Saturday, September 02, 2017

SitcomsOnline Digest: Alf Clausen Fired (Or Maybe Not?) from The Simpsons; Starsky and Hutch Reboot Gets Script-to-Series Committment at Amazon

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! Labor Day weekend has finally arrived, and everybody knows what that means: new fall seasons and new series are coming right around the corner! This week, we've got a light week of news, but we're hearing of a Simpsons crew member who might be gone and more on the reboot of Starksy and Hutch. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB
  • Alf Clausen, who is responsible for much of the music on The Simpsons, was either fired from the show or will continue in a reduced capacity (it's hard to say since everybody is being vague on what happened). (BBC)
  • We mentioned last week that Starsky and Hutch may possibly getting a reboot, and things have moved on that much quicker than anticipated, as Amazon has given a script-to-series commitment to the project this week. (Variety)
  • Actor Richard Anderson, who played Oscar Goldman in The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman, died this week at age 91. (New York Times) 
  • Comedy Central will be airing a South Park marathon starting on Wednesday that is being hyped on a lot of media outlets as "every" episode, although it is worth pointing out (since seemingly no other media outlet is doing it) that there are 277 episodes and that they'll actually only be airing 254 episodes (which is still a lot). (Entertainment Weekly)
  • A lot of series will be debuting their new season this month (though we'll have to wait until October for some), here is a rundown for some of the ones you can expect to see in September. (Entertainment Weekly)
  • Antenna TV is ready to roll with their fall lineup starting next week. (SitcomsOnline) 

TUESDAY (SEPTEMBER 5) HOME MEDIA RELEASES
Kevin Can Wait - Season One
  • Just Shoot Me - The Complete Series (DVD, $79.97): Shout! Factory finally completes this 90s series from NBC on DVD with this release.
  • Kevin Can Wait - Season One (DVD, $26.99): Although the series will be a little different next season with a major cast change, the first season of the CBS series arrives in this release, just ahead of the second season.

FOLLOW ME

Who to Follow: Tone Bell (Twitter), "DISJOINTED on NETFLIX on AUG 25th. There are no abs under this shirt --- IG: toneBell"
Claim to Fame: A little over a week ago, Netflix debuted the sitcom Disjointed, a sitcom created by David Javerbaum and Chuck Lorre, about a character played by Kathy Bates who runs a medical marijuana shop. The reviews of the series have been terrible, and it has been described as the worst sitcom of the summer. Still, it does have a talented cast who'll either continue to flourish here despite those reviews or go on to something else. Among those cast members, we have Tone Bell, who is not new to the sitcom world at all. He previously had a role in the NBC series Whitney as RJ. But more than that, he is also a stand-up comedian and has also been seen in series such as Bad Judge, Single Ladies, and Key and Peele. Disjointed probably won't be the role he'll be best known for, and it may even become one of those hilarious footnotes in his career, but we wouldn't be surprised to see him go on to something successful that makes a name for himself in the future.

Pick of the Tweets: "Slid thru the homie @ericandre bday last night, and so did these people. This MF Eric knows how… (pic)" (April 9, 2017)


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Sunday, November 1

Animal Control - "Bugs and Rabid Dogs" (Fox, 7:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Frank goes undercover at Roman's new privatized animal control company, Pax Romana.

Universal Basic Guys - "La Gloire Du Bouffon" (Fox, 7:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Mark learns to play a new instrument; Tammy confronts her fear of clowns.

The Simpsons - "Testing 1-2-3" (Fox, 8:00PM ET/PT)
In what she argues is not an attempt to get extra time on tests, Lisa has herself evaluated for three types of neurodiversity -- which remind her of behaviors she's witnessed in Principal Skinner, Comic Boy and Homer.

Animal Control - "Sled Dogs and Kitty Litter" (Fox, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Victoria balances pig parenting with a hot date.

Universal Basic Guys - "Termination: Salvation" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Mark teaches Andrea how to live the post-work lifestyle; Hank helps a robot find joy.

Grimsburg - "CrimeShare" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT)
The precinct goes on an office retreat.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of October 26)

Friday, October 30

  • Kate Berlant (Ghosted/Search Party) - Watch Kate on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Kristen Bell (Nobody Wants This/Central Park/The Good Place) - Kristen appears on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
  • Joe Manganiello (Mythic Quest/How I Met Your Mother) - Joe is a guest on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
  • Quinta Brunson (Abbott Elementary) - Quinta appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Natasha Leggero (Broke/Dice/Another Period/Free Agents) and Tommy Davidson (The Varnell Hill Show/The Proud Family/Malcolm & Eddie/Between Brothers) - Natasha and Tommy will be on a repeat of Funny You Should Ask at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Veep/The New Adventures of Old Christine/Watching Ellie/Seinfeld/Day by Day) and Allison Janney (Mom/Mr. Sunshine) - Julia and Allison talk about Broadway's Other Desert Cities on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
  • Jerry O'Connell (We Are Men/Do Not Disturb/Carpoolers/My Secret Identity) - Jerry appears on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
  • Sophia Bush (Partners) - Sophia talks about And I Will Tell You Mine: Notes from a Life in Progress on ABC News Live Prime with Linsey Davis at 7pm.
  • Sherri Shepherd (Mr. Iglesias/Trial & Error/Sherri/Less Than Perfect/Suddenly Susan) - Sherri talks about Broadway's Aladdin on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
  • Karyn Parsons (The Job/Lush Life/The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air) - Karyn discusses her new novel, Blue Beach, and her iconic role as Hilary Banks on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air on Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
  • Marilu Henner (Taxi/Evening Shade) - Marilu is a guest on New York Living on WPIX in New York.


