Saturday, January 16, 2016

SitcomsOnline Digest: Two New Series From Established Sitcom Veterans to Come to Netflix?; James Burrows Tribute to Air on NBC

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! It's been another busy week of news with new developments from Chuck Lorre and even Matt Groening, and it's also been a week of non-news rumors (that were passed around as actual news) regarding a Friends reunion... but we'll set the record straight! Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB
  • Chuck Lorre keeps cranking out sitcoms that aren't exactly your traditional or standard sitcoms, and now he is trying to get a network (most likely Netflix) to pick up a new comedy that is being described as The Big Bang Theory if the characters worked in a marijuana dispensery. (Hollywood Reporter)
  • It looks as if Matt Groening (creator of The Simpsons and Futurama) may be bringing an animated series to Netflix, though details about everything are still very unclear. (IGN)
  • We'll set the record straight on the rumored Friends reunion that NBC will supposedly be airing: there is no actual Friends reunion coming to NBC. Rather, the real story is that NBC will air a tribute to James Burrows in honor of his 1000th television episode, which will include some (not all) of the cast members of some of the series he has worked on, including Friends. (Deadline)
  • Mike & Molly has now been officially canceled, though this shouldn't be a surprise given the cast rumors from last month. (Yahoo TV)
  • CBS has been trying to mix up their sitcoms lately by throwing single-camera sitcoms into the usual multi-camera sitcom mix for the network, but it seems that the network is looking to turn some of the future single-camera projects back into multi-camera projects. (Deadline
  • NBC has enough confidence in Seth Meyers to renew his contract through 2021. (Hollywood Reporter)

TUESDAY (JANUARY 19) HOME MEDIA RELEASES

  • Sister, Sister - The Complete Series (DVD, $109.99): The complete series of the series starring Tia and Tamera Mowry is expected to be released on Tuesday; however, it is possible that it has been delayed.

FOLLOW ME

Who to Follow: Caroline Rhea (Twitter), "Mother of Ava, Phineas, Ferb, Candace, Aunt to Sabrina, considering options for next major crush"
Claim to Fame: Caroline Rhea got her start in one very minor movie role and standup comedy, but she first became known to TV audiences in 1995 with the NBC sitcom Pride & Joy. It only lasted six episodes, but she bounced back (big time) in 1996 when she was cast in the role of Hilda Spellman on Sabrina, the Teenage Witch. She remained in that role for the first six seasons of the series, and left in 2002 when she had the opportunity to replace Rosie O'Donnell when she left her daytime talk show. The Caroline Rhea Show lasted for one season, and since then, she has hosted the first two seasons of The Biggest Loser, played a regular voice role on the Disney series Phineas & Ferb, and much more.
Pick of the Tweets: "Sabrina the Teenage Bitch(Relax, the female dog term) #NewShowsForDogTV" (September 6, 2015)


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Sunday, February 22

Family Guy - "Pumpkin Spice Girls" (Fox, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Meg discovers the seasonal delight that is the pumpkin spice latte, but when the limited time offering lapses, her and Lois concoct an elaborate heist to steal the formula.

Universal Basic Guys - "Shorty Hoagies" (Fox, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Mark and Tammy get adventurous on a date night at the Philadelphia Flower Show; Darren and JD prank David.

American Dad! - "Aw Rats, A Pool Party" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT)
The Smiths throw a pool party attended by Francine's sister and Steve's ex when a dead rat is found in the pool.

Family Guy - "Man-Fest Destiny" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Peter and the guys become shipwrecked at Fire Island; Chris and Brian perform a lobotomy on a social-media-crazed Stewie.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of February 16)

Friday, February 20

  • Nick Kroll (Big Mouth/The League/Cavemen) - Watch Nick on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Laura Benanti (Life & Beth/Younger/The Detour/Go On/Starved) - Laura makes a special appearance on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
  • Hilary Duff (How I Met Your Father/Younger/Lizzie McGuire) - Hilary appears on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
  • Jennifer Garner (Party Down/Camping) - Jennifer chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
  • Marilu Henner (Taxi/Evening Shade) - Marilu tells Sherri about her guest-starring role on The Neighborhood on Sherri, so check your local listings.
  • Dove Cameron (Schmigadoon!/Liv and Maddie) and Avan Jogia (Victorious) - Dove and Avan talk about their Prime Video series 56 Days on Sherri, so check your local listings.
  • Paul Rudd (The Shrink Next Door/Living with Yourself/Wild Oats) - Paul and Jack Black are telling Drew all about their hilarious adaptation of Anaconda on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
  • Odessa A'zion (I Love LA/Fam) - Odessa tells Drew about her role in new movie Marty Supreme and hit series I Love LA on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
  • Demi Lovato (Sonny with a Chance) - Demi talks about her It's Not That Deep tour on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.


