SitcomsOnline Digest: ABC Orders Pilot for Sitcom Starring Carol Burnett; Lou Grant to Wrap Up on DVD

Saturday, February 18, 2017

SitcomsOnline Digest: ABC Orders Pilot for Sitcom Starring Carol Burnett; Lou Grant to Wrap Up on DVD

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! This week, we're learning (a little bit) about the pilots for the fall, some news of a big renewal that is supposedly in the works for The Big Bang Theory, and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

ABC has ordered a pilot for Household Name, a sitcom that would star Carol Burnett and has a little bit of a similar idea to Hot in Cleveland. (TVLine)
James Burrows isn't any closer to retirement, as he will be directing an upcoming pilot for NBC, and another one for CBS. (Deadline)
The Big Bang Theory remains a powerful and dominant force on the CBS lineup, but every show has a bad day, and this week, the ratings for the latest episode (though still better than anything else it was competing against) hit a low not seen since the first season. (Hollywood Reporter)
The ratings decline for The Big Bang Theory, however, probably isn't worth worrying about, as it is close to receiving a renewal for two more seasons. (Variety)
Netflix has set May 19 as the date for the premiere of the third season of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. (Deadline)
Three's Company is turning 40 years old next month, and Antenna TV is ready to celebrate. (SitcomsOnline)

HOME MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

We're honestly a little surprised to see that it is being completed on DVD before Rhoda (which has been stalled with no sign that the final season will ever be released), but Shout! Factory will be finishing up another successful spinoff of The Mary Tyler Moore Show with Lou Grant - The Final Season on May 9.

TUESDAY (FEBRUARY 21) HOME MEDIA RELEASES

Grace and Frankie - Season Two (DVD, $29.98): The Netflix series returns to DVD in this release.

FOLLOW ME

Who to Follow: Tim Conway (Twitter), "I used to be Tim Conway: co-star of The Carol Burnett Show, McHale's Navy & The Kardashians. I am 6'-2, the camera shortens me."

Claim to Fame: Tim Conway first became known to TV audiences on The Steve Allen Show and eventually made his way over to a regular role on McHale's Navy. His next role (which was one his biggest ones) came in 1975, when he was added to the cast of The Carol Burnett Show. Even though he was only a regular for the final three (out of eleven total) seasons, it was in that role where he gained some of his greatest fame and earned five Emmy Awards. Since then, he has done more along the lines of guest roles, with prominent ones including playing Peggy Bundy's father on Married... with Children, a recurring role on Yes, Dear, and to this day, he continues to do the voice of Barnacle Boy on Spongebob Squarepants. His role in Spongebob Squarepants allowed him to reunite with his McHale's Navy costar, Ernest Borgnine, until Borgnine's death.

Pick of the Tweets: "My partner in crime in animation, TV and life. Ernie Borgnine would have been 100 this week, I miss you my friend and your way of life. (pic)" (January 26, 2017)

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Thursday, July 3

Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - "A Sportsbook and a Breakup" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Mandy finds out Meemaw runs an illegal sportsbook and decides she wants in on the action. Meanwhile, Georgie struggles to keep Mandy’s new job a secret.

Ghosts - "His Girl Shiki" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Pete makes good on his promise to find someone for Sasappis by bringing in a wisecracking 1940s screenwriter who also has the ability to roam.

Bob's Burgers - "The Shell Game" (Fox, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Bob competes in a competition to inherit Mr. Fischoeder's 100-year-old tortoise.

Grimsburg - "Molly" (Fox, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Flute forgets to buy Stan a gift for his birthday, he steals an AI doll from the evidence locker; Wynona is forced to confront her ex-boyfriend.

Family Guy - "Row v. Wade" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Brian wins a boat on "The Price is Right" and decides to sail to Texas to help women seeking legal abortions.

The Great North - "Silence of the Dams Adventure" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Honeybee accidentally revives an old Lone Moose curse, sending a terrifying creature after her and the Tobins.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of June 30)

Thursday, July 3

Steve Martin (Only Murders in the Building) - Catch Steve on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Zach Cherry (Duncanville/I Feel Bad/Crashing) - Zach is a guest on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Joel McHale (Animal Control/The Great Indoors/Community) - Joel appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Sandy Honig (Three Busy Debras), Mitra Jouhari (Clone High/Three Busy Debras) and Alyssa Stonoha (Three Busy Debras) - Sandy, Mitra and Alyssa are guests on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
Rob Lowe (Unstable/The Grinder/Parks and Recreation/A New Kind of Family) - Rob discusses cancer research and how it changed his life with GMA lifestyle contributor Lori Bergamotto on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
Laurence Fishburne (black-ish) - Laurence chats with the ladies of The View on a repeat on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Justin Bartha (The New Normal/Teachers) - Justin talks about Nuked on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am and on CBS Mornings Plus in the 9am hour.
Brooke Shields (Suddenly Susan) - Brooke guest co-hosts NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
Adam Scott (Ghosted/Veep/Parks and Recreation/Party Down), Britt Lower (Ghosted/Man Seeking Woman/Big Lake) and Ben Stiller (Arrested Development) - Adam, Britt and Ben talk about Severance on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.