SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

On the next...Raising Hope:
By: Todd

It was announced last month that the critically acclaimed Fox comedy Raising Hope was ending its run after four seasons. The Chances bid farewell tonight with back-to-back episodes on the one-hour series finale. In "How I Met Your Mullet" (airing at 9:00PM ET/PT), Jimmy and Sabrina are surprised to learn that Sabrina's late grandmother left them a family maid (guest star Lesley Nicol), who has a lifetime contract with the family. Virginia’s father, Arnold (guest star Jeffrey Tambor), returns to Natesville seeking help in planning his upcoming wedding in "The Father Daughter Dance" (airing at 9:30PM ET/PT).

In the first episode, "How I Met Your Mullet," Burt and Virginia have a rule that if they came into unexpected cash, they would buy a gift for the other. After Virgina receives a promotion at her job at Knock Knock Knock, she buys Burt a new grill. Burt refuses to try the new grill. He prefers to continue to use his old shopping cart grill when Barney and Frank come over. Later, Burt finds some money and buys Virginia with a new chair. After seeing Virginia's paycheck, Burt decides to retire. Burt tries to find his passion - even if doesn't know what his passion is. Burt watches a Mullet the Bounty Hunter commercials. He decides to pursue his dream of becoming a bounty hunter. Burt, Virginia and Mullet try to catch The Big Kuhuna. Meanwhile, Jimmy and Sabrina meet Eleanor in the kitchen. Eleanor doesn't know that Sabrina's grandmother is dead, so they tell her Nana is on vacation in Peru and they continue to use her maid services. Jimmy and Sabrina later decide they have to get rid of her.

This is a classic Burt and Virginia episode. They have always been one of TV's funniest married couples. The montage and flashback scenes of Burt and Virginia buying each other gifts and Burt trying to find his passion are the highlights of the episode. I like the Mullet Vision camera they use when they chase The Big Kuhuna. It's a hilarious parody of those bounty hunter programs. The secondary story with Jimmy and Sabrina isn't given much time, but there are a few funny moments of them taking advantage of Eleanor's services. It was nice to see Downton Abbey's Lesley Nicol guest star. B+

In "The Father Daughter Dance," Burt and Virginia are eating grapes at Howdy's and planning on making their own wine. They learn that her father, Arnold, is back in town. They show in flashback scenes that her dad was a gay man living in a small town. He secretly watched Virginia grow up. Virginia wants nothing to do with him. Arnold tells the family that he is getting married to Oliver. He tells them if they plan his wedding that he will pay for Hope's college. Their lawyer Wally Phipps helps them prepare a contract. Maw Maw thinks Arnold is up to no good. She talks to Frank who she wants to stalk Arnold. Frank shows the family some secret footage that Arnold is faking the wedding. Arnold eventually reveals that the wedding is actually for Virginia and Burt. Virginia had always wanted a wedding dress like Princess Diana and her own royal wedding. The real Kenny Loggins shows up and performs a song. After learning that Arnold doesn't have the money to pay for Hope's college, Virginia must decide if she should give her a father a chance.

The series finale is more heartwarming than outrageously funny. Although the show hadn't been canceled when the episode was written and produced, the producers thought there was a possibility that it would be the finale. The always funny Jeffrey Tambor returns as Virginia's father, Arnold. He appeared earlier in the season in "Déjà Vu Man." The highlights of many episodes have always been the music montages. This episode has another good one with "Footloose" being played while Virginia and Arnold audition Kenny Loggins impersonators. I think fans will be pleased with the series finale. I liked how they thematically linked the show's original theme of fathers and daughters. It's about Virginia giving her father a chance. Virginia sang "Danny's Song" in the pilot episode. It was sweet how it was brought back in the finale at the wedding. B

That's a wrap for Raising Hope. They aren't receiving the same type of fanfare for the series finale as How I Met Your Mother, but I will miss this underrated and underappreciated comedy. Hopefully more viewers will tune in tonight than in recent weeks. The show was buried on Friday nights the final season.

