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

Wednesday, August 10

The Conners - "Messy Situation, Miscommunication and Academic Probation" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Becky inadvertently outs her relationship with Professor Davis, he’s forced to reevaluate his career, but his erratic behavior sends Becky down a path to reevaluate their relationship. Meanwhile, Dan and Darlene check in on Chuck, only to learn heartbreaking news about his family.

The Goldbergs - "Hip-Shaking and Booty-Quaking" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Erica and Geoff decide to throw a party to prove to others and themselves that they can still have fun as a young, engaged couple. Meanwhile, Beverly assumes control of William Penn Academy as “acting principal” and presses the school faculty to put together a “Fame”-themed send-off for the senior class.

Abbott Elementary - "Open House" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
It’s Open House night at Abbott Elementary, and while Janine prepares to meet her struggling student’s mother, the rest of the faculty uses the time to relax. Gregory is taken aback when he learns how Ava got the principal job, and later, Barbara’s daughter’s visit creates a commotion in more ways than one.

Home Economics - "Keg of Light Beer, $180" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
While Tom and Marina attempt to relive their youth at a college party, Connor and Denise deal with JoJo (Tetona Jackson) potentially leaving when she gets an offer to go on a reality show. Meanwhile, Sarah considers casting her niece in the school musical.

Wellington Paranormal - "A Civil War" (The CW, 9:00PM ET/PT)
In the wake of a shocking blindside, players scramble for power; a pair of underdogs must choose between creating chaos and playing it safe.

grown-ish - "Look What U Started" (Freeform, 10:00PM ET/PT)
Eager to impress Gamma Psi Delta while pledging, Junior faces a moral dilemma when he books a controversial comic to perform at a fundraiser; Aaron struggles to fit in with his colleagues, and receives advice from Zoey about how to cope.

Everything's Trash - "Family Is Trash" (Freeform, 10:30PM ET/PT)
Jayden's obsessive need to fix Phoebe creates a rift between them; Jessie, Malika and Michael attempt to mend the relationship and reunite the siblings.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of August 8)

Wednesday, August 10

Jamie Foxx (Dad Stop Embarrassing Me!/The Jamie Foxx Show) - Watch Jamie on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Abbi Jacobson (Broad City) - Abbi appears on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
David Alan Grier (Dad Stop Embarrassing Me!/The Cool Kids/The Carmichael Show/Bad Teacher/Life with Bonnie/DAG) - David guest hosts Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Kieran Culkin (Go Fish) - Kieran is a guest on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Jeff Foxworthy (The Jeff Foxworthy Show) - Jeff appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Vanessa Bayer (I Love That for You) - Vanessa is a guest on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Julie Andrews (Julie) - Julie chats with the ladies of The View on a repeat on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Michaela Jaé Rodriguez (Loot) - Michaela discusses Loot on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
Laura Linney (The Big C) - Laura appears on a repeat of The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
Gabriel Iglesias (Mr. Iglesias/Cristela) - Gabriel is a guest on a repeat of The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
Mariska Hargitay (Can't Hurry Love) - Mariska appears on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Jason Biggs (Outmatched/Mad Love/Drexell's Class) - Jason and his wife Jenny Mollen are guests on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
D'Arcy Carden (Barry/The Good Place) - NBC's Today catches up with D'Arcy in the 9am hour.
Sherri Shepherd (Mr. Iglesias/Trial & Error/Sherri/Less Than Perfect/Suddenly Susan) - Sherri guest hosts a repeat of The Wendy Williams Show, so check your local listings.
Sofia Vergara (Modern Family/The Knights of Prosperity/Hot Properties) - Sofia is a guest on E!'s Daily Pop at 11am.
Howie Mandel (Good Grief) - Howie will be on E!'s Daily Pop at 11am.
Terry Crews (Brooklyn Nine-Nine/Are We There Yet?/Everybody Hates Chris) - Terry is a guest on E!'s Daily Pop at 11am.
Megan Suri (Never Have I Ever) - Megan appears on PIX11 Morning News on WPIX in New York at 9:40am.