SitcomsOnline Digest: The Golden Girls, black-ish Coming to Hulu; Diff'rent Strokes to Continue on DVD

Saturday, January 07, 2017

SitcomsOnline Digest: The Golden Girls, black-ish Coming to Hulu; Diff'rent Strokes to Continue on DVD

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! We've got sort of a busy news week this week, with some news literally coming out as we were working on this week's version, including new streaming media deals for Hulu, the cancellation of a Disney Channel series, and more DVDs of a classic favorite. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

Streaming media deals are just as big (if not bigger) than a cable TV network acquiring a TV series these days, and this week, a big favorite was announced: every episode of The Golden Girls is coming to Hulu on February 13, as part of a larger deal with Disney-ABC that also includes black-ish (and perhaps other series that we're not aware of just yet). (Entertainment Weekly)
We reported last week that Girl Meets World had been cancelled, at least according to cast member Rider Strong (and it was denied by producers who said Rider Strong had no clue what he was talking about), but as it turns out, Rider Strong was the one who was correct. (Deadline)
Fox is doing everything it can to make sure The Mick (which had strong ratings for the premiere, mostly thanks to the time slot the network gave it for the debut) succeeds, by giving it another high profile special time slot for an upcoming episode. (Deadline)
One of the big pieces of news this week has been about NBC grabbing Megyn Kelly from Fox News, promising a place for her during the daytime on the broadcast network (as opposed to cable sister MSNBC), and with that means that the network will have to make room for her by getting rid of something. There is some speculation is that what will give is the popular long-running (but falling in ratings) soap opera, Days of Our Lives. (People)
The Carmichael Show is returning to NBC for a third season eventually (no telling when), but the season is in production and learning to keep script ideas fresh despite being in the dark as to how relevant the political scripts will be by the time the episodes actually air. (Deadline)
Conan O'Brien seemed like a hot property six years ago when he got bumped aside by the return of Jay Leno on NBC, but now in a late night comedy world that has changed so much without the "villain" of Leno and the departure and David Letterman, he's not as hot anymore and is in dire need of a way to reinvent his show and brand. (NY Times)
As FX often likes to do with their popular series to promote the newer network, they're now moving Archer from FX to FXX. (SitcomsOnline)

HOME MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

We were never really sure if this day was ever going to come, but it did: finally, Shout! Factory has announced more Diff'rent Strokes on DVD, with the release of Diff'rent Strokes - The Complete Fifth Season, which will arrive on April 4.
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - The Complete Season 11 quietly arrived on DVD this week as a MOD release.

TUESDAY (JANUARY 10) HOME MEDIA RELEASES

https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B01M8PEU5D/happydaysonline5-20

Broad City - Season 3 (DVD, $26.98): Another season of the Comedy Central series arrives in this release

FOLLOW ME

Who to Follow: Amber Stevens West (Twitter), "The Carmichael Show! If the world is your oyster and you can't find your pearl, you can always have lunch!"

Claim to Fame: Amber Stevens West is the daughter of radio personality Shadoe Stevens, who is probably best known for being the replacement for Casey Kasem on American Top 40 for most of the 90s (the period in which Kasem left the series to start his own competing radio program, but then of course Kasem came back to the show in the mid 90s). got her start in small appearances as characters without names in series such as Complete Savages and The Hills, but her first claim to fame came from the ABC Family series Greek. Currently, she plays her most important sitcom role, in the role of Maxine on NBC's The Carmichael Show.

Pick of the Tweets: "Man, I love my job. THE CARMICHAEL SHOW MADE THE LIST! The 20 Best TV Episodes of 2016 (link) via @variety" (December 11, 2016)

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Friday, November 22

Happy's Place - "Happy's House" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Bobbie agrees to take Isabella to Happy's house in search of a connection to their late father, leading Bobbie to worry about what they may find; Gabby hopes to strike it rich by searching through Happy's penny collection looking for a rarity.

Lopez vs Lopez - "Lopez vs Orlando" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
When Rosie's spoiled nephew Orlando visits, Mayan sets out to expose Rosie's cultural gender bias; George wants to teach Chance the value of hard work, but, instead, helps him create a toxic work environment.

Bob Hearts Abishola - "Whacking the Mole" (The CW, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
After Abishola has a romantic dream about Bob, she tries to suppress her feelings for him and pays the price.

Bob Hearts Abishola - "Ralph Lauren and Fish" (The CW, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Bob and Abishola finally go on a proper date, which is interrupted by Dottie's medical emergency.

Bob Hearts Abishola - "Tough Like a Laundromat Washing Machine" (The CW, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Bob hires Abishola to take care of Dottie in his home while she recovers; Dottie has a hard time dealing with her limitations and takes it out on Abishola.

Bob Hearts Abishola - "Useless Potheads" (The CW, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
With Abishola only helping part-time, Bob, Douglas and Christina struggle to take care of Dottie.

Wizards Beyond Waverly Place - "Wiz-Taken Identity" (Disney Channel, 8:00PM ET/PT)
When Billie struggles with a spell, Roman says he could do it if he was a wizard: to prove him wrong, Billie uses a Power Glass to transfer her powers to Roman.

Wizards Beyond Waverly Place - " Ain't Gnome Party Like a Wizard Party" (Disney Channel, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Justin embraces mortality to live with his family; his new challenge arises when Alex introduces Billie, a wizard-in-training, seeking Justin's mentorship.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of November 18)

Friday, November 22

Kerry Washington (UnPrisoned) - Watch Kerry on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Jimmy O. Yang (Interior Chinatown/Space Force/Silicon Valley) - Jimmy is a guest on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Ariana Grande (Sam & Cat/Victorious) - Ariana appears on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Andy Richter (Andy Barker, P.I./Quintuplets/Andy Richter Controls the Universe), Thomas Lennon (The Odd Couple/Sean Saves the World/Reno 911!) and Aparna Nancherla (Lopez vs Lopez/Search Party/Corporate) - Andy, Thomas and Aparna are guests on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
Keke Palmer (Scream Queens/True Jackson, VP) - Keke talks about her new book Master of Me: The Secret to Controlling Your Narrative on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Andrew Rannells (Girls/The New Normal) - Drew is joined by the hilarious Andrew to celebrate all things Thanksgiving on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Rosie Perez (Human Resources/Search Party) - Rosie tells Sherri about her new Apple TV+ psychological thriller Before on Sherri, so check your local listings.
Candace Cameron Bure (Fuller House/Full House) - Candace will be on New York Living on WPIX in New York at 10:15am.