Saturday, October 24, 2015

SitcomsOnline Digest: Truth Be Told Sets Undesirable Ratings Records for Debut; Undateable to Go Live on Both Coasts; 'Til Death Continuing on DVD

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! It has been a rather busy week, so we've only got some of the highlights here for you this week (so make sure to look through our blog for the entire week to see what we didn't cover here!), but we do have some ratings news for a new NBC sitcom that simply spell disaster, news of Undateable going live on both coasts, and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB
  • None of the new fall sitcoms have been canceled yet, but if you're looking for a good candidate for the first one to be canceled, NBC's Truth Be Told may be it, as the debut episode shattered two lowest-rated records (including NBC's lowest-rated in-season premiere ever). (Variety)
  • Meanwhile, the lead-in for Truth Be Told, Undateable, which started out the season with live episodes only on the east coast, will be airing live on both the east coast and west coast. (A.V. Club)
  • Tracy Morgan hosted Saturday Night Live last week, but there was even more for sitcom fans, as the episode featured a reunion of the 30 Rock cast. (Huffington Post)
  • There is a good chance that you never saw it anyway, but the TBS series Clipped has been canceled. (Hollywood Reporter)
  • Even though Desperate Housewives has been off the air for over three years and Nicollette Sheridan hasn't appeared on the series in over six years, her lawsuit involving the show still won't quite seem to go away. (Hollywood Reporter)
  • Remakes and reboots have become a hallmark of television in the past year or so, and now it looks like one may be in the works for Amazing Stories. (Deadline)
  • Marty Ingels, best known for his role on I'm Dickens, He's Fenster (and as husband to Shirley Jones) died this week at the age of 79. (New York Times)
  • Pat Woodell, who played Bobbie Jo in the early seasons of Petticoat Junction, also died this week. (SitcomsOnline

HOME MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS
  • Sony has by and large abandoned TV-on-DVD releases for classic series (and considering that they aren't exactly a huge player in new series, we don't get much there either), but TVShowsOnDVD.com revealed this week that they are hearing of a very surprising release of the third season of the Fox series that never seemed to die, 'Til Death. The MOD release is said to be released sometime in November.

OCTOBER 27 HOME MEDIA RELEASES


FOLLOW ME

Who to Follow: Julie McCullough (Twitter), "Funny Bunny"
Claim to Fame: The magazine Playboy recently announced that they were going to stop including nudity in their magazine, and Julie McCullough may very well be the first (and only) Playboy Playmate of the Month that we've ever featured as our Follow Me, but that first appearance occurred in the magazine nearly 30 years ago. McCullough had become a bit more family friendly shortly after that appearance when she took on the role of Julie, the Seaver family nanny, in the sitcom Growing Pains. Throughout the fourth season, her character evolved into a love interest for Mike Seaver. Unfortunately for her, that role didn't last long, as Kirk Cameron essentially had her fired from the show since he wasn't comfortable having a love interest on the series who appeared in Playboy in real life, something that she still hasn't (and perhaps never will) forgiven him for doing. She didn't quite give up acting, though, as she did go on to appear in a few acting roles. Today, at age 50, she spends her time in stand-up comedy.
Pick of the Tweets: "Most of ya know me from #GrowingPains or from @Playboy but what ya don't know is: my family owns a #Carnival its @HuntingtonMall right now🌟" (June 4, 2015)


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Thursday, May 14

Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - "Splurges and Secrets" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
A financial windfall leads Georgie to make a questionable purchase. Meanwhile, Audrey and Jim butt heads over old secrets.

Ghosts - "Polar Opposites" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
When a Hollywood producer comes to scout Woodstone as a filming location, Sam is prompted to take a creative leap that draws unexpected support from the ghosts. Meanwhile, changing roles among the ghosts spark a heartfelt effort to honor someone special.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of May 11)

Thursday, May 14

  • John Mulaney (Mulaney) - Catch John on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Geena Davis (The Geena Davis Show/Sara/Buffalo Bill) and Nathan Fillion (Two Guys and a Girl) - Andy Cohen interviews Geena and Nathan on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 9pm on Bravo. Geena also talks about The Boroughs on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
  • Lisa Ann Walter (Abbott Elementary/Emeril) - Lisa chats about ABC's Abbott Elementary on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
  • John Lithgow (Trial & Error/Twenty Good Years/3rd Rock from the Sun) - John chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
  • Lena Waithe (Master of None) - The Chi Creator Lena Waithe alongside stars Jason Weaver, Jacob Latimore, Birgundi Baker, Hannah Hall and Luke James join the Tam Fam on Tamron Hall, so check your local listings. The cast sits down to reflect on the show's cultural impact, their journey together, and what viewers can expect as the final season begins.
  • Mariska Hargitay (Can't Hurry Love) - NBC's Today catches up with Mariska sometime between 7-9am.


