black-ish Heads to Syndication in Fall 2018; Ellen's Coming Out Episode on ABC Throwback

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.

Ellen

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

Thursday, July 3

Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - "A Sportsbook and a Breakup" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Mandy finds out Meemaw runs an illegal sportsbook and decides she wants in on the action. Meanwhile, Georgie struggles to keep Mandy’s new job a secret.

Ghosts - "His Girl Shiki" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Pete makes good on his promise to find someone for Sasappis by bringing in a wisecracking 1940s screenwriter who also has the ability to roam.

Bob's Burgers - "The Shell Game" (Fox, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Bob competes in a competition to inherit Mr. Fischoeder's 100-year-old tortoise.

Grimsburg - "Molly" (Fox, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Flute forgets to buy Stan a gift for his birthday, he steals an AI doll from the evidence locker; Wynona is forced to confront her ex-boyfriend.

Family Guy - "Row v. Wade" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Brian wins a boat on "The Price is Right" and decides to sail to Texas to help women seeking legal abortions.

The Great North - "Silence of the Dams Adventure" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Honeybee accidentally revives an old Lone Moose curse, sending a terrifying creature after her and the Tobins.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of June 30)

Thursday, July 3

Steve Martin (Only Murders in the Building) - Catch Steve on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Zach Cherry (Duncanville/I Feel Bad/Crashing) - Zach is a guest on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Joel McHale (Animal Control/The Great Indoors/Community) - Joel appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Sandy Honig (Three Busy Debras), Mitra Jouhari (Clone High/Three Busy Debras) and Alyssa Stonoha (Three Busy Debras) - Sandy, Mitra and Alyssa are guests on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
Rob Lowe (Unstable/The Grinder/Parks and Recreation/A New Kind of Family) - Rob discusses cancer research and how it changed his life with GMA lifestyle contributor Lori Bergamotto on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
Laurence Fishburne (black-ish) - Laurence chats with the ladies of The View on a repeat on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Justin Bartha (The New Normal/Teachers) - Justin talks about Nuked on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am and on CBS Mornings Plus in the 9am hour.
Brooke Shields (Suddenly Susan) - Brooke guest co-hosts NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
Adam Scott (Ghosted/Veep/Parks and Recreation/Party Down), Britt Lower (Ghosted/Man Seeking Woman/Big Lake) and Ben Stiller (Arrested Development) - Adam, Britt and Ben talk about Severance on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.