New on DVD and Blu-ray

Abbott Elementary - The Complete Fourth Season (DVD) The Office - The Complete Series - Superfan Extended Episodes (Blu-ray) The Bill Dana Show - The Complete Series (DVD) I Love Lucy - The Complete Series - 75th Anniversary Edition (Blu-ray) Perfect Strangers - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)

01/20/26 - The Woody Woodpecker and Friends Golden Age Collection (Blu-ray)
01/27/26 - The New Fred and Barney Show - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/11/26 - Tom and Jerry - The Complete CinemaScope Collection (Blu-ray)
03/24/26 - Looney Tunes Collector's Vault - Volume 2 (Blu-ray)
04/11/26 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Fourth Season (DVD)
04/21/26 - Famous Studios Champion Collection (Blu-ray) (DVD)
05/19/26 - I Love Lucy - The Complete Series - 75th Anniversary Edition (DVD)
05/19/26 - Looney Tunes Cartoons - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (DVD)
06/16/26 - Difficult People - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
06/30/26 - Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
07/14/26 - The Office - The Complete Series - Superfan Extended Episodes (Blu-ray)
07/28/26 - The Bill Dana Show - The Complete Series (DVD)
07/28/26 - I Love Lucy - The Complete Series - 75th Anniversary Edition (Blu-ray)
07/28/26 - The Paper - Season One (Blu-ray) (DVD)
08/25/26 - Perfect Strangers - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (DVD)
09/08/26 - Looney Tunes Collector's Vault - Volume 3 (Blu-ray)
09/22/26 - Bridget Loves Bernie - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
10/20/26 - The Quick Draw McGraw Show - 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


Recent SitcomsOnline.com News Blog Posts

11/01 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of November 2, 2026)
10/31 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Criminal Minds Coming to an End; Baywatch Premiere Date Set
10/30 - VH1 to Bring Back America's Funniest People Starring Ms. Pat; Remembering Barbara Barrie and Patrick Stewart
10/29 - Peacock's Dig Trailer and Artwork; The CW 2026 Holiday Programming with A Very Brady Christmas, A Flintstone Christmas and More
10/28 - ABC 2026 Holiday Programming; Remembering Susan Saint James of Kate & Allie
10/27 - Fox's Baywatch Premieres January 6; aspireTV's First Sitcom Premieres January 7
10/26 - COZI TV's Halloween Schedule with Roseanne, George Lopez, The Munsters and More; Chloe Radcliffe: Eyes Down Here Stand-up Special
10/25 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of October 26, 2026)
10/24 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Reboots in the Works for Coach and Glee; Saturday Night Live Sets November Hosts
10/23 - Prime Video Renews Carrie for Season 2; Remembering Richard Riehle of Grounded for Life
10/22 - Abbott Elementary Returns Big After 7 Day Viewing; BET Renews ComicView: Rooftop Series
10/21 - Charmed Joining Hulu This Huluween; Prime Video's Comedy Variety Series Hosted by Nick Kroll
10/20 - Hulu's Phony Premieres Today; Janelle James Netflix Comedy Special Drops November 10
10/19 - Lil Kev Season 2 Premieres December 9; It's a Wonderful Lifetime 2026 Schedule
10/18 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of October 19, 2026)
10/17 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Hulu Picks Up Reboot for The X-Files; Roseanne Self-Produces New Sitcom
10/16 - Christa B. Allen in Night of January 16th Play Through Sunday; Remembering Sitcom Writer and Producer Bernie Orenstein
10/15 - Guest Stars for Peacock's Comedy Dig; Apple TV Renews Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed for Season 2
10/14 - HBO Brings Back Girls for 5 Episodes; Hulu's The X-Files Picked Up to Series
10/13 - Full Cast for Three's Company Live Reading in New York City; High Potential to Air After Super Bowl on ABC
10/12 - Bob's Burgers Holiday Special on Hulu; The Rookie and The Rookie: North Wednesdays on ABC in January
10/11 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of October 12, 2026)
10/10 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Colin Jost and Danny Chun to Launch Free Streaming Comedy; Paramount/Warner Merger Completed
10/09 - Apple TV Comedy Stick Returns November 4; News from New York Comic Con 2026 Day One
10/08 - FETV Acquires I Dream of Jeannie and The Bionic Woman; Netflix Renews The Hunting Wives for Season 3, Before Season 2 Launch
10/07 - More Live Three's Company Readings; Lucy Hale is Scarlett Holmes for Roku in 2027
10/06 - NBC's Happy Place Season 3 Trailer; Apple TV's Imperfect Women Renewed for Season 2
10/05 - A Different World to Return for Season 2 on Netflix; Prime Video's Barbershop Comedy Series Premieres February 10
10/04 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of October 5, 2026)
10/03 - SitcomsOnline Digest: A Different World Renewed for Second Season; A First Look at Ted: The Animated Series
10/02 - Mike Judge's Beavis and Butt-Head Season 4 Launch; Anthony Anderson Returns to Soul Train Awards
10/01 - Ted: The Animated Series Premieres December 17 on Peacock; Trailer for Apple TV's Small Prophets