SitcomsOnline Digest: Spike TV Prepares to Rebrand as Paramount Network; Netflix Continues to Evolve

Saturday, April 01, 2017

SitcomsOnline Digest: Spike TV Prepares to Rebrand as Paramount Network; Netflix Continues to Evolve

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! This week, we're learning more about Spike TV's 2018 rebranding as Paramount Network, some popular shows are leaving Netflix, and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

Spike TV is rebranding as Paramount Network next year, and with it comes some new original programming, including some that was previously planned for TV Land. (Variety)
The cast of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air reunited this week and took what seemed to be a touching cast reunion photo, but that reunion was overshadowed by Janet Hubert (the original Aunt Viv, who was not part of that reunion) returning to Facebook to do what she spends plenty of time doing: to slam the cast, and to call Alfonso Ribiero a few names that we won't repeat here (but you can read them in the article). (Entertainment Weekly)
Several popular TV series that were added to Netflix back in 2010 (when streaming TV series was relatively new) are leaving Netflix, and it looks as if this may be the true beginning of Netflix moving much more into original programming and further away from older TV series. (Vox)
On the surface, it may seem inconsequential that the FCC has auctioned off blocks of airwaves currently used for TV broadcasting to other interests, but in reality, it means that there will be less room for broadcast diginets such as Antenna TV, This TV, or MeTV. While those three would be strong candidates for survival, there are dozens of others out there that probably will not survive, at least not as broadcast networks. (Deadline)
The late night talk show wars have taken a surprising shift in recent months, with Stephen Colbert overtaking Jimmy Fallon in total viewers (though Fallon still holds the edge in viewers age 18-49). (Variety)
The Mindy Project will end after the sixth season, which begins in September. (SitcomsOnline)

TUESDAY (APRIL 4) HOME MEDIA RELEASES

Diff'rent Strokes - The Complete Fifth Season

Diff'rent Strokes - The Complete Fifth Season (DVD, $19.97): The series has been stalled on DVD for years, and it seemed to be abandoned, but Shout! Factory has returned the series to DVD with this release.

FOLLOW ME

Who to Follow: Adam Pally (Twitter)

Claim to Fame:Adam Pally was born in New York and knew he wanted to act early on. He got his first role in 2011 on the ABC series Happy Endings, where he played Max Blum. As soon as that ended, he was able to immediately hop over to The Mindy Project, where he played another regular role, as Dr. Prentice. As we mentioned today, that series is also coming to an end soon, but he is safe for now, because he now stars as Dan Chambers in Fox's new series, Making History.

Pick of the Tweets: "Y'all like the early 90's? I didn't but now I dooooooooo and you will tooooooo (pic)" (March 26, 2017)

Sitcoms Airing Tonight

Tuesday, July 7

Live in Front of a Studio Audience: All in the Family and Good Times - (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
“Live in Front of a Studio Audience: ‘All in the Family’ and ‘Good Times’,” the holiday-inspired live event that captivated audiences back in December, is set to rebroadcast on ABC, TUESDAY, JULY 7 (8:00-9:30 p.m. EDT). Produced by Sony Pictures Television, “Live in Front of a Studio Audience: ‘All in the Family’ and ‘Good Times’” recreates installments of Norman Lear and Bud Yorkin’s Emmy® Award-winning series “All in the Family” and groundbreaking sitcom “Good Times,” created by Mike Evans, Eric Monte and developed by Lear.

All-star cast members taking on the famed “All in the Family” roles include Woody Harrelson, Marisa Tomei, Ellie Kemper and Ike Barinholtz reprising their iconic roles as Archie and Edith Bunker, Gloria Stivic and Meathead, along with Kevin Bacon as Pinkie Peterson, Jesse Eisenberg as David Brewster and Justina Machado as Teresa Bettencourt.

A lineup of all-star talent tackling “Good Times” roles include Viola Davis and Andre Braugher as Florida Evans and James Evans, Jay Pharoah as J.J Evans, Asante Blackk as Michael Evans, Corinne Foxx as Thelma Evans and Tiffany Haddish as Willona Woods. Jharrel Jerome also stars as Jimmy Pearson, while ABC’s Anthony Anderson and the legendary Patti LaBelle join forces for a show-stopping musical performance.

black-ish - "Boss Daddy" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Dre’s torn at the office between looking out for Junior as his dad or letting him make his own mistakes. Meanwhile, Jack loses a friendship after trying to look cool in front of the basketball team.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of July 6)

Tuesday, July 7

Anthony Anderson (black-ish/Guys with Kids/All About the Andersons) - Anthony guest hosts Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
D.L. Hughley (The Hughleys) - Catch D.L. on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Demi Lovato (Sonny with a Chance) - Demi appears on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Patton Oswalt (A.P. Bio/The Goldbergs/The King of Queens) - Patton is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Ray Romano (Everybody Loves Raymond) - Ray appears on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Lauren Ash (Superstore/Super Fun Night) - Lauren is a guest on a repeat of A Little Late with Lilly Singh at 1:35am on NBC.
Ben Feldman (Superstore/A to Z/Living with Fran) - Ben appears on a repeat of A Little Late with Lilly Singh at 1:35am on NBC.
Rob Lowe (The Grinder/Parks and Recreation) - Rob is a guest on Conan at 11pm on TBS.
Yvette Nicole Brown (The Mayor/The Odd Couple/Community) - Yvette chats with the ladies of The View on a repeat on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Denise Richards (Blue Mountain State) - Denise appears on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
Jada Pinkett Smith (A Different World) - Jada is a guest on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
Ron Funches (Final Space/Powerless/Undateable) - Ron appears on a repeat of The Real, so check your local listings.
Sherri Shepherd (Mr. Iglesias/Trial & Error/Sherri/Less Than Perfect) - Sherri is a guest on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
Kym Whitley (Young & Hungry/Animal Practice/Sparks) - Kym will be on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
Paul Reiser (The Kominsky Method/Mad About You/Red Oaks/My Two Dads) - Paul appears on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
Jim Carrey (Kidding/The Duck Factory) - Jim talks about Memoirs and Misinformation on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
Tom Hanks (Bosom Buddies) - Tom is a guest on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am and in the 10am hour.
Kristen Bell (The Good Place) - Kristen talks about The World Needs More Purple People on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.