SitcomsOnline Digest: Cosby, A Different World, and More Now on Hulu Plus; Fox Renews Three Sitcoms

Saturday, March 08, 2014

SitcomsOnline Digest: Cosby, A Different World, and More Now on Hulu Plus; Fox Renews Three Sitcoms

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! Today, we've got news about new Hulu Plus offerings, some renewals from Fox, and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

Hulu Plus (Hulu's paid subscription service) has expanded their offerings from the Carsey-Werner library, providing streaming episodes of some of their popular series that were aren't seen as often on DVD and in syndication. Among these new offerings are Cosby, Cybill, A Different World, and Grace Under Fire. (Hulu)
Fox gave an early fall renewal to three of their sitcoms this week, including one that appeared to be doomed. This week, it was announced that Brooklyn Nine-Nine, New Girl, and The Mindy Project are all being renewed. (Deadline)
Game show host Geoff Edwards, best known for hosting game shows such as Jackpot!, The New Treasure Hunt, and Chain Reaction, died this week at the age of 83. Edwards was no stranger to the sitcom world, though, having appeared in episodes of Petticoat Junction, I Dream of Jeannie, and Diff'rent Strokes. (ABC News)
Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher, who played Kelso and Jackie on That '70s Show (and, by the way, are now engaged in real life) will reunite in the sitcom world on an upcoming episode of Two and a Half Men. (SitcomsOnline)

HOME MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

Shout! Factory released some details about their May 27 release of The Bob Newhart Show - The Complete Series. The set will include many special features, such as commentaries, the unaired pilot, a new group "therapy session" interview, a gag reel, a 40 page booklet, and more.

RECENT HOME MEDIA REVIEWS ON SITCOMSONLINE

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/thecosbyshowseasons1and2millcreekdvdreview.html

The Cosby Show - Seasons 1 and 2: The Huxtables return to DVD in this value-priced release from Mill Creek that presents every episode from the first two seasons in unedited form.

MARCH 11 HOME MEDIA RELEASES

Dennis the Menace (animated) - Volume 1 (DVD, $12.98): There have been a few home media releases of this animated series from the 80s, but for the first time, Mill Creek is bringing all of the first 33 episodes to one collection.
In the Heat of the Night - Seasons 2 and 3 (DVD, $34.96); In the Heat of the Night - Season 6 (DVD, $24.96); In the Heat of the Night - Season 7 (DVD, $24.96): These three releases from TGG bring many of the unreleased episodes of the series to DVD, although many episodes are not included due to music rights issues.

FOLLOW ME

Who to Follow: Jason Alexander (Twitter), "actor/dir./prod./author/magician/ poker guy/once on big sitcom"

Claim to Fame: Like many actors, Jason Alexander began his career on stage in New York City. He first appeared in a sitcom in a recurring role on the CBS sitcom E/R (which, even though that isn't the hit medical drama from NBC that starred George Clooney or even related to that series, actually had George Clooney in the case). His next sitcom role came in 1987 on the CBS series Everything's Relative, but the series only lasted a few episodes due to strong competition from what NBC was airing at the same time (227). He finally found success in 1989 with his role of George Costanza in Seinfeld, a role for which he will always be remembered.

Pick of the Tweets: "Hearing all kinds of nice things about tomorrow nights episode of KIRSTIE. I got a ponytail and an accent. Is that not an automatic Emmy?" (February 18, 2014)

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Tuesday, December 10

Tyler Perry's Assisted Living "Baby Steps" - (BET, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Leah shocks Jeremy with some baby-making trends she wants to incorporate into their daily routine, but he finds them annoying and unnecessary. At the same time, Sandra and Philip take charge when a possible social media ban threatens their status quo.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of December 9)

Tuesday, December 10

Monica Barbaro (FUBAR) - Catch Monica on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
John Mulaney (Mulaney) - John is a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Linda Cardellini (No Good Deed/Dead to Me/Guys Like Us) - Linda appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Mindy Kaling (The Mindy Project/The Office) - Mindy stops by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Sharon Horgan (Bad Sisters/HouseBroken/Catastrophe) - Sharon appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Sasheer Zamata (Home Economics/Woke/Robbie), Vinny Thomas (Platonic) and Jeff Hiller (Somebody Somehwhere/Nightcap) - Sasheer, Vinny and Jeff are guests on After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
Christian Slater (Breaking In) - Christian talks about Dexter: Original Sin on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am and on CBS Mornings Plus at 9am.
Sarah Michelle Gellar (The Crazy Ones) - Sarah talks about Dexter: Original Sin on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your listings.
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 The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Christina Milian (Grandfathered) - Christina talks about starring in the new series Dexter: Original Sin on Paramount+ with Showtime on Sherri, so check your local listings.
Jennifer Love Hewitt (Shaky Ground) - Jennifer talks about Lifetime's The Holiday Junkie on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
Alexa PenaVega (Ruby & the Rockits) - Alexa talks about Great American Family's Love at the Kettle on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
Vanessa Lachey (Truth Be Told/Dads) - Vanessa and Nick Lachey discuss their reality series The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
Chris Diamantopoulos (The Sticky/Silicon Valley) - Chris discusses his television series The Sticky on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.