SitcomsOnline Digest: Potential Sitcom Projects at TV Land and TBS; Carol Burnett DVD Update

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.

FOLLOW ME

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

Wednesday, July 2

Shifting Gears - "Restoration" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Matt, the widowed owner of a classic car restoration shop, is confronted with his most unexpected and challenging project yet when his estranged daughter, Riley, and her adolescent children come crashing back into his life.

Shifting Gears - "Accommodations" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Matt joins Riley at Carter’s high school open house, where he’s unsettled to learn about the “accommodations” made for his grandson’s anxiety. Meanwhile, Riley reconnects with Caitlin, a former classmate, and sets her up with Gabriel.

Shifting Gears - "Grief" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Riley discovers a closet filled with her late mother’s clothes, she insists Matt hasn’t processed her death and urges him to see a grief counselor. Meanwhile, Gabriel faces a crisis of confidence when he’s put in charge of the shop for a day.

Shifting Gears - "Valentine's" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
A Valentine’s Day visit to his late wife’s grave sparks an unexpected connection for Matt in an unlikely place. Meanwhile, Riley is thrust into the spotlight for a promotional video at the dance studio.

Tyler Perry's House of Payne - "Protector in Chief" (BET, 9:00PM ET/PT)
House of Payne is the hilarious comedy about Retired fire chief Curtis Payne and his lovely wife Ella.

Tyler Perry's Assisted Living - "Speed Demons" (BET, 9:30PM ET/PT)
After losing his job, Jeremy decides to move to the backwoods of Georgia to help his grandfather, who has purchased a rundown home for the elderly.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of June 30)

Wednesday, July 2

Will Arnett (Murderville/Arrested Development/Flaked/The Millers/Up All Night/Running Wilde), Jason Bateman (Arrested Development/George and Leo/Chicago Sons/Simon/The Hogan Family/It's Your Move/Silver Spoons) and Sean Hayes (Will & Grace/The Millers/Sean Saves the World) - Watch Will, Jason and Sean on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Henry Winkler (Barry/Arrested Development/Out of Practice/Monty/Happy Days) - Henry is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Monica Barbaro (FUBAR) - Monica appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Owen Thiele (Overcompensating), Amita Rao (Deli Boys) and Malik Elassal (Adults) - Owen, Amita and Malik are guests on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
Glen Powell (Scream Queens) - NBC's Today catches up with Glen in the 10am hour.
Casey Wilson (The Righteous Gemstones/Black Monday/The Hotwives/Marry Me/Happy Endings) - Casey talks about The Great American Baking Show on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/One Day at a Time) - The Drew Barrymore Show has a repeat their skincare show and Drew and Valerie Bertinelli are talking all things moisturizers and hydration with board certified dermatologist and TikTok sensation Dr. Shereene Idriss.
Joe Manganiello (How I Met Your Mother) - Joe talks about Netflix's Nonnas on a repeat of Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.