Saturday, October 10, 2015

SitcomsOnline Digest: New Greg Garcia Sitcoms in the Works at NBC and Fox; Last Man Standing Season Four Arrives on DVD

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! This week, we've got news of two new projects in development from the creator of My Name is Earl and Raising Hope, new Last Man Standing DVDs, and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB
  • Greg Garcia, creator of some of some of broadcast TV's quirkier cult favorite sitcoms, is back at it again with new projects at both NBC and Fox, Letters to Beyonce and The Pack. (Deadline)
  • Bill Lawrence has been part of the sitcom scene for over two decades now, and he even set his expectations low when NBC debuted his current series Undateable as a summer burn-off. Last night, the series began a third season of all live episodes, and he discusses some of the new challenges of creating a sitcom. (Vanity Fair)
  • Jay Leno may not be part of The Tonight Show (and he probably won't be back for a third time), but it also sounds like he won't be leaving TV either, as his new CNBC series, Jay Leno's Garage, gave the network their biggest audience ever. (Deadline
  • Nancy Drew could be the next thing to be rebooted at CBS. (Hollywood Reporter)
  • Bob's Burgers appeared to be an unceremonious burn-off series destined for quick cancellation when it debuted in 2011, but it has evolved into a piece of the Fox Sunday night lineup that is as reliable as The Simpsons and Family Guy as it has now been renewed for a seventh and eighth season. (SitcomsOnline)
  • ABC Family is the fifth name that one particular cable network has had in the past 30 years (and it is also the longest running name for the network), but now it is set to be rebranded as Freeform next year. (SitcomsOnline

HOME MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

    FOLLOW ME

    Who to Follow: Mark-Paul Gosselaar (Twitter), "In State of reasonably confused refreshment."
    Claim to Fame: Believe it or not, we're actually continuing our theme of "stars of the new season" this week, even if you think we're talking about Zack Morris. Of course, that Saved by the Bell character is something that Mark-Paul Gosselaar will always be known for, and he doesn't seem to mind. That does not distract from the fact that he has successfully transitioned into an adult actor, though. In recent years, he has had starring roles in NYPD Blue, Raising the Bar, and Franklin & Bash. He also had a very memorable single appearance in Weeds, an appearance which we don't feel comfortable describing in an all-ages blog. But now, he is returning to comedy next week on NBC, as he stars in their latest sitcom, Truth Be Told.
    Pick of the Tweets: "You all rock! Thanks for the love and support. Hope you also enjoy #TruthBeTold and if you don't...keep it to your damn self!!! Cheers. @nbc" (September 29, 2015)


    Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

    Friday, December 5

    Happy's Place - "Testing Testing" (NBC, 9:15PM ET/PT)
    After Bobbie notices how much Isabella misses school, she signs them both up for an online course unaware of how serious Isabella would take it; Gabby wears Isabella's old Stanford sweatshirt, tricking customers into believing she went there.

    Stumble - "Button Day" (NBC, 9:45PM ET/PT)
    Courteney makes a deal with the Button Factory owner that if her team performs a dazzling routine, he'll write her department a big check; with Krystal still injured, Courteney's only option is to promote Peaches, who may or may not be ready to fly.

    Complete TV Listings


    Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of December 1)

    Friday, December 5

    • Kristen Bell (Nobody Wants This/Central Park/The Good Place) and Dax Shepard (Bless This Mess) - Watch Kristen and Dax on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
    • The Jonas Brothers (Jonas/Jonas LA) - The Jonas Brothers are guests on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
    • George Clooney (Roseanne/The Facts of Life/ E/R (1984-1985) - George talks about Jay Kelly on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
    • James Van Der Beek (Friends with Better Lives/Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23) - James appears on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am.
    • Connie Britton (SMILF/Lost at Home/The Fighting Fitzgeralds/Spin City) - Connie and Ed Burns talk about The Family McMullen on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am.
    • Mario Lopez (Saved by the Bell/Saved by the Bell: The College Years) - Mario is a guest on NBC's Today in the 9am hour.
    • Chelsea Handler (Are You There, Chelsea?) - Chelsea guest co-hosts NBC's Today in the 10am hour.


