SitcomsOnline Digest: About a Boy Episode Order Trimmed; Home Improvement Reunion on Last Man Standing; Maude Complete Series Set to Feature Unaired Episodes

Saturday, January 10, 2015

SitcomsOnline Digest: About a Boy Episode Order Trimmed; Home Improvement Reunion on Last Man Standing; Maude Complete Series Set to Feature Unaired Episodes

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! The "holiday break" is over and everybody is back to doing the usual, and even though we never actually left you over the holiday break like many others did, we're able to give you more news about your favorite sitcoms and updates about series on DVD! Let's get going.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

NBC's About a Boy has had its season trimmed from 22 episodes down to 20 episodes, which is not exactly a positive sign for the future of the series. (Deadline)
In case you missed last night's episode of Last Man Standing, which featured a Home Improvement reunion (and another surprise at the end), you may want to check it out online. (ABC)
Friends recently debuted on Netflix, and some have been wondering why the episodes are shorter than the ones on the DVD sets. Consumerist explains why. (Consumerist)
We've seen quite often in the past year how remakes are the big thing, and now it looks like we could be seeing a remake of the classic miniseries Roots. (Entertainment Weekly)
It looks like Fox will be "flipping burgers" for a while longer, as they have renewed Bob's Burgers for a sixth season. (SitcomsOnline)
It's almost time for pilot season on amazon.com once again, where you can select which pilots you would like to see become a new series on the streaming service. (SitcomsOnline)

HOME MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

We're very excited about Shout! Factory's release of Maude - The Complete Series on DVD, but their press release mentioned something unique in the list of special features: two unaired episodes, "The Double Standard" and "Maude's New Friends." While episodes with those titles did indeed air, it turns out that there were earlier versions of those episodes that were taped and did not air (new "retooled" versions were put broadcast later), and those will be included on this set.
Shout! Factory has a trio of new seasons of series previously released as complete series sets coming up in April, beginning with Barney Miller - The Complete Seventh Season on April 7, The Jeffersons - The Complete Seventh Season on April 28, and Sgt. Bilko - The Complete Second Season on April 28.

JANUARY 13 HOME MEDIA RELEASES

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00OAIHHRC/ref=nosim/happydaysonline5-20

The Facts of Life - The Complete Series (DVD, $199.99): You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and there you have the complete series of The Facts of Life on DVD. The 26 disc set contains every episode of the series, along with a nice selection of special features.

FOLLOW ME

Who to Follow: Mindy Cohn (Twitter), "Actor. Storyteller. Enthusiast. Optimistic worrier. Compassionate critic. i want adventure in the great wide somewhere - i want it more than I can say."

Claim to Fame: With The Facts of Life arriving on DVD this week, we're featuring one of the stars of the series as our Follow Me this week. Unlike many actresses, Mindy Cohn quite literally got her start on that series. In fact, she was attending a school in California much like Eastland when she was discovered by producers of the show who were researching what such schools are like. Later, she made guest appearances in series such as Charles in Charge and 21 Jump Street, but along the way, she also earned a college degree in cultural anthropology. Lately, she has been playing the voice of Velma in the Scooby Doo franchise, and has also made guest appearances on various TV shows, including last season's final episode of The Middle.
Pick of the Tweets: "were we THIS young? um...yep! first day of rehearsal, season 2, " the facts of life" #throwbackthursdsy" (August 21, 2014)

Sitcoms Airing Tonight

Wednesday, October 20

The Goldbergs - "An Itch Like No Other" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
With Beverly’s encouragement, Mr. Glascott moves in next door to the Goldbergs and slowly goes from friendly neighbor to cluelessly intrusive. Adam and Murray become increasingly disgruntled while Beverly comes up with a plan to occupy Mr. Glascott’s time with a new friend, Mr. Woodburn. Meanwhile, Barry lands in urgent care with a case of poison ivy in a compromising area – his rear end. Erica and Geoff are called to task to take care of Barry and his ridiculous demands – inadvertently testing their parenting skills and patience with one another.

The Wonder Years - "The Lock In" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Dean is reluctant to attend the annual church lock-in until Kim tells him it’s where she got her first kiss. He enlists his friends to help him pair up with Keisa, but his plans are thwarted when he instead gets paired up with the pastor’s daughter, Charlene.

The Conners - "Trucking Live in Front of a Fully Vaccinated Studio Audience -- East Coast" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Lights, Camera, Action: “The Conners” is going live for both the East and West Coast broadcasts of the season four premiere episode. This iconic TV family continues to deal with the current pandemic while navigating breakups and newfound sobriety, all while planning an upcoming wedding.

Home Economics - "Giant Jenga, $120" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Tom spirals when Connor dates a woman who broke his heart at summer camp. Then, family game night becomes an all-or-nothing competition between Marina and Denise.

Superstar - "Robin Williams" (ABC, 10:00PM ET/PT)
The new episode recounts his life through Robin Williams’ own voice, describing “the spark of madness” which defined his life. From his early days in the San Francisco Bay Area comedy scene to his meteoric rise on “Mork & Mindy,” the one-hour special explores the experiences that made Williams into a one-of-a-kind talent and reveals what gave voice to the characters in his mind. It also chronicles the creative force driving critically acclaimed films like “Good Will Hunting” and “Dead Poets Society,” as well as fan favorites such as “Aladdin.” The special explores his personal struggles, including substance abuse and depression, and his battle with Lewy Body Dementia before his tragic death in 2014. “Superstar: Robin Williams” features interviews with famous comedians and actors who knew and admired Williams, including Margaret Cho, Howie Mandel, Lewis Black, Jimmie Walker, Paula Poundstone, Gina Hecht and Pauly Shore, as well as Barry Levinson, director of multiple films starring Williams including “Good Morning, Vietnam.” The program also contains interviews with Williams from the ABC News archives, in which he opens up about his life and the highs and lows of his distinguished career.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of October 18)

Wednesday, October 20

Rami Malek (The War at Home) - Watch Rami on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Issa Rae (Insecure) - Issa appears on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Billy Bob Thornton (Hearts Afire) - Billy Bob is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Jamie Foxx (Dad Stop Embarrassing Me!/The Jamie Foxx Show) - Jamie appears on The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation) - Nick is a guest on Comedy Central's The Daily Show with Trevor Noah at 11pm.
Leah Remini (Kevin Can Wait/The Exes/Family Tools/The King of Queens/Fired Up) - Leah guest hosts The Wendy Williams Show, so check your local listings.
Debra Messing (Will & Grace/Ned & Stacey) - Debra talks about her latest project: how self-care can change the world on Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
Ron Howard (Arrested Development/Happy Days/The Andy Griffith Show) and Clint Howard (Gung Ho) - Ron and Clint discuss their new book, The Boys: A Memoir of Hollywood and Family, on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Amy Sedaris (No Activity/BoJack Horseman/Strangers with Candy) - It's a TV exclusive with sister and brother duo Amy and David Sedaris appearing together for the first time on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Jeremy Sisto (Suburgatory) - Jeremy talks about FBI on Rachael Ray, so check your local listings.
David Eigenberg (Sex and the City) - David talks about NBC's Chicago Fire on NBC's Today in the 9am hour.
Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation) - Nick talks about Where the Deer and the Antelope Play: The Pastoral Observations of One Ignorant American Who Loves to Walk Outside on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.