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

    Wednesday, January 28

    Shifting Gears - "Uncle Sam" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
    Matt is thrilled to show off his military-hero son Sam, but a shift in Sam’s career could finally give Riley a chance to be the golden child. Meanwhile, Andy’s singing hits all the wrong notes for Riley. Jesse Williams and Luke Macfarlane guest star.

    Abbott Elementary - "Picture Day" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
    When picture day catches the teachers at Abbott by surprise, chaos ensues.

    Complete TV Listings


    Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of January 26)

    Wednesday, January 28

    • Katherine LaNasa (Three Sisters) - Watch Katherine on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS. She also discusses The Pitt on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
    • Denis Leary (Going Dutch/No Good Deed/Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll/The Job) - Denis is a guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
    • Michael Urie (Shrinking/Krapopolis/Partners) - Michael appears on Comedy Central's The Daily Show at 11pm.
    • Kevin James (The Crew/Kevin Can Wait/The King of Queens) - Kevin talks about Solo Mio on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
    • Patrick Dempsey (Fast Times) - Patrick talks about Memory of a Killer on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
    • Peyton List (Bunk'd/Jessie) - Peyton talks about School Spirits on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
    • Laura Dern (F Is for Family/Enlightened) - NBC's Today catches up with Laura in the 9am hour.
    • Chris Redd (Kenan/Disjointed) - Chris Redd drops into Sherri's Laugh Lounge, so check your local lisitngs.
    • Jennifer Tilly (Out of Practice) - Jennifer talks about Paramount+'s School Spirits on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.


    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)

    07/22 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
    08/26 - The Huckleberry Hound Show - The Complete Original Series (Blu-ray)
    09/30 - Touché Turtle and Dum Dum - The Complete 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)
    12/16 - Lippy the Lion and Hardy Har Har - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
    12/16 - Wally Gator - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
    01/20 - The Woody Woodpecker and Friends Golden Age Collection (Blu-ray)
    01/27 - The New Fred and Barney Show - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
    02/11 - Tom and Jerry - The Complete CinemaScope Collection (Blu-ray)

    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

    01/27 - Trailer for The Muppet Show Special Event; New Evolution of The Handmaid's Tale Series
    01/26 - FETV Acquires '70s S.W.A.T. Series; Paramount+ Releases Date for Can You Keep a Secret? Comedy Series
    01/25 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of January 26, 2026)
    01/24 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Kenan and Kel Back Together for Upcoming Movie; Amazon Barbershop Series Adds to Cast
    01/23 - CBS Renews 10 More Series for 2026-27; Shifting Gears and Abbott Elementary Return Big in January
    01/22 - Dancing with the Stars Live Tour Starts TODAY; Beef Returns April 16
    01/21 - Prime Video's Bait Premieres March 25; Production Underway for Season 2 of Arctic-set Comedy North of North
    01/20 - Baywatch Casting Call for Reboot on Fox; Mike Epps Netflix Special Trailer
    01/19 - MGM+ Comedy Series American Classic; Taylor Tomlinson Returns to Netflix
    01/18 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of January 19, 2026)
    01/17 - SitcomsOnline Digest: The Rockford Files Reboot at NBC; Daniel Stern Fired From ABC Comedy Pilot
    01/16 - Ted Season 2 Trailer Released; Remembering T.K. Carter of Punky Brewster, TV Director Tom Cherones, and Others We Recently Lost
    01/15 - The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins Gets Special Preview; ABC Midseason Changes for Monday and Tuesday Night Lineups
    01/14 - NBC Orders Pilots, Including The Rockford Files; The CW to Premiere Celebrity Series
    01/13 - 83rd Golden Globe Winners; Tubi's Upcoming YA Film Slate
    01/12 - Peacock's The 'Burbs Trailer; The Jeff Foxworthy Show Launch Back on COZI TV
    01/11 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of January 12, 2026)
    01/10 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Henry Winkler to Star in NBC Legal Comedy Pilot; First Look at Peacock's The 'Burbs
    01/09 - HBO's Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man! Documentary with Interviews Including Rob Reiner; 83rd Annual Golden Globes Presenters
    01/08 - Netflix Orders Nick Kroll Comedy Series; Saturday Night Live January 2026 Hosts and Music Guests
    01/07 - Saturday Night Live Bobbleheads from the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum; Fox Entertainment Signs Tracee Ellis Ross to Deal
    01/06 - Emily in Paris Renewed for Season 6; Audible's New Comedy Series Starring Jenifer Lewis, Cedric the Entertainer, and Niecy Nash-Betts
    01/05 - Trailer for The Muppet Show Special Event; Season 3 of Genndy Tartakovsky's Primal on Adult Swim
    01/04 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of January 5, 2026)
    01/03 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Premiere Date Set for Malcolm in the Middle Reboot; NBC Pulls The Paper
    01/02 - Bridgerton Season 4 Details and Live Premiere Event; NBC Pulls The Paper from Mondays
    01/01 - Happy New Year; Shrinking Season 3 Trailer
    12/31 - In Memoriam: Remembering the Sitcom Stars We Lost in 2025
    12/30 - Antenna TV and Rewind TV's New Year's Eve and Day Marathons; Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair Premieres April 10
    12/29 - COZI TV Postpones The Jeff Foxworthy Show Launch; Netflix Releases Free Bert Trailer
    12/28 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of December 29, 2025)
    12/27 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Chevy Chase "Hurt" By Not Being Invited to SNL 50th Anniversary; New Lineups for Antenna TV and Rewind TV