Saturday, May 03, 2014
SitcomsOnline Digest: Disney Announces Girl Meets World Premiere; New Mill Creek DVD Releases
Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest!
Today, we have news about the premiere of Girl Meets World, another look at the fall pilot season, news about more Mill Creek DVD releases, and more. Let's get going!
HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB
- Disney Channel has announced a premiere date for their Boy Meets World spinoff. The spinoff, Girl Meets World, will debut on June 27. (LA Times)
- The past two seasons have failed to produce a breakout comedy for the broadcast networks, so if you're a fan of sitcoms, it might be a bit disheartening to know that the networks are looking into dramas as their best hopes for the 2014-2015 TV season. (Deadline)
- After NBC's success with a live on-air production of The Sound of Music, Fox is wanting to get in on the live productions with a live on-air production of Grease in 2015. (Deadline)
- Efrem Zimbalist Jr., star of series including The FBI and 77 Sunset Strip, died Friday at the age of 95. (Hollywood Reporter)
- It looks like there is going to be even more movement in late night talk shows, as Craig Ferguson announced he would be leaving his show at the end of the year. (SitcomsOnline)
- MeTV is preparing for their annual Summer of Me lineup, which will include the return of Happy Days to the lineup. (SitcomsOnline)
HOME MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS
- We can never go too long around here without news of another Mill Creek DVD re-release, and this week, we have some more. On July 15, the studio will release Diff'rent Strokes - Seasons 1 and 2. That isn't all, though. On August 5, they will release the first two seasons of both The Nanny and Mad About You.
- The Jetsons is about to be wrapped up on DVD on May 13, as Warner Archive releases The Jetsons - The Complete Third Season.
MAY 6 HOME MEDIA RELEASES
- The Andy Griffith Show - Season One (Blu-ray) (Blu-ray, $129.99): The classic series about the sheriff of a small town called Mayberry returns to home media in an excellent Blu-ray release, along with new special features.
- The Honeymooners - Classic 39 Episodes (Blu-ray) (Blu-ray, $129.99): Ralph and Alice Kramden return to home media with the entire run of their standard half hour sitcom in this Blu-ray release, complete with new special features.
- I Love Lucy - Ultimate Season One (Blu-ray) (Blu-ray, $129.99): The Ricardos and Mertez return to home media in this Blu-ray release, which could perhaps be one of the best releases on Blu-ray ever, complete with beautifully restored episodes, new special features, and all of the original commercials for each episode.
- Laverne & Shirley - The Eighth and Final Season (DVD, $39.98): The final season of the classic series finally arrives on DVD, with a mostly Shirley-less season.
- The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis - Season 3 (DVD, $29.93): The classic sitcom starring Dwayne Hickman continues on DVD with the next-to-last season.
FOLLOW ME
Who to Follow: Fred Savage (Twitter), "I used to be an actor but then showbusiness decided I should be a director. I have a wife, a son, a daughter, another son, and 2 People's Choice Awards."
Claim to Fame: Ever since the series Boy Meets World began, much of the Savage attention has been direct toward Ben Savage, but most people forget that nobody would know who Ben Savage was if it weren't for his previously more famous brother, Fred Savage. Fred Savage quickly rose to stardom in the late 80s thanks to films such as The Princess Bride, Little Monsters, and The Wizard, but to TV fans, he was best known as Kevin Arnold from The Wonder Years. Following that series, he appeared in the sitcoms Working (which actually ran for two seasons) and Crumbs (that one didn't last long). But his sitcom success is far from over, as he is now a sitcom director, having directed episodes of series that have been more successful than his post Wonder Years series, including It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Modern Family, Happy Endings, 2 Broke Girls, and countless other series.
Pick of the Tweets: "Thanks for all the kind words about tonight's "Crazy Ones" episode! Between the great cast and the fantastic crew, it's a blast to shoot." (December 5, 2013)
Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows
Friday, May 29
Happy's Place - "A New Chapter" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
After Gabby's mother, Val, shows up unannounced, it's up to Bobbie to help Gabby navigate their delicate relationship; Isabella and Steve try to find out if Gabby's childhood horror stories are as bad as she claims.
Happy's Place - "Silence Was Golden" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
While Bobbie attempts to plan the perfect anniversary dinner for her and Emmett, Steve and Takoda must hide a secret from Isabella and Gabby that could ruin Bobbie's special evening.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of May 25)
Friday, May 29
- John Travolta (Welcome Back, Kotter) - Watch John on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
- Ana Gasteyer (American Auto/People of Earth/Lady Dynamite/Suburgatory) - Ana appears on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
- Lena Dunham (Girls) - Lena is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Wanda Sykes (The Upshaws/The New Adventures of Old Christine/Wanda at Large) - Wanda chats about Wanda Sykes: Legacy with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
- Jackée Harry (The Paynes/The First Family/Sister, Sister/The Royal Family/227) - Sitcom legend Jackée is back with the TamFam for a revealing conversation about her headline-making cosmetic transformation and her acclaimed career on a repeat of Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
- Laurie Metcalf (Big Mistakes/The Conners/Roseanne/The McCarthys/The Norm Show) - Laurie talks about Death of a Salesman on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
- Jennette McCurdy (Sam & Cat/iCarly) - Jennette tells Drew about her latest book Half Her Age on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
New on DVD and Blu-ray
11/04/25 - Happy's Place - Season One (Blu-ray) (DVD)
11/11/25 - Rick and Morty - Season 8 (Blu-ray) (DVD)
11/11/25 - SpongeBob SquarePants - The Complete Fifteenth Season (DVD)
11/11/25 - Two and a Half Men - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
12/02/25 - Tom and Jerry - The Golden Era Anthology (1940-1958) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
12/16/25 - Lippy the Lion and Hardy Har Har - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
12/16/25 - Wally Gator - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
01/20/26 - The Woody Woodpecker and Friends Golden Age Collection (Blu-ray)
01/27/26 - The New Fred and Barney Show - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/11/26 - Tom and Jerry - The Complete CinemaScope Collection (Blu-ray)
03/24/26 - Looney Tunes Collector's Vault - Volume 2 (Blu-ray)
04/11/26 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Fourth Season (DVD)
04/21/26 - Famous Studios Champion Collection (Blu-ray) (DVD)
05/19/26 - I Love Lucy - The Complete Series - 75th Anniversary Edition (DVD)
05/19/26 - Looney Tunes Cartoons - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (DVD)
07/14/26 - The Office - The Complete Series - Superfan Extended Episodes (Blu-ray)
07/28/26 - I Love Lucy - The Complete Series - 75th Anniversary Edition (Blu-ray)
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