Saturday, February 20, 2016

SitcomsOnline Digest: Tony Danza Cast in Greg Garcia NBC Pilot; Good Times Crowdfunded Movie in the Works?

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! It has been a very active week of news this week, but we've narrowed it down to some of the (many) highlights, including news of new comedy pilots, a Good Times movie (?), and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB
  • It has been 18 years since Tony Danza last starred in a sitcom (and, to be honest, 24 years since he starred in a successful sitcom), but now he is looking to end that streak with Sebastian, a Greg Garcia pilot being produced for NBC. (Hollywood Reporter)
  • That isn't Greg Garcia's only pilot in the works, as he also has a comedy in the works at CBS, tentatively titled Y'all in the Family. (Deadline
  • We're skeptical of a Good Times movie being in the works, particularly since it is a crowdfunded effort that would not involve Sony at all, but nonetheless, there is an effort to get one going. (Deadline)
  • The Mindy Project is set to return to Hulu with new episodes on April 12. (Splitsider)
  • Everybody wants to do live episodes these days, and in May, The Simpsons is going to go live for three minutes. (Hollywood Reporter)
  • Henry Winkler will be making a return to comedy in an HBO comedy pilot titled Barry, which will star Bill Hader as the title character. (AV Club)
  • Jimmy Fallon spent the past week in Los Angeles, and had many special visitors during his time there, including the cast of Full House, who produced a very special skit in character. (Time)
  • George Gaynes, best known to sitcom fans for his roles on Punky Brewster and Hearts Afire, died this week at age 98. (SitcomsOnline)

HOME MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

    TUESDAY (FEBRUARY 17) HOME MEDIA RELEASES

    • Fargo - The Complete Second Season (DVD, $39.98; Blu-Ray, $49.99): The hit FX series returns to DVD with this release.

    FOLLOW ME

    Who to Follow: Bern Nadette Stanis (Twitter)
    Claim to Fame: Bern Nadette Stanis is best known for her role as Thelma Evans on the classic sitcom Good Times. In fact, that was her very first role on television or movies, as she managed to find success in her very first role. After Good Times, she went on to guest roles in series such as The Love Boat, What's Happening Now!!, The Cosby Show, and Girlfriends, among others. Recently, she has made news with her crowdfunding effort to produce a Good Times movie, as we mentioned today in our highlights.
    Pick of the Tweets: "I have a surprise for you. We are making a Good Times movie, I would love your support." (February 2, 2016)


    Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

    Wednesday, March 25

    Scrubs - "My V.I.P." (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
    J.D. and Dr. Park are forced to work together when a member of the hospital board experiences a mysterious health crisis. Turk helps Elliot navigate a newfound romance, while the interns practice vulnerability with patients.

    Abbott Elementary - "No Homework" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
    Ava implements a no-homework policy at Abbott, sparking debate amongst the teachers.

    Tyler Perry's Assisted Living - "A Split Tree Grows" (BET, 8:00PM ET/PT)
    Efe has a mock teaching session with the assisted living facility to prepare him for the classroom; Jeremy is on the fence about the court system's harsh punishment of the young robbers.

    Tyler Perry's Assisted Living - "A Rolling Stone" (BET, 8:30PM ET/PT)
    Mr. Brown receives a surprise that brings up his sinful past; Reginald and Jeremy are at odds with the court system.

    Complete TV Listings


    Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of March 23)

