SitcomsOnline Digest: NBC Renews Trial & Error; Three Cast Members Exit Saturday Night Live

Saturday, May 27, 2017

SitcomsOnline Digest: NBC Renews Trial & Error; Three Cast Members Exit Saturday Night Live

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! The news has died down a bit this week, but we do have one post-upfront renewal for a comedy on NBC, we're hearing about some departures from Saturday Night Live, and we're still trying to figure out what ABC was thinking with that Dirty Dancing revival. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

It took a little while to happen, but NBC ultimately decided to renew Trial & Error for a second season. (Entertainment Weekly)
Viacom's cable networks (which have had significant woes in recent years with declining ratings and being moved to cable packages that few people subscribe to) are going through a realignment, and Deadline has a guide to where you can find some of the original programming that has been or will be moved. (Deadline)
When Saturday Night Live returns in the fall, it will be without three cast members who've been a significant part of the show for several years. (Daily Mail)
ABC hyped their remake of Dirty Dancing one of their highlights for the season, and it did bring in viewers, but it was not very well received by viewers at all. (Vox)
The past few months have caused quite a shakeup in cable ratings, with long-time number three network MSNBC taking top honors and long-time number one network Fox News falling to number three. (Variety)
Jared Martin, best known for his role of Dusty Farlow on Dallas, died this week at age 75. (Hollywood Reporter)
The timing seems a little odd, given that the trial for the star of the series is set to begin soon and jury selection happened this week, but The Cosby Show has returned to cable on TV One (after first returning to the broadcast digital network Bounce TV a few months ago) for the first time in years this week. (SitcomsOnline)

TUESDAY (MAY 30) HOME MEDIA RELEASE

Hart to Hart - The Complete Series (DVD, $159.99): Shout! Factory brings together every season of the classic series (though not the post-series reunion movies) in this set.

FOLLOW ME

Who to Follow: Lauren Adams (Twitter), "Gretchen on Netflix Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. NYC. Pizza. Onassis Comedy. Insta: imlaurenadams."

Claim to Fame: Lauren Adams is not exactly a household name, and you won't find her name in the credits of any broadcast or cable network TV series. But she has found her first claim to fame on the Netflix comedy, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, as well as the Hulu comedy Deadbeat. In Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, she plays Kimmy's fellow former cult member, Gretchen, who often finds herself missing the cult lifestyle and wanting to relive it however she can, something that ultimately leads to an unexpected crossover that we won't spoil here in the third season of the series (now streaming on Netflix). We don't know what's next for her character, but of all of the cult members, her story is interesting enough to have her own spinoff based upon the events in the most recent season of the series. While these may be her first roles, we certainly anticipate that they won't be her last, and we'll be seeing her in more comedy series and movies over the years.

Pick of the Tweets: "Happy unbreakablekimmyschmidt day! So honored to be a part of this show! Enjoy some #bts photos… (link)" (May 19, 2017)

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Monday, December 8

DMV - "The Next Window" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
At the Big Sac holiday party, Colette tries to impress Noa before his single “window” closes. Meanwhile, Barb’s effort to save the East Hollywood DMV backfires when she accidentally tackles the director, but assistant Sally (Leslie Jones) steps in to help.

The Neighborhood - "Welcome to Secrets and Santas" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
The Butlers’ anniversary plans take an unexpected turn when a blast from the past, Calvin’s ex-girlfriend, resurfaces. Meanwhile, Malcolm’s meeting gets hijacked, Marty makes a big move toward commitment and Gemma finds herself caught in a holiday misunderstanding.

St. Denis Medical - "No Wonder His Kidney Wants Out" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Ron and Alex react very differently to a seemingly selfless patient; Joyce runs into an old flame; Matt helps Bruce find a new best friend.

The Paper - "Scam Alert" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Ned chases a story about a local scammer operating through a dating app and realizes he may already have the scoop when he learns Esmeralda was one of his victims; Nicole is full of vengeful glee.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of December 8)

Monday, December 8

Quinta Brunson (Abbott Elementary) - Watch Quinta on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Mila Kunis (Family Guy/That '70s Show) - Mila appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC. She also talks about Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am.
Zooey Deschanel (Physical/New Girl) - Zooey is a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Sabrina Carpenter (Girl Meets World) - Sabrina appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Ashley Park (Emily in Paris/Only Murders in the Building/Girls5eva/Nightcap) - Ashley talks about Emily in Paris on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on Sherri, so check your local listings.
Ana Gasteyer (American Auto/People of Earth/Lady Dynamite/Suburgatory) - Ana chats about Sugar & Booze: A Holiday Spectacular with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Henry Winkler (Barry/Arrested Development/Out of Practice/Monty/Happy Days) - All Access with Linsey Davis sits down with Henry to talk about his life, career and new children's book Detective Duck: The Mystery at Emerald Pond on ABC News Live Prime with Linsey Davis at 7pm.
Mark Hamill (The Texas Wheelers) - Mark talks about The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
Brooke Shields (Suddenly Susan) - Brooke co-hosts NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
Connie Britton (SMILF/Lost at Home/The Fighting Fitzgeralds/Spin City) - Connie tells Sherri about starring in The Family McMullen, the sequel to The Brothers McMullen, on Sherri, so check your local listings.
Reba McEntire (Happy's Place/Malibu Country/Reba) - Reba talks about season two of her hit sitcom Happy's Place on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Justine Lupe (Nobody Wants This/Cristela) - Justine talks about Netflix's Nobody Wants This on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.