There were many funny moments during the four seasons. The show was at its strongest during the first two seasons. Martha Plimpton and Cloris Leachman received Emmy nominations following the first season. I was always a big fan of My Name Is Earl. This show always had the same type of humor. I liked how they had all the subtle references to My Name Is Earl. The reunion episode in the third season was also a highlight of the series. Although the show is ending, it will live on in syndication. As we mentioned last year, the series will be aired on CMT, WGN America and FXX in the fall. There will be plenty of opportunities to revisit this hilarious comedy.



It's Friday, so it is time for "Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows" for the coming week. This is where we list what sitcom stars are appearing on talk shows for the coming week, the stars are both current and past sitcom stars, so this is for all sitcom fans of all eras!
For the week of April 7-11, 2014, we have many current sitcom stars and past sitcom stars on TV talk shows! All times listed are Eastern. So get your DVRs (or whatever you use) ready! Ready? Here is all what you need to know for the coming week!

Monday, April 7, 2014

• Jason Bateman (Arrested Development/The Hogan Family/It's Your Move) - Watch Jason on a repeat of The Late Show with David Letterman at 11:35pm on CBS.
• Jeremy Piven (Entourage/Ellen) - Jeremy stops by Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
• Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie) - Edie is a guest on LIVE! with Kelly and Michael, so check your listings.
• Mindy Kaling (The Mindy Project/The Office) - Mindy is part of the guest panel on Chelsea Lately on E! at 11pm.
• NeNe Leakes (The New Normal) - NeNe visits The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
• George Lopez (Saint George/George Lopez) - George appears on a repeat of The Wendy Williams Show at 12am on BET or on your local stations.
• Thomas Haden Church (Wings) - Thomas talks about his new film Heaven Is for Real on NBC's Today in the 10am hour. He will also be on New York Live on WNBC at 12:30pm ET.
• Rachael Harris (Surviving Jack/Notes from the Underbelly) - Rachael is a guest on Pop Sugar Now on TV Guide Network at 6pm and on the next day on their website at noon.
• David Walton and Benjamin Stockham - The stars of About a Boy will be guests on Access Hollywood Live, so check your local listings.
• Albert Tsai (Trophy Wife) - Albert appears on Home & Family on Hallmark Channel at 10am ET/PT.
• Billy Crystal (Soap) - Billy stops by NBC's Today between 7-9am.
• Kirstie Alley (Kirstie/Cheers/Veronica's Closet) - Kirstie talks about her struggle with weight on NBC's Today between 7-9am.
• Marlo Thomas (That Girl) - Marlo talks about her new book, It Ain't Over . . . Till It's Over: Reinventing Your Life--and Realizing Your Dreams--Anytime, at Any Age, on NBC's Today between 7-9am and in the 10am hour.
• Rashida Jones (Parks and Recreation/The Office) - Rashida talks about her new film Cuban Fury on NBC's Today in the 9am hour.
• Jason Alexander (Seinfeld/Listen Up) - Jason is a guest on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
• Bob Saget (How I Met Your Mother/Full House) - Bob will be on SI Now.

