Saturday, October 15, 2016

SitcomsOnline Digest: Fox Reviving Showtime at the Apollo With Pair of Specials; Family Guy - Season Fourteen DVD Release Scheduled

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! This week, we've got news of Showtime at the Apollo returning to air at Fox in a limited form, a possible new music competition at NBC, and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB
  • Fox is reviving Showtime at the Apollo with a pair of specials hosted by Steve Harvey.  (Variety)
  • Many musical stars are being discovered through the internet and specifically YouTube these days, so NBC is looking to cash in on that with a reality show where these "up and coming" stars compete. (Variety)
  • If there is one certainty about Saturday Night Live (which is always uncertain due to the constant changes to the show, which can often make entire seasons either unwatchable or absolutely perfect), it is that presidential election years bring in the ratings, and so far that has been proven yet again this season. (Deadline)
  • Actress Patricia Barry, actress who was one of the lesser known pioneers of television, died this week at age 93. (New York Times)
  • The third hour of Today has always been a sore spot for stability at NBC, and it probably doesn't help with the stability now that the network is looking at Billy Bush's inevitable exit (for reasons we're all aware of by now). (Deadline
  • The classic Nickelodeon series Double Dare is turning 30, and Nick at Nite is celebrating. (SitcomsOnline

HOME MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B01FL1TW74/ref/nosim/happydaysonline5-20
  • While a lot of current series have slowed down on releases of the past seasons on DVD, Family Guy is continuing on DVD, with a release of Family Guy - Season Fourteen on December 6.

FOLLOW ME

Who to Follow: Colleen Ballinger (Twitter), "I put on lots of lipstick and make videos for a living. Creator/writer/producer/star/bragger of @HatersBackOff on Netflix. http://YouTube.com/psychosoprano"; also her character Miranda Sings (Twitter), "I am a really famous actor/singer/dancer/model/magician on youtube. http://www.youtube.com/MirandaSings08  FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM! @MirandaSingsOfficial"
Claim to Fame: Like last week, we're going a bit more "unconventional" (much more so than last week even) for our Follow Me with a star of a new comedy, but not a typical broadcast network comedy. This time, we head to Netflix for Colleen Ballinger, who stars in the new Netflix comedy series Haters Back Off (which debuted yesterday on the streaming service). Colleen Ballinger is best known for her character of Miranda Sings, an online character and persona that she created on YouTube in 2008. Miranda Sings is a character who parodies all of the bad things on YouTube, in particular, some of the YouTube musicians who aren't actually all that talented but are eager for the attention. That character has defined who she is as an actress and on this new Netflix series, she plays this character. The character has taken on so much of a personality that it requires a separate Twitter feed just for itself.
Pick of the Tweets: (as Miranda Sings): "never froget. you are amazing and great no matter what anyone says. unless i dont like u." (October 9, 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)