Monday, May 01, 2017
black-ish Heads to Syndication in Fall 2018; Ellen's Coming Out Episode on ABC Throwback
Disney/ABC has sold the off-network syndication rights for ABC's critically acclaimed comedy series black-ish by licensing it to broadcast syndication along with cable on BET Networks in a shared window with FX Networks. black-ish will launch on all three in fall 2018. The show has been cleared in 90% of the country so far for broadcast syndication with Tribune Broadcasting (WPIX, KTLA, WGN, etc) as the core station group. But wait there's more, Hulu recently picked up black-ish's SVOD rights. black-ish is currently in season three and is certain to get a fourth-season renewal by ABC. On the cable front, the comedy can air on BET Network's BET or Centric and FX Network's FX or FXX. We will know soon.
Andre "Dre" Johnson and his physician wife, Rainbow, are living the American dream: great careers, four beautiful kids and a home in an upper middle class neighborhood. With a little help from Pops and Ruby, Dre sets out to establish a sense of cultural identity for his family that honors their past while embracing the future. Loosely based on show-creator Kenya Barris' life, the series tackles a wide array of timely social issues with humor and humanity. black-ish stars Anthony Anderson, Tracee Ellis Ross, Laurence Fishburne, Yara Shahidi, Marcus Scribner, Miles Brown, Marsai Martin, Jenifer Lewis and Peter Mackenzie.
Yesterday (Sunday, April 30) was the 20th anniversary of the historic coming-out episode of the Ellen sitcom on ABC. All episodes of the series are available now to stream for free/no sign in required in the Throwbacks section of the ABC app for desktop, mobile and connected TV devices. In "The Puppy Episode - Parts 1 & 2," Ellen senses a kindred spirit when she meets a gay woman who enlightens her to her own sexual identity. Confused by this startling self-discovery, Ellen seeks the guidance of a therapist and braces herself for yet another moment of truth: telling her friends. "The Puppy Episode" features special guests Oprah Winfrey, Laura Dern, Demi Moore, Melissa Etheridge, Billy Bob Thornton, Dwight Yoakam and k.d. lang.
Ellen, which aired on The ABC Television Network from 1994-1998, featured DeGeneres as Ellen Morgan, a single woman whose day-to-day routine wouldn't be complete without checking in with her extended family of equally single friends. This close-knit group of spirited individuals looks out for each other but they are not above butting into each other's business when it's for their own good. The series was produced by Carol Black, Neal Marlens and David S. Rosenthal and co-stars Jeremy Piven, Joely Fisher, Clea Lewis and David Anthony Higgins.
Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows
Monday, May 5
The Neighborhood - "Welcome to Pomp and Circumstance" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Tina and Gemma plan a joint graduation party for Malcolm and Grover, on part one of the hour-long seventh season finale.
The Neighborhood - "Welcome to Venice" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
The Butlers and Johnsons help Malcolm start a new chapter in a new city that, while just across town, is worlds away from the neighborhood, on part two of the hour-long seventh season finale.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of May 5)
Monday, May 5
- David Spade (Rules of Engagement/8 Simple Rules/Just Shoot Me!) - Watch David on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC. He also chats about his new comedy special Dandelion on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
- Jim Gaffigan (The Jim Gaffigan Show/My Boys/The Ellen Show/Welcome to New York) - Jim appears on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
- Chloe Fineman (Big Mouth/Search Party) - Chloe is a guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Connie Britton (SMILF/Lost at Home/The Fighting Fitzgeralds/Spin City) - Connie appears on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 9pm on Bravo.
- Will Forte (The Four Seasons/HouseBroken/MacGruber/The Last Man on Earth/The Cleveland Show) - Will stops by Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 9pm on Bravo.
- Hugh Jackman (Human REsources) - Hugh chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
- Wanda Sykes (The Upshaws/The New Adventures of Old Christine/Wanda at Large) - Wanda stops by to talk about marriage, motherhood, and her latest comedy tour, Please and Thank You, on Sherri, so check your local listings.
- Melissa Rauch (Night Court/The Big Bang Theory) - Melissa talks about Netflix's Night Court on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
New on DVD and Blu-ray
01/28 - Wait Till Your Father Gets Home - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/04 - The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series
03/11 - Frasier (2023) - Season Two
04/01 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season
05/13 - The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* (missing 4 episodes and some music has been replaced or altered)
06/06 - Shoresy - Season 2
06/17 - Looney Tunes - Collector's Vault - Volume 1 (Blu-ray)
07/08 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD and Blu-ray Releases / TV Shows on DVD, Blu-ray and Prime Video / DVD Reviews Archive
Recent SitcomsOnline.com News Blog Posts