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

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

Thursday, December 5

Young Sheldon - "A Party Invitation, Football Grapes and an Earth Chicken" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Mary gets Pastor Jeff involved when Sheldon isn’t invited to Billy’s birthday party. Also, George Sr. has “male-bonding time” with Dr. Sturgis.

The Unicorn - "No Pressure" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Wade pretends to be dating Caroline (Betsy Brandt) to avoid being set up on blind dates by Delia. Also, Ben and Michelle throw an anniversary party for themselves, but have issues with the catering.

Mom - "Tuna Florentine and a Clean Handoff" (CBS, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Christy and the ladies rally around Tammy when she has trouble adjusting to early release from parole. Also, Bonnie is disappointed when her perfect birthday gift for Adam gets a lukewarm response.

Carol's Second Act - "Therapy Dogs" (CBS, 9:30PM ET/PT)
As the hospital hosts therapy dogs to help care for their patients, Carol helps Lexie when the emotional burden of being a doctor becomes too “ruff."

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of December 2)

Thursday, December 5

Sam Rockwell (F Is for Family) - Catch Sam on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Lizzy Caplan (Party Down/The Class) - Lizzy appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Rebel Wilson (Super Fun Night) - Rebel drops by The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Anna Faris (Mom) - Anna is a guest on a repeat of A Little Late with Lilly Singh at 1:35am on NBC.
John Lithgow (Trial and Error/Twenty Good Years/3rd Rock from the Sun) - John visits Comedy Central's The Daily Show with Trevor Noah at 11pm.
Casey Wilson (The Hotwives/Marry Me/Happy Endings), Nico Santos (Superstore) and Chris Hardwick (Guys Like Us) - Casey, Nico and Chris are panelists on Lights Out with David Spade at 11:30pm on Comedy Central.
Jameela Jamil (The Good Place) - Jameela stops by Conan at 11pm on TBS.
Lea Michele (The Mayor) - Lea appears on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings. She talks about Same Time Next Christmas on ABC's GMA 3: Strahan, Sara & Keke at 1pm.
Sean Hayes (Will & Grace/The Millers/Sean Saves the World) - Sean appears on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
Iain Armitage (Young Sheldon) - Iain is a guest on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
Kristin Chenoweth (Trial and Error/Kristin) - Kristin talks about Hallmark Channel's A Christmas Love Story on Home & Family on Hallmark Channel at 10am ET/PT and on Access Daily, so check your local listings.