SitcomsOnline Digest: Eddie Murphy to Appear in SNL 40th Anniversary Special; Pilot Orders from Problem Child and Chevy Chase Sitcom

Saturday, January 31, 2015

SitcomsOnline Digest: Eddie Murphy to Appear in SNL 40th Anniversary Special; Pilot Orders from Problem Child and Chevy Chase Sitcom

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! There is a big game tomorrow, but today we've got your regular day of news, including news of Eddie Murphy returning for the Saturday Night Live 40th anniversary special and some pilot updates. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

The last time that Eddie Murphy appeared on Saturday Night Live, most of the current cast members were either not yet born or under the age of five. Now, after 30 years of not being involved with the show in any way, shape, or form, it seems that he will make a return just for the 40th anniversary special of the series. (Deadline)
The 1990 movie Problem Child has come one step closer to turning from movie to TV series, as NBC has ordered a pilot for a series based upon the movie. (Deadline)
ABC has a pilot order for a sitcom that would reunite National Lampoon's Vacation stars Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo. (Entertainment Weekly)
If you're a Dish Network subscriber who loves the commercials during the big game but just don't care about football, then you'll love Reverse AutoHop, which will cut out the football to let you see just the commercials. (Consumerist)
We were wondering how long it would take Miami Vice to appear on one of the digital multicast networks, and now we know it will happen in March, on COZI TV. (SitcomsOnline)

HOME MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

CBS finished up Dynasty on DVD last year, and now, Shout! Factory is "completing the package" (so to speak) as they prepare to release the spinoff, The Colbys, on May 12.

FEBRUARY 3 HOME MEDIA RELEASES

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00OGD8PX6/ref=nosim/happydaysonline5-20

The Bob Newhart Show - Season Five (DVD, $24.97): Shout! Factory follows up on their complete series release with an individual release of the fifth season of the series, helping fans who purchase the individual season releases from Fox to complete their collection.
The Bob Newhart Show - The Final Season (DVD, $24.97): Shout! Factory releases the last piece to finish up series on DVD, for those who collected the individual seasons.
Maude - The Complete First Season (DVD, $9.98): Mill Creek brings the first season of the classic series to DVD once again, at a lower price than the original.
The Wonder Years - Season Two (DVD, $39.95): StarVista Entertainment brings the individual season release of the second season to retailers for the first time.

FOLLOW ME

Who to Follow: Linda Evans (Facebook, Twitter), "Golden Globe Award Winning Actress, Gourmet Cook and Author, Linda Evans has dazzled television viewers around the world for over five decades."

Claim to Fame: Linda Evans first appeared on TV in 1960 as a guest star in an episode of Bachelor Father, which starred John Forsythe... the man she would be "married" to on TV for her most memorable role of Krystle Carrington about two decades later on the TV series Dynasty. She didn't stop working in between, though, as she appeared as a regular on The Big Valley in the late 60s and starred in the short lived 70s series Hunter (not the Fred Dryer one). She doesn't do a lot of acting these days, but she does appear in cast reunions and has done some infomercials in recent years. She seems to enjoy international travel quite a bit, and has a dog named Alexie (wonder where that name came from!) who means a lot to her. Additionally, in 2009 she appeared in the UK version of Hell's Kitchen, and even managed to win.
Pick of the Facebook Posts: "During the Dynasty years when I opened my purse, I had contents like a comb, a mirror, lipstick or a credit card. Now when I open my handbag, it's stuffed with multi-colored doggie-poopy bags! They're in my car. My pockets. My everything! My dearest Alexie has taken over my life…" (July 16, 2013)

Sitcoms Airing Tonight

Friday, July 3

The Dick Van Dyke Show - Now in Living Color! - (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
CBS will honor the memory of legendary actor, producer, director, writer, comedian and Emmy Award winner Carl Reiner with THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW – NOW IN LIVING COLOR! A SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO CARL REINER, featuring two colorized back-to-back classic episodes of the beloved 1960s series, Friday, July 3 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. As series creator and co-star, Carl Reiner personally supervised the original colorization of the episodes.

The special features “Coast to Coast Big Mouth,” which ranked #8 on TV Guide’s list of the “100 Greatest TV Episodes of All-Time,” and “October Eve,” which Mr. Reiner considered to be one of the series’ funniest episodes. Both were written by Bill Persky and Sam Denoff.

In “Coast to Coast Big Mouth,” Laura Petrie blurts out a top secret on a national television quiz show, revealing that comedian Alan Brady wears a toupee. The episode, which was the show’s fifth and final season premiere, was originally broadcast on Sept. 15, 1965. “Coast to Coast Big Mouth” won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series in 1966.

In “October Eve,” a painting of Laura returns to haunt her when, despite her having posed fully clothed, the artist (played by Carl Reiner) takes the liberty of “undraping” her. The episode was first presented on April 8, 1964, during season three.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of June 29)

Friday, July 3

Kevin Hart (The Big House/Undeclared) - Watch Kevin on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 12:35am on ABC.
Tina Fey (30 Rock) - Tina appears on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Laura Dern (Enlightened) - Laura is a guest on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Mark Duplass (Togetherness/The Mindy Project/The League) - Mark appears on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Melissa McCarthy (Mike & Molly/Samantha Who?) - Melissa guest hosts a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Brett Gelman (Camping/Fleabag/Love/Married/Go On) - Brett appears on a repeat of A Little Late with Lilly Singh at 1:35am on NBC.
Tika Sumpter (mixed-ish/The Game) - Tika talks about the season finale of mixed-ish and her latest project helping new moms on a repeat of Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
Peter Gallagher (Grace and Frankie/The Secret Lives of Men) - Peter talks about Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist and Grace and Frankie on a repeat of Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.