SitcomsOnline Digest: John Stamos and Shaquille O'Neal Looking at Comedy Pilots; New Multicast Networks Devoted to Comedies and Game Shows in the Works

Saturday, January 24, 2015

SitcomsOnline Digest: John Stamos and Shaquille O'Neal Looking at Comedy Pilots; New Multicast Networks Devoted to Comedies and Game Shows in the Works

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! We're now at the point of the year where everybody is working hard to get their pilots on the air, and we have news of those, news of some new over-the-air broadcast networks, and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

It seems like only yesterday when John Stamos was in his 20s on Full House, and now, he may be playing a grandfather soon if a comedy pilot for Fox is picked up. (People)
TruTV has become a little less true and a little more scripted lately, and now they have ordered a workplace comedy pilot starring Shaquille O'Neal. (Entertainment Weekly)
The New England Patriots are currently in the news for many reasons, some good and others not so good. But since we're a sitcoms blog and not a sports blog, we think it is worth noting that a Growing Pats video, a "Throwback Thursday" about the team done in the exact same style as the Growing Pains opening credits, was posted on Twitter this week by wide receiver Julian Edelman. (Fox Sports)
In most cities these days, you'll find just as many (if not more) more broadcast TV networks as you would find on cable about two decades ago. Now, Buzzr TV, a digital network devoted to game shows, would like to join those ranks. (SitcomsOnline)
Meanwhile, comedy fans will be pleased to know that there is going to be another digital TV network coming in April devoted to all things comedy, LAFF. (SitcomsOnline)

HOME MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

It has seemed for several years that there was no hope for any future seasons of King of the Hill on DVD, but that changed late last year. Now, Olive Films is moving ahead with more of the series on April 7, with King of the Hill - The Complete Ninth Season and King of the Hill - The Complete Tenth Season.
Mill Creek is moving ahead with their re-releases of Bewitched on DVD with their upcoming release of Bewitched - Seasons 5 and 6. It is set for a release date of March 17, and as always, fans will also be able to pick up the seasons individually with Bewitched - Season 5 and Bewitched - Season 6.

JANUARY 27 HOME MEDIA RELEASES

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00Q5998BM/ref=nosim/happydaysonline5-20

Mama's Family - Mama's Favorites: Season 4 (DVD, $12.98): StarVista brings more episodes of the classic Vicki Lawrence series to DVD in a value-priced "best of" collection for those who have no desire to own the entire series.

FOLLOW ME

Who to Follow: Geri Jewell (Twitter), "Actress/Comedian, Motivational Speaker, and Author of I'm Walking as Straight as I Can - Transcending Disability in Hollywood and Beyond."

Claim to Fame: We're still having Facts of Life fever (so to speak) this week, and this week, we're featuring one of the cast members who wasn't exactly a regular, but appeared in many episodes, Geri Jewell, best known for playing Blair's cousin Geri on the series. Jewell was born with cerebral palsy, and even though TV had been around for three decades by the time Facts of Life debuted, she was the first actress with cerebral palsy to be featured on a TV series. While she had some difficulty finding roles following the end of the series, she did appear in a few guest roles, as well as a role in the HBO series Deadwood. Much of her work these days is that of a motivational speaker these days, and she maintains a positive attitude about life by having a sense of humor about her challenges that she deals with.
Pick of the Tweets: "I'm walking as straight as I can...and driving better than I ever walked - and dancing....okay, I will never make DWTS - bummer~" (November 7, 2011)

Sitcoms Airing Tonight

Monday, September 16

The Neighborhood - "Welcome to the Conversation" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Dave is thrilled when Calvin invites him golfing, confident that it represents progress in their relationship, but Calvin may have another motive. Also, Gemma and Tina team up to pull off an unforgettable surprise for Malcolm, Marty and Grover.

The Big Bang Theory - "The Stockholm Syndrome" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Bernadette and Wolowitz leave their kids for the first time; Penny and Leonard try to keep a secret; Sheldon and Amy stick together; and Koothrappali makes a new friend, as the gang travels together into an uncharted future.

In The Cut - "America's Got Skillz, Part 1" (Bounce TV, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Kenny, Smitty and Percy audition for a talent show competition with Jay as Percy's manager; Mabel begins to lose customers when a famous food blogger writes a bad review.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of September 16)

Monday, September 16

Anthony Anderson (black-ish/Guys with Kids/All About the Andersons) - Watch Anthony on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Whitney Cummings (Whitney), Natasha Leggero (Another Period/Dice/Free Agents) and Henry Winkler (Barry/Out of Practice/Happy Days) - Whitney, Natasha and Henry make special appearances on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Dax Shepard (Bless This Mess) - Dax stops by Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC. He also talks about Bless This Mess on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
Constance Wu (Fresh Off the Boat) - Constance is a guest on The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother/Doogie Howser, M.D./Stark Raving Mad) - Neil drops by The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Mindy Kaling (The Mindy Project/The Office) - Mindy appears on A Little Late with Lilly Singh at 1:35am on NBC.
Rainn Wilson (The Office) - Rainn visits A Little Late with Lilly Singh at 1:35am on NBC.
Bill Burr (F is for the Family) and Jim Jefferies (Legit) - Bill and Jim are panelists on Lights Out with David Spade at 11:30pm on Comedy Central.
Jane Lynch (Angel from Hell) and Sherri Shepherd (Mr. Iglesias/Sherri/Less Than Perfect) - Jane and Sherri guest co-host The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
Brian Austin Green (Anger Management/Wedding Band/Freddie) - Brian appears on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
The Cast of The Brady Bunch - The cast of the most famous TV family, The Brady Bunch, is hanging with Rach today and they’re dishing on what it was like to renovate the Brady house on Rachael Ray, so check your local listings.
Tony Danza (Taxi/Who's the Boss?/Hudson Street) - Tony will be on New York Live on WNBC in New York at 11:30am ET.
Michelle Buteau (First Wives Club) - Michelle talks about BET+'s First Wives Club on New York Live on WNBC in New York at 11:30am ET.