SitcomsOnline Digest: Networks Prepare for Pilot Season; NBC Announced Return of The Carmichael Show

Saturday, January 23, 2016

SitcomsOnline Digest: Networks Prepare for Pilot Season; NBC Announced Return of The Carmichael Show

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! If you're completely snowed in this weekend, it might be a good time to catch up on some of your favorite series or binge watch some old classics that you may have missed before. Nonetheless, this week, we have news about pilot season, the return of a series that was a bit of a surprising summer success for NBC, several daytime program renewals, and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

Pilot season is creeping up on the broadcast networks already, and all of the networks are taking serious looks at several comedy series... but how many will we actually see make it to air? (Deadline)
NBC is preparing to bring back The Carmichael Show in March, where it will air in a Sunday night comedy block along with the new series Crowded. (TV Guide)
As Netflix prepares to bring back The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt for a second season, Tina Fey has made it clear that producing the series without the restrictions of a broadcast network censor (the first season was originally produced as a series for NBC) won't change the show, and that it'll still be a series that a mom can watch with her teenage daughters. (Deadline)
Live With Kelly and Michael has been renewed through the 2019-2020 TV season, along with a renewal for Who Wants to be a Millionaire? for the 2016-2017 season. (Hollywood Reporter)
Syndicated daytime game show Celebrity Name Game has been renewed for a third season. (Deadline)
Netflix has announced premiere dates for several new and returning series. (SitcomsOnline)

TUESDAY (JANUARY 26) HOME MEDIA RELEASES

The Facts of Life - Season Eight (DVD, $29.99): Another release for those who skipped on the previous complete series release, this set brings all of the eighth season episodes together in one set.

FOLLOW ME

Who to Follow: Beth Broderick (Twitter)

Claim to Fame: We had one aunt from Sabrina, the Teenage Witch last week (Caroline Rhea) and this week we've got the other one. Beth Broderick started out her career in some lesser known films, but by the late 80s and early 90s, she became busy with TV guest roles, on series including Matlock, Hooperman, Married... with Children, and more. She had a regular role on the short-lived Glory Days and appeared in series Hearts Afire. In 1994, she starred in The 5 Mrs. Buchanans, which only lasted for a season. She was cast in Sabrina, the Teenage Witch in 1996, and appeared on that series until 2003. Today, she still makes appearances in TV series on occasion, but does much more community theater and devotes herself to several great causes.

Pick of the Tweets: "Heading to the emergency shelter with Christmas in the sleigh (pic)" (December 22, 2015)

Sitcoms Airing Tonight

Thursday, January 23

Young Sheldon - "An Entrepreneurialist and a Swat on the Bottom" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Sheldon takes matters into his own hands when Meemaw refuses to drive him to a lecture with Dr. Linkletter (Ed Begley, Jr.). Also, Georgie tries to impress Veronica with his new business venture.

The Unicorn - "No Small Parts" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Grace gets the lead in the school musical, Wade realizes that the teachers are giving her special treatment after he hears her sing. Also, Michelle and Ben persuade Delia and Forrest to volunteer for the chaotic snack bar duty at a school function. Tim Baltz guest stars as Mr. Kersey, Grace’s drama teacher.

Young Sheldon - "A Pineapple and the Bosom of Male Friendship" (CBS, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
After being released from the mental hospital, Dr. Sturgis unexpectedly breaks up with Meemaw.

Mom - "Audrey Hepburn and a Jalepeño Pepper" (CBS, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
While Bonnie struggles to enjoy her perfect honeymoon with Adam, Christy makes some questionable changes at the bar while they’re away.

Last Man Standing - "Bedtime Story" (Fox, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Mike tries to avoid hurting Vanessa's feelings due to her snoring.

Outmatched - "Pilot" (Fox, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Kay and Mike cope with raising three high-IQ children.

Superstore - "Favoritism" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Amy tries to make Mateo her new assistant, leading to accusations of favoritism and a group competition in the store. Meanwhile, Sandra gets caught in a power struggle between Glenn and Dina, and Jonah attempts to show Garrett that he's still "one of the guys."

The Good Place - "Patty" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
The group makes some new friends.

Will & Grace - "Lies & Whispers" (NBC, 9:00PM ET/PT)
When Larry (guest star Tim Bagley) warns Will and Grace about the difficult entry process into the elite school they both want their kids to go to, they set out to prove that their child would be the better candidate. While helping Jenny (guest star Demi Lovato) with her ASMR livestream, Jack unwittingly creates problems between Karen and her “booty buddy,” Luke (guest star Chris Thornton).

Perfect Harmony - "Regionals" (NBC, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Season 1 Finale. At the regional choir competition in Lexington, Arthur relishes the opportunity to finally stick it to his old rival, Magnus, when the unexpected happens. Presented with a surprise job offer, Ginny starts to doubt her worth before her big interview. Adams puts her past to bed with her still very alive dead husband, allowing her to move on.

grown-ish - "Damn" (Freeform, 8:00PM ET/PT)
The crew tries their best to cope with a shocking surprise, but another unexpected bomb sends Zoey into a spiral.

Everything's Gonna Be Okay - "Giant Asian Mantises" (Freeform, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Matilda wants to get white-girl-wasted; Genevieve's low-key birthday party leaves Nicholas, Alex, and Matilda banished to the guest house; in the main house, Tellulah turns things up a notch; Nicholas is stuck being the responsible adult.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of January 20)

Thursday, January 23

Kumail Nanjiani (Silicon Valley) - Catch Kumail on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
David Alan Grier (The Cool Kids/The Carmichael Show/Bad Teacher/Life with Bonnie) - David stops by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Eric McCormack (Will & Grace) - Eric visits Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Fortune Feimster (Bless the Harts/Life in Pieces/Champions) - Fortune appears on A Little Late with Lilly Singh at 1:35am on NBC. She will also be on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
Andrew Santino (Mixology) - Andrew is a panelist on Lights Out with David Spade at 11:30pm on Comedy Central.
The Cast of Schitt's Creek - The cast of Schitt's Creek are guests on Watch What Happens: Live at 10:30pm on Bravo.
Terry Crews (Brooklyn Nine-Nine/Are We There Yet?/Everybody Hates Chris) - Terry talks about America's Got Talent and Brooklyn Nine-Nine on NBC's Today in the 9am hour. He chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Nancy Travis (Last Man Standing/The Kominsky Method/The Bill Engvall Show/Becker/Almost Perfect) - Nancy appears on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
Jason George (Eve/Off Centre) - Jason is a guest on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
Wanda Sykes (The New Adventures of Old Christine/Wanda at Large) - Wanda visits The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
Boris Kodjoe (The Last Man on Earth/Second Time Around) - Boris drops by The Real, so check your local listings.
Norman Lear (Producer of All in the Family/Sanford and Son/One Day at a Time/The Jeffersons/Good Times/Maude) - Norman is a guest on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
Melora Hardin (The Office) - Melora talks about The Bold Type on New York Live on WNBC in New York at 11:30am ET.
Retta (Parks and Recreation) and Reno Wilson (Mike & Molly) - Retta and Reno talk about Good Girls on the BUILD Series at 2pm.