SitcomsOnline Digest: Tracy Morgan to Host Upcoming SNL Episode; Documentary Now! Renewed for Two New Seasons

Saturday, August 22, 2015

SitcomsOnline Digest: Tracy Morgan to Host Upcoming SNL Episode; Documentary Now! Renewed for Two New Seasons

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! After a few busy news weeks, things have slowed down this week, and there isn't even a single new rumor of a reboot of any series (though it is possible that there is something that we have missed!). But we do have news of Tracy Morgan hosting an upcoming Saturday Night Live episode, and a lot of news coming from Shout! Factory on new DVD releases. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

Tracy Morgan has been recovering after being out of the spotlight for a year, and soon, he will be hosting an episode of Saturday Night Live when the new season returns. (Deadline)
The comedy series Documentary Now! debuted on IFC literally just this week, but before the first episode could even air, the network already renewed it for two more seasons. (Deadline)
Lifetime's Unauthorized Full House Story movie debuts tonight, and not surprisingly, expectations (and actual reviews) are unfavorable. (People)
Even though the video itself is about five years old, a "Seinfeld as a drama" video has been getting a lot of attention in the past day or two. (Vox)
Both Yvonne Craig and Bud Yorkin died this week. (SitcomsOnline)
The Facts of Life has been a hit on Logo (even if they have only been airing the same few episodes over and over again), so now, TV Land will be airing it too. (SitcomsOnline)

HOME MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

November 10 will bring both Automan - The Complete Series and Manimal - The Complete Series from Shout! Factory, and although we're not certain, both sets appear to be Region 1 repackages of the excellent quality Fabulous Films releases from the United Kingdom.
Shout! released McHale's Navy as individual season sets a long time ago, in the years just before they were truly becoming a vintage TV-on-DVD powerhouse, and now they are finally getting around to putting together a complete series release with McHale's Navy - The Complete Series, set for a November 17 release.
If you skipped on the complete series releases for WKRP in Cincinnati and Maude, Shout! is moving ahead with individual releases, with WKRP in Cincinnati - The Complete Final Season and Maude - The Complete Third Season on November 10.

AUGUST 25 HOME MEDIA RELEASES

King of the Hill - Season 11 (DVD, $34.95): Olive Films puts the animated comedy series one step closer to completion with this release.
The Mindy Project - Season Three (DVD, $29.98): This set from Universal wraps up the final season of the series from Fox, though the fourth season with new episodes will debut on Hulu next month.

FOLLOW ME

Who to Follow: Neil Patrick Harris (Twitter, Facebook), "I act some. Dig variety acts, Pixar, puppets, prestidigitation, theme parks, my family and great meals. Not necessarily in that order."

Claim to Fame: Neil Patrick Harris started his career as Doogie Howser in the series Doogie Howser, MD. And honestly, that seemed to be the biggest thing that he would do at the time. But that was very, very wrong. He later went on to a role on the (mostly forgotten) NBC series Stark Raving Mad, but his biggest role has been that of Barney Stinson on the sitcom How I Met Your Mother. And in between all of that, he has become a celebrity with talent that isn't just limited to one area of entertainment, though he keeps his television celebrity at the center of it all. This fall, he will have a variety series on NBC, Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris. And this week, he has beefed up his "social media" credentials by doing something that allows him to go beyond 140 characters... he has joined Facebook.

Pick of the Tweets: "I already miss David Letterman... #legendary" (May 21, 2015)

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Tuesday, April 1

St. Denis Medical - "Anything to Push Zaluva" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Ron's teasing makes Joyce question whether her friendship with a pharmaceutical rep is genuine; Alex has trouble letting Serena take on a new task; Matt finds a mentor in Bruce.

Night Court - "Hot to Trot" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Abby's friendship with her ex-boyfriend's mother leads to romantic complications; when Julianne's wealthy aunt passes away, the gang vies for a piece of her inheritance.

Tyler Perry's House of Payne - "Love At First Swipe" (BET, 9:00PM ET/PT)
C.J. and Janine receive marital advice from an unlikely source; Peanut seeks help with his newfound online lover.

Tyler Perry's Assisted Living - "Failure 2 Launch" (BET, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Assisted Living is the new situation comedy by Tyler Perry about three generations who must make a new start in the rural backwoods of Georgia.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of March 31)

Tuesday, April 1

Adam Scott (Ghosted/Veep/Parks and Recreation/Party Down) - Catch Adam on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Kevin Bacon (I Love Dick) - Kevin is a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Amanda Peet (Brockmire/Togetherness/Bent) - Amanda appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Paul Rudd (The Shrink Next Door/Living with Yourself/Wild Oats) - Paul stops by Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Ike Barinholtz (The Studio/The Afterparty/Bless the Harts/The Mindy Project/Eastbound & Down) - Ike appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC. He will also be on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 9:30pm on Bravo.
Vinny Thomas (Platonic), Paul F. Tompkins (The Great North/BoJack Horseman/DAG) and Aparna Nancherla (The Great North/Lopez vs Lopez/Corporate) - Vinny, Paul and Aparna are guests on After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
Chase Sui Wonders (The Studio/Bupkis) and Kathryn Hahn (The Studio/Tiny Beautiful Things/Central Park/Happyish/Transparent/Free Agents) - Chase and Kathryn are guests on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 9:30pm on Bravo.
Will Ferrell (The Office) and Jennifer Coolidge (2 Broke Girls/Joey) - E! News has interviews with Will and Jennifer at 11pm on E!.
Román Zaragoza (Ghosts) - Román talks about Ghosts on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
Jenny Slate (The Great North/Big Mouth/Married/Bob's Burgers) - Jenny talks about Dying for Sex on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
Michael Angarano (Laid/I'm Dying Up Here/Will & Grace) and Michael Cera (Life & Beth/Arrested Development/I Was a Sixth Grade Alien) - Michael and Michael talk about Sacramento with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Olivia Munn (Perfect Couples) - Olivia guest co-hosts NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
Hannah Einbinder (Hacks) - Hannah talks about Hacks on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
Tasha Smith (Survival of the Thickest/Tyler Perry's For Better or Worse/The Tom Show/Boston Common) and Tone Bell (Survival of the Thickest/Fam/Disjointed/Truth Be Told/Bad Judge/Whitney) - Tasha and Tone talk about the new season of Netflix’s Survival of the Thickest on Sherri, so check your local listings.
Kathryn Hahn (The Studio/Tiny Beautiful Things/Central Park/Happyish/Transparent/Free Agents) - Kathryn is dishing on her new comedy series The Studio on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Wilmer Valderrama (That '70s Show) - Wilmer and Freddy Rodriguez chat about their podcast Dos Amigos on a repeat of Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
Brenda Song (Running Point/Dollface/Dads/The Suite Life on Deck/The Suite Life of Zack & Cody) - Brenda talks about Netflix's Running Point on a repeat of Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
Paul Walter Hauser (The Afterparty) - Paul is a guest on PIX11 Morning News on WPIX in New York at 9:40am.