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

• Rob Lowe (Parks and Recreation) - Catch Rob on The Late Show with David Letterman at 11:35pm on CBS. He will also be on ABC's Good Morning America between 7-9am.
• Brooklyn Decker (Friends with Better Lives) - Brooklyn is a guest on The Late Show with David Letterman at 11:35pm on CBS. She will also be on LIVE! with Kelly and Michael, so check your listings. Finally, she is a guest on HuffPost Live at 1:15pm.
• Marlon Wayans (The Wayans Bros.) - Marlon appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:34pm on NBC. He will also be on Good Day New York on WNYW-Fox5 in New York at 9:05am and New York Live on WNBC at 12:30pm ET. Finally, he is a guest on Arise TV.
• Tracy Morgan (30 Rock/The Tracy Morgan Show) - Tracy visits Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
• Pam Dawber (Mork & Mindy/My Sister Sam) - Pam stops by The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson at 12:37am on CBS.
• Judy Greer (Arrested Development/Mad Love) - Tune in to see Judy on Last Call with Carson Daly at 1:35am on NBC.
• Jamie Foxx (The Jamie Foxx Show) - Jamie is part of the guest panel on Chelsea Lately on E! at 11pm.
• Denis Leary (The Job) - Denis is a guest on Comedy Central's The Daily Show with Jon Stewart at 11pm.
• Carol Leifer (Alright Already) - Carol chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT. She will also be on Watch What Happens: Live at 11pm on Bravo.
• George Lopez (Saint George/George Lopez) - George guest co-hosts The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
• Bob Saget (How I Met Your Mother/Full House) - Bob talks about his new book, Dirty Daddy: The Chronicles of a Family Man Turned Filthy Comedian, on NBC's Today between 7-9am. He chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT. He will also be on Larry King Now at 2/5pm PT/ET on Ora.tv and Hulu. He is a guest on HuffPost Live at 1:30pm.
• Toni Collette (United States of Tara) - Toni talks about The Realistic Joneses and Lucky Them on NBC's Today between 7-9am and in the 10am hour.
• Tyler Labine (Mad Love/Sons of Tucson) - Tyler will be on Pop Sugar Now on TV Guide Network at 6pm and on the next day on their website at noon.
• Wilmer Valderrama (That '70s Show) - Wilmer appears on The Queen Latifah Show at 12am on BET or on your local stations.
• Brandy (The Game/Moesha) - Brandy is a guest on The Queen Latifah Show at 12am on BET or on your local stations.
• Thomas Haden Church (Wings) - Thomas will be on Good Day New York on WNYW-Fox5 in New York at 9:40am.

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

• Denis Leary (The Job) - Watch Denis on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
• Jenna Elfman (Growing Up Fisher/1600 Penn/Dharma & Greg) - Jenna is a guest on Conan at 11pm on TBS.
• Kristin Chenoweth (Kristin) - Kristin talks about Rio 2 on NBC's Today between 7-9am and in the 10am hour. She will also be on LIVE! with Kelly and Michael, so check your listings.
• Rob Lowe (Parks and Recreation) - Rob continues to make the rounds on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
• Carol Leifer (Alright Already) - Carol will be on New York Live on WNBC at 12:30pm ET.
• Brooklyn Decker (Friends with Better Lives) - Brooklyn is a guest on CBS This Morning between 7-9am.
• Tracy Morgan (30 Rock/The Tracy Morgan Show) - Tracy stops by The Arsenio Hall Show, so check your local listings.
• Cedric the Entertainer (The Soul Man/The Steve Harvey Show) - Cedric and Rachael Ray ring up a phone booth in the middle of Manhattan to test New York's trivia smarts on Rachael Ray, so check your local listings.
• Kathy Griffin (Suddenly Susan) - Kathy chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT. She will also be on HuffPost Live.
• George Lopez (Saint George/George Lopez) - George appears on The Queen Latifah Show at 12am on BET or on your local stations.
• NeNe Leakes (The New Normal) - NeNe visits Big Morning Buzz Live on VH1 at 10am.
• Judy Greer (Arrested Development/Mad Love) - Judy talks about her new book, I Don't Know What You Know Me From: Confessions of a Co-Star, on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
• Marlo Thomas (That Girl) - Marlo will be on Morning Joe on MSNBC. She will also be on HuffPost Live.
• Melissa Joan Hart (Melissa & Joey/Sabrina, the Teenage Witch) - Melissa discusses her amazing weight loss on ABC's Good Morning America between 7-9am. Other appearances include Sirius XM Morning Jolt with Larry Flick at 9:15am, Sirius XM Wake Up! with Taylor at 9:30am and ABCNews Now Entertainment Pop on ABCNewsnow.com (posted after 1:30PM).
• Marlon Wayans (The Wayans Bros.) - Marlon will be on PIX11 Morning News on WPIX in New York in the 8am hour.

