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 / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Thursday, December 19

Ghosts - "A Very Arondekar Christmas Part 1" / "A Very Arondekar Christmas Part 2" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
A leaky water heater mishap threatens to ruin holiday plans as Sam and Jay prepare to host Jay’s hard-to-please dad, Mahesh (Bernard White), difficult-to-impress mom, Champa (Sakina Jaffrey), and sister Bela (Punam Patel), on a one-hour GHOSTSMAS special.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of December 16)

Thursday, December 19

Ralph Macchio (Eight Is Enough) - Catch Ralph on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Martin Short (Only Murders in the Building/Mulaney/I'm a Big Girl Now/The Associates) - Martin appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
John Mulaney (Mulaney) - John stops by Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Jade Catta-Preta (American Housewife/Manhattan Love Story) - Jade is a guest on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
Whitney Cummings (Whitney) - Whitney talks about her new show Fast Friends on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your listings. She can also be heard on The Morning Mash Up on SiriusXM.
Rosie Perez (Human Resources/Search Party) - Rosie tells Sherri about starring in the new Apple TV+ thriller Before on Sherri, so check your local listings.
Chloe Bailey (grown-ish) - Chloe joins the Tam Fam for an epic hour on a repeat of Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
Ana Gasteyer (American Auto/People of Earth/Lady Dynamite/Suburgatory) - Ana is sharing her hilarious take on the hottest news topics on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Billy Eichner (Friends from College/Difficult People/Parks and Recreation) - Billy chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Christina Milian (Grandfathered) - Christina talks about Netflix's Meet Me NExt Christmas on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
Danica McKellar (The Wonder Years) - Danica McKellar and Gleb Savchenko discuss their A Cinderella Christmas Ball movie on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
Nicole Ari Parker (And Just Like That.../Second Time Around) and Boris Kodjoe (The Last Man on Earth/Second Time Around) - Nicole share shoppable must-haves for the holidays on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
Morris Chestnut (Out All Night) - Morris discusses his television series Watson on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.