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 / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Monday, December 22

Everybody Loves Raymond: 30th Anniversary Reunion Pt. 2 (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
CBS is gifting viewers an extra special holiday present this season, the brand-new EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND: 30TH ANNIVERSARY REUNION PT. 2,” airing Monday, Dec. 22, (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network and streaming on Paramount+.*

This one-hour show gives viewers who loved the first special another opportunity to reminisce and revisit the laughter and joy from the original CBS series. The brand-new broadcast follows the success of EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND: 30TH ANNIVERSARY REUNION, which originally aired Monday, Nov. 24, with an encore presentation Friday, Nov. 28, garnering 10.08 million live plus 7-day multiplatform viewers across both broadcasts and streaming.

Hosted by Emmy Award-winning actor Ray Romano and series creator Phil Rosenthal, this fresh hour brings fans closer than ever to the original series, with exclusive stories and heartfelt memories shared by beloved cast members gathered together to honor one of TV’s most iconic sitcoms. Ray Romano and Phil Rosenthal share their thoughts on the magic of being back on set and reuniting with the cast. Additionally, viewers can enjoy never-before-seen content, outtakes and behind-the-scenes footage. Plus, guest stars, writers and producers will provide unique insights into the creation and legacy of this beloved series.

St. Denis Medical - "Get Me in the Pod, Brother" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Alex and Ron spar over the wisdom of open communication; Joyce brings in a body scanner that proves overly distracting.

The Paper - "I Love You" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
With Marv camped out in the newsroom while his office is painted, Ned and the staff find their unresolved attitudes toward authority bubbling up; Esmeralda and Ken plot a betrayal that leaks.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of December 22)

Monday, December 22

Kenan Thompson (Kenan/Kenan & Kel) - Watch Kenan on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Tony Shalhoub (We Are Men/Stark Raving Mad/Wings) - Tony appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Ron Funches (Loot/Powerless/Undateable) and Jeff Garcia (Mr. Box Office) - Ron and Jeff are guests on a repeat of Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen at 12:37am on CBS.
Kate Hudson (Running Point) - Andy Cohen interviews Kate on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 9pm on Bravo. She also talks about Song Sung Blue on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
Jamie Lee Curtis (The Sticky/Anything But Love/Operation Petticoat) - Jamie Lee talks about Ella McCay with the ladies of The View on a repeat on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Simu Liu (Kim's Convenience) - Simu talks about The Copenhagen Test on ABC News Live Prime with Linsey Davis at 7pm.
Hugh Jackman (Human Resources) - Hugh talks about Song Sung Blue on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
Kyle Richards (Down to Earth) - Kyle gives Sherri a sneak peek at the 15th season of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills on a repeat of Sherri, so check your local listings.
Paul Rudd (The Shrink Next Door/Living with Yourself/Wild Oats) - Paul and Jack Black are telling Drew all about their hilarious adaptation of Anaconda on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Odessa A'zion (I Love LA/Fam) - Odessa tells Drew about her role in new movie Marty Supreme and hit series I Love LA on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Melissa Gilbert (Stand by Your Man) - Melissa is guest on New York Living on WPIX in New York at 10:10am.