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 / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Friday, November 22

Happy's Place - "Happy's House" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Bobbie agrees to take Isabella to Happy's house in search of a connection to their late father, leading Bobbie to worry about what they may find; Gabby hopes to strike it rich by searching through Happy's penny collection looking for a rarity.

Lopez vs Lopez - "Lopez vs Orlando" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
When Rosie's spoiled nephew Orlando visits, Mayan sets out to expose Rosie's cultural gender bias; George wants to teach Chance the value of hard work, but, instead, helps him create a toxic work environment.

Bob Hearts Abishola - "Whacking the Mole" (The CW, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
After Abishola has a romantic dream about Bob, she tries to suppress her feelings for him and pays the price.

Bob Hearts Abishola - "Ralph Lauren and Fish" (The CW, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Bob and Abishola finally go on a proper date, which is interrupted by Dottie's medical emergency.

Bob Hearts Abishola - "Tough Like a Laundromat Washing Machine" (The CW, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Bob hires Abishola to take care of Dottie in his home while she recovers; Dottie has a hard time dealing with her limitations and takes it out on Abishola.

Bob Hearts Abishola - "Useless Potheads" (The CW, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
With Abishola only helping part-time, Bob, Douglas and Christina struggle to take care of Dottie.

Wizards Beyond Waverly Place - "Wiz-Taken Identity" (Disney Channel, 8:00PM ET/PT)
When Billie struggles with a spell, Roman says he could do it if he was a wizard: to prove him wrong, Billie uses a Power Glass to transfer her powers to Roman.

Wizards Beyond Waverly Place - " Ain't Gnome Party Like a Wizard Party" (Disney Channel, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Justin embraces mortality to live with his family; his new challenge arises when Alex introduces Billie, a wizard-in-training, seeking Justin's mentorship.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of November 18)

Friday, November 22

Kerry Washington (UnPrisoned) - Watch Kerry on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Jimmy O. Yang (Interior Chinatown/Space Force/Silicon Valley) - Jimmy is a guest on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Ariana Grande (Sam & Cat/Victorious) - Ariana appears on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Andy Richter (Andy Barker, P.I./Quintuplets/Andy Richter Controls the Universe), Thomas Lennon (The Odd Couple/Sean Saves the World/Reno 911!) and Aparna Nancherla (Lopez vs Lopez/Search Party/Corporate) - Andy, Thomas and Aparna are guests on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
Keke Palmer (Scream Queens/True Jackson, VP) - Keke talks about her new book Master of Me: The Secret to Controlling Your Narrative on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Andrew Rannells (Girls/The New Normal) - Drew is joined by the hilarious Andrew to celebrate all things Thanksgiving on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Rosie Perez (Human Resources/Search Party) - Rosie tells Sherri about her new Apple TV+ psychological thriller Before on Sherri, so check your local listings.
Candace Cameron Bure (Fuller House/Full House) - Candace will be on New York Living on WPIX in New York at 10:15am.