    New on DVD and Blu-ray

    Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray) Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - The Complete First Season (DVD) St. Denis Medical - Season One (Blu-ray) Happy's Place - Season One (Blu-ray) Two and a Half Men - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)

    01/28 - Wait Till Your Father Gets Home - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
    02/04 - The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series (DVD)
    03/11 - Frasier (2023) - Season Two (DVD)
    04/01 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season (DVD)
    05/13 - The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* (missing 4 episodes and some music has been replaced or altered)
    06/06 - Shoresy - Season 2 (DVD)
    06/17 - Looney Tunes - Collector's Vault - Volume 1 (Blu-ray)
    07/22 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
    08/26 - The Huckleberry Hound Show - The Complete Original Series (Blu-ray)
    10/07 - Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - The Complete First Season (DVD)
    10/14 - Curb Your Enthusiasm - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (DVD)
    10/28 - St. Denis Medical - Season One (Blu-ray) (DVD)
    11/04 - Happy's Place - Season One (Blu-ray) (DVD)
    11/11 - Rick and Morty - Season 8 (Blu-ray) (DVD)
    11/11 - SpongeBob SquarePants - The Complete Fifteenth Season (DVD)
    11/11 - Two and a Half Men - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
    12/02 - Tom and Jerry - The Golden Era Anthology (1940-1958) (Blu-ray) (DVD)

    More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD and Blu-ray Releases / TV Shows on DVD, Blu-ray and Prime Video / DVD Reviews Archive


    Recent SitcomsOnline.com News Blog Posts

    12/05 - FETV Acquires The Carol Burnett Show Uncut; Hey A.J.! Coming to Disney Jr.
    12/04 - COZI TV Acquires The Jeff Foxworthy Show; Hulu Renews Chad Powers for Season 2
    12/03 - MeTV January 2026 Schedule; Netflix's My Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman Season 6 Guests
    12/02 - MeTV Acquires Charlie's Angels, Fantasy Island, Hart to Hart & Hawaii Five-O; Apple TV's The First Snow of Fraggle Rock Trailer
    12/01 - MeTV to Announce Four New Shows; Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Draws 25 Million Viewers on NBC
    11/30 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of December 1, 2025)
    11/29 - SitcomsOnline Digest: First Look at Scrubs Reboot; Mad Men Coming to HBO Max
    11/28 - Everybody Loves Raymond: 30th Anniversary Reunion Encores Tonight (11/28); Hulu's Smash Hit Renewed for Quick 4th Season
    11/27 - 2025 Thanksgiving TV Marathons
    11/26 - ABC's Scrubs First Teaser During Dancing with the Stars Finale; Eva Green Joins Wednesday Season 3
    11/25 - COZI TV Acquires Malcolm & Eddie and The Steve Harvey Show; 53rd International Emmy® Awards Winners
    11/24 - Antenna TV's All-You-Can Eat Wings for Thanksgiving Marathon; Rewind TV's Serving Up the Seavers with a Thanksgiving Day Growing Pains Marathon
    11/23 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of November 24, 2025)
    11/22 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Disney+ Offers New Simpsons Streaming Channel; Final Eight Unaired Episodes of Joey on YouTube
    11/21 - HBO Renews Comedies The Chair Company and I Love LA; Kelly and Mark to Host International Emmy® Awards
    11/20 - The CW Midseason 2026 Schedule; Sarah Sherman HBO Max Special
    11/19 - Tubi's Comedy Mo' Waffles Premieres December 19; 78th Emmy® Awards Set for September 14, 2026
    11/18 - CBS Midseason 2026 Schedule; SNL Closes Out 2025 with 3 Episodes in December
    11/17 - NBC's Christmas in Rockefeller Center Lineup; Prime Video Gets Kevin Hart and Kenan Thompson for Sports Talk Show
    11/16 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of November 17, 2025)
    11/15 - SitcomsOnline Digest: NBC Orders Pilot From Brooklyn Nine-Nine Team; FX Cancels English Teacher
    11/14 - Disney's Hulu's Family Guy's Hallmark Channel's Lifetime's Familiar Holiday Movie; Mad Men Coming to HBO Max in 4K
    11/13 - Antenna TV Re-Acquires One Day at a Time and Sanford and Son; Season 2 of the Wild Series It's Florida, Man
    11/12 - Fox Midseason 2026 Schedule; Hulu's Tell Me Lies Season 3 Premiere Date
    11/11 - Cast Announced for Netflix's A Different World Sequel; Hulu's Sebastian Maniscalco Special Trailer
    11/10 - ABC's New Game Show The Greatest Average American; Prime Video Christmas Movie
    11/09 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of November 10, 2025)
    11/08 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Fox and Sony Developing Reimagined Bewitched; Samsung TV Plus Launching AFV Channel
    11/07 - TBS and TNT Holiday Schedule; Hulu's Back 'Four' More Reasonable Doubt; Remembering Diane Ladd of Alice
    11/06 - Freeform's 25 Days of Christmas 2025 Schedule; Single Drunk Female Star Gets Hulu Film
    11/05 - ABC 2025 Holiday Specials; Netflix Renews Nobody Wants This for Season 3