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 / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Wednesday, April 24

The Conners - "Manifesting, Marriage Testing and Cheeseballs" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
The Conners relish national cheeseball day as a family. Meanwhile, Harris falls behind in her work duties at the Lunch Box, and Darlene and Ben must figure out how to spend time together despite their two separate schedules.

Not Dead Yet - "Not the End Yet" / "Not a Ghost Yet" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Nell finds out that Duncan is selling the SoCal Independent, so she takes matters into her own hands to save her job when Lexi seems unwilling to help. Then, Nell navigates an unexpected incident that leaves the sale of the newspaper on hold.

Animal Control - "Skunks and Swans" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Frank and Shred take on an aggressive swan; Shred has a meet-cute with a mysterious woman; Emily makes a mistake that results in Victoria having very little time to prepare for her big exam; Patel gets his father to help Victoria cram for the test.

Family Guy - "A Stache From the Past" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Peter loses the Griffins' home in a reverse mortgage, he and Mayor West travel to confront the man advertising the scheme, Tom Selleck; Stewie and Brian open a booth at the flea market, leading to a rivalry with Bruce.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of April 22)

Wednesday, April 24

Carol Burnett (Palm Royale/Mad About You/Mama's Family) - Watch Carol on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Nicole Richie (Great News) - Nicole is a guest on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Fred Armisen (Los Espookys/Forever/Final Space) - Fred sits in with The 8G Band on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Lisa Ann Walter (Abbott Elementary/Emeril) and Michaela Watkins (Dinner with the Parents/Search Party/The Unicorn/Casual/Trophy Wife) - Lisa and Michaela are guests on After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
John Early (Search Party) - John appears on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 10:15pm on Bravo.
Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Modern Family/The Class) - Jesse is a guest on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 10:15pm on Bravo.
Tiffany Haddish (The Last O.G./The Carmichael Show) - E! News has an interview with Tiffany at 11pm on E!.
Ronny Chieng (Young Rock/Ronny Chieng: International Student) - Ronny guest co-hosts Comedy Central's The Daily Show at 11pm.
Drew Barrymore (Santa Clarita Diet) - Drew will be on CBS Mornings some time between 7-9am.
Jerry Seinfeld (Seinfeld) - Jerry talks about Unfrosted on ABC's Good Morning America some time between 7-9am and on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
Mayan Lopez (Lopez vs Lopez) - Mayan talks about NBC's Lopez vs Lopez on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
Carrie Preston (Crowded/Happyish/Emeril) - Carrie, a fan-favorite on The Good Wife, tells Sherri about her new show Elsbeth on Sheri, so check your local listings.
Harry Hamlin (Movie Stars) - Harry has a cooking demo on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.