SitcomsOnline Digest: ABC Orders Four Pilots for Fall Season; Dynasty Reboot at The CW Gets Pilot Order

Saturday, January 28, 2017

SitcomsOnline Digest: ABC Orders Four Pilots for Fall Season; Dynasty Reboot at The CW Gets Pilot Order

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! Sadly, it's been a busy week of deaths for classic TV stars, including two of the biggest ones from the 70s. Also, we have news of comedy pilot orders at ABC and a pilot order for a reboot of a classic primetime soap opera on The CW. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

ABC has been busy ordering comedy pilots for the fall season, including one that stars (and is also produced and directed by) Scrubs alum Zach Braff. (Hollywood Reporter)
We're sort of eager to see how such a quintessentially 80s show would work in 2017, as The CW has ordered a pilot for a reboot of Dynasty. (Entertainment Weekly)
NBC is turning 90 (to be clear, the earlier years were as a radio network), and they're getting a special to celebrate those 90 years. (Hollywood Reporter)
Actor Mike Connors, who played the title role on Mannix, has died at age 91. (Washington Post)
Actress Barbara Hale, best known for her role as Della Street on Perry Mason, has died at age 94. (Variety)
Mary Tyler Moore, of course, also died this week, and there are plenty of tributes to her to be found. (SitcomsOnline)
Law & Order: SVU is known for ripping stories out of headlines, and the latest one that they've decided to do their take on is the story of former Fox News executive Roger Ailes and anchor Gretchen Carlson. (TVLine)
Despite the fact that the kids on the show are now all adults and a one of cast members (Charlie McDermott) almost leaving the series two years ago when he was cast in a pilot that didn't go forward at CBS, the ABC sitcom The Middle continues to thrive and has been renewed for a ninth season. (SitcomsOnline)

TUESDAY (JANUARY 31) HOME MEDIA RELEASES

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B01LTHYRH4/happydaysonline8-20

Ballers - The Complete Second Season (DVD, $29.99; Blu-ray, $34.98): The second season of the HBO series starring Dwayne Johnson arrives to home media in this release.

FOLLOW ME

Who to Follow: Atticus Shaffer (Twitter), "Count all the hours lost which are not accompanied by some worthy deed. I am a huge nerd and a homesteader who enjoys the simple things in life."

Claim to Fame: With news that The Middle has been renewed for a ninth season, we thought we'd get to the youngest kid on the series... who himself is no longer truly a kid (though his smaller stature has had him aging at a slower pace than the rest of the family on the series), as he turned 18 years old last year. Nonetheless, he still plays youngest son Brick on the series. Previously, he had guest roles in series such as The Class, Days of Our Lives, and My Name is Earl. While he has a regular role on The Middle now, he has been doing voice work lately as well, including the voice of Ono in the Disney Junior series The Lion Guard.

Pick of the Tweets: "First day of High School for Brick! Yay!!!" (October 11, 2016)

Sitcoms Airing Tonight

Monday, April 19

The Neighborhood - "Welcome to the Hero" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Dave earns Calvin’s respect when he thwarts a robbery at the barbershop, until the recognition goes to his head and he starts exaggerating the truth. Also, Marty invites an anxious Gemma to give his new stress-busting hobby a try.

Bob Hearts Abishola - "A Tough Old Bird" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Bob and Abishola try to help a sad and volatile Kemi who, after being dumped by Chukwuemeka, struggles with the possibility that her happiest days might be behind her.

Breeders - "No Choice" (FX, 10:00PM ET/PT)
Ally is under huge pressure, but no one seems to want to listen to her; Jim and Jackie are excited about a possible move to the coast and, much to Paul's surprise, so is he.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of April 19)

Monday, April 19

Michael Strahan (Brothers) - Watch Michael on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Tig Notaro (One Mississippi) - Tig appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Ron Funches (Hoops/Final Space/Powerless/Undateable) - Ron is a guest on The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation) - Nick will be on A Little Late with Lilly Singh at 1:35am on NBC.
Ted Danson (Mr. Mayor/The Good Place/Help Me Help You/Becker/Cheers) - Ted appears on a repeat of Conan at 11pm on TBS.
Debi Mazar (Younger/Entourage/Working) - Debi talks about the final season of Younger on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
Olivia Holt (I Didn't Do It/Kickin' It) - Olivia will be on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
Michelle Buteau (First Wives Club) - Michelle appears on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
Kenan Thompson (Kenan/Kenan & Kel) - Kenan is a guest on The Real, so check your local listings.
John Stamos (Fuller House/Grandfathered/Jake in Progress/Full House/You Again?) - John will be on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
Cristin Milioti (Made for Love/A to Z/How I Met Your Mother) - Cristin appears on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
Terry Crews (Brooklyn Nine-Nine/Are We There Yet?/Everybody Hates Chris) - Terry and his wife Rebecca discuss their memoir detailing secrets of their marriage, Stronger Together, on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Danica McKellar (The Wonder Years) - Danica discusses her new Hallmark Channel movie Matchmaker Mysteries: The Art of the Kill on Home & Family on Hallmark Channel at 11am ET/PT.
Ed Helms (Rutherford Falls/The Office) - Ed talks about Peacock's Rutherford Falls on NBC's Today in the 9am hour.