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

Thursday, December 9

Young Sheldon - "The Yips and an Oddly Hypnotic Bohemian" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Sheldon gets the science yips and has to learn how to not think. Also, George Sr. plays handyman at Brenda Sparks’ house.

United States of Al - "Christmas / Krismis" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Vanessa becomes upset when Riley invites his new girlfriend to a family Christmas party. Also, Art is uncomfortable when Lois gets him an incredibly expensive sweater as a gift.

Ghosts - "Possession" (CBS, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Hetty accidentally possesses Jay’s body just as he and Sam are to about show Woodstone Mansion to a renowned wedding planner.

B Positive - "A Dog, a Mousse and a Bat" (CBS, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Gina promises to help Harry give his ailing wife a special anniversary dinner. Also, Drew connects with a charming young woman while on the road.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of December 6)

Thursday, December 9

Will Forte (MacGruber/The Last Man on Earth/The Cleveland Show) - Catch Will on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Miley Cyrus (Hannah Montana) - Miley appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Michael B. Jordan (The Assistants) - Michael is a guest on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS. He talks about his new movie A Journal for Jordan on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your local listings. He chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Hannah Waddingham (Ted Lasso) - Hannah will be on The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Rachel Dratch (30 Rock) and Ana Gasteyer (American Auto/Lady Dynamite/Suburgatory) - Rachel and Ana are guests on Watch What Happens: Live at 10:30pm on Bravo.
Nicholas Braun (10 Things I Hate About You) - Nicholas is a guest on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
Eugenio Derbez (Acapulco/Rob) - Eugenio appears on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
Kristin Davis (And Just Like That.../Sex and the City) and Nicole Ari Parker (And Just Like That.../Second Time Around) - Kristin and Nicole talk about the next chapter of the iconic TV series Sex and the City on Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
Ariana DeBose (Schmigadoon!) - Ariana discusses playing Anita in the highly anticipated new film West Side Story on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Brooke Shields (Suddenly Susan) - Brooke is a guest on a repeat of Rachael Ray, so check your local listings.
Cristela Alonzo (Cristela) - Cristela talks about Lifetime's Holiday in Santa Fe on Access Daily, so check your local listings.
Sara Ramirez, Sarita Choudhury, Nicole Ari Parker and Karen Pittman (And Just Like That...) - Sara, Sarita, Nicole and Karen talk about And Just Like That... on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.