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

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

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

Sunday, July 25

Where Have All the Theme Songs Gone? (CNN, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Don Lemon reviews the most popular TV theme songs in history with Gary Portnoy of "Cheers", Christopher Knight from "The Brady Bunch", Fran Drescher from "The Nanny", and composer Kurt Farquhar.

History of the Sitcom - "Working for Laughs" (CNN, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Work families can be even funnier than our biological ones, since the endless array of wacky sitcom characters on the job offers hilarious insights into the state of the American workplace.

Duncanville - "Crimes and Misters Demean Her" (Fox, 7:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Jack coaches Jing's little league soccer team, but when he feels he's too easy on the kids he calls on Duncan to yell at the team to get them to win; Annie takes Kimberly to work with her after she has a falling out with her friends.

HouseBroken - "Who's Going to the Vet?" (Fox, 7:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
After Chief eats Jill's vibrator, he's taken to the vet and ends up leading his own version of group therapy; Tabitha goes to live with The Gray One and learns she has to sing and dance if she wants to survive.

The Simpsons - "The 7 Beer Itch" (Fox, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Marge and the kids take a seaside vacation, Homer is unwittingly tempted by a British femme fatale.

The Great North - "My Fart Will Go on Adventure" (Fox, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
While the family prepares for Wolf and Honeybee's wedding, an unexpected guest RSVPs.

Bob's Burgers - "Y Tu Tina También" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Tina is forced to listen to Spanish audio lessons in the library to improve her grade, she develops an unexpected crush; Louise and Gene want to dunk Mr. Frond at the Wagstaff Spring Fair.

Family Guy - "The Marrying Kind" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Stewie gets a mail order bride and experiences domestic life; Peter and Chris become addicted to free hotel breakfast buffets.

Wellington Paranormal - "She-Wolf" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Officers O'Leary and Minogue investigate what they believe are dog attacks, but stumble upon something more mysterious.

Dead Pixels - "The Chair" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Alison becomes concerned over Meg's physical downturn and tries to sway her to a healthier regime; everyone worries about Nicky.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of July 19)

Friday, July 23

Wanda Sykes (The Upshaws/The New Adventures of Old Christine/Wanda at Large) - Wanda guest hosts a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Kim Fields (The Upshaws/Living Single/The Facts of Life/Baby, I'm Back) - Watch Kim on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Jason Sudeikis (Ted Lasso/Son of Zorn/The Cleveland Show) - Jason will be on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Christine Baranski (Happy Family/Welcome to New York/Cybill) - Christine appears on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Minnie Driver (Speechless/About a Boy) - Minnie is a guest on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Sarah Levy (Schitt's Creek) - Sarah appears on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
Leah Remini (Kevin Can Wait/The Exes/Family Tools/The King of Queens) - Leah is a guest on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.