Saturday, March 01, 2014

SitcomsOnline Digest: An Odd Couple Remake on CBS?; Eight is Enough and In the Heat of the Night DVD Updates


Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! Today, we've got news about Matthew Perry possibly filling the shoes of Felix Unger, updates on DVDs for Eight is Enough and In the Heat of the Night, and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB
  • The Odd Couple seems to be on inching closer to becoming a reality again, with Matthew Perry filling Jack Klugman's shoes of Oscar Madison. Right now, though, it is just an odd person, as there is no Felix Unger. Can a remake about two divorced men sharing an apartment actually make it to air some day? We now just sit and wait. (Deadline)
  • Parks and Recreation has always had plenty of politicians stop by for cameos on the series, including Joe Biden, John McCain, Barbara Boxer, and Olympia Snowe. This week, though, it was announced that First Lady Michelle Obama will appear on the season finale. This is far from the first time that a first lady has appeared in an NBC sitcom, though, as First Lady Nancy Reagan appeared in a 1983 episode of Diff'rent Strokes. (Hollywood Reporter)
  • Meanwhile, recently revealed documents show that in 1995, another first lady, Hillary Clinton, was approached to appear in Home Improvement (ABC's top-rated series at the time), but couldn't manage to get her. (Deadline)
  • Game show host Jim Lange, best known as the host of The Dating Game, died this week at the age of 81. He also made a few sitcom appearances throughout his career on Bewitched, Laverne & Shirley, Parker Lewis Can't Lose, and Moesha. (Time)
  • TV One is on the verge of premiering a new series called Unsung Hollywood, which tells the behind-the-scenes stories of some of of Hollywood's rarely told stories. On March 12, What's Happening!! will be featured in this new series. (SitcomsOnline)

HOME MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS
  • Warner Archive has been steadily releasing Eight is Enough on DVD, so it should come as no surprise that they would release the fifth (and final) season of the series on DVD. This week, we got some confirmation from the studio that it is not only on the way, but in fact, work is being completed for this release. The studio responds to a Facebook post with the message "We are finishing up work on S5 at the present time. Thanks." We can't wait! No word on any of the post-series movies, though.
  • In The Heat of the Night has had a very unusual DVD release history, and TGG is about to release the rest of the series (technically, you can put an asterisk or 28 asterisks next to that) on March 11. On this date, the studio will release In the Heat of the Night - Seasons 2 and 3, In the Heat of the Night - Season 6, and In the Heat of the Night - Seasons 7. This trio of releases means that all eight seasons of the series will be represented on DVD. However, it does not mean that all 142 episodes of the series will be available on DVD. While seasons 1 and 8 (which was technically a series of four movies that followed the show rather than another season in proper terms) are completely available, six episodes were missing from the last two sets of releases (seasons 4 and 5) due to music releases, and a lot more will be missing this time: 16 episodes from the season 2 and 3 set, one episode from season 6, and 5 episodes from season 7. So, in the end, about 114 of the 142 episodes (roughly 80%) will be available on DVD with these newest releases.
  • Mill Creek is best known for budget re-releases, but budget doesn't always mean lower quality, and it appears that the studio is bringing fans something a little better than what Sony brought fans (at about 1/6 of the original price even) as they prepare to bring Married... with Children - Seasons 3 and 4 to DVD. Not only will the release contain the original theme song (something that was difficult/impossible for Sony to obtain), but the episodes are expected to be unedited as well. We eagerly await this release!

    RECENT HOME MEDIA REVIEWS ON SITCOMSONLINE
    http://www.sitcomsonline.com/drkildareseason2dvdreview.html
    • Dr. Kildare - The Complete Second Season Warner Archive brings together another release of one of TV's first medical dramas to leave a true legacy in a virtually flawless nine disc release, including one episode that was filmed in color as part of a special week of color programming on NBC that season.

    MARCH 4 HOME MEDIA RELEASES
    • Starsky & Hutch - Season 1 (DVD, $9.98): Mill Creek brings the classic detective duo together again for re-release of the first season on DVD.

