SitcomsOnline Digest: Analyzing the Fall Season for the Broadcast Networks; More Community DVDs Coming Soon

Saturday, January 02, 2016

SitcomsOnline Digest: Analyzing the Fall Season for the Broadcast Networks; More Community DVDs Coming Soon

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! The week between Christmas and the new year is always one of the slowest news weeks of the year, so we don't have a whole lot for you. But we do have a look back at how the networks did for the fall season (compared to fall 2014), recent news (as in this afternoon) of the death of a star from Archie Bunker's Place, and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

Deadline has analyzed the ratings for the fall season for the broadcast networks, comparing fall 2014 to fall 2015. However, it seems that none of the networks have anything to be particularly excited about. (Deadline)
Jason Wingreen, who played Harry the bartender on All in the Family and Archie Bunker's Place, has died at age 95. (Entertainment Weekly)
Not every show is a top 20 hit, and TV by the Numbers has a look at the series that are rounding out the bottom, some of which keep going on regardless. (TV by the Numbers)
Pop TV is bringing sitcom fans a classic TV favorite, as they have added I Love Lucy to their lineup. (SitcomsOnline)
Earlier this week, we had a look back at all of the sitcom stars that we lost in 2015. (SitcomsOnline)

HOME MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

Community moved from NBC to Yahoo! Screen for the sixth season, and fans may have been wondering if the series would continue on DVD. As it turns out, it will, with Community - The Complete Sixth Season arriving on March 8.

TUESDAY (DECEMBER 29) HOME MEDIA RELEASES

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - Season 10 (DVD, $29.98): The FXX series continues on DVD with this release.
Party of Five - The Complete Series (DVD, $69.98): Mill Creek releases the complete series of the teen drama from the 90s.

FOLLOW ME

Who to Follow: Tim Allen (Twitter), "Santa? Buzz Lightyear? The Tool Man? Mike Baxter? Hey, I’m still that wisecracking kid from the Midwest, looking for answers to life’s big questions."

Claim to Fame: Tim Allen started his career as a standup comedian in 1975, but his career really took off in 1991 when he was cast in the starring role in the TV series Home Improvement. The series was sort of an unexpected hit and became one of the biggest series of the 90s. He has also tried his hand at movie roles, and found some major successes with The Santa Clause and Toy Story. Currently, he stars as Mike Baxter in the ABC series Last Man Standing.

Pick of the Tweets: "Behind the Last Man Standing set, waiting to go on #LastManStanding (pic)" (October 5, 2015)

Sitcoms Airing Tonight

Tuesday, January 28

The Conners - "Mud Turtles, A Good Steak and One Man in a Tub" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Becky thinks that Jackie’s new friend Dawn (guest star Cheryl Hines), a restaurant supplier, is only cozying up to her to sell them things they can’t afford for the Lunch Box. Darlene is thrilled when Harris gets into Central Illinois State, but Harris might have found a better offer on her own. When Dan finds himself in an embarrassing situation nursing an injury, Louise (Katey Sagal) tries to help him out.

Bless This Mess - "The Letter of the Law" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Rio is bummed she can’t afford to go to Iceland for her best friend’s wedding, so the nuptials are moved and brought to the farm. Meanwhile, Rio is forced to take on Deb’s mail route after she quits, and Mike and Jacob help Rudy get over Constance.

mixed-ish - "True Colors" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Paul is shocked to hear from his estranged mother who wants to visit for Rainbow’s 13th birthday and soon learns more about why she abandoned him. Meanwhile, Rainbow sees turning 13 as a huge turning point in her life and wants a big birthday party, but Alicia wants to celebrate all the things Rainbow missed out on over the years while on the commune.

black-ish - "Adventure to Ventura" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Dre worries Diane and Jack don’t know how to fend for themselves and sends them out on an adventure, only to realize it’s his overbearing worries that hold the twins back. Meanwhile, Junior gets into a tricky situation at work when he befriends Josh in hopes of scoring a positive peer review.

Schitt's Creek - "Maid of Honour" (Pop, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Moira shares the newly released "Crows" movie trailer with the Jazzagals; Johnny and Roland find a suspicious bag of money at the new motel.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of January 27)

Tuesday, January 28

Ben Schwartz (Parks and Recreation) - Catch Ben on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
William Jackson Harper (The Good Place) - William drops by Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Ashton Kutcher (The Ranch/Two and a Half Men/That '70s Show) - Ashton visits The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Ilana Glazer (Broad City) - Ilana is a guest on Comedy Central's The Daily Show with Trevor Noah at 11pm.
Tony Rock (Living Biblically/All of Us) - Tony is a panelist on Lights Out with David Spade at 11:30pm on Comedy Central.
Kumail Nanjiani (Bless the Harts/Silicon Valley) - Kumail stops by Conan at 11pm on TBS.
Aidy Bryant (Shrill) - Aidy appears on Watch What Happens: Live at 10pm on Bravo.
Miles Brown (black-ish) - Miles is a guest on The Real, so check your local listings.
Morris Chestnut (Out All Night) - Morris talks about Fox's The Resident on a repeat of Access Daily, so check your local listings.
Wendie Malick (Hot in Cleveland/Hot in Cleveland/Jake in Progress/Just Shoot Me!) - Wendie talks about Disney Channel's The Owl House on a repeat of Access Daily, so check your local listings.
Nia Vardalos (My Big Fat Greek Life) - Nia talks about Poisoned Love on NBC's Today in the 10am hour and on New York Live on WNBC in New York at 11:30am ET.
Bill Pullman (1600 Penn) - Bill talks about The Sinner on NBC's Today in the 10am hour and on the BUILD Series at 12:15pm.
Janeane Garofalo (The Larry Sanders Show) and Grant Rosenmeyer (Oliver Beene) - Janeane and Grant are guests on the BUILD Series at 2pm.