Saturday, March 22, 2014
SitcomsOnline Digest: Potential Sitcom Projects at TV Land and TBS; Carol Burnett DVD Update
Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest!
Today, we've got a few sitcom development stories, news about Carol Burnett DVDs in April that is sure to please fans, and more. Let's get going!
HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB
- TV Land has given a pilot order to Teachers, a project from Allison Brie (of Community). It is based upon a web series of the same name that follows six dysfunctional elementary school teachers. (Entertainment Weekly)
- John Krasinski is looking to go from paper salesman at Dunder-Mifflin to executive producer with a sitcom that he has in the development phase with TBS. The project, currently titled Jackass of All Trades, "centers on a devoted stay-at-home dad who, after landing his family in dire financial trouble, resorts to earning a living doing odd jobs off of Craigslist." (Deadline)
- One of cable TV's biggest series, The Walking Dead, is about to head to broadcast TV primetime... at least in reruns on MyNetworkTV. (Deadline)
- A sitcom in development at ABC could potentially put both the Fonz and Angela Bower on one stage... and if it happens, they'll both be Winklers, as the series would tentatively be called The Winklers. (Deadline)
- Two and a Half Men was renewed for next season, but it looks even less likely that we'll see much of Angus T. Jones, as the original "half man" on the series, as he refers to his experience of being on the series as being a "paid hypocrite." (KHOU)
- The Sweathogs are about to return to TV next month, as MeTV adds Welcome Back, Kotter to their lineup. (SitcomsOnline)
HOME MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS
- A while back, Time-Life/StarVista announced a new release of The Carol Burnett Show, which appeared to be just a rehashing of the material previously released on DVD. There has been a lot of confusion about this release, but the studio has finally clarified that that six disc retail release (the one that will be sold in traditional stores and amazon.com) of The Carol Burnett Show - Carol's Crack-Ups will be a release that consists of 17 uncut episodes that were not included in the Ultimate Collection release, so it will allow fans to get more of Carol on DVD. The release date for this set is coming up very soon, on April 15.
RECENT REVIEWS ON SITCOMSONLINE.COM
- Eight is Enough - The Complete Fifth Season: The Warner Archive release wraps up the classic comedy-drama series that follows a very large family.
- L.A. Law - The Complete First Season: Shout! Factory's release of the United States debut of the classic legal drama on DVD, containing all of the first season episodes and plenty of nice special features.
- Nurse Jackie - Season Five (Blu-ray): The hit Showtime series returns to Blu-ray (and DVD) once again, along with the usual slate of special features.
MARCH 25 HOME MEDIA RELEASES
- Here's Lucy - The Complete Series (DVD, $159.98): Classic TV's favorite redhead gets another big box-set release of one of her series, and this time it is her last successful sitcom to air on CBS. It is a nice set that is loaded with special features.
Who to Follow: Betty White (Twitter)
Claim to Fame: Almost literally, everything since TV was invented. But specifically, the actress got her start in radio before she first tried TV in 1939 (that isn't a typo) on an experimental TV station in Los Angeles. By 1949, she was cohosting (and later hosting by herself) a Los Angeles variety show that aired five and a half hours a day, six days a week. A string of other things followed, but she mostly ended up doing game shows for a while, at least until the '70s when she was cast as Sue Ann Nivens on The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Her greatest success, though, came in 1985, as Rose Nylund on The Golden Girls. Now, in 2014, she can still be seen on TV in TV Land's Hot in Cleveland, and is perhaps the only actor/actress in the world who can claim that she has appeared on TV at least once in each decade for nine decades... and we're looking forward to 2020, when it'll make ten decades.
Pick of the Tweets: "On way to Vegas to be inducted into NAB Hall of Fame. Have to lay low- what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas!" (April 16, 2012)
Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows
Sunday, February 8
The Simpsons - "Sashes to Sashes" (Fox, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Bart runs against Mayor Quimby's son for student council president; Lisa learns troubling secrets about the Quimby clan -- and about the Simpsons.
Universal Basic Guys - "I Am Jar" (Fox, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Mark gets in a magician's duel; Tammy tries to win a nursing award.
Krapopolis - "The Anniversary Present" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Shlub has to improvise a gift for Deliria after forgetting their anniversary; Tyrannis and Stupendous try to cheer up Hippocampus after a break-up.
Universal Basic Guys - "Golden Beans" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Mark and David start a coffee shop in the garage; Tammy and Hank struggle to keep Mernft Man from bothering customers.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of February 2)
Friday, February 6
- Niecy Nash-Betts (Reno 911!/Getting On/The Soul Man/Do Not Disturb) - Watch Niecy on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Josh Charles (Best Medicine/Sports Night) - Josh chats about Best Medicine on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
- Gabourey Sidibe (Difficult People/The Big C) and Tisha Campbell (Act Your Age/Uncoupled/Outmatched/Dr. Ken/Rita Rocks/My Wife and Kids/Martin) - Gabourey and Tisha talk about their new Lifetime movie Mary J. Blige Presents: Be Happy on Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
- Ms. Pat (The Ms. Pat Show) - Ms. Pat covers the news with Drew and Valerie Bertinelli on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings. She joins Drew in the kitchen to whip up some delicious dishes for the Super Bowl.
- Jason Biggs (Outmatched/Mad Love/Drexell's Class) - Jason tells Drew about making his directorial debut with the new action-comedy Untitled Home Invasion Romance on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
- Marilu Henner (Taxi/Evening Shade) and Brooke Adams (O.K. Crackerby!) - Marilu and Brooke are guests on New York Living on WPIX in New York at 10:45am.
- Jennifer Tilly (Out of Practice) - Jennifer talks about Paramount+'s School Spirits on a repeat of Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
New on DVD and 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)
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