Saturday, March 08, 2014
SitcomsOnline Digest: Cosby, A Different World, and More Now on Hulu Plus; Fox Renews Three Sitcoms
- 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
- 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.
Sitcoms Airing Tonight
Friday, December 8
CBS announced the new entertainment special Norman Lear: A Life on Television, to air tonight - Friday, Dec. 8 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on demand for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers, or on demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the special airs). Presented by Entertainment Tonight, this one-hour special features new interviews with stars of the long-running comedies Lear created, including Jimmie Walker from Good Times and Mackenzie Phillips from One Day at a Time, in addition to never-before-seen interviews from the ET vault. Also included with this new footage and interviews is an in-depth sit-down interview with Lear that ET host Kevin Frazier conducted when Lear celebrated his 100th birthday, in which he reflected on his lengthy, groundbreaking career.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of December 4)
Friday, December 8
- Eddie Murphy (The PJs) - Watch Eddie on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Da'Vine Joy Randolph (Only Murders in the Building/High Fidelity/People of Earth/Selfie) - Da'Vine appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- John Caponera (The Good Life) - John is a guest on a repeat of Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen on CBS between 12:37-1:37am.
- Robert Smigel (Let's Be Real) - Triumph the Insult Comic Dog aka Robert Smigel chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
- Noah Galvin (The Real O'Neals) and Molly Gordon (Ramy) - Noah and Molly talk about Theater Camp on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am.
- Eric Stonestreet (The Santa Clauses/Modern Family) - Eric talks about The Santa Clauses on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
- Kenan Thompson (Kenan/Kenan & Kel) - Kenan sits down with Sherri to talk about his new book, When I Was Your Age, on Sherri, so check your local listings.
- Sebastian Maniscalco (Bookie) - Sebastian appears on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
New on DVD/Blu-ray (September-December)
09/05 - Young Sheldon - The Complete Sixth Season
09/12 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Second Season
09/12 - Rick and Morty - The Complete Seasons 1-6 (Blu-ray) (DVD)
09/26 - Family Matters - The Complete Series
09/26 - Step by Step - The Complete Series
10/10 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Complete Season Thirteen / The Complete Season Fourteen
10/17 - ALF - The Complete Series (Deluxe Edition) (Shout! Factory Special Offers)
10/17 - Night Court (2023) - The Complete First Season
11/07 - South Park - The Complete Twenty-Sixth Season (Blu-ray) (DVD)
11/14 - Leave it to Beaver - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
12/05 - Father Knows Best - The Complete Series
12/05 - The Odd Couple - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
12/12 - The Dick Van Dyke Show - The Complete Series
12/12 - Looney Tunes Collector's Choice - Volume 2 (Blu-ray)
12/12 - That Girl - The Complete Series
12/19 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Official Restored Complete Series
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