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

Wednesday, April 30

Krapopolis - "Mazed and Kingfused" (Fox, 9:02PM ET/PT)
Hippo accompanies Shlub on his journey to Minos; Ty gets glued to his throne.

Grimsburg - "Crystal Ball" (Fox, 9:31PM ET/PT)
When Flute goes for surgery to have a second testicle put in, he finds an unexpected side effect.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of April 28)

Wednesday, April 30

Allison Janney (Mom/Mr. Sunshine) - Watch Allison on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Adam DeVine (The Righteous Gemstones/Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin/Workaholics/Modern Family) - Adam appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Chase Sui Wonders (The Studio/Bupkis) - Chase stops by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Tim Baltz (The Righteous Gemstones) and Lennon Parham (Minx/Bless This Mess/Schooled/Playing House/Best Friends Forever) - Tim and Lennon are guests on After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
Lisa Ann Walter (Abbott Elementary/Emeril) - E! News has an interview with Lisa at 11pm on E!.
Molly Shannon (I Love That for You/The Other Two/Divorce/Kath & Kim/Craking Up), Marc Maron (GLOW/Maron) and Ronny Chieng (Young Rock/Ronny Chieng: International Student) - Molly, Marc and Ronny are guests on Everybody's Live with John Mulaney at 10pm on Netflix.
Geena Davis (The Geena Davis Show/Sara/Buffalo Bill) - Geena talks about The Girl Who Was Too Big for the Page on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am, on The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT and on ABC News Live Prime with Linsey Davis at 7pm.
Jaleel White (Family Matters/Grown Ups) - Jaleel talks about The Flip Side on CBS Mornings Plus sometime between 7-9am.
Da'Vine Joy Randolph (Only Murders in the Building/High Fidelity/People of Earth/Selfie) - Da'Vine talks about Shadow Force on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
Ke Huy Quan (Head of the Class/Together We Stand) - Ke and Drew are reminiscing about acting as children and becoming close with Steven Spielberg on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings. He's also telling Drew about choreographing stunts for Hugh Jackman, how he met his wife of over twenty years and making an acting comeback for Everything Everywhere All at Once.
JoAnna Garcia Swisher (Animal Practice/Better with You/Reba) and Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/Café Americain/Sydney/One Day at a Time) - The Drew Barrymore Show (repeat) has a Date Dish Competish with JoAnna Garcia Swisher, Kee Huy Quan, Sarah Fennel and Marc Murphy. Drew's got a date dish competish and Sarah Fennel, Ke Huy Quan and JoAnna Garcia Swisher are judging the whole thing. Team Drew and Pilar Valdes are taking on Valerie Bertinelli and Marc Murphy using three mystery ingredients to make a date night dish. Then, Drew is chatting with Joanna Garcia Swisher about season four of her show Sweet Magnolias.
Dennis Quaid (Merry Happy Whatever) - NBC's Today catches up with Dennis sometime between 7-9am.
Wanda Sykes (The Upshaws/The New Adventures of Old Christine/Wanda at Large) - Wanda co-hosts NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
Mike Epps (The Upshaws/Uncle Buck/Survivor's Remorse) - NBC's Today catches up with Mike in the 10am hour.