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 / 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.

Complete TV Listings


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

The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series Frasier (2023) - Season Two Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* (missing 4 episodes and some music has been replaced or altered) Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (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

05/04 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of May 5, 2025)
05/03 - SitcomsOnline Digest: CBS Cancels The Equalizer; Wisteria Lane Offshoot of Desperate Housewives in the Works
05/02 - USA and SYFY Announce Summer Premieres; CBC in Canada Renews 5 Series, Including Wild Cards
05/01 - ABC Summer 2025 Schedule; Audible Scripted Comedy Podcasts for Summer
04/30 - The Carol Burnett Show Mother of All Marathons; Netflix Renews North of North
04/29 - Lifetime Adds New Ripped from the Headlines Movie; BET+ Orders Season 2 of Series
04/28 - Fox Summer 2025 Schedule; Final Guest Hosts for Saturday Night Live 50th Anniversary Season
04/27 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of April 28, 2025)
04/26 - SitcomsOnline Digest: CBS Cancels Poppa's House; Final Season 50 Hosts for Saturday Night Live Set
04/25 - Classic TV's Biggest Auction; Remembering Will Hutchins and Wink Martindale
04/24 - Jerrod Carmichael's 4th HBO Comedy Special; HBO's Pee-wee as Himself Premieres May 23
04/23 - Apple TV+ Announces Comedy Series Prodigies; ABC Renews Unscripted Series Slate
04/22 - Hallmark Channel's May For Moms Month; Prime Video Gets Korean Comedy Action Series
04/21 - Peacock's Twisted Metal Returns July 31; Poker Face Lines Up Big Guests for Season 2
04/20 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of April 21, 2025)
04/19 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Clueless Reboot in the Works at Peacock; King of the Hill Cast Reunion and Revival Preview at ATX TV Festival Next Month
04/18 - 2025 TIME100 on ABC; Atsuko Okatsuka: Father Premieres June 13 on Hulu
04/17 - BET+ Orders Martin Spinoff Varnell Hill; It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Returns in July
04/16 - And Just Like That... Season 3 on Max This May; MGM+ Comedy Series Adds Big Stars
04/15 - HBO's Harry Potter Series; Classic TV Comes to Life in NYC
04/14 - TV Stars Lineup for Summer of 69 Hulu Film; Jessica Kirson Comedy Special
04/13 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of April 14, 2025)
04/12 - SitcomsOnline Digest: FX Sets Premiere Date for Adults; Netflix Picks Up Monopoly Themed Reality Competition Series
04/11 - Bounce TV Renews Mind Your Business; AMC Networks 2025 Upfront Highlights
04/10 - David Spade's Prime Video Comedy Special; Brett Goldstein's HBO Comedy Special Filmed in New Jersey
04/09 - Paramount+ Orders Season 3 of Colin from Accounts; FX's Adults Premieres May 28
04/08 - Prime Video's New Comedy Overcompensating; Nine Perfect Strangers Returns on Hulu in May
04/07 - NBC Celebrates Joan Rivers with Special; Remembering Jay North of Dennis the Menace
04/06 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of April 7, 2025)
04/05 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Fox Renews Three Animated Series and Brings Back a Fourth for Four More Seasons; ABC Renews Shifting Gears
04/04 - ABC 2025-26 Season Renewals for Scripted Series; New Season of Phineas and Ferb Returns June 5