SitcomsOnline Digest: The Wiz Live! Does Well for NBC; The Brady Kids and More Coming from CBS DVD

Saturday, December 05, 2015

SitcomsOnline Digest: The Wiz Live! Does Well for NBC; The Brady Kids and More Coming from CBS DVD

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! News becomes a bit slow this time of the year, but we're here nonetheless with some ratings news, some upcoming DVD releases from CBS, and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

The Wiz Live! was a ratings success for NBC, continuing the network's streak of success with live musical specials. (Variety)
In the late night talk battle between Fallon versus Colbert, it seems that Fallon is continuing to win when it comes to ratings. (Deadline)
Sony is known for remaking American series all over the world, and the latest is a Chinese version of Mad About You. (Fusion)
Sumner Redstone isn't a household name, but the media mogul serves as chairman of both Viacom and CBS (through marriage and after divorce), and has been at the top of Viacom for nearly three decades. Now, at age 92, he is involved in a battle over whether he is mentally capable of staying in that position. (Reuters)
ABC has mostly been able to keep Wednesday nights for themselves when it comes to comedy, but now CBS is preparing to take them on. (SitcomsOnline)

HOME MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

CBS is preparing to release one of the more obscure Brady Bunch spinoffs on DVD with The Brady Kids - The Complete Series on February 16.
CBS will also be releasing a re-release of The Andy Griffith Show - The Complete Series on February 16, without the bonus disc that was included on the previous release.
Rounding out the February 16 CBS slate is Sabrina, the Teenage Witch - The Complete Series.

DECEMBER 8 HOME MEDIA RELEASES

Family Guy - Season Thirteen (DVD, $22.99): The Fox animated series returns to DVD with all of the episodes from the 2014-2015 season.

FOLLOW ME

Who to Follow: Cindy Williams (Twitter), "The official Twitter account for actress Cindy Williams. My book -- Shirley, I Jest! -- is available everywhere!"

Claim to Fame: Cindy Williams got her start in some commercials and a few guest appearances on series such as Room 222 and Nanny and the Professor, but it was a 1975 guest appearance on Happy Days that made a big difference, where she first played Shirley Feeney. Of course, that role made it into the spinoff, Laverne & Shirley, which she starred in until the last season (her character was later written out). After that, she did several made-for-TV movies, and also had a few short-lived series. Most recently, she appeared in a guest role in the series Sam & Cat, along with Penny Marshall.

Pick of the Tweets: "Just finished photo shoot for Closer Magazine with all my animals including THE REAL BOO BOO KITTY! Look for it in April. xo Love Cindy" (March 11, 2015)

Sitcoms Airing Tonight

Sunday, July 25

Where Have All the Theme Songs Gone? (CNN, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Don Lemon reviews the most popular TV theme songs in history with Gary Portnoy of "Cheers", Christopher Knight from "The Brady Bunch", Fran Drescher from "The Nanny", and composer Kurt Farquhar.

History of the Sitcom - "Working for Laughs" (CNN, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Work families can be even funnier than our biological ones, since the endless array of wacky sitcom characters on the job offers hilarious insights into the state of the American workplace.

Duncanville - "Crimes and Misters Demean Her" (Fox, 7:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Jack coaches Jing's little league soccer team, but when he feels he's too easy on the kids he calls on Duncan to yell at the team to get them to win; Annie takes Kimberly to work with her after she has a falling out with her friends.

HouseBroken - "Who's Going to the Vet?" (Fox, 7:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
After Chief eats Jill's vibrator, he's taken to the vet and ends up leading his own version of group therapy; Tabitha goes to live with The Gray One and learns she has to sing and dance if she wants to survive.

The Simpsons - "The 7 Beer Itch" (Fox, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Marge and the kids take a seaside vacation, Homer is unwittingly tempted by a British femme fatale.

The Great North - "My Fart Will Go on Adventure" (Fox, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
While the family prepares for Wolf and Honeybee's wedding, an unexpected guest RSVPs.

Bob's Burgers - "Y Tu Tina También" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Tina is forced to listen to Spanish audio lessons in the library to improve her grade, she develops an unexpected crush; Louise and Gene want to dunk Mr. Frond at the Wagstaff Spring Fair.

Family Guy - "The Marrying Kind" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Stewie gets a mail order bride and experiences domestic life; Peter and Chris become addicted to free hotel breakfast buffets.

Wellington Paranormal - "She-Wolf" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Officers O'Leary and Minogue investigate what they believe are dog attacks, but stumble upon something more mysterious.

Dead Pixels - "The Chair" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Alison becomes concerned over Meg's physical downturn and tries to sway her to a healthier regime; everyone worries about Nicky.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of July 19)

Friday, July 23

Wanda Sykes (The Upshaws/The New Adventures of Old Christine/Wanda at Large) - Wanda guest hosts a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Kim Fields (The Upshaws/Living Single/The Facts of Life/Baby, I'm Back) - Watch Kim on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Jason Sudeikis (Ted Lasso/Son of Zorn/The Cleveland Show) - Jason will be on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Christine Baranski (Happy Family/Welcome to New York/Cybill) - Christine appears on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Minnie Driver (Speechless/About a Boy) - Minnie is a guest on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Sarah Levy (Schitt's Creek) - Sarah appears on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
Leah Remini (Kevin Can Wait/The Exes/Family Tools/The King of Queens) - Leah is a guest on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.