Saturday, October 01, 2016

SitcomsOnline Digest: Dynasty Reboot in the Works?; NBC Picks Up (and Promptly Shelves) Sitcom from Superstore Trio

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! It's been a very busy news week this week with so much news that we couldn't even feature it all, and we're not even talking about the presidential election (though we do have some news of upcoming Saturday Night Live parodies and ratings news that is relevant to us). We aren't going to tell you to watch any decades old VHS tapes that aren't so family friendly here, but we do have some suggestions for new DVDs of some family friendly classic series from the 50s and 60s that will be coming out on Tuesday. Additionally, we're hearing about another reboot of an 80s classic, news of a new sitcom that NBC both bought and quickly decided nix (both within a period of days), and news of the death of an iconic soap opera creator. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB
  • Reboots are everywhere, and now the latest rumor floating around is that the 80s primetime soap Dynasty could be getting that treatment on The CW. (Hollywood Reporter)
  • NBC bought a new sitcom this week Mail Order Family, but before we could even report that, we now know that the entire project has been scrapped due to backlash over concerns that the series promotes racial stereotypes and human trafficking. (Vulture
  • Saturday Night Live returns for a new season tonight (and not a moment too soon), and after struggling with getting the "perfect" Donald Trump past season, they are bringing in a new (but very recognizable) face to fill the role this season thanks to a suggestion from Tina Fey: Alec Baldwin. (USA Today)
  • The first presidential debate this week broke all viewership records for presidential debates, with 85 million tuning in (and that doesn't even count people watching it online). (CNNMoney)
  • Agnes Nixon, creator of the soap operas All My Children, One Life to Live, and Loving, died this week at age 93. (New York Times)
  • In what seems to be a change from many recent new fall seasons in the past, networks (and fans) appear to be satisfied with many of the new series this fall, which has led ABC to give two of their new ones, Speechless and Designated Survivor, full season orders. (SitcomsOnline)
  • Meanwhile, NBC is giving a full season to their critically acclaimed series, This is Us. (SitcomsOnline)

TUESDAY (OCTOBER 4) HOME MEDIA RELEASES
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B01H3KUHOI/ref/nosim/happydaysonline5-20
  • The Andy Griffith Show - Christmas Special (DVD, $14.99): The classic (and oddly enough for a series that lasted as long as it did, only) Christmas episode of the iconic sitcom arrives in color in this DVD, which also includes a colorized version of "The Pickle Story." Both episodes are also presented in their original black and white as well.
  • I Love Lucy - Superstar Special #1 (DVD, $14.99): Two classic episodes of this series, "L.A. at Last" and "Lucy and Superman," arrive on DVD in this release in colorized form. Both episodes are also presented in their original black and white as well.
  • Perry Mason - The Complete Series (DVD, $179.98): It's almost unbelievable that this series is coming out as a complete series, but it is, with all 271 episodes on 72 discs.

FOLLOW ME

Who to Follow: Ben Feldman (Twitter), "scared of social media"
Claim to Fame: We've been on a theme of featuring some of the stars of the new sitcoms from this season lately, but we're cheating (a little) this week by featuring the star of a returning sitcom, although to be fair, it was a sitcom that debuted mid-season last year and probably gained more attention over the summer through online streaming, to the point where it is almost new to people this fall. We're talking about NBC's Superstore, and Ben Feldman. His first sitcom role came in 2006 on the sitcom Living With Fran, which even if you don't remember it, it starred Fran Drescher and actually lasted two half seasons on The CW. From there, he went on to the series Drop Dead Diva, and also did a few other things on the side. Now, of course, he is one of the stars on the NBC series Superstore,
Pick of the Tweets: "Woke ⬆️ on✈️ & #superstore was on-woman next 2 me watching, looks VERY excited Me:Good show😉 Her:Ur awake! Can I get by I really have to pee" (September 25, 2016)


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Wednesday, May 7

Tyler Perry's House of Payne - "Doing the Work" (BET, 9:00PM ET/PT)
House of Payne is the hilarious comedy about Retired fire chief Curtis Payne and his lovely wife Ella.

Tyler Perry's Assisted Living - "Wobblewham" (BET, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Reginald must face a daunting truth with his son Brandon; Vinny starts a business venture that throws Pleasant Days into a chaotic spiral.