    FOLLOW ME

    Who to Follow: David Hasselhoff (Twitter), "here and now"
    Claim to Fame: David Hasselhoff may be known to some people today from his appearances on talent shows and some of the struggles that he publicly battles in life, but make no mistake: we'd never know who Hasselhoff was if he had not appeared on a classic TV series in the 80s, Knight Rider. Even though the series only ran for four seasons, it left quite a legacy with Hasselhoff playing the starring role of Michael Knight, and of course the uncredited William Daniels as the role of the voice for his car, KITT. He later went on to even more success in the series Baywatch, where he played Mitch Buchannon. In more recent years, of course, he has appeared in Dancing with the Stars, has been a judge on America's Got Talent, and has made cameo appearances in many movies and commercials.
    Pick of the Tweets: "My buddy has arrived. #kittinsweden #kittiscold http://instagram.com/p/jTi9N3LwNL/" (January 18, 2014)


    Sitcoms Airing Tonight

    Friday, March 24

    Lopez vs. Lopez - "Lopez vs Cheating" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
    When a visiting veterinarian takes an interest in Mayan, she worries that she might be destined to repeat the Lopez legacy of cheating, dating all the way back to her Aztec ancestor Tonto Tecate-Can.

    Grand Crew - "Wine & Ojai" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
    The crew takes a trip to Ojai, and there's wine.

    Saturdays - "Skates, Lies & Videos" (Disney Channel, 9:00PM ET/PT)
    Paris, Ari and Simone learn that a music video is being recorded at Saturdays; they decide they have to be in it, but they have to age up to look 18.

    Saturdays - "Come Back to Me" (Disney Channel, 9:30PM ET/PT)
    London begins his new job as the rink's DJ and starts to embarrass Paris; Paris hatches a plan to turn London's world upside-down so her world can be right-side up again.

    Complete TV Listings


    Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of March 20)

    Friday, March 24

    • Kieran Culkin (Go Fish) - Watch Kieran on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
    • Method Man (Method & Red) - Method Man appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
    • Skylar Astin (Ground Floor) - Skylar is a guest on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
    • Woody Harrelson (Cheers) - Woody appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
    • Anna Kendrick (Love Life) - Anna is a guest on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
    • Michael Urie (Shrinking/Partners) - Michael appears on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
    • Toni Collette (United States of Tara) - Toni will be on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
    • Mario Cantone (And Just Like That.../Sex and the City) - Mario is joining Drew in the kitchen to make a sweet potato pie and dish on behind-the-scenes details from Sex and the City on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local lisitngs.
    • Kym Whitley (Act Your Age/Young & Hungry/Animal Practice/Sparks) - Kym joins Sherri on the couch to talk about their NAACP Image Award-winning podcast Two Funny Mamas and her sitcom Act Your Age on Bounce TV on Sherri, so check your local listings.
    • Chyler Leigh (That '80s Show) - Chyler talks about Hallmark's The Way Home on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.


    New on DVD/Blu-ray (November-March)

    Frasier - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) Ghosts - Season One Hogan's Heroes - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Complete Season Ten Growing Pains - The Complete Series

    11/08 - Frasier - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
    11/08 - Young Rock - Season Two (Blu-ray) (DVD)
    11/15 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Complete Season Seven / The Complete Season Eight
    11/22 - That '70s Show - The Complete Series (Mill Creek)
    11/29 - Ghosts - Season One (Blu-ray) (DVD)
    12/06 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - 70th Anniversary Ultimate Christmas Collection
    12/13 - And Just Like That... - The Complete First Season
    12/13 - Hogan's Heroes - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
    01/03 - Andy Richter Controls the Universe - The Complete Series (2023 Release)
    01/27 - Master of None - Season Three / The Complete Series
    02/21 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Complete Season Nine / The Complete Season Ten
    02/28 - Growing Pains - The Complete Series
    03/28 - Rick and Morty - Season 8 (Blu-ray) (DVD)
    More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD Releases / DVD Reviews Archive / SitcomsOnline Digest


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