    Wednesday, March 25

    • Ariana DeBose (Schmigadoon!) - Watch Ariana on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
    • Wanda Sykes (The Upshaws/The New Adventures of Old Christine/Wanda at Large) - Wanda appears on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
    • Robert Smigel (Let's Be Real) - Robert is a guest on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
    • Chelsea Handler (Are You There, Chelsea?) - Chelsea stops by Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC. She also chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
    • Rocky Carroll (Roc/Welcome to New York) - Rocky talks about NCIS on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
    • Patricia Arquette (High Desert) - NBC's Today catches up with Patricia in the 9am hour.
    • Heather Graham (Californication/Scrubs/Emily's Reasons Why Not) - NBC's Today catches up with Heather in the 10am hour.
    • Sterling K. Brown (Starved) and Ryan Michelle Bathe (First Wives Club/Retired at 35) - Sterling and his wife Ryan Michelle tell Sherri about the highly anticipated new season of Paradise now streaming on Hulu & Disney+ on Sherri, so check your local listings.
    • Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/Cafe Americain/Sydney/One Day at a Time) - Valerie joins Drew and Ross to cover the news with a special cleaning theme on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
    • Melissa Peterman (Happy's Place/Young Sheldon/Baby Daddy/Working Class/Reba) - Melissa talksa about Happy's Place 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

    03/25 - Netflix Announces Details of Nobody Wants This Season 3; Paramount+ Renews School Spirits for Season 4
    03/24 - Hacks Returns for Final Season on April 9; America Says Is Back for Sixth Season on Game Show Network
    03/23 - The Roast of Kevin Hart LIVE on Netflix; HBO Renews Late-Night Series
    03/22 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of March 23, 2026)
    03/21 - SitcomsOnline Digest: CBS Sets Plans for Final Episode of The Neighborhood; ABC Pulls The Bachelorette
    03/20 - TBS Orders Season 13 of Impractical Jokers; HBO's Josh Johnson Comedy Special
    03/19 - Netflix Casts Scooby-Doo Live-Action Series; Darren Star's Next Comedy Series Uncorked
    03/18 - Saturday Night Live UK to Launch This Weekend; Hulu Renews Paradise for Season 3
    03/17 - Netflix Renews Free Bert for Season 2; The Neighborhood: A Farewell Special in April
    03/16 - Color Theories by Julio Torres on HBO; Lifetime's Ripped from the Headlines Spring Slate with Two New Movies
    03/15 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of March 16, 2026)
    03/14 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Family Guy's Stewie Griffin Getting Spinoff; NBCUniversal Cancels Several Daytime Shows, Including Last of the Daytime "Trash Talk"
    03/13 - NBC Summer 2026 Schedule; Malcolm in the Middle Revival Series Trailer
    03/12 - Season 9 of Rick and Morty This May; Fox Entertainment Studios Lines Up Frankie Quiñones for Comedy Series
    03/11 - Antenna TV's Hazel 65th Anniversary Marathon; Kountry Wayne Prime Video Comedy Special
    03/10 - XO, Kitty Season 3 Trailer Released for April 2 Launch; The Drew Barrymore Show Talker Gets 2 Season Renewal
    03/09 - Beef Returns April 16 on Netflix; Remembering Jennifer Runyon of Charles in Charge
    03/08 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of March 9, 2026)
    03/07 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Scrubs Returns to Big Ratings; New Garfield Series Coming to Paramount+
    03/06 - The Four Seasons Returns on May 28; More Details on I Suck at Girls
    03/05 - COZI TV Pairs Up Al Bundy and Hondo at Last; ABC Renews Abbott Elementary for Season 6
    03/04 - ABC's Scrubs Returns Big; Netflix's Little House on the Prairie Renewed for Season 2
    03/03 - Prime Video's Kevin Premieres April 20; Fox Renews Best Medicine
    03/02 - Running Point Returns April 23 on Netflix; A Different World Sequel Starts Production
    03/01 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of March 2, 2026)
    02/28 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Warner Now Set to Merge with Paramount, Not Netflix; X-Files Reboot Given Greenlight
    02/27 - The Comeback Returns for Final Season on March 22; Animal Control Renewed for Season 5; Remembering Lauren Chapin of Father Knows Best and Robert Carradine of Lizzie McGuire
    02/26 - AspireTV Gets First Ever Original Sitcom; Sullivan's Crossing Returns for Season 4 in April on The CW
    02/25 - Scrubs Returns Tonight, Sneak Peek at Title Sequence; Stranger Things: Tales From '85 Reveals Odessa A'zion as Nikki Baxter