SitcomsOnline Digest: Harry Shearer to Remain on The Simpsons; South Park Renewed for Three More Seasons

Saturday, July 11, 2015

SitcomsOnline Digest: Harry Shearer to Remain on The Simpsons; South Park Renewed for Three More Seasons

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! Last week it was The Dukes of Hazzard and this week it is everything Cosby (round 2) when it comes to networks pulling series. Additionally, we have updates on some animated series, including how Mr. Burns will not have a different sounding voice on The Simpsons and news of South Park that will mean new episodes through the end of the decade. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

As it turns out, Harry Shearer will be staying on The Simpsons after all. (Hollywood Reporter)
South Park has been renewed for three more seasons, bringing it to a 23rd season... yet it will still only make it up to 300 episodes before the end of the upcoming renewal period. (IGN)
Irwin Keyes, known to sitcom fans for his role in the later seasons of The Jeffersons as George's bodyguard Hugo, died this week. (Entertainment Weekly)
Almost exactly fifteen years after Kathie Lee left Live with Regis and Kathie Lee, the duo will be reunited again as Regis becomes a contributor on the fourth hour of Today on NBC. (CNNMoney)
Keith Olbermann is leaving another job (this time at ESPN2), but unlike the previous times he has left a job, he is handling things pretty well this time. (Vanity Fair)
For the past 31 years, you could depend on always being able to catch The Cosby Show in new episodes or in reruns on TV somewhere. That has abruptly ended this week as the last cable network to air it pulled it, although it does continue to air on a few local TV stations for right now. (SitcomsOnline)

HOME MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

Mill Creek continues to move ahead with their releases of Sony series on DVD, with The Partridge Family - The Complete Series and Good Times - The Complete Series both arriving on September 1.

JULY 14 HOME MEDIA RELEASES

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00VX2200C/ref=nosim/happydaysonline5-20

Growing Pains - The Complete Fifth Season (DVD, $35.99): The turn around from season 4 to season 5 of the classic sitcom featuring the Seavers was very short, as the fifth season arrives just a few months after the fourth from Warner Archive.
WKRP in Cincinnati - The Complete Third Season (DVD, $24.97): The third season of the classic sitcom (along with most of the original music) arrives on DVD with this release.

FOLLOW ME

Who to Follow: Constance Wu (Twitter), "silence makes me comfortable"

Claim to Fame: The 33 year old actress got her start in theater, but like many actresses, she quickly transitioned to the screen. Her first TV role was on an episode of Law & Order: SVU, and after that, she had a recurring role on the soap opera One Life to Live. More recently, though, she has been known for her role of Jessica Huang on the ABC series Fresh Off the Boat.

Pick of the Tweets: "Didn't ya'll love seeing @margaretcho @originalspin & lotsa other Asians faces on @FreshOffABC tonite?! Happy & proud of #FreshOffTheBoat" (April 14, 2015)

Sitcoms Airing Tonight

Thursday, October 6

Young Sheldon - "Future Worf and the Margarita of the South Pacific" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Sheldon and Missy try to help the family’s finances. Also, Mary struggles to find her footing without the church.

Ghosts - "Alberta's Podcast" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Sam decides to host a podcast exploring the mystery surrounding Alberta’s death. Also, Hetty develops an unusual relationship with a broken washing machine.

Welcome to Flatch - "Blackout" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT)
A major heatwave passes through Flatch and gender-reveal cakes, lizards and chickens are melting when the town has a blackout; everyone must band together to stay cool, but wild antics and chaos erupt.

Call Me Kat - "Call Me Skeeter Juice" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT)
It's time for Sheila to renew her driver's license, but she refuses to go take the test; Phil urges the group to try his mama's moonshine despite their skepticism; Max finally sells a song to be used in a national commercial.

Atlanta - "Work Ethic" (FX, 10:00PM ET/PT)
One time I was gonna be an extra on this TV show but then they started asking me about Social Security numbers and taxes and being up there at 5am. I know y'all ain't doing that with Taraji.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of October 3)

Thursday, October 6

Tony Hale (HouseBroken/Veep/Arrested Development) - Catch Tony on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Zach Woods (Avenue 5/Silicon Valley/Playing House/The Office) - Zach appears on The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Constance Wu (Fresh Off the Boat) - Constance will be on Comedy Central's The Daily Show with Trevor Noah at 11pm.
Mila Kunis (Family Guy/That '70s Show) - Mila is a guest on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
Queen Latifah (Living Single) - Queen Latifah appears on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Wendell Pierce (The Odd Couple/The Michael J. Fox Show/The Weber/The Brian Benben Show/The Gregory Hines Show) - Wendell talks about making history by starring in the revival of Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman, becoming the first Black actor to take on the classic role of Willy Loman on Broadway, on Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
Jerry O'Connell (We Are Men/Do Not Disturb/Carpoolers/My Secret Identity) - Jerry is a guest on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
Fran Drescher (Indebted/Happily Divorced/Living with Fran/The Nanny/Princesses) - Fran talks about her new picture book N is for The Nanny on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
Zachary Levi (Less Than Perfect) - Zachary talks about his memoir Radical Love: Learning to Accept Yourself and Others on Sherri, so check your local listings.
Mike Myers (The Pentaverate) - Mike talks about Amsterdam on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
Tori Spelling (Mystery Girls/So Notorious) - Tori talks about Love at First Lie on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.