SitcomsOnline Digest: NBC Ready to Bring Back Will & Grace for Limited Series Reboot; black-ish Spinoff in the Works

Saturday, January 21, 2017

SitcomsOnline Digest: NBC Ready to Bring Back Will & Grace for Limited Series Reboot; black-ish Spinoff in the Works

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! The TCA Winter Press Tour has wrapped up this week, with one big highlight coming from NBC. Additionally, there is news of a possible spinoff for black-ish, the death of an NCIS: Los Angeles star, and more.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

Will & Grace is officially coming back as a limited series reboot on NBC, and while we don't know how successful it'll be, some are expecting the somewhat different dynamics of this one compared to other reboots (with the difference being how similar it will be to the original series) might be the recipe for success. (Vulture)
black-ish could be on the verge of getting what every successful sitcom gets: a spinoff. (Deadline)
In many ways, the presidency of the United States can be defined by certain TV series that were popular in the era, from The Dick Van Dyke Show defining the Kennedy administration to Parks & Recreation defining the Obama administration. Vox takes a look at those and everything in between. (Vox)
We're hitting something close to a decade on how long it has been since Nicollette Sheridan was fired from Desperate Housewives, yet the lawsuits still continue. One was dismissed this week. (Deadline)
Actor Miguel Ferrer, who has been appearing on crime dramas going all the way back to Magnum, P.I. and Miami Vice and most recently had a main role on NCIS: Los Angeles, died this week at age 62. (New York Times)
It was announced this week that the cable network Esquire Network will be shutting down and transitioning to an on demand service, and that may also be the future for many other digital cable networks that people aren't really watching. (CNN Money)
Jerry Seinfeld is moving his web series, Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, to Netflix. (SitcomsOnline)

TUESDAY (JANUARY 24) HOME MEDIA RELEASES

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B01N90AT92/happydaysonline8-20

Hooperman - Season One (DVD, $34.99) and Hooperman - Season Two (DVD, $34.99): Both seasons of the 80s comedy-drama series starring John Ritter and created by Steven Bochco and Terry Louise Fischer arrives on DVD in this release.

FOLLOW ME

Who to Follow: Debra Messing (Twitter), "You liked Will & Grace? Miss Perception? Well, Happy New Year: TRAVELERS is streaming right now @netflix!"

Claim to Fame: For our Follow Me last week, we featured Eric McCormack, who played Will on the NBC series Will & Grace. Little did we know that this week, that series would be making news, as NBC announced the limited run reboot, so this week, we're presenting the other half of that duo, Debra Messing (who played Grace). But that series wasn't her first series in which she played a title half of a duo in which the show was named after the characters, as her first regular TV role came in the Fox series that was rather short-lived, but somehow still lives on today in reruns, Ned and Stacey (she played Stacey). In 2012, she had a starring role in the NBC series Smash, a rare series for her in which her character name was not Smash. But most recently, she appeared in the role of Laura on the NBC series The Mysteries of Laura, continuing her tradition of playing title characters in TV series.

Pick of the Tweets: "NOW it's true!! Wasn't official until yesterday!" (in response to the news of the Will & Grace reboot) (January 18, 2016)

Sitcoms Airing Tonight

Wednesday, September 28

The Conners - "Scenes From Two Marriages: The Parrot Doth Protest Too Much" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Jackie moves in with Neville and discovers that being newlyweds produces new problems when Neville shows up to their home with an excess of animals from his vet office. Meanwhile, Darlene and Ben have an argument as Ben points out Darlene is turning into her father.

The Golbergs - "That's a Schwartz Man" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
With both sides of the family eager for answers on Geoff and Erica’s pregnancy, they decide to keep their baby’s sex a surprise. However, a sonagram finding from Lou Schwartz might provide an unexpected discovery. Meanwhile, Adam recruits Glascott to help his mother cope with his departure for NYU; but when he later has a change of heart about heading off to college, he sources a job as the personal assistant to a special celebrity to help lessen the blow when news of his deferred enrollment is delivered to Beverly.

Abbott Elementary - "Wrong Delivery" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT)
After Janine gets a look at the new charter school down the street, she becomes determined to fix up Abbott and make it just as good. As Gregory goes out of his way to avoid Barbara due to an awkward situation with his personal life, and Ava takes to the school library to host a “Shark Tank”-style pitch to decide what to do with the rest of the funds from the grant.

Home Economics - "Melatonin 10 Mg Tablets, $14.99" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Tom begins publicity for his new book as Marina takes on the redesign of Gretchen’s room, which causes a lot of stress at home and in the bedroom. Meanwhile, Sarah, Denise and the kids have to crash at Connor’s house when their apartment floods, much to Lupe’s chagrin.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of September 26)

Wednesday, September 28

Mila Kunis (Family Guy/That '70s Show) - Watch Mila on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC. She talks about Luckiest Girl Alive on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am.
Ramy Youssef (Ramy/See Dad Run) - Ramy appears on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Timothy Olyphant (Santa Clarita Diet) - Timothy is a guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Max Greenfield (The Neighborhood/New Girl/Modern Men) - Max will be on The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Mayim Bialik (Call Me Kat/The Big Bang Theory/Blossom) - Mayim is a guest on The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Rosie O'Donnell (SMILF/Stand By Your Man/Gimme a Break!) - Rosie appears on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
Tyler James Williams (Abbott Elementary/Go On/Everybody Hates Chris) - Tyler is a guest on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
Kim Coles (Living Single/The Geena Davis Show) - Kim talks about her new series Finding Happy on Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
George Clooney (Roseanne/The Facts of Life/ E/R (1984-1985) - George and Amal Clooney are guests on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
Sherri Shepherd (Mr. Iglesias/Trial & Error/Sherri/Less Than Perfect) - Sherri appears on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
Vanessa Lachey (Truth Be Told/Dads) - Vanessa is a guest on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
Jaime Camil (Schmigadoon!/Broke) - Jaime talks about Netflix's El Rey: Vicente Fernandez on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
Lio Tipton (Manhattan Love Story) - Lio appears on PIX 11 Morning News on WPIX in New York at 9:40am.