SitcomsOnline Digest: Shout! Factory Begins Streaming Service; Complete Series Sets for Cheers, What's Happening!!, and More

Saturday, February 14, 2015

SitcomsOnline Digest: Shout! Factory Begins Streaming Service; Complete Series Sets for Cheers, What's Happening!!, and More

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! It has been a pretty busy news week this week, not to mention big things that are happening in TV (including the upcoming finales for Two and a Half Men next week and Parks and Recreation in two weeks), but we're here with some highlights, including a new streaming service from Shout! Factory, a sitcom pilot at ABC with Annie Potts in a supporting role, and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

Shout! Factory has (somewhat) quietly launched Shout! Factory TV, a new online streaming service featuring several classic movies and TV series, including Dennis the Menace, Father Knows Best, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Dick Van Dyke Show, Laverne & Shirley, and others. While many of these are already available on other streaming services, this service is ad-supported and free, and there is even a Roku app (although it has been reported that not all of the content can be found on the Roku app). (Shout! Factory TV)
Annie Potts is looking to get back into a sitcom once again, and a pilot at ABC starring comedian Fortune Feimster and executive produced by Matt Hubbard, Tina Fey, and Robert Carlock could have her playing a southern belle (again). (Hollywood Reporter)
Tomorrow night's SNL 40th Anniversary Special just got even bigger in the past few days, with NBC now giving it three and a half hours and will air 8-11:30 PM. (Deadline)
Reboots of classic series have been big lately, but here is an interesting one: Amazon Studios is planning to reboot Sigmund and the Sea Monsters, with the help of Sid and Marty Krofft. (io9)
Your hipster friends should (ironically) be thrilled to hear that Portlandia has been renewed for a sixth and seventh season. (SitcomsOnline)
Weigel Broadcasting is now taking MeTV to the radio, with MeTV FM in Chicago. The radio station will air a classic hits (the new name for "oldies" as it has evolved to include the 80s) format. Technically, the station will be on the low-power TV channel 6, although audio from channel 6 can be heard on the FM dial on 87.7. (SitcomsOnline)

HOME MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00TGNLZSI/ref=nosim/happydaysonline4-20

Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name, and if so, you'll love what CBS has in store: Cheers - The Complete Series. Although each season has been released (as well as a complete series that shrinkwrapped all of those seasons together), this is the first time fans will be able to get every episode in one box set. It is set to be released on May 5 at a $117.99 MSRP.
CBS will also be re-releasing The Fugitive - The Complete Series on DVD on May 5, and it will come at a very low $79.99 MSRP.
Mill Creek has another re-release of a Sony series in the works, and this time it is a complete series, with What's Happening!! - The Complete Series. It will be released April 21 at a $29.98 MSRP.
Mill Creek will also be re-releasing Tour of Duty - The Complete Series on April 21, at a $44.98 MSRP.

FOLLOW ME

Who to Follow: Jake Johnson (Twitter)

Claim to Fame: Jake Johnson is best known for his current role of Nick Miller in the Fox series New Girl. His first credited role didn't come until he was almost 30 years old, with a guest appearance on Curb Your Enthusiasm. He also appeared in episodes of The Unit and FlashForward before making the leap to New Girl. Since New Girl, he has reached new levels of fame with starring roles in two feature films, Drinking Buddies and Let's Be Cops.
Pick of the Tweets: "If you need me I'll just be here listening to Hall & Oates, drinking strong coffee and feeling pretty damn good about the weekend." (November 8, 2014)

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Wednesday, October 23

Abbott Elementary - "Class Pet" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Janine gets a budget for class pets, but Melissa is resistant to taking on the added work and responsibility for her room’s guinea pig. An IT rep from the school district arrives to set up new computers.

Everybody Still Hates Chris - "Everybody Still Hates Bullies" (Comedy Central, 10:00PM ET/PT)
Chris gets a gig DJ-ing at a drag ball and develops drag queen eyes.

Everybody Still Hates Chris - "Everybody Still Hates Career Tests" (Comedy Central, 10:30PM ET/PT)
Chris and Greg tape over a porno rented from Caruso and must replace it.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of October 21)

Wednesday, October 23

Billy Crystal (The Comedians/Soap) - Watch Billy on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Anna Kendrick (Love Life) - Anna appears on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Matty Matheson (The Bear) - Matty stops by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Bernadette Peters (High Desert/Mozart in the Jungle/All's Fair) - Bernadette is a guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Olivia Munn (Perfect Couples) - NBC's Today catches up with Olivia some time between 7-9am.
Bridget Everett (Somebody Somewhere) - Bridget talks about Somebody Somewhere on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
David Henrie (Wizards Beyond Waverly Place/Wizards of Waverly Place/How I Met Your Mother/The Pitts) - David discusses Wizards Beyond Waverly Place on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your listings. One or two Wizards Beyond Waverly Place cast members will be on New York Living at 10:05am.
Judith Light (Who's the Boss?/Phenom/Transparent) - Judith talks about Before on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
Billy Crystal (The Comedians/Soap) - Billy chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Mariska Hargitay (Can't Hurry Love) - Mariska talks about the greatest thing sheâ€™s learned since turning 60 on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Dexter Darden (Saved by the Bell) - Dexter talks about Peacock's Fight Night; The Million Dollar Heist on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
Essence Atkins (Poppa's House/Marlon/Mr. Box Office/Are We There Yet?/Half & Half/Smart Guy/Under One Roof) - Essence talks about Poppa's House on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.