing to those who don't know who (or more accurately, what) The Lonely Island is. The Lonely Island is a comedy group that consists of Jorma Taccone, Akiva Schaffer, and the biggest name in the group is Andy Samberg. Samberg does not have his own Twitter account, and instead this account sort of serves as his own Twitter account, in third person. The group itself is not particularly known for sitcom fame, but many of their music videos appeared on Saturday Night Live as Digital Shorts throughout the past decade. Samberg, though, has reached a more prominent level of fame, being a cast member on Saturday Night Live, and now going on to star in the Fox series Brooklyn Nine-Nine.
Pick of the Tweets: "Congrats to everyone at Brooklyn99! We won Best TV show, musical or comedy at the #GoldenGlobes!" (January 12, 2014)


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Wednesday, January 28

Shifting Gears - "Uncle Sam" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Matt is thrilled to show off his military-hero son Sam, but a shift in Sam’s career could finally give Riley a chance to be the golden child. Meanwhile, Andy’s singing hits all the wrong notes for Riley. Jesse Williams and Luke Macfarlane guest star.

Abbott Elementary - "Picture Day" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
When picture day catches the teachers at Abbott by surprise, chaos ensues.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of January 26)

Wednesday, January 28

  • Katherine LaNasa (Three Sisters) - Watch Katherine on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS. She also discusses The Pitt on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
  • Denis Leary (Going Dutch/No Good Deed/Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll/The Job) - Denis is a guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Michael Urie (Shrinking/Krapopolis/Partners) - Michael appears on Comedy Central's The Daily Show at 11pm.
  • Kevin James (The Crew/Kevin Can Wait/The King of Queens) - Kevin talks about Solo Mio on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
  • Patrick Dempsey (Fast Times) - Patrick talks about Memory of a Killer on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
  • Peyton List (Bunk'd/Jessie) - Peyton talks about School Spirits on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
  • Laura Dern (F Is for Family/Enlightened) - NBC's Today catches up with Laura in the 9am hour.
  • Chris Redd (Kenan/Disjointed) - Chris Redd drops into Sherri's Laugh Lounge, so check your local lisitngs.
  • Jennifer Tilly (Out of Practice) - Jennifer talks about Paramount+'s School Spirits on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.


New on DVD and Blu-ray

Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray) Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - The Complete First Season (DVD) St. Denis Medical - Season One (Blu-ray) Happy's Place - Season One (Blu-ray) Two and a Half Men - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)

07/22 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
08/26 - The Huckleberry Hound Show - The Complete Original Series (Blu-ray)
09/30 - Touché Turtle and Dum Dum - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
10/07 - Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - The Complete First Season (DVD)
10/14 - Curb Your Enthusiasm - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (DVD)
10/28 - St. Denis Medical - Season One (Blu-ray) (DVD)
11/04 - Happy's Place - Season One (Blu-ray) (DVD)
11/11 - Rick and Morty - Season 8 (Blu-ray) (DVD)
11/11 - SpongeBob SquarePants - The Complete Fifteenth Season (DVD)
11/11 - Two and a Half Men - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
12/02 - Tom and Jerry - The Golden Era Anthology (1940-1958) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
12/16 - Lippy the Lion and Hardy Har Har - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
12/16 - Wally Gator - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
01/20 - The Woody Woodpecker and Friends Golden Age Collection (Blu-ray)
01/27 - The New Fred and Barney Show - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/11 - Tom and Jerry - The Complete CinemaScope Collection (Blu-ray)
03/24 - Looney Tunes Collector's Vault - Volume 2 (Blu-ray)

More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD and Blu-ray Releases / TV Shows on DVD, Blu-ray and Prime Video / DVD Reviews Archive


Recent SitcomsOnline.com News Blog Posts

01/27 - Trailer for The Muppet Show Special Event; New Evolution of The Handmaid's Tale Series
01/26 - FETV Acquires '70s S.W.A.T. Series; Paramount+ Releases Date for Can You Keep a Secret? Comedy Series
01/25 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of January 26, 2026)
01/24 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Kenan and Kel Back Together for Upcoming Movie; Amazon Barbershop Series Adds to Cast
01/23 - CBS Renews 10 More Series for 2026-27; Shifting Gears and Abbott Elementary Return Big in January
01/22 - Dancing with the Stars Live Tour Starts TODAY; Beef Returns April 16
01/21 - Prime Video's Bait Premieres March 25; Production Underway for Season 2 of Arctic-set Comedy North of North
01/20 - Baywatch Casting Call for Reboot on Fox; Mike Epps Netflix Special Trailer
01/19 - MGM+ Comedy Series American Classic; Taylor Tomlinson Returns to Netflix
01/18 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of January 19, 2026)
01/17 - SitcomsOnline Digest: The Rockford Files Reboot at NBC; Daniel Stern Fired From ABC Comedy Pilot
01/16 - Ted Season 2 Trailer Released; Remembering T.K. Carter of Punky Brewster, TV Director Tom Cherones, and Others We Recently Lost
01/15 - The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins Gets Special Preview; ABC Midseason Changes for Monday and Tuesday Night Lineups
01/14 - NBC Orders Pilots, Including The Rockford Files; The CW to Premiere Celebrity Series
01/13 - 83rd Golden Globe Winners; Tubi's Upcoming YA Film Slate
01/12 - Peacock's The 'Burbs Trailer; The Jeff Foxworthy Show Launch Back on COZI TV
01/11 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of January 12, 2026)
01/10 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Henry Winkler to Star in NBC Legal Comedy Pilot; First Look at Peacock's The 'Burbs
01/09 - HBO's Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man! Documentary with Interviews Including Rob Reiner; 83rd Annual Golden Globes Presenters
01/08 - Netflix Orders Nick Kroll Comedy Series; Saturday Night Live January 2026 Hosts and Music Guests
01/07 - Saturday Night Live Bobbleheads from the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum; Fox Entertainment Signs Tracee Ellis Ross to Deal
01/06 - Emily in Paris Renewed for Season 6; Audible's New Comedy Series Starring Jenifer Lewis, Cedric the Entertainer, and Niecy Nash-Betts
01/05 - Trailer for The Muppet Show Special Event; Season 3 of Genndy Tartakovsky's Primal on Adult Swim
01/04 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of January 5, 2026)
01/03 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Premiere Date Set for Malcolm in the Middle Reboot; NBC Pulls The Paper
01/02 - Bridgerton Season 4 Details and Live Premiere Event; NBC Pulls The Paper from Mondays
01/01 - Happy New Year; Shrinking Season 3 Trailer
12/31 - In Memoriam: Remembering the Sitcom Stars We Lost in 2025
12/30 - Antenna TV and Rewind TV's New Year's Eve and Day Marathons; Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair Premieres April 10
12/29 - COZI TV Postpones The Jeff Foxworthy Show Launch; Netflix Releases Free Bert Trailer
12/28 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of December 29, 2025)
12/27 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Chevy Chase "Hurt" By Not Being Invited to SNL 50th Anniversary; New Lineups for Antenna TV and Rewind TV