SitcomsOnline Digest: Henry Winkler and William Shatner Cast in NBC Alternative Comedy Series; Raven-Symoné to Enjoy The View

Saturday, June 13, 2015

SitcomsOnline Digest: Henry Winkler and William Shatner Cast in NBC Alternative Comedy Series; Raven-Symoné to Enjoy The View

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! As usual for a summer week after everything for the fall season has been announced and doesn't start for about three more months, we have a slow news week. But we have developments regarding an alternative comedy in development at NBC with Henry Winkler, news of yet another Sony re-release from Mill Creek, a reminder that Rue McClanahan died five years ago (not this week), and surprisingly, for the first time in several weeks, no new developments about Fuller House or any old Full House news... although technically, John Stamos did manage to keep the streak of his name in the news going with some negative news of his own last night, but it isn't newsworthy for us). Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

Henry Winkler, William Shatner, Terry Bradshaw, and George Foreman have all been tapped as cast members for Better Late Than Never, an "alternative comedy" in development at NBC. (Deadline)
Raven-Symone is best known for her roles on The Cosby Show and That's So Raven, but now it is official: she is going to take a lot of time to enjoy The View, as she is the newest co-host. (ABC News)
Golden Girls star Rue McClanahan died over five years ago, yet news of her death began trending on social media this week (and the same thing happened approximately a year ago as well). So why? (CBS News)
Comedy writer Paul Raley, who worked on series including Grace Under Fire, Night Court, and Saturday Night Live, died this week at the age of 71. (Variety)
Bounce TV is freshening up their sitcom offerings, by adding The Bernie Mac Show and Cosby to the lineup. (SitcomsOnline)

HOME MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

When Mill Creek announced that they would be re-releasing certain Sony series on DVD, they really meant just about everything. On August 18, they will be releasing The Jeff Foxworthy Show - The Complete Series.

JUNE 16 HOME MEDIA RELEASES

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00US8DH5Y/ref=nosim/happydaysonline5-20

The Cosby Show - Seasons 7 & 8 (DVD, $14.98): Mill Creek finally wraps up their re-releases of the classic sitcom with this release. Season 7 and Season 8 also available individually.
Laverne & Shirley - The Complete Series (DVD, $79.99): CBS gives fans of the classic Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams series a chance to own the entire series in one set with this release.
The Odd Couple - The Complete Series (DVD, $59.98): With the new series entering a second season later next season, the original with Jack Klugman and Tony Randall is compiled in one set for this release.
Two and a Half Men - The Twelfth and Final Season (DVD, $29.98): Who knew that the series that seemed to be unstoppable for years would finally come to an end? Of course, it did end in March, and now Warner Home Video is finishing it up on DVD. Another option for fans is the complete series, which carries a $275.68 MSRP.

FOLLOW ME

Who to Follow: Kurtwood Smith (Twitter), "Still don't know what I am doing here!"

Claim to Fame: The name may not be familiar to some, but the face (and who he is) certainly is familiar: Kurtwood Smith came to fame from playing Red Forman (dad) on the Fox sitcom That '70s Show. His TV and movie career actually started in 1980 with a small role in an episode of Soap. From that point, he made other small appearances in TV series, but mostly stuck with movie roles, including RoboCop. Of course, to TV fans, he was in That '70s Show, and more recently, he appeared on the (now canceled) ABC series Resurrection.

Pick of the Tweets: "How nice to have Ma back! Only on #Resurrection does your mother come back younger than you!" (September 28, 2014)

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Wednesday, October 30

Abbott Elementary - "Costume Contest" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT)
It’s Halloween at Abbott Elementary! Janine and Gregory proudly show off their couple’s costume, but it fails to translate. Meanwhile, Barbara faces pushback from parents concerned about hygiene and her beloved apple-bobbing tradition.

Wizards Beyond Waverly Place - "Saved by the Spell" (Disney Channel, 8:00PM ET/PT)
On her first day of school, Billie uses magic to impress Roman's best friend; when a jealous Roman steals Billie's wand, he falls into the grasp of a wizard-hunting phantomus.

Wizards Beyond Waverly Place - "Something Wizard This Way Comes" (Disney Channel, 8:30PM ET/PT)
On Halloween, Billie tells Roman about Pumpkin Belly, a ghoul who eats anyone whose house isn't spookily decorated; Justin, Milo and Giada defend the home from pranksters.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of October 28)

Wednesday, October 30

Sheryl Lee Ralph (Abbott Elementary/Fam/Instant Mom/Moesha/It's a Living) - Watch Sheryl on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Salma Hayek Pinault (The Sinbad Show) - Salma appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Kieran Culkin (Solar Opposites/Go Fish) - Kieran is a guest on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Tom Hanks (Bosom Buddies) - Tom stops by Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Emily Osment (Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage/Young Sheldon/Young & Hungry/Hannah Montana), Tien Tran (How I Met Your Father) and Vinny Thomas (Platonic) - Emily, Tien and Vinny are guests on After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
Ronny Chieng (Young Rock/Ronny Chieng: International Student) - Ronny hosts Comedy Central's The Daily Show at 11pm.
Adam Pally (Mr. Throwback/Indebted/Making History/The Mindy Project/Happy Endings) - Adam appears on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 3:30am on Bravo.
Keri Russell (Running Wilde/Daddy's Girls) - Keri talks about The Diplomat on ABC's Good Morning America some time between 7-9am and on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
Matty Matheson (The Bear) - Matty talks about improvising scenes on the hit show The Bear and how he started his career in restaurants on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Anna Kendrick (Love Life) - Anna is chatting with Drew about directing her first film Woman of the Hour, the crazy serial killer case the movie is based on, finding boundaries in her life, turning 40 and more on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Mayan Lopez (Lopez vs Lopez) - Mayan discusses her sitcom Lopez vs Lopez on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
Blair Underwood (Fatherhood/The New Adventures of Old Christine) - Blair is a guest on PIX11 Morning News on WPIX in New York at 9:30am.
Marissa Jaret Winokur (What We Do in the Shadows/Retired at 35/Stacked) - Marissa appears on New York Living on WPIX in New York at 10:05am.
Melissa Peterman (Happy's Place/Young Sheldon/Baby Daddy/Working Class/Reba) - Melissa talks about NBC's Happy's Place on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.