SitcomsOnline Digest: Even More Reboots of Classic Sitcoms?; New NBC Pilots from Mike Schur and Tina Fey/Robert Carlock

Saturday, August 15, 2015

SitcomsOnline Digest: Even More Reboots of Classic Sitcoms?; New NBC Pilots from Mike Schur and Tina Fey/Robert Carlock

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! Once again, it has been a busy news week, and of course there are even more highlights in the world of producers and networks thinking about what other classic series they can reboot. We've also got news on some new NBC series that aren't reboots (though they're from creators and producers familiar to NBC), two pieces of Tonight Show news that are about Jimmy and Johnny, and much more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

In our current era of reboots, everything that is old is new again, whether it is Coach, Full House, Boy Meets World, The X-Files, Twin Peaks, or one of the many others rumored to be rebooted. Now, Will Smith is talking about potentially rebooting The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and the chairman of NBC is talking about rebooting ALF... although we think he is only joking about ALF (or is he?). (Moviehole)
Even more from that "what's old is new again" department, although these aren't old shows being rebooted but rather shows from the creators of two familiar shows from recent years on NBC: the network has picked up two comedies, one from Parks and Recreation creator Mike Schur and the other from 30 Rock creators Tina Fey and Robert Carlock. (Hollywood Reporter)
Celebrity Apprentice is coming back in the 2016-2017, but not surprisingly, it won't be coming back with Donald Trump as the host, and NBC says they won't budge on bringing him back. (Deadline)
Sesame Street is changing addresses (sort of) as new episodes move to HBO beginning this fall, although older episodes will continue to air on PBS and the new ones will air on PBS several months after they air on HBO. (New York Times)
We're not exactly sure when Michael Bolton suddenly became sitcom star material, but he is now part of a sitcom in development at ABC that is being described as a Three's Company style comedy (though we should warn you that usually that the word "style" is often used too loosely when describing these things). (Yahoo!)
Jimmy Fallon has been a hit when it comes to hosting The Tonight Show, so it should come as no surprise that NBC was eager to sign a contract to keep him on the air through 2021. (New York Times)
However, Jimmy Fallon will be facing some competition in 2016, as Antenna TV brings back old episodes of Johnny Carson's version of The Tonight Show in January. (SitcomsOnline)

HOME MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

Though the remastered episodes appeared on Blu-ray three years ago, those who just want the DVDs can look forward to seeing The Dick Van Dyke - The Complete Remastered Series on November 10.
TVShowsOnDVD.com is reporting that the complete series of The Wonder Years will hit retailers on October 6, with both the limited edition locker packaging and a standard packaging.
It looks like Warner Archive is eager to just complete George Lopez as quickly as possible, with George Lopez - The Complete Fifth Season scheduled for August 18. It is also worth noting that the Warner Archive releases, unlike the earlier seasons which were released by Warner Home Video, include the original theme song.

AUGUST 18 HOME MEDIA RELEASES

George Lopez - The Complete Fifth Season (DVD, $29.99): Warner Archive continues to fast track this sitcom on DVD, coming just a little over a month after the release of the fourth season and with only one season remaining after this one.
Mike and Molly - The Complete Fifth Season (DVD, $24.98): The hit CBS comedy moves forward on DVD.
Welcome Back, Kotter - The Final Season (DVD, $29.93): Shout! Factory wraps up this classic on DVD, previously released as part of the complete series.
The Jeff Foxworthy Show - The Complete Series (DVD, $14.98): Sony previously released the entire series of this short-lived sitcom, and now Mill Creek is getting in on re-releasing it.

FOLLOW ME

Who to Follow: Billy Gardell (Twitter), "Stand up comic - #MikeandMolly - #MonopolyMillionaresClub-Forced to Tweet"

Claim to Fame: Obviously, Billy Gardell doesn't really like Twitter, but he is being forced to use it. We're not sure who is doing that. Anyway, the Mike and Molly star is indeed on Twitter. Gardell has gotten much of his fame through CBS sitcoms, beginning with a single episode of The King of Queens in 2000. He had a much bigger recurring role beginning in 2001 on the series Yes, Dear. Along with a lot of guest appearances here and there, including one key non-CBS recurring role on NBC's My Name is Earl, he really became best known from the series Mike and Molly, where he plays Mike. And on weekends, you may be able to find game show host Billy Gardell on the syndicated lottery series Monopoly Millionaires' Club, airing in states where the lottery game of the same name is offered.

Pick of the Tweets: "Mike and Molly fans we are picked up for season 6!!! THANK YOU! " (March 12, 2015)

Sitcoms Airing Tonight

Monday, September 16

The Neighborhood - "Welcome to the Conversation" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Dave is thrilled when Calvin invites him golfing, confident that it represents progress in their relationship, but Calvin may have another motive. Also, Gemma and Tina team up to pull off an unforgettable surprise for Malcolm, Marty and Grover.

The Big Bang Theory - "The Stockholm Syndrome" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Bernadette and Wolowitz leave their kids for the first time; Penny and Leonard try to keep a secret; Sheldon and Amy stick together; and Koothrappali makes a new friend, as the gang travels together into an uncharted future.

In The Cut - "America's Got Skillz, Part 1" (Bounce TV, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Kenny, Smitty and Percy audition for a talent show competition with Jay as Percy's manager; Mabel begins to lose customers when a famous food blogger writes a bad review.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of September 16)

Monday, September 16

Anthony Anderson (black-ish/Guys with Kids/All About the Andersons) - Watch Anthony on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Whitney Cummings (Whitney), Natasha Leggero (Another Period/Dice/Free Agents) and Henry Winkler (Barry/Out of Practice/Happy Days) - Whitney, Natasha and Henry make special appearances on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Dax Shepard (Bless This Mess) - Dax stops by Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC. He also talks about Bless This Mess on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
Constance Wu (Fresh Off the Boat) - Constance is a guest on The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother/Doogie Howser, M.D./Stark Raving Mad) - Neil drops by The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Mindy Kaling (The Mindy Project/The Office) - Mindy appears on A Little Late with Lilly Singh at 1:35am on NBC.
Rainn Wilson (The Office) - Rainn visits A Little Late with Lilly Singh at 1:35am on NBC.
Bill Burr (F is for the Family) and Jim Jefferies (Legit) - Bill and Jim are panelists on Lights Out with David Spade at 11:30pm on Comedy Central.
Jane Lynch (Angel from Hell) and Sherri Shepherd (Mr. Iglesias/Sherri/Less Than Perfect) - Jane and Sherri guest co-host The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
Brian Austin Green (Anger Management/Wedding Band/Freddie) - Brian appears on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
The Cast of The Brady Bunch - The cast of the most famous TV family, The Brady Bunch, is hanging with Rach today and they’re dishing on what it was like to renovate the Brady house on Rachael Ray, so check your local listings.
Tony Danza (Taxi/Who's the Boss?/Hudson Street) - Tony will be on New York Live on WNBC in New York at 11:30am ET.
Michelle Buteau (First Wives Club) - Michelle talks about BET+'s First Wives Club on New York Live on WNBC in New York at 11:30am ET.