Saturday, July 08, 2017
SitcomsOnline Digest: Fox Developing New Singing Competition; New DVDs on the Way for Green Acres and Perfect Strangers
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.
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Sitcoms Airing Tonight
Wednesday, February 1
Abbott Elementary - "Holiday Hookah" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
On the last day of school before winter break, Janine is convinced by her friend to go to a popular Hookah Club where she runs into unexpected colleagues. Elsewhere, Jacob crashes Barbara and Melissa’s traditional holiday dinner and in the process begins to learn the true meaning of Christmas.
Abbott Elementary - "Read-A-Thon" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
The competition heats up between Melissa and Janine as their classrooms go head-to-head in a read-a-thon sponsored by a local pizza shop. Both teachers encourage their students to hit the books hard but face some unexpected obstacles on their path to pizza glory. Meanwhile, Jacob and Gregory join forces and attempt to get their student-podcasting club off the ground.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of January 30)
Wednesday, February 1
- Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation) - Watch Nick on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Harrison Ford (Shrinking) - Harrison appears on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
- Natasha Lyonne (Poker Face/Russian Doll) - Natasha is a guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Adam Pally (Indebted/Making History/The Mindy Project/Happy Endings) - Adam will be on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Jenny Slate (The Great North/Big Mouth/Married/Bob's Burgers) - Jenny appears on The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
- D. L. Hughley (The Hughleys/Double Rush) - D. L. guest hosts Comedy Central's The Daily Show at 11pm.
- Sheryl Lee Ralph (Abbott Elementary/Fam/Instant Mom/Moesha/It's a Living) - Sheryl is a guest on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
- Alan Cumming (Schmigadoon!) - Alan appears on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your local listings.
- Jay Ellis (Insecure/The Game - Jay will be on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
- Drew Carey (The Drew Carey Show/The Good Life) - Drew is a guest on The Jennifer Hudson Show, so check your local listings.
- Michael Urie (Shrinking/Younger/Partners) - Michael talks about the new Apple TV+ Shrinking on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
- Abby Quinn (Mad About You) - Abby will be on PIX11 Morning News on WPIX in New York at 8:50am.
- Terry Crews (Brooklyn Nine-Nine/Are We There Yet?/Everybody Hates Chris) - NBC's Today catches up with Terry in the 9am hour.
New on DVD/Blu-ray (October-January)
10/04 - Mr. Mayor - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (DVD)
10/04 - The Munsters - Marineland Carnival with The Munsters TV Cast
10/18 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete First Season
11/08 - Frasier - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
11/08 - Young Rock - Season Two (Blu-ray) (DVD)
11/15 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Complete Season Seven / The Complete Season Eight
11/22 - That '70s Show - The Complete Series (Mill Creek)
11/29 - Ghosts - Season One (Blu-ray) (DVD)
12/06 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - 70th Anniversary Ultimate Christmas Collection
12/13 - And Just Like That... - The Complete First Season
12/13 - Hogan's Heroes - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
01/03 - Andy Richter Controls the Universe - The Complete Series (2023 Release)
01/27 - Master of None - Season Three / The Complete Series
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