SitcomsOnline Digest: Fox Developing New Singing Competition; New DVDs on the Way for Green Acres and Perfect Strangers

Saturday, July 08, 2017

SitcomsOnline Digest: Fox Developing New Singing Competition; New DVDs on the Way for Green Acres and Perfect Strangers

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! It's been a holiday week, so news has been somewhat light this week, but we do have two big stories about some new seasons of classic sitcoms on DVD that came as a surprise to us. Additionally, we have news of a new Fox reality singing competition and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

When ABC announced they would be reviving former Fox reality singing competition series American Idol, Fox responded by more or less saying "fine, nobody cares about a singing competition series anyway." Now, we're hearing that Fox is working on developing a new reality singing competition series that just skips straight to the finalists instead of airing weeks of audition rounds. (Variety)
It probably didn't happen by calling an 800 number that flashed on the screen and giving their credit card information to an operator, but TV shopping network QVC purchased rival HSN this week. (CBS News)
The current CBS reboot of Hawaii Five-0 has found itself down by two cast members for the upcoming season, and although the executive producer of the series claims they were offered "unprecedented" salary increases, they left because they were being offered less money than their co-stars, and they believe that disparity based upon their race. (Deadline)
The HBO series Game of Thrones could be getting much longer episodes (as in 80 minute feature length episodes) in the eighth season, though the seventh season hasn't even aired yet. (Deadline)
Antenna TV still has several series slated to air on the network at some point later this year, and one that wasn't previously announced was Welcome Back, Kotter. (SitcomsOnline)

HOME MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

This is something that we definitely didn't see coming, but Shout! Factory announced this week that they would finally be finishing up Green Acres on DVD, with Green Acres - The Complete Series. Few details about it are known at this time, but the 24 disc set will be released on October 17.
Another big surprise that we discovered this week courtesy of TVShowsOnDVD.com is that Warner Archive will be continuing Perfect Strangers on DVD, though exact details aren't known just yet.

FOLLOW ME

Who to Follow: Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Twitter), "I memorize other peoples words and say them in funny ways or dramatical ways. Catch me in @ModernFam. snapchat: therealjtf instagram: jessetyler"

Claim to Fame: We covered Eric Stonestreet (who plays Cam on Modern Family) last week, so this week, we're covering Jesse Tyler Ferguson, who plays Mitch, the role of Cam's husband on the series. Jesse Tyler Ferguson got his start on the stage, both in Broadway productions as well as some off-Broadway productions. He transitioned over to TV in the fall 2006 CBS series The Class, but that only lasted one season. His breakout role, of course, came from playing Mitch on Modern Family. The busy schedule of starring in a sitcom doesn't allow him to do as much on-stage work as he used to do, but he does still appear in on-stage productions during the times when production of Modern Family is down for summer breaks.

Pick of the Tweets: "OMG. I've been in too many hotels recently. I legitimately just tried to use my laundry money card to open my front door." (June 26, 2017)

Sitcoms Airing Tonight

Thursday, October 6

Young Sheldon - "Future Worf and the Margarita of the South Pacific" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Sheldon and Missy try to help the family’s finances. Also, Mary struggles to find her footing without the church.

Ghosts - "Alberta's Podcast" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Sam decides to host a podcast exploring the mystery surrounding Alberta’s death. Also, Hetty develops an unusual relationship with a broken washing machine.

Welcome to Flatch - "Blackout" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT)
A major heatwave passes through Flatch and gender-reveal cakes, lizards and chickens are melting when the town has a blackout; everyone must band together to stay cool, but wild antics and chaos erupt.

Call Me Kat - "Call Me Skeeter Juice" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT)
It's time for Sheila to renew her driver's license, but she refuses to go take the test; Phil urges the group to try his mama's moonshine despite their skepticism; Max finally sells a song to be used in a national commercial.

Atlanta - "Work Ethic" (FX, 10:00PM ET/PT)
One time I was gonna be an extra on this TV show but then they started asking me about Social Security numbers and taxes and being up there at 5am. I know y'all ain't doing that with Taraji.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of October 3)

Thursday, October 6

Tony Hale (HouseBroken/Veep/Arrested Development) - Catch Tony on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Zach Woods (Avenue 5/Silicon Valley/Playing House/The Office) - Zach appears on The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Constance Wu (Fresh Off the Boat) - Constance will be on Comedy Central's The Daily Show with Trevor Noah at 11pm.
Mila Kunis (Family Guy/That '70s Show) - Mila is a guest on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
Queen Latifah (Living Single) - Queen Latifah appears on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Wendell Pierce (The Odd Couple/The Michael J. Fox Show/The Weber/The Brian Benben Show/The Gregory Hines Show) - Wendell talks about making history by starring in the revival of Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman, becoming the first Black actor to take on the classic role of Willy Loman on Broadway, on Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
Jerry O'Connell (We Are Men/Do Not Disturb/Carpoolers/My Secret Identity) - Jerry is a guest on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
Fran Drescher (Indebted/Happily Divorced/Living with Fran/The Nanny/Princesses) - Fran talks about her new picture book N is for The Nanny on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
Zachary Levi (Less Than Perfect) - Zachary talks about his memoir Radical Love: Learning to Accept Yourself and Others on Sherri, so check your local listings.
Mike Myers (The Pentaverate) - Mike talks about Amsterdam on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
Tori Spelling (Mystery Girls/So Notorious) - Tori talks about Love at First Lie on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.