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)

07/22 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
08/26 - The Huckleberry Hound Show - The Complete Original Series (Blu-ray)
09/30 - Touché Turtle and Dum Dum - The Complete 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)
12/16 - Lippy the Lion and Hardy Har Har - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
12/16 - Wally Gator - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
01/20 - The Woody Woodpecker and Friends Golden Age Collection (Blu-ray)
01/27 - The New Fred and Barney Show - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/11 - Tom and Jerry - The Complete CinemaScope Collection (Blu-ray)
03/24 - Looney Tunes Collector's Vault - Volume 2 (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

02/21 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Hulu Orders New Adult Animated Comedy From Creator of Bluey; Casting News for Upcoming CBS Comedy Regency
02/20 - ABC Wednesday Comedies Find Valentine's Magic; Netflix Announces Dang!
02/19 - The Golden Girls Coming to MeTV in March; Adult Swim Announces My Two Cars
02/18 - Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special Coming to Disney+; Fox Spring 2026 Schedule and Finale Dates
02/17 - New Animated Comedy from Big Mouth Creators Coming May 22; Scottish Comedy Returns to Hulu February 25
02/16 - Saturday Night Live Returns Following the Olympics on February 28; Fox Pays Tribute to James Van Der Beek on Wednesday
02/15 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of February 16, 2026)
02/14 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Trailer Released for Scrubs Reboot; Tubi to Add 100 Cartoon Series from Warner and Cartoon Network Library
02/13 - Remembering James Van Der Beek of Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23; The Way Home Returns for Final Season in April on Hallmark
02/12 - ABC's Scrubs Revival Trailer and Details; XO, Kitty Returns April 2 on Netflix
02/11 - The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins Gets Post Saturday Night Live Encore; Chris Fleming HBO Special
02/10 - Celebrity Jeopardy! All Stars Premiere Shifting by Two Weeks; Virgin River Season 7 Trailer
02/09 - Shoresy Returns with Season 5; HBO Max Acquires Schitt's Creek
02/08 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of February 9, 2026)
02/07 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Roku Adds New Channels for Bernie Mac, Blossom, and Cougar Town; Catchy Comedy Introduces Catchy Loves Lucy
02/06 - Rooster Premieres March 8 on HBO; MGM+ Comedy American Classic Trailer
02/05 - NBC Unveils Trailer and Guest Stars for The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins; Adult Swim's Anime Series Rooster Fighter Premieres March 14
02/04 - Netflix Renews A Man on the Inside for Season 3; Apple TV Premiere Date for Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed
02/03 - NBC Renews St. Denis Medical and Happy's Place for Season 3; Pilot Orders for Comedy Projects on NBC
02/02 - Remembering Demond Wilson of Sanford and Son, Catherine O'Hara of Schitt's Creek, Yvonne Lime of Father Knows Best, and TV Director Bruce Bilson
02/01 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of February 2, 2026)
01/31 - SitcomsOnline Digest: NBC Orders Pair of Comedy Pilots; Final Episode Airdate Announced for The Late Show
01/30 - Jury Duty Returns March 20 on Prime Video; Katt Williams 4th Netflix Special
01/29 - Season 4 of Ted Lasso Premieres This Summer; Shrinking Renewed for Season 4 as Season 3 Premieres
01/28 - Nikki Glaser's New Hulu Special Premieres April 24; HBO Announces Late-Night Series
01/27 - Trailer for The Muppet Show Special Event; New Evolution of The Handmaid's Tale Series
01/26 - FETV Acquires '70s S.W.A.T. Series; Paramount+ Releases Date for Can You Keep a Secret? Comedy Series
01/25 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of January 26, 2026)
01/24 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Kenan and Kel Back Together for Upcoming Movie; Amazon Barbershop Series Adds to Cast
01/23 - CBS Renews 10 More Series for 2026-27; Shifting Gears and Abbott Elementary Return Big in January
01/22 - Dancing with the Stars Live Tour Starts TODAY; Beef Returns April 16
01/21 - Prime Video's Bait Premieres March 25; Production Underway on Season 2 of Arctic-set Comedy North of North