SitcomsOnline Digest: Unauthorized Full House Story for Lifetime; Seinfeld Goes to Hulu; Unclear Future for CSI

Saturday, May 02, 2015

SitcomsOnline Digest: Unauthorized Full House Story for Lifetime; Seinfeld Goes to Hulu; Unclear Future for CSI

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! Full House continues to be news thanks to a behind-the-scenes drama being made for Lifetime and some actual mini-drama involving the Olsen twins, Seinfeld has a new online home, and we're approaching that time of the year where we find out once and for all which shows will stay and which will go... and it isn't looking particularly good for one previously unstoppable procedural franchise on CBS. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

Lifetime is trying to get in on the Full House mania right now by doing an unofficial movie about the drama behind-the-scenes, much like their Unauthorized Saved by the Bell Story. (Deadline)
We mentioned a while back that Sony was trying to find an online home for Seinfeld, and this week, it seems that Hulu got those rights, in a $160 million deal valued around $875,000 per episode. (Variety)
CSI has been one of the defining series for CBS since it debuted in October 2000, but with a declining audience and increasing cost of production, most believe that the series is about to be put to rest forever. The question is whether it will get a proper ending with a short (as short as six episode) season next year, or was the season finale that aired in February have been the last episode ever? (Deadline)
When the NBC series Aquarius debuts later this month, the network is going to try a new approach for a broadcast network sitcom by making all 13 episodes available for immediate binge viewing on video on demand, before the remaining episodes even air on NBC. (Variety)
The entire world knew about the Full House reboot, Fuller House, except for the Olsen twins apparently. But John Stamos isn't buying that. (ABC News)
Actress Suzanne Crough, best known for her role on The Partridge Family, died this week at age 52. (NY Times)
Antenna TV is planning to celebrate Mother's Day with a 40 episode One Day at a Time marathon. (SitcomsOnline)

HOME MEDIA HIGHLIGHT

While some series have remained completely unreleased on DVD, The Abbott and Costello Show is about to be released on DVD for a third time on June 9, with The Abbott and Costello Show - The Ultimate Collection.
Mill Creek has another Sony re-release, with Archie Bunker's Place - Season One on July 7.

RECENT REVIEWS ON SITCOMSONLINE.COM

Growing Pains - The Complete Fourth Season: Our DVD reviews "come out of a coma" after a long hiatus with this review of the recent Warner Archive release featuring the season of Growing Pains that brought the birth of a Seaver, a new stepfather for Jason, a new girlfriend (and fiance?) for Mike, and a serious life moment for Carol. The episodes only set looks fine for the most part, although there are some defects on the menu navigation on the first disc.

MAY 5 HOME MEDIA RELEASES

Cheers - The Complete Series (DVD, $117.99): CBS puts all eleven seasons of the classic series together in one set for the first time ever.
The Fugitive - The Complete Series (DVD, $79.99): CBS re-releases the complete series of this show, without the bonus disc included in the previous complete series release.
Parenthood - Season 6 (DVD, $39.98): The final season of the NBC drama comes together in this final DVD release of the series; Parenthood - The Complete Series (DVD, $119.98) also available.

FOLLOW ME

Who to Follow: Zachery Ty Bryan (Twitter)

Claim to Fame: While Zachery Ty Bryan started out in some advertising spots when he was younger, he came into his best known role when he was only 10 years old, playing oldest son Brad Taylor on the hit ABC sitcom Home Improvement. Following that series, he has mostly done a lot of guest starring roles, on series such as Boston Public, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Veronica Mars, Cold Case, and Burn Notice. These days, he is dabbling in behind-the-scenes work in production. And, if you read his Twitter feed, you'll see that all of that love for soccer that he had on the series wasn't just made-for-TV, it is something that is a real thing in his life. That isn't his only sports connection: his second cousin is former NFL quarterback Brady Quinn.

Pick of the Tweets: "Home Improvement Swag -- #ThrowbackThursday http://instagram.com/p/ZX_6FJzhk2/" (May 16, 2013)

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Wednesday, June 18

Shifting Gears - "Restoration" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Matt, the widowed owner of a classic car restoration shop, is confronted with his most unexpected and challenging project yet when his estranged daughter, Riley, and her adolescent children come crashing back into his life.

Shifting Gears - "Accommodations" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Matt joins Riley at Carter’s high school open house, where he’s unsettled to learn about the “accommodations” made for his grandson’s anxiety. Meanwhile, Riley reconnects with Caitlin, a former classmate, and sets her up with Gabriel.

Shifting Gears - "Job" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Riley, desperate for work, reluctantly takes a job at Matt’s shop. Meanwhile, Gabriel and Stitch secretly stray from Matt’s vision on a high-stakes restomod project.

Shifting Gears - "Grief" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Riley discovers a closet filled with her late mother’s clothes, she insists Matt hasn’t processed her death and urges him to see a grief counselor. Meanwhile, Gabriel faces a crisis of confidence when he’s put in charge of the shop for a day.

Children Ruin Everything - "Emergencies" (The CW, 9:00PM ET/PT)
During a family emergency, with both James and Astrid busy at work, they need to rethink their childcare plan.

Children Ruin Everything - "Sex" (The CW, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Astrid and James get some much-needed adult time when they convince Nisha to take the kids for the night; their night gets complicated however, when a small lie grows out of control.

Tyler Perry's House of Payne - "House of Probation" (BET, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Calvin and Laura are met with unexpected news, while Curtis and Glo join forces against Mrs. Wellington; Calvin and Miranda must navigate the complexities of co-parenting.

Tyler Perry's Assisted Living - "It Takes a Village" (BET, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Vinny attempts to take matters into his own hands with the armed crimes around the neighborhood; the facility is in an uproar regarding their safety after the armed crimes around the neighborhood.

The Ms. Pat Show - "The Graduation Party" (BET, 10:30PM ET/PT)
Janelle has a big confession to make at her high school graduation party; Brandon's surprise decision sparks a huge fight with Ashley.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of June 16)

Wednesday, June 18

Charlie Day (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia/Luis) - Watch Charlie on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Miley Cyrus (Hannah Montana) - Miley is a guest on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Annie Murphy (Kevin Can F**k Himself/Schitt's Creek) - Annie appears on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Allison Williams (Girls) - Allison drops by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Cole Escola (Human Resources/Search Party/Mozart in the Jungle/Difficult People) - Cole appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Reid Scott (Veep/My Boys/It's All Relative) - Reid is a guest on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
Keke Palmer (Scream Queens/True Jackson, VP) - E! News has an interview with Keke at 11pm on E!.
Retta (Parks and Recreation) - NBC's Today catches up with Retta in the 9am hour.
Michelle Buteau (Survival of the Thickest/Bless the Harts/Enlisted) - Michelle guest co-hosts NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
Cynthia Nixon (And Just Like That.../Sex and the City) - Cynthia talks about The Gilded Age on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
Fortune Feimster (FUBAR/Kenan/Bless the Harts/Champions) - Fortune is sharing her hilarious take on the hottest headlines of the day and telling Drew about her latest Netflix standup special on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.