SitcomsOnline Digest: New Pilots from Zach Braff and Judge Judy?; Popular Scripted Cable Series Coming to an End

Saturday, September 03, 2016

SitcomsOnline Digest: New Pilots from Zach Braff and Judge Judy?; Popular Scripted Cable Series Coming to an End

Happy Labor Day weekend, and welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! This week, we have news of new scripted pilots from Zach Braff and (seriously) Judge Judy, news of the end of two popular scripted cable series, and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

Zach Braff is looking to return to the sitcom world as both star and director in a new put pilot for ABC. (Deadline)
Lifetime has canceled the series Devious Maids after four seasons. (Deadline)
The cult favorite Pretty Little Liars is coming to an end as well. (ABC News)
If two hours a day of Judge Judy on your local TV station wasn't enough for you, then CBS is convinced that you'd be interested in an autobiographical drama series about her life that is in development. (New York Daily News)
Is it too soon to be talking about a revival of the NBC series Parenthood? The cast and crew of the NBC series don't think it is, and it might just become a reality if they have their way. (Variety)
Actor Gene Wilder died this week, and while his career was more memorable for his movie roles, such as his starring role in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, he did occasionally appear on television. Most notably, he starred in his own series called Something Wilder on NBC in the 1990s, which included an unlikely union with Alice Cooper in one episode. (Bloody Disgusting)
Silver Spoons stayed in relative obscurity in reruns for over two decades (occasionally popping up here and there), but now, it has once again been added to another network, and this time it is FamilyNet. (SitcomsOnline)
In case you missed it, here is our interview of Josie Davis from yesterday. (SitcomsOnline)

HOME MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

Shout! Factory is cranking through those release of Newhart, with Newhart - The Complete Seventh Season expected on December 13.

TUESDAY (AUGUST 30) HOME MEDIA RELEASES

https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B01HSAIOTI/ref=nosim/happydaysonline4-20

Coach - Seasons One and Two (DVD, $14.98): Mill Creek makes their first release of this series on DVD (which was previously released by Universal) with this two season combo pack. Season 1 and season 2 also available individually.
South Park - The Nineteenth Season (DVD, $29.99; Blu-ray, $42.99): Just in time for the upcoming debut of the 20th season of the Comedy Central series, this release comes to DVD and Blu-ray.

FOLLOW ME

Who to Follow: Kristen Bell (Twitter), "5'1 is the new 6'2"

Claim to Fame: We're continuing our theme of "the stars of the new sitcoms" this week with Kristen Bell, who will star on NBC's newest entry (and the network's attempt to make Thursday night comedy night once, which we hope succeeds) alongside Ted Danson, called The Good Place. Bell is already rather well known to TV audiences from her title role on the series Veronica Mars and most recently she starred in the Showtime comedy House of Lies, but this marks her first regular role in a primetime broadcast network sitcom. With a sitcom veteran as her co-star and the show being created by Michael Schur (who has a solid track record of success with sitcoms, including The Office, Parks and Recreation, and Brooklyn Nine-Nine), this might be a role that she could be getting used to for a few years, but we'll never know until it debuts (in a special timeslot, before moving to the regular Thursday slot) on September 19 on NBC.

Pick of the Tweets: "#TheGoodPlace hopefuls, let's spend for good! Donate to a local charity, sponsor an orphan sloth, get those points!" (August 31, 2016)

Sitcoms Airing Tonight

Wednesday, December 8

The Conners - "Sober Sex, Plastic Silverware, and Losing My Religion" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Part of Becky’s recovery program mandates she make amends with people she has lied to over the years, leading her to meet up again with former high school friend Mikey to apologize for lying to him about her living a successful life. Meanwhile, Darlene visits with Pastor Phil (Jason Alexander), and Louise continues planning her wedding.

Home Economics - "Bottle Service, $800 Plus Tip (25% Suggested)" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
The family is in for a wild night out when they accompany Connor to a club to help him jumpstart his dating life. When Tom steps up as Connor’s wingman, things don’t exactly go as planned.

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - "The Gang Buys a Roller Rink" (FXX, 10:00PM ET/PT)
In the past, an innocent Dennis learns the horrifying details of Frank's business; a truly sweet Dee is excited to head off for Hollywood while Charlie and Mac's jobs at the roller rink are in jeopardy.

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - " The Gang Replaces Dee With a Monkey" (FXX, 10:30PM ET/PT)
When the Gang suspects Dee is menopausal, they scramble to find a new employee for Paddy's Pub; Dee decides to put her acting career on hold in order to mentor young actors.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of December 6)

Wednesday, December 8

Rob McElhenney (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia/Mythic Quest) - Watch Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Ariana DeBose (Schmigadoon!) - Ariana appears on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Kristin Chenoweth (Schmigadoon!/Trial & Error/Kristin) - Kristin is a guest on Watch What Happens: Live at 3:30am on Bravo. She chats about her new album Happiness is…Christmas! on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Kimberly Williams-Paisley (According to Jim) and Ashley Williams (The Jim Gaffigan Show/Good Morning, Miami) - Kimberly and Ashley talk about Hallmark's Sister Swap on NBC's Today in the 9am hour and on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
Cynthia Nixon (And Just Like That.../Sex and the City) - Cynthia talks about And Just Like That... on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am and on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
Heather Graham (Californication/Emily's Reasons Why Not/Scrubs) - Heather talks about her role in the film The Last Son on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
Yvonne Orji (Insecure) - Yvonne is a guest on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
Eric André (Man Seeking Woman/2 Broke Girls/Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23) - Eric will be on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Vanessa Lachey (Truth Be Told/Dads) - Vanessa talks about living the island life with her kids and husband, Nick Lachey, her new role in NCIS: Hawai‘i and her new book on Rachael Ray, so check your local listings.
Michael J. Fox (Family Ties/Spin City/The Michael J. Fox Show) - Michael talks about No Time Like the Future: An Optimist Considers Mortality on CBS This Morning sometime between 7-9am.
Patricia Heaton (Carol's Second Act/The Middle/Back to You/Everybody Loves Raymond) - Patricia shares the moment that made her re-think her relationship with drinking on The Dr. Oz Show, so check your local listings.
Zachary Levi (Less Than Perfect/Telenovela) - Zachary talks about American Underdog on ABC's Good Morning America somtime between 7-9am.
Kal Penn (Sunnyside/Deadbeat/We Are Men) - Kal talks about Hot Mess Holiday on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.