SitcomsOnline Digest: Pilot Casting Updates for Potential Sitcoms Based Upon Uncle Buck and Problem Child; New Facts of Life and Hart to Hart DVD Releases from Shout!

Saturday, March 07, 2015

SitcomsOnline Digest: Pilot Casting Updates for Potential Sitcoms Based Upon Uncle Buck and Problem Child; New Facts of Life and Hart to Hart DVD Releases from Shout!

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! This week, we've got casting updates for sitcom pilots based upon movies from a quarter century ago, news of some new Shout! Factory releases, and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

Mike Epps has been cast for the title role in the possible sitcom based upon the movie Uncle Buck. (Entertainment Weekly)
Meanwhile, Matthew Lillard has been cast in the male lead role in the comedy in development based upon the movie Problem Child. (Deadline)
TV Land has undergone many changes over the years, but it appears that most of the changes have not been good for the network. This week, Viacom announced several layoffs, and it appears that TV Land suffered the most. (LA Times)
Judge Judy recently signed a new contract extending her show all the way through the year 2020. (CNN)
Netflix has been becoming a major player in the original series realm lately, and now they've announced some additional premiere dates for some of those original series for 2015. (SitcomsOnline)

HOME MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

Shout! Factory isn't leaving those who didn't buy The Facts of Life - The Complete Series out in the cold, as The Facts of Life - Season Six will arrive on DVD on June 9.
Shout! Factory will also be wrapping up a series on June 9, with their release of Hart to Hart - The Final Season.

MARCH 10 HOME MEDIA RELEASES

Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. - The Complete Series (DVD, $59.98): The classic spinoff of The Andy Griffith Show starring Jim Nabors comes to DVD once again as a complete series.
Petticoat Junction - Family Favorite Episodes (DVD, $12.98): A best-of release of the classic series arrives on DVD from CBS.
Quincy, M.E. - The Final Season (DVD, $39.97): Nearly a decade after the very first release of the Jack Klugman series on DVD, Shout! Factory finally wraps it up with the eighth and final season.

FOLLOW ME

Who to Follow: Retta (Twitter), "I cuss a lot, got an itchy block finger & not afraid to use it. #Unemployed P.S. I live tweet my fave shows: #UveBeenWarned (Did I mention I'm unemployed?)"

Claim to Fame: As her own description of herself indicates, Retta is unemployed... but that is only a new development in the past few weeks. Born Marietta Sirleaf, the standup comedian is best known for playing the role of Donna on the NBC series Parks and Recreation. She has also appeared in guest roles on series such as It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Moesha, and even The Jenny Jones Show (though not for one of the more outrageous shows, but rather showing off her standup comedian skills). Also worth noting is that she even has an aunt who is a prominent political figure... in fact, her aunt is the president of Liberia.

Pick of the Tweets: ""When Beyoncé wants to get inspired, she looks up Donna quotes on Tumblr." http://www.vulture.com/2015/02/parks-and-rec-recap-season-7-episode-7-microwave.html?mid=twitter_vulture … #GoodLookinOut @Vulture" (February 4, 2015)

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.