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 / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

    Wednesday, October 1

    Shifting Gears - "Secret" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
    Matt wrestles with his feelings for Eve, and Charlotte convinces him to go to a grief group. Meanwhile, Riley struggles with her own “will she or won’t she” about her feelings for Gabe. Patricia Richardson, Richard Karn and Debbe Dunning guest star.

    Abbott Elementary - "Team Building" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
    The teachers prepare for the upcoming school year with new faces and big changes on the horizon.

    Complete TV Listings


    Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of September 29)

    Wednesday, October 1

    • Ebon Moss-Bachrach (The Bear/Girls) - Watch Ebon on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
    • ReneĆ© Rapp (The Sex Lives of College Girls) - ReneĆ© is a guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
    • Christian Slater (Breaking In) - Christian appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
    • Bill Bellamy (Mr. Box Office/Men, Women & Dogs/Cousin Skeeter) - Bill is a guest on Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen at 12:37am on CBS.
    • Ronny Chieng (Young Rock/Ronny Chieng: International Student) - Ronny hosts Comedy Central's The Daily Show at 11pm.
    • Sheryl Lee Ralph (Abbott Elementary/Fam/Instant Mom/Moesha/It's a Living) - Sheryl talks about Abbott Elementary on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
    • Glen Powell (Chad Powers/Scream Queens) - Glen and former NFL quarterback and executive producer Eli Manning talk about Chad Powers on ABC News Live Prime with Linsey Davis at 7pm.
    • Henry Winkler (Barry/Arrested Development/Out of Practice/Monty/Happy Days) - Henry talks about his children's book Detective Duck: The Mystery at Emerald Pond on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am and on CBS Mornings Plus in the 9am hour.
    • Olivia Munn (Perfect Couples) - NBC's Today catches up with Olivia in the 10am hour.


    New on DVD and Blu-ray

    The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series Frasier (2023) - Season Two Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* (missing 4 episodes and some music has been replaced or altered) Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)

    01/28 - Wait Till Your Father Gets Home - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
    02/04 - The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series
    03/11 - Frasier (2023) - Season Two
    04/01 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season
    05/13 - The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* (missing 4 episodes and some music has been replaced or altered)
    06/06 - Shoresy - Season 2
    06/17 - Looney Tunes - Collector's Vault - Volume 1 (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)

    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

    10/01 - The CW's Six Brand New Movies Starting November 16; Hulu's Family Guy Halloween Special Details
    09/30 - Sarah Sherman HBO Comedy Special in December; Huluween Programming for 2025
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    09/28 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 29, 2025)
    09/27 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Scrubs Cast Comes Together for First Table Read for Reboot; Monopoly Game Show Moving Ahead
    09/26 - Netflix Adds to Cast for Running Point Season 2; Stiller & Meara Apple TV+ Documentary
    09/25 - Adam Pally HBO Comedy Special; Jimmy Kimmel Live! Returns with Huge Ratings
    09/24 - Weigel's Newest Diginet WEST Launches Monday, September 29; New Baywatch Coming to Fox in 2026-27
    09/23 - DMV Trailer for CBS; Mo Amer Returns to Netflix
    09/22 - SNL Season 51 Guests for First Episodes; Prime Video's Bat-Fam Series
    09/21 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 22, 2025)
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    09/19 - NBC Schedules The Paper and Stumble in November; Remembering Patricia (Pat) Crowley of Please Don't Eat the Daisies
    09/18 - UPtv Acquires The Mary Tyler Moore Show; Camp Rock 3 Coming Soon to Disney
    09/17 - FETV Acquires The Munsters Effective September 29; Apple TV+ The Morning Show Renewed for Season 5
    09/16 - Disney's SuperKitties Adds to Voice Cast; Netflix Renews The Hunting Wives for Season 2
    09/15 - 77th Primetime Emmy Award Winners; Letterman TV Adds Late Night with David Letterman
    09/14 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 15, 2025)
    09/13 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Paramount Looking to Merge with Warner Bros. Discovery; Samsung TV+ Adds Late Night with David Letterman
    09/12 - Emmy Awards to Create Special Moments; Ricky Gervais Netflix Animated Comedy Alley Cats Coming in 2026
    09/11 - Remembering Polly Holliday of Alice and Flo; Prime Video's Overcompensating Renewed for Season 2
    09/10 - Netflix Renews Leanne for Season 2; Hazbin Hotel Returns October 29
    09/09 - HBO Comedy The Chair Company; Trailer for Disney's Vampirina: Teenage Vampire
    09/08 - The Paper Renewed for Season 2, NYC Event on Tuesday; Final Season of Bel-Air
    09/07 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 8, 2025)
    09/06 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Shifting Gears Picked Up for Three Additional Episodes; The Paper Renewed for Season Two
    09/05 - Crutch Premieres November 3 on Paramount+; Trailer for Season 2 of Wizards Beyond Waverly Place
    09/04 - Freeform's 31 Nights of Halloween 2025 Schedule; Dancing with the Stars Season 34 Cast
    09/03 - Live Staged Reading of Three's Company Episode; Freeform Acquires According to Jim for October
    09/02 - Hulu's Chad Powers Trailer; BET's The Hospital Premieres September 10
    09/01 - TV Marathons on Labor Day 2025 Include Archie Bunker's Place and George Lopez
    08/31 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 1, 2025)