SitcomsOnline Digest: Modern Family Close to Ninth Season Renewal; Second Season of What I Like About You Coming to DVD on Tuesday

Saturday, March 04, 2017

SitcomsOnline Digest: Modern Family Close to Ninth Season Renewal; Second Season of What I Like About You Coming to DVD on Tuesday

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! This week, we're finding that Modern Family is very close to renewal for a ninth season (though lots of details still need to be worked out), we're hearing of Arnold Schwarzenegger quitting or being fired (we don't really know) from Celebrity Apprentice, and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

Modern Family is still doing well and very close to being picked up for a ninth season, but getting the details worked out for a show that is only a short-term investment for broadcaster ABC and a long-term investment for distributor Fox is becoming a bigger challenge every year. (Deadline)
There is no word on whether or not Celebrity Apprentice will be back, but if it does return, it will be without Arnold Schwarzenegger. And while Schwarzenegger claims that it was his choice to quit, somebody on Twitter (we'll let you guess who that is) is claiming he was fired. (Hollywood Reporter)
Logo's flagship series, RuPaul's Drag Race, is returning for a ninth season, except episodes will debut on VH-1 before airing on Logo this time around, leaving some to wonder what this means for the future of Logo. (AV Club)
If you enjoy made for TV movies, particularly those involving reunions of TV series from the past, the digital broadcaster Decades has a solid week of movies coming up next week. (SitcomsOnline)
We already mentioned that Antenna TV would be featuring a Three's Company 40th anniversary marathon a few weeks ago, and it seems that Logo is getting in on the 40th anniversary action as well. (SitcomsOnline)

HOME MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

It's very short notice, but What I Like About You - The Complete Second Season arrives on DVD on Tuesday from Warner Archive.
TVShowsOnDVD.com is reporting a release of the series It's About Time (which has been airing on Antenna TV) sometime this spring.

TUESDAY (MARCH 7) HOME MEDIA RELEASES

Mama's Family - Mama's Favorite Collection

The Jamie Foxx Show - The Complete Second Season (DVD, $29.99): It has been over a decade since we saw the first season of this sitcom on DVD (released at the time when Warner Home Video was aggressively releasing the first season of several series just in time for the 50th anniversary as a television studio), and now Warner Archive is finally releasing the second season.
Mama's Family - Mama's Favorites Collection (DVD, $69.95): If you just want some of the "best" episodes of the classic Vicki Lawrence series, this set is for you, although we would personally recommend spending just a little bit more to purchase the entire series.
That '70s Show - The Complete Series (Flashback Edition) (Blu-ray, $99.98): Mill Creek re-releases the series on Blu-ray in this release.
What I Like About You - The Complete Second Season (DVD, $29.99): Another seemingly abandoned series from Warner Home Video arrives on DVD in this release from Warner Archive.

FOLLOW ME

Who to Follow: Brock Ciarlelli (Twitter), "Brad Bottig on @TheMiddle_ABC, Tuesdays, 8pm/7c! Im a big advocate for iced coffee, alternating between being the big and little spoon, and children on leashes"

Claim to Fame: Brock Ciarlelli is not at all a household name to TV viewers, but if you watch the long-running ABC sitcom The Middle, you'd know exactly who he is: he plays the role of Brad, one of Sue's friends (and a former boyfriend of hers, even though he was gay and everybody seemed to notice except Sue). As the series has progressed, his character actually did "come out" in the seventh season. It's worth pointing out, though, that acting isn't his only skill set. While playing on The Middle, he has also managed to find time on the side to begin and finish a college degree in mathematics at Chapman University. He also has sort of a side project going, as he will be appearing in the second season of the YouTube shorts called Valet, which will debut tomorrow (if you've got a half hour to spare, you can watch the first season, which did not include him, here). We have no idea what will be next for him after The Middle (which we assume he'll continue to play his recurring role on as long as the series continues, and it has already been renewed for next season), but it seems like he may have a future in comedy in some form.

Pick of the Tweets: "My new fave hobby might be arriving early at LAX & people watch at the airport bar. I used to do it w/ coffee but beer makes it a lot better" (November 23, 2016)

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Wednesday, July 2

Shifting Gears - "Restoration" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Matt, the widowed owner of a classic car restoration shop, is confronted with his most unexpected and challenging project yet when his estranged daughter, Riley, and her adolescent children come crashing back into his life.

Shifting Gears - "Accommodations" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Matt joins Riley at Carter’s high school open house, where he’s unsettled to learn about the “accommodations” made for his grandson’s anxiety. Meanwhile, Riley reconnects with Caitlin, a former classmate, and sets her up with Gabriel.

Shifting Gears - "Grief" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Riley discovers a closet filled with her late mother’s clothes, she insists Matt hasn’t processed her death and urges him to see a grief counselor. Meanwhile, Gabriel faces a crisis of confidence when he’s put in charge of the shop for a day.

Shifting Gears - "Valentine's" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
A Valentine’s Day visit to his late wife’s grave sparks an unexpected connection for Matt in an unlikely place. Meanwhile, Riley is thrust into the spotlight for a promotional video at the dance studio.

Tyler Perry's House of Payne - "Protector in Chief" (BET, 9:00PM ET/PT)
House of Payne is the hilarious comedy about Retired fire chief Curtis Payne and his lovely wife Ella.

Tyler Perry's Assisted Living - "Speed Demons" (BET, 9:30PM ET/PT)
After losing his job, Jeremy decides to move to the backwoods of Georgia to help his grandfather, who has purchased a rundown home for the elderly.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of June 30)

Wednesday, July 2

Will Arnett (Murderville/Arrested Development/Flaked/The Millers/Up All Night/Running Wilde), Jason Bateman (Arrested Development/George and Leo/Chicago Sons/Simon/The Hogan Family/It's Your Move/Silver Spoons) and Sean Hayes (Will & Grace/The Millers/Sean Saves the World) - Watch Will, Jason and Sean on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Henry Winkler (Barry/Arrested Development/Out of Practice/Monty/Happy Days) - Henry is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Monica Barbaro (FUBAR) - Monica appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Owen Thiele (Overcompensating), Amita Rao (Deli Boys) and Malik Elassal (Adults) - Owen, Amita and Malik are guests on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
Glen Powell (Scream Queens) - NBC's Today catches up with Glen in the 10am hour.
Casey Wilson (The Righteous Gemstones/Black Monday/The Hotwives/Marry Me/Happy Endings) - Casey talks about The Great American Baking Show on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/One Day at a Time) - The Drew Barrymore Show has a repeat their skincare show and Drew and Valerie Bertinelli are talking all things moisturizers and hydration with board certified dermatologist and TikTok sensation Dr. Shereene Idriss.
Joe Manganiello (How I Met Your Mother) - Joe talks about Netflix's Nonnas on a repeat of Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.