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 / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Friday, November 22

Happy's Place - "Happy's House" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Bobbie agrees to take Isabella to Happy's house in search of a connection to their late father, leading Bobbie to worry about what they may find; Gabby hopes to strike it rich by searching through Happy's penny collection looking for a rarity.

Lopez vs Lopez - "Lopez vs Orlando" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
When Rosie's spoiled nephew Orlando visits, Mayan sets out to expose Rosie's cultural gender bias; George wants to teach Chance the value of hard work, but, instead, helps him create a toxic work environment.

Bob Hearts Abishola - "Whacking the Mole" (The CW, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
After Abishola has a romantic dream about Bob, she tries to suppress her feelings for him and pays the price.

Bob Hearts Abishola - "Ralph Lauren and Fish" (The CW, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Bob and Abishola finally go on a proper date, which is interrupted by Dottie's medical emergency.

Bob Hearts Abishola - "Tough Like a Laundromat Washing Machine" (The CW, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Bob hires Abishola to take care of Dottie in his home while she recovers; Dottie has a hard time dealing with her limitations and takes it out on Abishola.

Bob Hearts Abishola - "Useless Potheads" (The CW, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
With Abishola only helping part-time, Bob, Douglas and Christina struggle to take care of Dottie.

Wizards Beyond Waverly Place - "Wiz-Taken Identity" (Disney Channel, 8:00PM ET/PT)
When Billie struggles with a spell, Roman says he could do it if he was a wizard: to prove him wrong, Billie uses a Power Glass to transfer her powers to Roman.

Wizards Beyond Waverly Place - " Ain't Gnome Party Like a Wizard Party" (Disney Channel, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Justin embraces mortality to live with his family; his new challenge arises when Alex introduces Billie, a wizard-in-training, seeking Justin's mentorship.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of November 18)

Friday, November 22

Kerry Washington (UnPrisoned) - Watch Kerry on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Jimmy O. Yang (Interior Chinatown/Space Force/Silicon Valley) - Jimmy is a guest on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Ariana Grande (Sam & Cat/Victorious) - Ariana appears on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Andy Richter (Andy Barker, P.I./Quintuplets/Andy Richter Controls the Universe), Thomas Lennon (The Odd Couple/Sean Saves the World/Reno 911!) and Aparna Nancherla (Lopez vs Lopez/Search Party/Corporate) - Andy, Thomas and Aparna are guests on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
Keke Palmer (Scream Queens/True Jackson, VP) - Keke talks about her new book Master of Me: The Secret to Controlling Your Narrative on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Andrew Rannells (Girls/The New Normal) - Drew is joined by the hilarious Andrew to celebrate all things Thanksgiving on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Rosie Perez (Human Resources/Search Party) - Rosie tells Sherri about her new Apple TV+ psychological thriller Before on Sherri, so check your local listings.
Candace Cameron Bure (Fuller House/Full House) - Candace will be on New York Living on WPIX in New York at 10:15am.