SitcomsOnline Digest: The End of Cristela?; Terry Crews to Exit Who Wants to Be a Millionaire; More King of the Hill DVDs Coming

Saturday, April 18, 2015

SitcomsOnline Digest: The End of Cristela?; Terry Crews to Exit Who Wants to Be a Millionaire; More King of the Hill DVDs Coming

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! This week, it is all about goodbyes, as we say goodbye (maybe?) to ABC's Cristela, goodbye to the longest running variety series in the world, and goodbye to a (relatively new) game show host. We also have news of some new DVD re-releases and the launch of a new digital broadcast network. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

While the series hasn't even officially been canceled yet, Cristela Alonzo has already written a "possible goodbye" letter to fans of the series Cristela, in which she reflects on why the series was important. (Hollywood Reporter)
It is unlikely that many of those who speak English watch the series Sábado Gigante, but it is worth noting that the longest running variety series is about to come to an end after an astonishing 53 seasons. (Entertainment Weekly)
Who wants to be the host of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? It seems that this is something that changes each year now, and this week, it was announced that Bachelor host Chris Harrison will be taking over that role (currently occupied by Terry Crews) this fall.. (Entertainment Weekly)
The broadcast network LAFF launched this week, with sitcoms including Spin City, Ellen, Empty Nest, and others. (SitcomsOnline)
CBS has made airing the colorized Christmas I Love Lucy episode sort of a tradition in recent years. Now they'll be airing some "late spring" colorized episodes. (SitcomsOnline)

HOME MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

We had news about The Simpsons last week that wasn't necessarily positive (that there may be no future home media releases of the series), but for King of the Hill, things are looking pretty good for the remainder of the series. This week, TVShowsOnDVD.com uncovered that plans are in the works to have the entire series finished by the end of the year.
Mill Creek isn't giving up on The Cosby Show, and will in fact be re-releasing the final two seasons with The Cosby Show - Seasons 7 and 8 on June 16.
Mill Creek is also bringing the entire series of Soap back together on DVD, with a June 2 release of Soap - The Complete Series.

APRIL 21 HOME MEDIA RELEASES

What's Happening!! - The Complete Series (DVD, $29.98): Mill Creek is packaging the entire run of this series into a six disc set with a very low MSRP, and it can be found much cheaper online.

FOLLOW ME

Who to Follow: Ernest Lee Thomas (Twitter)

Claim to Fame: Ernest Lee Thomas began his career on stage, and made it onto Broadway in 1974 at age 25. He went into TV with a role on The Jeffersons, and it wasn't long until he got the role of Raj on the TV series What's Happening!!, where he played a character almost ten years younger than he was in real life. He later returned to that same role on the follow-up series, What's Happening Now!! While he mostly does work on stage now, he most recently had a recurring role on the UPN/CW series Everybody Hates Chris.

Pick of the Tweets: "Working on the "What's Happening" Chapter of my Autobiography. Fred Berry,Shirley Hemphill and Mabel King are aliveand funny on DVD. Bless" (October 10, 2012)

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Tuesday, April 1

St. Denis Medical - "Anything to Push Zaluva" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Ron's teasing makes Joyce question whether her friendship with a pharmaceutical rep is genuine; Alex has trouble letting Serena take on a new task; Matt finds a mentor in Bruce.

Night Court - "Hot to Trot" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Abby's friendship with her ex-boyfriend's mother leads to romantic complications; when Julianne's wealthy aunt passes away, the gang vies for a piece of her inheritance.

Tyler Perry's House of Payne - "Love At First Swipe" (BET, 9:00PM ET/PT)
C.J. and Janine receive marital advice from an unlikely source; Peanut seeks help with his newfound online lover.

Tyler Perry's Assisted Living - "Failure 2 Launch" (BET, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Assisted Living is the new situation comedy by Tyler Perry about three generations who must make a new start in the rural backwoods of Georgia.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of March 31)

Tuesday, April 1

Adam Scott (Ghosted/Veep/Parks and Recreation/Party Down) - Catch Adam on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Kevin Bacon (I Love Dick) - Kevin is a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Amanda Peet (Brockmire/Togetherness/Bent) - Amanda appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Paul Rudd (The Shrink Next Door/Living with Yourself/Wild Oats) - Paul stops by Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Ike Barinholtz (The Studio/The Afterparty/Bless the Harts/The Mindy Project/Eastbound & Down) - Ike appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC. He will also be on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 9:30pm on Bravo.
Vinny Thomas (Platonic), Paul F. Tompkins (The Great North/BoJack Horseman/DAG) and Aparna Nancherla (The Great North/Lopez vs Lopez/Corporate) - Vinny, Paul and Aparna are guests on After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
Chase Sui Wonders (The Studio/Bupkis) and Kathryn Hahn (The Studio/Tiny Beautiful Things/Central Park/Happyish/Transparent/Free Agents) - Chase and Kathryn are guests on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 9:30pm on Bravo.
Will Ferrell (The Office) and Jennifer Coolidge (2 Broke Girls/Joey) - E! News has interviews with Will and Jennifer at 11pm on E!.
Román Zaragoza (Ghosts) - Román talks about Ghosts on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
Jenny Slate (The Great North/Big Mouth/Married/Bob's Burgers) - Jenny talks about Dying for Sex on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
Michael Angarano (Laid/I'm Dying Up Here/Will & Grace) and Michael Cera (Life & Beth/Arrested Development/I Was a Sixth Grade Alien) - Michael and Michael talk about Sacramento with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Olivia Munn (Perfect Couples) - Olivia guest co-hosts NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
Hannah Einbinder (Hacks) - Hannah talks about Hacks on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
Tasha Smith (Survival of the Thickest/Tyler Perry's For Better or Worse/The Tom Show/Boston Common) and Tone Bell (Survival of the Thickest/Fam/Disjointed/Truth Be Told/Bad Judge/Whitney) - Tasha and Tone talk about the new season of Netflix’s Survival of the Thickest on Sherri, so check your local listings.
Kathryn Hahn (The Studio/Tiny Beautiful Things/Central Park/Happyish/Transparent/Free Agents) - Kathryn is dishing on her new comedy series The Studio on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Wilmer Valderrama (That '70s Show) - Wilmer and Freddy Rodriguez chat about their podcast Dos Amigos on a repeat of Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
Brenda Song (Running Point/Dollface/Dads/The Suite Life on Deck/The Suite Life of Zack & Cody) - Brenda talks about Netflix's Running Point on a repeat of Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
Paul Walter Hauser (The Afterparty) - Paul is a guest on PIX11 Morning News on WPIX in New York at 9:40am.