SitcomsOnline Digest: Virtual Reality Experience for Simpsons 600th Episode; Coffee Shops Transform Into Luke's Diner

Saturday, October 08, 2016

SitcomsOnline Digest: Virtual Reality Experience for Simpsons 600th Episode; Coffee Shops Transform Into Luke's Diner

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! This week, we've got news about something special for the 600th episode of Fox's longest running animated comedy, the death of an iconic sitcom writer, and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

The 600th episode of The Simpsons is approaching us sooner than expected, and the series is planning a virtual reality experience in connection with it. (Deadline)
Over 200 coffee shops all across the country turned into Luke's Diner (from Gilmore Girls) on Wednesday as part of a special promotion. (LA Times)
Iconic sitcom writer Austin Kalish, who wrote over 100 episodes including the groundbreaking two-part Maude episode "Maude's Dilemma," died this week at age 95. He is survived by his wife (an iconic sitcom writer in her own regard), Irma Kalish. (New York Times)
Saturday Night Live had the best season premiere ratings it has seen in 22 years. (Hollywood Reporter)
getTV is adding a pair of "redneck" sitcoms to their lineup starting Tuesday, with The Jeff Foxworthy Show and The Bill Engvall Show. (SitcomsOnline)

TUESDAY (OCTOBER 11) HOME MEDIA RELEASES

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B01F2NCSJK/ref/nosim/happydaysonline5-20

Mike & Molly - The Complete Series (DVD, $112.99): The recently ended CBS sitcom comes together in one big set with every episode in this release. Season 6 is also available individually.

FOLLOW ME

Who to Follow: Issa Rae (Twitter), "swriter/producer ▪ instagram: http://Instagram.com/issarae ▪ inquire: http://issarae.com/contact"

Claim to Fame: We continue (again) our theme of the stars of the new comedies with something a little different this week, with Issa Rae, who stars in the upcoming HBO comedy Insecure. The series debuts October 9 on the network, although if you subscribe to the network, you can watch the first episode on demand now. In the series, which is actually only the second comedy in the history of television that an African American woman both created and starred in (the first being Wanda Sykes' Wanda at Large), Rae stars as Molly, an attorney who is trying to just live a normal life in that doesn't necessarily see her as that way all the time. The series is, in part, based upon a YouTube series that Rae starred in called Awkward Black Girl.

Pick of the Tweets: "James Marsden is forever fine. I hope he doesn't get cheated on in this. #Westworld" (October 2, 2016)

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Wednesday, April 16

The Conners - "Danny Boy, the Interview, the New Hire, and the Hanging Chad" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Dan sidesteps vulnerable emotions surrounding Roseanne’s death ahead of an upcoming deposition. Meanwhile, Becky prepares for a job interview, and Harris impulsively hires a new server at the Lunch Box.

Abbott Elementary - "Please Touch Museum" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Abbott Elementary goes on a schoolwide field trip to the Please Touch Museum, which has some of the older kids skeptical.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of April 14)

Wednesday, April 16

Rashida Jones (Sunny/BlackAF/Duncanville/Angie Tribeca/Unhitched/The Office) - Watch Rashida on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Kate Hudson (Running Point) - Kate is a guest on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Alan Cumming (Schmigadoon!) - Alan appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Skylar Astin (Ground Floor), Jason Ritter (Another Period/The Class) and Riki Lindhome (Another Period/Enlightened) - Skylar, Jason and Riki are guests on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
Hannibal Buress (Broad City/30 Rock) - Hannibal appears on Everybody's Live with John Mulaney at 10pm on Netflix.
The cast of Abbott Elementary - E! News chats with the cast of Abbott Elementary at 11pm on E!.
Ronny Chieng (Young Rock/Ronny Chieng: International Student) - Ronny hosts Comedy Central's The Daily Show at 11pm.
Michael B. Jordan (The Assistants) - Michael talks about Sinners on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
Hank Azaria (The Simpsons/Brockmire/Free Agents/Herman's Head) - NBC's Today has the Citi Concert Series: Hank Azaria & The EZ Street Band in the 9am hour.
Yvonne Orji (Insecure) - Yvonne talks about Pop the Balloon on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
Soleil Moon Frye (Punky Brewster/Sabrina the Teenage Witch) - Soleil and Angel Carter Conrad, the late Aaron Carter's twin sister, whose new documentary The Carters gives an intimate look inside the Carter family with never-before-seen footage on Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
Lake Bell (Bless This Mess/How to Make it in America/Childrens Hospital) - Lake talks about All About Brains: A Book About People on ABC News Live Prime with Linsey Davis at 7pm.
Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/Café Americain/Sydney/One Day at a Time) - Valerie is joining Drew for a brand-new Drew's News on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Lisa Ann Walter (Abbott Elementary/Emeril) - Lisa talks Abbott Elementary on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.