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
Wednesday, April 2
The Conners - "Fame, Flying Fists and Cold Feet" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
The Conners get a taste of fame when their family restaurant is featured in a reality TV show, which inspires Becky to become an influencer. Meanwhile, Jackie and Dan meet with a lawyer, and Darlene connects with someone at The Lobo Lounge.
Abbott Elementary - "Ava Fest: Tokyo Drift" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
The Abbott teachers turn their open house into a carwash to help raise money for the school.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of March 31)
Wednesday, April 2
- Adam DeVine (The Righteous Gemstones/Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin/Workaholics/Modern Family) - Watch Adam on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Michael B. Jordan (The Assistants) - Michael appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC. He also talks about Sinners on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
- Olivia Munn (Perfect Couples) - Olivia is a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
- Hannah Einbinder (Hacks) - Hannah stops by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
- Rob Delaney (Bad Monkey/Catastrophe) - Rob appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Sasheer Zamata (Home Economics/Woke/Robbie) and Greta Titelman (Fantasmas/Search Party/Los Espookys) - Sasheer and Greta are guests on After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
- Wanda Sykes (The Upshaws/The New Adventures of Old Christine/Wanda at Large) - Wanda appears on Everybody's Live with John Mulaney at 10pm on Netflix.
- Jennifer Lopez (South Central) and Jamie Foxx (Dad Stop Embarrassing Me!/The Jamie Foxx Show) - E! News has interviews with Jennifer and Jamie at 11pm on E!.
- Chris Perfetti (Abbott Elementary) - Chris talks about Abbott Elementary on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
- Jenny Slate (The Great North/Big Mouth/Married/Bob's Burgers) - Jenny talks about Dying for Sex with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
- Judy Greer (Kidding/Married/Mad Love/Miss Guided/Arrested Development) - NBC's Today catches up with Judy in the 9am hour.
- Olivia Munn (Perfect Couples) - Olivia guest co-hosts NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
- Glen Powell (Scream Queens) and Kristin Davis (And Just Like That.../Bad Teacher/Sex and the City) - NBC's Today catches up with Glen and Kristin in the 10am hour.
- Tasha Smith (Survival of the Thickest/Tyler Perry's For Better or Worse/The Tom Show/Boston Common) - Tasha, who stars in Netflix's Surival of the Thickest, joins Tamron Hall to discuss how she found her freedom by sharing her story on her own terms and learning to embrace self-love, so check your local listings.
- Gabourey Sidibe (Difficult People/The Big C) - Gabourey talks about starring in the new Lifetime movie Give Me Back My Daughter on Sherri, so check your local listings.
- Seth Rogen (The Studio/Platonic/Undeclared) - Seth is joining Drew to tell her all about his new show The Studio on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
New on DVD and Blu-ray
11/05 - I Love Lucy - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
11/12 - The King of Queens - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (2024 Release)
11/19 - SpongeBob SquarePants - The Complete Fourteenth Season
11/26 - Looney Tunes Collector's Choice - Volume 4 (Blu-ray)
12/03 - Angel (1960-1961) - The Complete Series, Volume 1
12/17 - Seinfeld - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (4K UHD)
01/28 - Wait Till Your Father Gets Home - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/04 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
02/04 - The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series
03/11 - Frasier (2023) - Season Two
04/01 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season
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