SitcomsOnline Digest: Time to Reboot Northern Exposure?; Ned and Stacey Complete Series DVDs on the Way

Saturday, June 10, 2017

SitcomsOnline Digest: Time to Reboot Northern Exposure?; Ned and Stacey Complete Series DVDs on the Way

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! This week, we're hearing that the stars of Northern Exposure want a reboot (but first they need people and a network to be interested in one), we're hearing news of the death of a classic TV icon, and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

If everything else in the world gets a reboot, why not go ahead and reboot Northern Exposure too? Nobody has any plans to do so for the time being, but at least the cast is interested. (Hollywood Reporter)
A bit of unexpected sad news to report today, as Adam West, who is best known for play Batman, and most recently did the voice of Mayor Adam West on Family Guy, died last night at age 88. (Hollywood Reporter)
It was one of those "blink and you'll miss it" moments, but for some odd reason, ESPN aired the pilot for Jalen vs. Everybody, a comedy that ABC was considering (but ultimately passed on) on Tuesday night. (Deadline)
We know that nobody really watches C-SPAN, but when ABC, CBS, and NBC interrupt their regular daytime lineup to bring you a "free preview" of C-SPAN (as they sort of did this week with the James Comey hearings), you can create a rare daytime TV ratings success. (LA Times)
Saturday Night Live has been accused by some people of being "old" and "not as good as it used to be" for years, but the past season has proven to be one of the most successful seasons for the series since the 1990s. (Deadline)
The broadcast digital network getTV continues their evolution from being a channel primarily focused on movies to one that airs classic TV series, and now, after previously limiting their sitcoms to mostly lost and short-lived ones, they're finally adding a long-running and more successful sitcom to their lineup: Designing Women. (SitcomsOnline)

HOME MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

It was over a decade ago that Sony released the first season of Ned and Stacey, but the second (and final) one never followed. Now, Shout! Factory is bringing the entire series together with Ned and Stacey - The Complete Series, which will be released on September 26.

TUESDAY (JUNE 13) HOME MEDIA RELEASES

The Andy Griffith Show - Return to Mayberry

The Andy Griffith Show - Return to Mayberry (DVD, $14.98): Previously only available as part of other releases, CBS releases this reunion movie as a standalone release this time around.
South Park - The Complete 20th Season (DVD, $29.98; Blu-ray, $39.99): As Comedy Central prepares for the August debut of the 21st season of the hit animated comedy, the 20th season (a number of seasons that we have never reported on for any DVD before aside from Law & Order) arrives in this release.
That's My Mama - The Complete Series (DVD, $38.99): It's probably one of the most mysterious releases that we've seen in a while, given that Sony has mostly given up on releasing older TV series and that this is far from the biggest hit in their library, but Sony brings the complete series of this short-lived comedy back to DVD in this release.

FOLLOW ME

Who to Follow: Alexis Fields (Twitter), "Ain't she that actress chick? Ain't she that other actress chick's sister? Didn't her mama burn Penny with that iron? Yup. Now what?"

Claim to Fame: Alexis Fields was born in 1982, which was over two years after her big sister Kim Fields made her debut on the sitcom The Facts of Life. And, as her Twitter introduction indicates, she is also the daughter of Chip Fields, who played Penny's birth mother on Good Times. But make no mistake, Alexis Fields found success of her own in the sitcom world. Her first role was on the series Roc, which was short-lived, but a very memorable series. Up next, she went to the Nickelodeon series The Secret World of Alex Mack, but she went back to sitcom success in 1998 in Sister, Sister and Moesha. While she has mostly been a recurring actress in series, people recognize her when they see her, and we expect to see more of her, perhaps in her own series some day even.

Pick of the Tweets: "Repost. Some of y'all weren't born when we were filming this show. My first series. #ROC #Sheila… (pic)" (May 7, 2017)

Sitcoms Airing Tonight

Tuesday, November 12

The Conners - "Tempest in a Stew Pot" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Jackie and Becky pitch their business plan to Darlene in hopes of getting the Lunch Box back, but Darlene’s decision leads to hostility among the three. Meanwhile, Dan bans Odessa from the house, causing a rift with Harris; and Mark makes extensive Thanksgiving plans that may inevitably fall apart.

Bless This Mess - "The Visit" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Donna springs a last-minute trip to Nebraska on Mike and Rio, which she claims is to relax, but Mike and Rio soon find out she has other plans in mind when she steps into competitive mode to get them to participate in the harvest. Meanwhile, Constance’s son Brandon is driving her crazy working at the store, so she pawns him off on Rudy.

mixed-ish - "Puttin' on the Ritz" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT)
The kids are excited to learn more about their grandad after Harrison invites the crew to family day at his country club. Although Paul thinks it’s a bad idea, he is eventually overruled. Meanwhile, Alicia attempts to fit in at the country club but ends up fighting with Denise about keeping it real.

black-ish - "Daughters for Dummies" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT)
When Dre realizes that his relationship with Diane has been distant, he plans some daddy-daughter bonding sessions, but the plans backfire when he realizes the interest is one-sided. Meanwhile, Bow covers for Junior at his ChoreBoar gig.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of November 11)

Tuesday, November 12

Patrick Stewart (Blunt Talk) - Catch Patrick on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Da'Vine Joy Randolph (People of Earth) - Da'Vine appears on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Kristen Bell (The Good Place) - Kristen visits The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC. She also talks about Frozen 2 on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Laurie Metcalf (The Conners/Roseanne/The McCarthys/Getting On/The Norm Show) - Laurie stops by The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Jenny Slate (Married/Parks and Recreation/Bob's Burgers) - Jenny is a guest on The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Rob Schneider (Real Rob/Rob) and Esther Povitsky (Dollface/Alone Together) - Rob and Esther are panelists on Lights Out with David Spade at 11:30pm on Comedy Central.
Lizzy Caplan (Party Down/The Class) - Lizzy drops by Conan at 11pm on TBS.
Ilana Glazer (Broad City) - Ilana appears on Watch What Happens: Live at 11pm on Bravo.
Laura Dern (F Is for Family/Enlightened) - Laura is a guest on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
Robin Givens (Head of the Class) - Robin visits The Real, so check your local listings.
Donald Faison (The Exes/Scrubs/Clueless) - Donald appears on The Real, so check your local listings.
Nicole Byer (Loosely Exactly Nicole) - Nicole is a guest on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
Tim Robbins (The Brink) - Tim talks about Dark Waters on New York Live on WNBC in New York at 11:30am ET.
Kristin Davis (Sex and the City/Bad Teacher) - Kristin talks about Holiday in the Wild on NBC's Today in the 9am hour.