SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

Viewers can get a behind-the-scenes look at ABC's new 2016 primetime line-up with The ABC Fall Preview Special, airing Sunday, September 4 at 7:00pm EDT, on the ABC Television Network, right before a College Football primetime game (except on the West Coast, the special will air at 8pm PDT). Anthony Anderson (black-ish), Randall Park (Fresh Off the Boat), Katy Mixon (American Housewife), John Ross Bowie (Speechless), and Piper Perabo and Daniel Sunjata (Notorious) host the special preview. The show will highlight new fall series American Housewife, Conviction, Designated Survivor, Notorious and Speechless, and will include sneak peeks of returning favorites. Tune in!

Already in the history books for its unprecedented, upcoming 28th season, The Simpsons makes history once again with its first-ever one-hour episode airing in January 2017 on Fox. In the one-hour "The Great Phatsby," featuring Emmy Award nominee Taraji P. Henson (Empire) as a guest voice, Mr. Burns (Harry Shearer) tries to relive his glory days, and crosses paths with a mysterious music mogul. After being conned by him and reduced to bankruptcy, Mr. Burns seeks revenge on the music producer with the help of Homer, Bart, rapper Jazzy James (guest voice Keegan-Michael Key) and the mogul's ex-wife, Praline (guest voice Henson). Also in the episode, Lisa (Yeardley Smith) is courted by the richest kid in town, Smithers (Shearer) begins a perilous journey and Marge (Julie Kavner) opens an obscure boutique store. Premiering Sunday, Sept. 25 at 8:00PM ET/PT, Season 28 kicks off with the all-new episode "Monty Burns' Fleeing Circus," in which Springfield is burned to the ground, and the Simpsons beg Mr. Burns (Shearer) to fund its rebuilding. Burns agrees - with one condition: he gets to put on a variety show at the Springfield Bowl.

Additionally, the series' record-setting 600th episode will air Sunday, Oct. 16 at 8:00 PM ET/PT, with a classic "Treehouse of Horror XXVII" episode. In it, Mr. Burns introduces a "Hunger Games"-style contest in which Springfield's children must fight each other; and Lisa's imaginary best friend becomes jealous of Lisa's real best friends.