SitcomsOnline Digest: Fox Renews Pair of Sitcoms; New Adventures of Gilligan's Island to Finally Arrive on DVD

Saturday, March 26, 2016

SitcomsOnline Digest: Fox Renews Pair of Sitcoms; New Adventures of Gilligan's Island to Finally Arrive on DVD

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! Sadly, this week has been a busy week with deaths of TV stars and producers, and we're covering three of those today (not counting Garry Shandling, who was covered yesterday). We've also got some renewals from Fox, and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

Fox has renewed Last Man on Earth and Brooklyn Nine-Nine for next season. (Entertainment Weekly)
Billy Gardell's next TV series role will be more dramatic than his role on Mike & Molly. (Deadline)
Ken Howard, best known for his role on The White Shadow (as well as being the president of SAG-AFTRA until his death), died this week at age 71. (People)
Tom Whedon, a producer and writer who worked on series such as The Golden Girls, Benson, and Alice (and is also the father of Joss Whedon), died this week at age 83. (Hollywood Reporter)
Earl Hamner Jr., the creator of both The Waltons and Falcon Crest, also died this week, at age 92. (New York Times)
The TV Land Awards ceremony will return this year, with a (slightly) new name and George Lopez taking hosting duties. (SitcomsOnline)

HOME MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

It was over a half decade ago (very near the beginning of Warner Archive) when it was announced that The New Adventures of Gilligan's Island (the animated spinoff of the classic series) would be released on DVD. We've been waiting for a long time, long enough that we assumed it was abandoned, but this week TVShowsOnDVD.com revealed that the wait will finally end on April 26.

TUESDAY (MARCH 29) HOME MEDIA RELEASES

CPO Sharkey - The Best of Season Two (DVD, $12.95): Though we'd recommend splurging for a few extra dollars and going with the previously released complete second season in CPO Sharkey - The Complete Season Two, this option is available for those who just want the best episodes.

FOLLOW ME

Who to Follow: Will Friedle (Twitter), "Actor (with my voice and sometimes my face), Writer, Panic-Attacker, Proffessionull Speller and Inventor of the Harpsichord (that last one was just a lie)"

Claim to Fame: We have another Boy Meets World star this week, and it is Will Friedle, who played Eric Matthews on the series. That series was his first regular series role, and as far as appearing on camera, it was really his last regular screen appearance (he has had guest roles here and there, including on Girl Meets World). He also appeared in the (very) short-lived NBC series Go Fish in 2001. However, don't be fooled: though he hasn't had many screen appearances, he has been very busy with voice work. He has had regular roles in many cartoons beginning in 1999, as the role of Batman in Batman Beyond. He followed that up with a regular role in Kim Possible. Today, he appears in numerous animated series on a regular basis.

Pick of the Tweets: "Skittles Ads from 1992 - Fruit Flavor Combinations - YouTube And...I found my other one. Man...what's with the vest? (link)" (March 17, 2016)

Sitcoms Airing Tonight

Wednesday, November 20

The Goldbergs - "Angst-Giving" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Even though Beverly’s patience with Pop Pop is put to the test due to his endless Thanksgiving demands, she is able to put aside her own feelings to help heal the longstanding rift between Murray and Pop Pop. Meanwhile, Barry and Erica are ready to return home for the holiday, but Uncle Marvin accidentally drives them to Pittsburgh. Marvin attempts to make it right not knowing if they will make it to Jenkintown in time to celebrate the holiday. Judd Hirsch and Dan Fogler return to guest star as Pop Pop and Uncle Marvin.

Schooled - "Friendsgiving" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
CB celebrates Thanksgiving by having all of William Penn rally around him after a cooking incident at his house, while the alumni faculty football game brings out the competitive sides of Wilma and Coach Mellor.

Modern Family - "The Last Thanksgiving" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Cameron and Mitchell’s friends mistakenly assume they have split up and have definitely chosen a side; and Haley attempts to cook Thanksgiving dinner as a thank you for Claire and Phil’s support with the twins. Meanwhile, Jay invites Phil and Dylan out to fly his model plane, and Phil thinks this is his chance to reclaim his dignity after their first outing 10 years ago went so wrong.

Single Parents - "Every Thursday Should Be Like This" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT)
When Will gets busy cooking Thanksgiving dinner at Douglas’ home, he asks Angie to hang out with Tracy Freeze (guest star Jama Williamson). Angie reluctantly does so, only to realize that Tracy is actually wonderful, except for a secret she’s keeping from Will. Meanwhile, Miggy shows up to Thanksgiving dinner with the kids’ teacher, Ms. Pronstroller (Sarah Yarkin), as his date, and he enlists Douglas’ assistance in helping them form an in-person connection, given all of their previous communication has been via texts, DMs and memes.

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - "A Woman's Right to Chop" / "Waiting for Big Mo" (FXX, 10:00PM ET/PT)
Trapped inside Paddy's with a suicidal jumper on the roof, the gang wonders if it should bother intervening; Dennis ponders the reasons of playing laser tag and if the pursuit of a victory is worth the effort.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of November 18)

Wednesday, November 20

Adam Driver (Girls) - Watch Adam on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Julie Andrews (Julie) - Julie stops by The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS. She will also be on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
Kristen Bell (The Good Place) - Kristen appears on The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Michael Rapaport (Awkward/The War at Home) and Tony Rock (Living Biblically/All of Us) - Michael and Tony are panelists on Lights Out with David Spade at 11:30pm on Comedy Central.
Dax Shepard (Bless This Mess) - Dax visits Conan at 11pm on TBS.
Craig Ferguson (The Drew Carey Show) - Craig appears on a repeat of LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
Johnny Galecki (The Big Bang Theory/Roseanne) - Johnny is a guest on a repeat of LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
Brie Larson (United States of Tara/Raising Dad) - Brie appears on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
Lena Waithe (Master of None) - Lena is a guest on The Wendy Williams Show, so check your local listings.
Ed Quinn (One Day at a Time/2 Broke Girls) - Ed visits The Real, do check your local listings.
Tisha Campbell (Dr. Ken/Rita Rocks/My Wife and Kids/Martin) - Tisha guest co-hosts The Real, so check your local listings.
Maura Tierney (NewsRadio) - Maura talks about The Report on People Now at 12pm.
Robin Givens (Head of the Class) - Robin talks about OWN's Ambition on NBC's Today in the 9am hour.
Jamie Lee Curtis (Scream Queens/Anything But Love) - Jamie Lee talks about Knives Out on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
Ashley Williams (The Jim Gaffigan Show/Good Morning, Miami) - Ashley talks about Holiday Hearts on Home & Family on Hallmark Channel at 10am ET/PT.