Thursday, August 03, 2017
The Middle to End After 9 Seasons; black-ish Spin-off Gets Titled grown-ish
The upcoming ninth season of ABC's critically acclaimed fan-favorite series The Middle will be its final one. It was announced by Channing Dungey, president, ABC Entertainment. After almost a decade on the air, the executive producers of the award-winning series have decided that the ninth season would be the best one in which to wrap up the story of the Heck family. The show stars two-time Emmy-winner Patricia Heaton as a harried wife and mother of three who lives in the middle of the country in Orson, Indiana, and uses her wry wit and sense of humor to get her family through each day intact. The farewell season begins Tuesday, October 3, at 8:00 p.m. EDT. The comedy stars stars Patricia Heaton as Frankie, Neil Flynn as Mike, Charlie McDermott as Axl, Eden Sher as Sue and Atticus Shaffer as Brick. It has received three Humanitas Prize nominations, with a win in 2016 for creators/executive producers Eileen Heisler and DeAnn Heline in the 30 Minute Category for the episode "The Graduate," a Critics' Choice Award nomination and a Gracie Award for Outstanding Comedy. Eden Sher previously received a Critics' Choice Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role as Sue Heck.
Freeform, Disney's young adult television and streaming network, adds three series regulars to grown-ish (previously titled college-ish), a spin-off of ABC's award-winning hit series black-ish, starring breakout star Yara Shahidi as Zoey Johnson, from ABC Signature Studios. The 13-episode, single-camera comedy will start production next month and is set to premiere early 2018 on Freeform and the Freeform App, available on connected TV, mobile devices and online. Emily Arlook (The Good Place), Chris Parnell (Saturday Night Live) and Trevor Jackson (American Crime) join the previously announced cast of Yara Shahidi (black-ish) and Deon Cole (black-ish), with additional casting to be announced.
From black-ish executive producer Kenya Barris comes a contemporary take on the current issues facing both students and administrators in the world of higher education. Yara Shahidi portrays Zoey - Dre (Anthony Anderson) and Rainbow's (Tracee Ellis Ross) popular, entitled, stylish and socially active 17-year-old daughter - as she heads off to college and quickly discovers that not everything goes her way once she leaves the nest. Yara is joined by black-ish's Deon Cole (Charlie) who portrays Charlie, Dre's eccentric and unpredictable co-worker at Stevens & Lido. Zoey runs into Charlie during college orientation where she learns that he moonlights as an adjunct marketing professor. Arlook will portray Miriam, a freshman know-it-all at Southern California University with a no-holds-barred attitude. Parnell will portray the dean of Southern California University, and Jackson will portray a socially conscious sophomore at Southern California University. The series joins Freeform's expanding original comedy slate including Young & Hungry, starring Emily Osment; along with recently announced comedies Alone Together, starring Benji Aflalo and Esther Povitsky; and Marvel's New Warriors, starring Milana Vayntrub and Derek Theler, both set to premiere in 2018.
Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows
Thursday, September 19
Young Sheldon - "Funeral" (CBS, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Sheldon leaves East Texas for the California Institute of Technology following the death of his father, George Cooper Sr.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of September 16)
Thursday, September 19
- Kristen Bell (Nobody Wants This/The Good Place) - Catch Kristen on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Peter Krause (Sports Night/Cybill) - Peter is a guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Demi Lovato (Sonny with a Chance) - Demi appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
- James Adomian (Duncanville) and Lake Bell (Bless This Mess/How to Make It in America/Childrens Hospital) - James and Lake are guests on After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
- Heather Dubrow (Stark Raving Mad/Jenny/Life with Roger) and Dan Bucatinsky (Marry Me/Web Therapy/The Comeback)- Heather and Dan are guests on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 10pm on Bravo.
- Ronny Chieng (Young Rock/Ronny Chieng: International Student) - Ronny hosts Comedy Central's The Daily Show at 11pm.
- George Clooney (Roseanne/The Facts of Life/ E/R (1984-1985) - E! News has an interview with George at 11pm on E!.
- Cristin Milioti (The Resort/Made for Love/A to Z/How I Met Your Mother) - NBC's Today catches up with Cristin in the 9am hour.
- Lucien Laviscount (Emily in Paris) - Lucien is telling Drew all about the thrilling end of the new season of Emily in Paris on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings. He will also be on ABC's Good Morning America some time between 7-9am.
- Bruno Gouery and Samuel Arnold (Emily in Paris) - Bruno and Samuel talk about Emily in Paris on ABC's Good Morning America some time between 7-9am.
- Sebastian Maniscalco (Bookie) - Sebastian will be on ABC's Good Morning America some time between 7-9am and on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
- Jodie Sweetin (Fuller House/Hollywood Darlings/Full House) - Jodie talks about Hallmark's The Jane Mysteries on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
New on DVD and Blu-ray
04/03 - Too Close for Comfort - The Complete Series (VEI)
04/08 - Check It Out! - The Complete Series (VEI)
05/21 - Frasier (2023) - Season One
06/11 - The Jeffersons - The Complete Series (2024 Release)
06/11 - Welcome Back, Kotter - The Complete Series (2024 Release)
07/05 - Letterkenny - Season 12 (Final Season)
07/30 - Ted Lasso - The Richmond Way (The Complete Series) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
09/10 - Rick and Morty - The Complete Seasons 1-7
09/10 - Ted - Season One (Blu-ray) (DVD)
09/17 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
09/17 - Top Cat - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
09/24 - Friends - The Complete Series (4K Ultra HD)
09/24 - Young Sheldon - The Complete Seventh Season (DVD) / The Complete Series (DVD) (Blu-ray)
10/08 - Curb Your Enthusiasm - The Complete Twelfth Season / The Complete Series
10/22 - Veep - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD and Blu-ray Releases / TV Shows on DVD, Blu-ray and Prime Video / DVD Reviews Archive
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