Thursday, April 10, 2014

• Zach Braff (Scrubs) - Catch Zach on a repeat of The Late Show with David Letterman at 11:35pm on CBS.
• Seth MacFarlane (Family Guy/American Dad!/The Cleveland Show) - Seth is a guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
• Danica McKellar (The Wonder Years) - Danica drops by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:34pm on NBC.
• Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie) - Edie appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
• Marlon Wayans (The Wayans Bros.) - Marlon continues to make the rounds on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC. He will also be on Big Morning Buzz Live on VH1 at 10am.
• Cobie Smulders (How I Met Your Mother) - Cobie visits Conan at 11pm on TBS.
• Bob Saget (How I Met Your Mother/Full House) - Bob is a guest on Watch What Happens: Live at 11pm on Bravo.
• Tracy Morgan (30 Rock/The Tracy Morgan Show) - Tracy talks about Rio 2 on NBC's Today between 7-9am. He will also be on LIVE! with Kelly and Michael, so check your listings.
• Zooey Deschanel (New Girl) - Tune in to see Zooey on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
• Allison Janney (Mom/Mr. Sunshine) - Allison will be on CBS This Morning between 7-9am.
• Denis Leary (The Job) - Denis chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
• Rob Lowe (Parks and Recreation) - Rob is a guest on Access Hollywood Live, so check your local listings.
• Patrick Duffy (Step by Step) - Patrick appears on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT. He will also be on Access Hollywood Live, so check your local listings.
• Pam Dawber (Mork & Mindy/My Sister Sam) - Pam is a guest on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
• Felicity Huffman (Sports Night) - Felicity visits The Queen Latifah Show at 12am on BET or on your local stations.
• NeNe Leakes (The New Normal) - NeNe will be on New York Live on WNBC at 12:30pm ET.
• Brittany Daniel (The Game) - Brittany stops by The Better Show, so check your local listings.
• Marlo Thomas (That Girl) - Marlo appears on The Couch on WLNY 10/55 in New York between 7-9am.
• Kristin Chenoweth (Kristin) - Kristin is a guest on Big Morning Buzz Live on VH1 at 10am.

Friday, April 11, 2014

• Wanda Sykes (The New Adventures of Old Christine/Wanda at Large/Wanda at Large) - Watch Wanda on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson at 12:37am on CBS.
• Malin Akerman (Trophy Wife) - Malin appears on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson at 12:37am on CBS.
• Valerie Bertinelli, Jane Leeves and Wendie Malick - The ladies of Hot in Cleveland appear on a repeat of The Wendy Williams Show at 12am on BET or on your local stations.
• Don Cheadle (The Golden Palace) - Don is part of the guest panel on a repeat of Chelsea Lately on E! at 11pm.
• Merritt Wever (Nurse Jackie/New Girl) - Merritt drops by LIVE! with Kelly and Michael, so check your local listings.
• Denis Leary (The Job) - Denis talks about his new movie Draft Day on Rachael Ray, so check your local listings.
• Brooklyn Decker (Friends with Better Lives) - Brooklyn dishes on her new show Friends with Better Lives on Rachael Ray, so check your local listings.
• Megan Mullally (Will & Grace) and Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation) - Real life couple Megan and Nick chat with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
• Matthew Moy (2 Broke Girls) - Matthew stops by Home & Family on Hallmark Channel at 10am ET/PT.
• David Duchovny (Californication) - David talks about Californication and The X-Files on NBC's Today between 7-9am.
• Anna Chlumsky (Veep) - Anna talks about Veep and Hannibal on NBC's Today in the 9am hour.
• Billy Bob Thornton (Hearts Afire) - Billy Bob will be on ABC's Good Morning America between 7-9am.

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