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


    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 / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

    Thursday, December 25

    Ghosts - "A Very Arondekar Christmas Part 1" / "A Very Arondekar Christmas Part 2" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
    A leaky water heater mishap threatens to ruin holiday plans as Sam and Jay prepare to host Jay’s hard-to-please dad, Mahesh (Bernard White), difficult-to-impress mom, Champa (Sakina Jaffrey), and sister Bela (Punam Patel).

    Ghosts - "It's a Wonderful Christmas Carol: Part One" (CBS, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
    Sam’s big Christmas Eve TV interview with Walter Storm (Larry Wilmore) takes an unexpected turn. Meanwhile, Trevor and Patience bond over their mutual disinterest in celebrating Christmas.

    Ghosts - "It's a Wonderful Christmas Carol: Part Two" (CBS, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
    Sam gets a glimpse of what her life would be like if she could never see the ghosts.

    Complete TV Listings


    Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of December 22)

    Thursday, December 25

    • Kate Hudson (Running Point) - Watch Kate on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
    • John Stamos (Palm Royale/UnPrisoned/Fuller House/Grandfathered/Jake in Progress/Full House/You, Again?) - John appears on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
    • Chris Kattan (The Middle) - Chris is a guest on a repeat of Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen at 12:37am on CBS.
    • Jason Bateman (Arrested Development/The Hogan Family/It's Your Move/Silver Spoons) - Jason talks Zootopia 2 with Chris Connelly on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
    • George Clooney (Roseanne/The Facts of Life/ E/R (1984-1985) - George talks Jay Kelly with Michael Strahan on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
    • Michael J. Fox (Family Ties/Spin City/The Michael J. Fox Show) - Michael opens up about his career with George Stephanopoulos on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
    • Ariana Grande (Sam & Cat/Victorious) - Ariana talks about Wicked on NBC's Today in the 9am 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

    12/25 - Merry Christmas from Sitcoms Online; Interviews from 2025 Christmas Con in Edison, NJ
    12/24 - 2025 Christmas Eve and Christmas Day TV Marathons
    12/23 - Antenna TV January 2026 Schedule; Rewind TV January 2026 Schedule
    12/22 - The Ms. Pat Show Returns January 7; According to Jim Christmas Day Marathon on Laff
    12/21 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of December 22, 2025)
    12/20 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Historical 19th Century Comedy in the Works at CBS; Bowen Yang Leaving Saturday Night Live After Tonight
    12/19 - The Muppet Show 50th Anniversary Event in February on ABC & Disney+; Adult Swim Renews Haha, You Clowns for 2 More Seasons
    12/18 - The Oscars Moving to YouTube in 2029; Celebs for Hollywood Squares Season 2
    12/17 - MeTV Remembers Rob Reiner with Tribute Marathon; MGM+ to Make New The Magnificent Seven Series
    12/16 - The Rob Reiner Story: A Hollywood Tragedy – ABC News Special; Everybody Loves Raymond: 30th Anniversary Reunion Part 2 on CBS
    12/15 - Remembering the Legendary Rob Reiner of All in the Family; Trailer for Netflix's His & Hers
    12/14 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of December 15, 2025)
    12/13 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Warner/Netflix Merger Gets Complicated; Steve Carell Comedy Rooster Coming to HBO Max in March
    12/12 - Survival of the Thickest Final Season Guest Stars; Ted Season 2 Returns in March
    12/11 - The Upshaws Final Season Premieres January 15; Mike Epps Gets 5th Netflix Special
    12/10 - HBO's Rooster Premieres in March; Fox's Updated Winter 2026 Schedule
    12/09 - 83rd Golden Globe Nominations; Paradise Returns on Hulu in February
    12/08 - First Look at Bert Kreischer Netflix Comedy Free Bert; School Spirits Season 3
    12/07 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of December 8, 2025)
    12/06 - SitcomsOnline Digest: First Look at Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair; Netflix to Acquire Warner Bros. Discovery
    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