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 / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Monday, April 20

The Neighorhood - "Welcome to Purse Dog" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Calvin reluctantly agrees to dog-sit a glamorous little companion, only to face an awkward twist when someone else lays claim to it. Meanwhile, a joint celebration prompts Malcolm to question whether he and Mercedes are moving too fast. Amber Stevens West guest stars as Mercedes, Malcolm's Girlfriend.

DMV - "Drive-ory Tower" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Colette tries to bridge a growing divide at the office by bringing the driving examiners and counter clerks together. Meanwhile, Vic stubbornly avoids seeing a doctor after an unusual injury, forcing Barb to get creative to help him.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of April 20)

Monday, April 20

Kal Penn (The Santa Clauses/Sunnyside/We Are Men) - Watch Kal on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Quinta Brunson (Abbott Elementary) - Quinta appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC. She also talks about Abbott Elementary on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
Don Cheadle (The Wonder Years/Black Monday/House of Lies/The Golden Palace) - Don is a guest on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Henry Winkler (Barry/Arrested Development/Out of Practice/Monty/Happy Days) - Henry stops by Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC. He also talks about Hazardous History with Henry Winkler on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
Lea Michele (The Mayor) - Lea appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Aaron Tveit (Schmigadoon!) - Aaron is a guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
B.J. Novak (The Office) and Jim Parsons (Young Sheldon/The Big Bang Theory) - Andy Cohen interviews B.J. and Jim on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 9pm on Bravo.
William Stanford Harris (Abbott Elementary) - William talks about Abbott Elementary on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
Ramy Youssef (#1 Happy Family USA/Ramy/See Dad Run) - Ramy chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Laurie Metcalf (Big Mistakes/The Conners/Roseanne/The McCarthys/The Norm Show) - Laurie talks about Big Mistakes on ABC News Live Prime with Linsey Davis at 7pm.
Jane Fonda (Grace and Frankie) - NBC's Today catches up with Jane in the 9am hour.
Christopher Briney (Hacks) - Christopher talks about Hacks on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
Blair Underwood (Fatherhood/The New Adventures of Old Christine) - Blair tells Sherri about his new memoir A Soldier's Wife: My Mother, the Marvelous Mrs. Marilyn A. Underwood on Sherri, so check your local listings.
Phoebe Dynevor (Younger) - Phoebe is telling Drew about her new movie Thrash on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Dan Bucatinsky (The Comeback/Marry Me/Web Therapy) - Dan appears on New York Living on WPIX in New York at 10:05am.