SitcomsOnline Digest: Hulu Acquires Even More Series; The Simpsons to Finally Continue on DVD

Saturday, July 29, 2017

SitcomsOnline Digest: Hulu Acquires Even More Series; The Simpsons to Finally Continue on DVD

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! This week, we're getting some highlights from the TCA press tour, we're hearing about even more (for the third week in a row) acquisitions for Hulu, The Simpsons is finally continuing on DVD after all. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

If you've been following us this week, then you've heard that Hulu has been trying to become truly competitive with (and is on the verge of actually being even better than) Netflix on vintage TV, and has acquired five classic TGIF series (including three that cannot be seen in full on DVD) and will be adding those series to the service in September, but that isn't all, as Variety reports that the streaming service is also in talks with Warner to acquire another series from the same era that aired on a different network, but would have fit right in on TGIF had ABC aired it: The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. (Variety)
The broadcast group Tegna is adding a daily news and entertainment show called Daily Blast Live to their lineup this fall, and among the contributors, Tracey Gold of Growing Pains fame will be included. (TVSpy)
Katie Couric seems to not stay in any job too long since she left NBC a decade ago, and now, she's leaving her current position as an online news anchor at Yahoo. (Hollywood Reporter)
June Foray, who did the voice of Rocky in Rocky and Bullwinkle (among numerous other cartoon voices), died Wednesday at age 99. (ABC News)
Voice artist Patti Deutsch, who was also known for her role on Laugh-In and frequent appearances as a panelist on Match Game, died Wednesday at age 73. (Deadline)
Curb Your Enthusiasm is set to return to HBO for a ninth season in September, following a hiatus of over five years. (SitcomsOnline)

HOME MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

Two years ago, it was announced that DVDs for The Simpsons would no longer be released, but a surprising announcement came late last week with The Simpsons - The Eighteenth Season coming to DVD in December. Additionally, it seems that extras such as commentaries have already been completed for both seasons 19 and 20 (it is worth noting that season 20 was previously released, but it did not include any special features). Unfortunately, it seems Blu-ray releases are done for the series.

TUESDAY (AUGUST 1) HOME MEDIA RELEASE

The Secret World of Alex Mack - The Complete Series (DVD, $19.97): It wasn't quite something that we were ever really expecting to see on DVD, especially from Mill Creek, but the entire series arrives on DVD in this release.

FOLLOW ME

Who to Follow: John Roberts (Twitter), "I'm a comedian. I voice Gene on @BobsBurgersFox. Get my 9-volume album now!"

Claim to Fame: We're continuing an unofficial Bob's Burgers again, and this time, we have John Roberts, who distinguishes himself from the Fox News correspondent @johnrobertsFox with his own similar sounding @JohnRobertsFun. Like many of the cast members of the series, he too has worked with H. Jon Benjamin elsewhere, including on Archer. On Bob's Burgers, he does the voice of Linda Belcher, the wife of Bob.

Pick of the Tweets: "Off to the @FOXTV party at @Comic_Con with @kristenschaaled (pic)" (July 22, 2017)

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Wednesday, July 9

Shifting Gears - "Gummies" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Riley is horrified when she finds weed gummies in Carter’s pocket, prompting surprising advice from Matt. Meanwhile, Eve inadvertently lands Gabriel and Stitch in hot water after asking them to donate to a charity auction.

Shifting Gears - "Kiss" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Jimmy returns with a new job and a proposition for Riley and the kids to move into his house, Riley is torn between her past and her future. Meanwhile, Matt's feud with Eve flares up once again after she damages his car.

Abbott Elementary - "Volunteers" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Ava announces the school district is sending a group of volunteers to help out at Abbott; however, when they arrive, things don’t go as planned.

Abbott Elementary - "100th Day of School" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
During Abbott’s 100th day of school celebrations, Barbara receives a surprise from her daughter. Melissa, Jacob and Mr. Johnson join forces to conduct a search party.

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - "The Gang F***s Up Abbott Elementary" (FXX and FX, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Months after the Gang visited, Abbott's Principal Ava walks viewers through some of the unseen footage of the Gang's volunteerism and reveals their true intentions.

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - "Frank Is in a Coma" (FXX and FX, 9:33PM ET/PT)
The five stages of grief set in for Dee as Frank lies on his deathbed; the Guys plot their new path forward by pitching their business ventures to Philadelphia's elite.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of July 7)

Wednesday, July 9

Anthony Anderson (black-ish/Guys with Kids/All About the Andersons) - Anthony guest hosts Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Salma Hayek Pinault (The Sinbad Show) - Watch Salma on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Jean Smart (Hacks/Samantha Who?/Center of the Universe/In-Laws/Style & Substance/Designing Women) - Jean is a guest on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Cole Escola (Human Resources/Search Party/Mozart in the Jungle/Difficult People) - Cole appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Richie Moriarty (Ghosts), Betsy Sodaro (Ghosts/Duncanville/Disjointed/Animal Practice) and Punam Patel (Ghosts/Return of the Mac/Kevin from Work) - Richie, Betsy and Punam are guests on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
Ronny Chieng (Young Rock/Ronny Chieng: International Student) - Ronny hosts Comedy Central's The Daily Show at 11pm.
Tika Sumpter (mixed-ish/Final Space/The Game) - Tika sits down with the Tam Fam to talk about her new children's book I Got It From My Mama a repeat of Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
Isabela Merced (100 Things to Do Before High School/Growing Up Fisher) - Isabela chats about her film Superman on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
Anna Camp (Perfect Harmony/Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt/The Mindy Project) and Justin Bartha (The New Normal/Teachers) - Anna and Justin discuss their film Nuked on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
Simon Helberg (The Big Bang Theory) - Simon talks about Peacock's Poker Face on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.