SitcomsOnline Digest: No Big Surprises in Fall Lineups for the Broadcast Networks; Warner Archive Bringing McClain's Law and The Eleventh Hour to DVD

Saturday, May 21, 2016

SitcomsOnline Digest: No Big Surprises in Fall Lineups for the Broadcast Networks; Warner Archive Bringing McClain's Law and The Eleventh Hour to DVD

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! The time has arrived, and this week, we got a look at what every major broadcast network plans to do this fall. We have a brief synopsis of a few highlights we saw here today, and you can see all the full lineups by looking at the past few days of our blog entries. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

It looks like NBC is slowly attempting to bring comedy back to Thursday nights, with the 8 PM hour on Thursday nights in the fall returning to their comedy roots (though with Chicago Med in the 9 PM slot, we may have to wait a little longer to see a full two hour block). (SitcomsOnline)
Sitcom fans will be pleased to see that ABC isn't disturbing their comedy lineup too much. (SitcomsOnline)
We reported last week that the CSI franchise was dead when CBS canceled the last series in the franchise, and although that is true for the fall 2016 lineup, it turns out that declaration may not be completely accurate for the long-term. (Deadline)
It's been another week, and unfortunately, another sitcom star from the past has died, and this time it is Alan Young of Mister Ed. (New York Times)
Morley Safer retired from his long career at 60 Minutes just this week, and now just a few days later, he has died. (CNN Money)
Customers of Time Warner Cable won't have Time Warner Cable to complain about much longer, as the acquisition of it by Charter was completed this week. (CNET)

HOME MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

Warner Archive is laying out plans for June, and although there are no sitcoms in there, there are some very surprising treats for fans of classic TV, such as the the complete series of the 1980s crime drama McClain's Law and the first season of the 1960s medical drama The Eleventh Hour.

TUESDAY (MAY 24) HOME MEDIA RELEASES

Lou Grant - The Complete First Season (DVD, $39.97): One of the most unexpected releases of the year, for sure, is this first season release of the successful (yet rarely seen today) spinoff of The Mary Tyler Moore Show.
The Wonder Years - Season Five (DVD, $29.95): Though the complete series has been out for some time, this release brings to retailers the final piece of the classic series that many thought would never arrive on DVD.

FOLLOW ME

Who to Follow: Matt LeBlanc (Twitter), "Actor, writer, producer, director, singer"

Claim to Fame: In the last half of the 90s and the first half of the 00s, Matt LeBlanc was one of your Friends. Literally. He played the role of Joey Tribbiani in that successful series, and after it ended, he continued to play the same role in a spinoff that was doomed from the beginning. That wasn't exactly his first role, though, as before that he had a couple of guest spots on Just the Ten of Us, and also appeared on Married... with Children, which in turn had a spinoff called Top of the Heap. Oddly enough, that spinoff was canceled after only seven episodes, but it gave birth to yet another continuation which he starred in, called Vinnie & Bobby, also canceled after seven episodes. Obviously, this business of getting roles in failed spinoffs of failed spinoffs worked out for the best, as it wasn't long after all of this nonsense that he was cast in Friends. This fall, he makes a return to comedy on CBS with the series Man with a Plan.

Pick of the Tweets: "Coming this fall. Hope you tune in. (pic)" (May 18, 2016)

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Monday, April 13

The Neighorhood - "Welcome to the Breaking Point" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
After a frightening encounter, Dave takes a hard look at his health, prompting Calvin to help him find a healthier way to let off steam. Meanwhile, Tina has a hard time letting go of old memories, and Marty and Malcolm argue over a valuable find from their past.

DMV - "Fresh Ink" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
When the SoHo DMV lands a glossy magazine feature, Barb struggles with feeling overlooked, stirring up old insecurities she thought she’d left behind. Meanwhile, Gregg and Vic go head‑to‑head in a competitive quest to earn their first positive review after a rough streak online.

The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins - "Mischief and Memories" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
The Dinkins family bands together for their annual push to get Reggie into the hall of fame, but Jerry Basmati stands in their way.

The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins - "A Real Cinderello Story" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Monica tries to sign an exciting new prospect; Jerry Basmati unexpectedly takes revenge on Reggie.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of April 13)

Monday, April 13

Henry Winkler (Barry/Arrested Development/Out of Practice/Monty/Happy Days) - Watch Henry on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Tracy Morgan (The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins/Crutch/The Last O.G./30 Rock/The Tracy Morgan Show) - Tracy is a guest on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Maya Rudolph (Loot/Bless the Harts/Forever/Up All Night) - Maya appears on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Nick Offerman (Margo's Got Money Troubles/Parks and Recreation) - Nick stops by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Rachel Dratch (Grimsburg/Imaginary Mary/30 Rock) - Rachel makes a special appears once on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS. Andy Cohen interviews Rachel on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 11pm on Bravo.
Kristin Chenoweth (Stumble/Trial & Error/Kristin) - Kristin is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Rachel Dratch (Grimsburg/Imaginary Mary/30 Rock) - Andy Cohen interviews Rachel on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 9pm on Bravo.
Elle Fanning (Margo's Got Money Troubles) and Michelle Pfeiffer (Margo's Got Money Troubles/Delta House) - Elle and Michelle talk about Margo's Got Money Troubles on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
Jennie Garth (Mystery Girls/What I Like About You) - Jennie talks about I Choose Me: Chasing Joy, Finding Purpose & Embracing Reinvention on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am, on Live with Kelly and Mark (check your local listings), on NBC's Today in the 10am hour, and on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
Sarah Chalke (Scrubs/Roseanne/Mad Love/How to Live with Your Parents (For the Rest of Your Life)) - Sarah talks about Scrubs on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
Anthony Norman (Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat) - Anthony talks about Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am and in the 9am hour and on ABC News Live Prime with Linsey Davis at 7pm.
Bob Odenkirk (The Larry Sanders Show) - All Access sits down with Bob to discuss his life, career and new film Normal on ABC News Live Prime with Linsey Davis at 7pm.
Daniel Radcliffe (The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins/Miracle Workers) - Daniel tells Sherri about his new sitcom, The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins, and his hit Broadway play, Every Brilliant Thing, on Sherri, so check your local listings.
Jake and Jazz Smollett (On Our Own) - Jake and Jazz talk about their lifestyle series, Living By Design, on CLEO TV on Sherri, so check your local listings.
Dan Levy (Big Mistakes/Schitt's Creek) and Laurie Metcalf (Big Mistakes/The Conners/Roseanne/The McCarthys/The Norm Show) - Dan and Laurie talk to Drew about their upcoming comedy crime show Big Mistakes on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings. Drew is joined by the entire cast of Big Mistakes: Dan Levy, Laurie Metcalf, Jack Innanen and Taylor Ortega.
John Stamos (Palm Royale/UnPrisoned/Fuller House/Grandfathered/Jake in Progress/Full House/You, Again?) and Jodie Sweetin (Fuller House/Hollywood Darlings/Full House) - - John and Jodie are guests on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.