The Ms. Pat Show - "The Book of Denise" (BET, 10:30PM ET/PT)
Denise and Junebug can't stop looking for love in all the wrong places, and both aunt and nephew are in for rude awakenings when the objects of their affection aren't all they seem to be.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of May 5)

Wednesday, May 7

  • Lunell (Lopez) - Watch Luenell on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Kerry Washington (UnPrisoned) - Kerry appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
  • Christine Baranski (The Big Bang Theory/Happy Family/Welcome to New York/Cybill) - Christine is a guest on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
  • Paul Feig (Sabrina, the Teenage Witch/The Louie Show/The Jackie Thomas Show/Dirty Dancing) and Anna Kendrick (Love Life) - Paul is a guest and Anna makes a special appearance on After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Geena Davis (The Geena Davis Show/Sara/Buffalo Bill) - Geena talks about The Girl Who Was Too Big for the Page on ABC News Live Prime with Linsey Davis at 7pm.
  • Jim Gaffigan (The Jim Gaffigan Show/My Boys/The Ellen Show/Welcome to New York) - Jim stops by for a chat about his new comedy special The Skinny on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
  • Natasha Lyonne (Russian Doll) - NBC's Today catches up with Natasha in the 9am hour.
  • Ana Gasteyer (American Auto/People of Earth/Lady Dynamite/Suburgatory) - Ana drop by with a rousing round of fast five questions for Martha Stewart on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
  • Jenny McCarthy (Two and a Half Men/Jenny) - Jenny talks about Fox's The Masked Singer on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
  • Carrie Preston (Crowded/Happyish/Emeril) - Carrie talks about CBS's Elsbeth on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.


New on DVD and Blu-ray

The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series Frasier (2023) - Season Two Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* (missing 4 episodes and some music has been replaced or altered) Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)

01/28 - Wait Till Your Father Gets Home - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/04 - The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series
03/11 - Frasier (2023) - Season Two
04/01 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season
05/13 - The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* (missing 4 episodes and some music has been replaced or altered)
06/06 - Shoresy - Season 2
06/17 - Looney Tunes - Collector's Vault - Volume 1 (Blu-ray)
07/08 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)

More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD and Blu-ray Releases / TV Shows on DVD, Blu-ray and Prime Video / DVD Reviews Archive


Recent SitcomsOnline.com News Blog Posts

05/06 - Netflix's Long Story Short Announces Cast; NBC Renews All Chicago Series for 2025-26
05/05 - Antenna TV's The Partridge Family Mother's Day Marathon; Rewind TV's 227 40th Anniversary Marathon
05/04 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of May 5, 2025)
05/03 - SitcomsOnline Digest: CBS Cancels The Equalizer; Wisteria Lane Offshoot of Desperate Housewives in the Works
05/02 - USA and SYFY Announce Summer Premieres; CBC in Canada Renews 5 Series, Including Wild Cards
05/01 - ABC Summer 2025 Schedule; Audible Scripted Comedy Podcasts for Summer
04/30 - The Carol Burnett Show Mother of All Marathons; Netflix Renews North of North
04/29 - Lifetime Adds New Ripped from the Headlines Movie; BET+ Orders Season 2 of Series
04/28 - Fox Summer 2025 Schedule; Final Guest Hosts for Saturday Night Live 50th Anniversary Season
04/27 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of April 28, 2025)
04/26 - SitcomsOnline Digest: CBS Cancels Poppa's House; Final Season 50 Hosts for Saturday Night Live Set
04/25 - Classic TV's Biggest Auction; Remembering Will Hutchins and Wink Martindale
04/24 - Jerrod Carmichael's 4th HBO Comedy Special; HBO's Pee-wee as Himself Premieres May 23
04/23 - Apple TV+ Announces Comedy Series Prodigies; ABC Renews Unscripted Series Slate
04/22 - Hallmark Channel's May For Moms Month; Prime Video Gets Korean Comedy Action Series
04/21 - Peacock's Twisted Metal Returns July 31; Poker Face Lines Up Big Guests for Season 2
04/20 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of April 21, 2025)
04/19 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Clueless Reboot in the Works at Peacock; King of the Hill Cast Reunion and Revival Preview at ATX TV Festival Next Month
04/18 - 2025 TIME100 on ABC; Atsuko Okatsuka: Father Premieres June 13 on Hulu
04/17 - BET+ Orders Martin Spinoff Varnell Hill; It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Returns in July
04/16 - And Just Like That... Season 3 on Max This May; MGM+ Comedy Series Adds Big Stars
04/15 - HBO's Harry Potter Series; Classic TV Comes to Life in NYC
04/14 - TV Stars Lineup for Summer of 69 Hulu Film; Jessica Kirson Comedy Special
04/13 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of April 14, 2025)
04/12 - SitcomsOnline Digest: FX Sets Premiere Date for Adults; Netflix Picks Up Monopoly Themed Reality Competition Series
04/11 - Bounce TV Renews Mind Your Business; AMC Networks 2025 Upfront Highlights
04/10 - David Spade's Prime Video Comedy Special; Brett Goldstein's HBO Comedy Special Filmed in New Jersey
04/09 - Paramount+ Orders Season 3 of Colin from Accounts; FX's Adults Premieres May 28
04/08 - Prime Video's New Comedy Overcompensating; Nine Perfect Strangers Returns on Hulu in May
04/07 - NBC Celebrates Joan Rivers with Special; Remembering Jay North of Dennis the Menace
04/06 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of April 7, 2025)