New on DVD and Blu-ray

Happy's Place - Season One (Blu-ray) Two and a Half Men - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) Abbott Elementary - The Complete Fourth Season (DVD) I Love Lucy - The Complete Series - 75th Anniversary Edition (DVD) The Office - The Complete Series - Superfan Extended Episodes (Blu-ray)

11/04/25 - Happy's Place - Season One (Blu-ray) (DVD)
11/11/25 - Rick and Morty - Season 8 (Blu-ray) (DVD)
11/11/25 - SpongeBob SquarePants - The Complete Fifteenth Season (DVD)
11/11/25 - Two and a Half Men - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
12/02/25 - Tom and Jerry - The Golden Era Anthology (1940-1958) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
12/16/25 - Lippy the Lion and Hardy Har Har - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
12/16/25 - Wally Gator - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
01/20/26 - The Woody Woodpecker and Friends Golden Age Collection (Blu-ray)
01/27/26 - The New Fred and Barney Show - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/11/26 - Tom and Jerry - The Complete CinemaScope Collection (Blu-ray)
03/24/26 - Looney Tunes Collector's Vault - Volume 2 (Blu-ray)
04/11/26 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Fourth Season (DVD)
04/21/26 - Famous Studios Champion Collection (Blu-ray) (DVD)
05/19/26 - I Love Lucy - The Complete Series - 75th Anniversary Edition (DVD)
07/14/26 - The Office - The Complete Series - Superfan Extended Episodes (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

05/13 - Prime Video 2026 Upfront; BET Announces Lot Patrol
05/12 - ABC Upfront 2026-27: Fall 2026 Schedule; ABC Summer 2026 Schedule
05/11 - NBC Upfront 2026-27: Fall 2026 Schedule; Fox Upfront 2026-27: Fall 2026 Schedule
05/10 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of May 11, 2026)
05/09 - SitcomsOnline Digest: NBC Picks Up The Rockford Files and Two Comedies; King of the Hill Season 15 Premiere Date Set
05/08 - Hulu's Hannah Berner: None of My Business Special; Survival of the Thickest Returns July 2
05/07 - Highway to Heaven Reboot Coming to Fox in 2027-28; Hulu's Deli Boys Trailer
05/06 - King of the Hill Season 15 Premieres July 20; The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins Renewed for Season 2
05/05 - Son of a Critch Renewed for Final Season; The Four Seasons Trailer for Season 2
05/04 - Hulu's Lisa Ann Walter: It Was An Accident Trailer; Netflix Announces Season 2 of Bad Thoughts
05/03 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of May 4, 2026)
05/02 - SitcomsOnline Digest: NBC Cancels Stumble; Do You Want Kids? Not Going Forward at ABC
05/01 - ABC Renews Shifting Gears and Scrubs for 2026-27; AMC Upfront 2026
04/30 - Apple TV Season 5 of Trying; Netflix Announces Dad's House
04/29 - Ted Lasso Season 4 Premieres August 5; Heads Will Roll to Return on Audible
04/28 - The Big Bang Theory Spinoff Stuart Fails to Save the Universe Premieres in July on HBO Max; The CW Revives Private Eyes
04/27 - Hulu's Alice and Steve Premieres June 8; Prime Video Renews Hazbin Hotel for a Fifth and Final Season
04/26 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of April 27, 2026)
04/25 - SitcomsOnline Digest: First Look at Scooby-Doo: Origins; Clueless Sequel Series Not Going Forward at Peacock
04/24 - A Different World Sequel Wraps Production and Adds More Cast Members; Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro Coming to ABC and Hulu in July
04/23 - Antenna TV's One Day at a Time and Rewind TV's 227 Mother's Day Marathons; Valerie Bertinelli's Lifetime Movie Love, Again Premieres May 9
04/22 - Stavros Halkias Returns to Netflix; CNN to Air Matt Friend Comedy Special Friday
04/21 - COZI TV Acquires Two and a Half Men and Hangin' with Mr. Cooper This May; Deli Boys Season 2 First Look
04/20 - Pluto TV Spring Slate Includes My Wife and Kids; Hulu Adding Podcasts with New Girl, Prison Break and This Is Us Stars
04/19 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of April 20, 2026)
04/18 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Law & Order: Organized Crime Ending After Five Seasons; Price Is Right to Get Live Primetime Episode in December
04/17 - Great Entertainment Television Acquires Community; Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Stars Reuniting
04/16 - CBS Fall 2026-27 Schedule; The White Lotus Season 4 Filming Commences
04/15 - Audible Series with Kevin Hart This Father's Day; Pop Culture Jeopardy! Returns May 11
04/14 - Peacock Renews The 'Burbs; ABC's Drama Hits Get 2026-27 Renewals
04/13 - FETV Acquires Car 54, Where Are You?; Hacks Events Ahead of Final Season