SitcomsOnline Digest: Warner to Launch Boomerang Streaming Service; Jon Cryer Joins ABC Pilot

Saturday, March 11, 2017

SitcomsOnline Digest: Warner to Launch Boomerang Streaming Service; Jon Cryer Joins ABC Pilot

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! It's been a nice spring week or a freezing cold winter week (or maybe both) depending upon where you are, but we've got news for you, including a new streaming service for those who like classic cartoons, a Roseanne reunion on The Talk, and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

If you like classic cartoons, Warner is starting a Boomerang streaming service this spring, which will feature favorites from the classics Warner and MGM animation libraries and new series based upon those classics. (Hollywood Reporter)
Jon Cryer is looking to return to TV with a pilot at ABC. (Variety)
The ratings for This is Us just keep getting better, so it would probably be in the best interest of the producers NBC to figure out how to make it last and not become one of those series that flourishes in the beginning and falls apart in the second season. (TV By The Numbers)
Robert Osborne, who has been an on-air movie host for The Movie Channel and later Turner Classic Movies (and even had a brief acting career, though that mostly ended following his appearance in the pilot of The Beverly Hillbillies), died this week at age 84.
A Roseanne reunion of John Goodman and Sara Gilbert aired on The Talk yesterday, and it seems that they would both be willing to do a reboot of Roseanne (although we wouldn't exactly say to expect one). (Deadline)
ABC seems to have found that game shows are one of the best ways to keep some viewers tuned in when the scripted series are taking some time off, and they will be doing that yet again with a new one hosted by Fred Savage. (SitcomsOnline)

TUESDAY (MARCH 14) HOME MEDIA RELEASES

CHiPs - The Complete Fifth Season (DVD, $24.98): Warner Home Video continues this classic series on DVD in this release, just in time for the upcoming feature film.
Newhart - The Final (Eighth) Season (DVD, $29.93): The final season of the classic Bob Newhart sitcom (including the episode which is one of the greatest final episodes of any television series) arrives on DVD in this release.
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt - Season Two (DVD, $22.98): The hit Netflix comedy returns to DVD in this release.

FOLLOW ME

Who to Follow: Sara Gilbert (Twitter), "yeah, it's me"

Claim to Fame: Sara Gilbert is sort of sitcom royalty, in that her grandfather helped createdone of the first big sitcoms, The Honeymooners. And it isn't just sitcoms that her family is involved in. Her siblings Melissa Gilbert and Jonathan Gilbert both appeared on Little House on the Prairie. Sara Gilbert found her own fame in a show that was a lot less wholesome (but a lot more like a middle class family life) as Darlene in Roseanne. She has had other appearances since then, such as a recurring role on ER and the short-lived series Twins on The WB, and she also played the role of Leslie Van Winkle on The Big Bang Theory. That character was mostly written out due to a lack of plot ideas for the character, but she did reappear in it once last year. She doesn't need the work, though, because since 2010, she has been very busy with the successful CBS daytime series The Talk, for which she is the creator, executive producer, and one of the hosts.

Pick of the Tweets: "Just like old times... (link)" (March 10, 2017)

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Thursday, March 12

Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - "A Big Birthday and Tequila Shots" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Mandy struggles to celebrate Georgie’s 21st birthday after hitting a rough patch in her career.

Ghosts - "St. Hetty’s Day 2: The Help" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
A St. Patrick’s Day staffing emergency gives Hetty the chance to step into an unlikely role at the restaurant as she regains her once-a-year ability to be seen and heard by the living. Meanwhile, Kyle returns to watch over the ghosts and finds himself caught in an amusing supernatural dynamic.

Animal Control - "Squirrels and Fat Cats" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Frank uncovers Emily and Shred's secret romance during a break-in at city supply; Victoria and Patel confront his daughter's school bully.

Going Dutch - "Tinker, Tailor, Colonel, Spy" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Rick takes a sabbatical from the CIA and returns to the base, hoping to rekindle his strained relationship with Capt. Maggie; paranoia runs high when a mole is suspected to be operating inside the base.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of March 9)

Thursday, March 12

Will Forte (The Four Seasons/HouseBroken/MacGruber/The Last Man on Earth/The Cleveland Show) - Catch Will on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Minnie Driver (Emily in Paris/Speechless/About a Boy) - Minnie is a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Wanda Sykes (The Upshaws/The New Adventures of Old Christine/Wanda at Large) - Wanda appears on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Robert Smigel (Let's Be Real) - Robert stops by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Kristin Chenoweth (Stumble/Trial & Error/Kristin) - Kristin is a guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Jennifer Tilly (Out of Practice) - Andy Cohen interviews Jennifer on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 10pm on Bravo.
Nathan Lane (Mid-Century Modern/Only Murders in the Building/Modern Family/Charlie Lawrence/Encore! Encore!/One of the Boys) - Nathan talks about Broadway's Death of a Salesman with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Ariana DeBose (Schmigadoon!) - Ariana joins Tamron to talk about her fashion evolution and her role in the all-star cast of the new series Scarpetta on Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
Lauren Graham (The Z-Suite/M.Y.O.B./Conrad Bloom/Townies/Good Company) - Lauren talks about Reminders of Him on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/Cafe Americain/Sydney/One Day at a Time) - NBC's Today catches up with Valerie in the 10am hour.
Phil Rosenthal (Creator of Everybody Loves Raymond) - Phil and Lily Rosenthal join Drew for a taste test of weird foods and talk about their children's book Just Try It! Someplace New! (A Phil & Lil Book) on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.