SitcomsOnline Digest: Louie (and Other Projects With Louis C.K.) Cancelled; CBS Colorizing More Dick Van Dyke Episodes; More Diff'rent Strokes DVDs

Saturday, November 11, 2017

SitcomsOnline Digest: Louie (and Other Projects With Louis C.K.) Cancelled; CBS Colorizing More Dick Van Dyke Episodes; More Diff'rent Strokes DVDs

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! This week, we're hearing about yet another popular series that is getting the boot after sexual harassment allegations against the star, some newly colorized episodes of The Dick Van Dyke Show, and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

We used to have a weekly theme around here of discussing which show is being mulled for a reboot here every week, but sadly, it seems that lately we're talking about which popular series is getting canceled due to sexual harassment allegations against the star. This week, it is the FX series Louie (in addition to HBO removing all content starring Louis C.K. from their streaming services and FX ending all of their collaborations with him). (Vice)
As colorizing classic TV series seems to be a holiday tradition at CBS, the network is going to air two newly colorized episodes of The Dick Van Dyke Show on December 22, and both prominently feature Mary Tyler Moore's character Laura Petrie. (Deadline)
The likelihood of it happening is sort of in doubt, but there is real talk that Disney may be purchasing the entertainment division of Fox, which if it happens, would mean that Homer Simpson, Hank Hill, and Peter Griffin would join Mickey Mouse and Winnie the Pooh as "animated Disney characters." (Digital Spy)
John Hillerman, who was best known for playing Higgins on Magnum, P.I. and also played grandfather Lloyd Hogan on The Hogan Family, died this week at age 84. (NY Times)
The reboot of Dynasty has done well enough to get a full season. (TV Guide)
Antenna TV is making holiday plans, and you'll want to be there. (SitcomsOnline)

HOME MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

It's taken a while to get there, but it seems that Shout! Factory is getting closer to the end of the series for Diff'rent Strokes, with Diff'rent Strokes - The Complete Seventh Season (the final one to air on NBC before the series moved to ABC) coming to DVD on February 27.
Also arriving from Shout! Factory on February 27 is Green Acres - The Complete Fifth Season.

TUESDAY (NOVEMBER 14) HOME MEDIA RELEASE

D.C. Follies - The Complete Series (DVD, $34.99): Shout! Factory brings this forgotten series to DVD in this release.

FOLLOW ME

Who to Follow: Fred Willard (Twitter)

Claim to Fame: Fred Willard has been appearing on TV for over five decades, appearing in countless sitcoms. The list is too long to even mention. But his first starring role came in the syndicated series Fernwood 2 Night, as well as the continuation series America 2 Night. After that, he went on to D.C. Follies, which arrives on DVD on Tuesday. He has done numerous other things since then, including Roseanne and Modern Family, but with 301 acting credits (and counting), it's hard to talk about each individual one.
Pick of the Tweets: "Thanks for all the laughs, Jerry. (pic)" (August 20, 2017)

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Wednesday, October 30

Abbott Elementary - "Costume Contest" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT)
It’s Halloween at Abbott Elementary! Janine and Gregory proudly show off their couple’s costume, but it fails to translate. Meanwhile, Barbara faces pushback from parents concerned about hygiene and her beloved apple-bobbing tradition.

Wizards Beyond Waverly Place - "Saved by the Spell" (Disney Channel, 8:00PM ET/PT)
On her first day of school, Billie uses magic to impress Roman's best friend; when a jealous Roman steals Billie's wand, he falls into the grasp of a wizard-hunting phantomus.

Wizards Beyond Waverly Place - "Something Wizard This Way Comes" (Disney Channel, 8:30PM ET/PT)
On Halloween, Billie tells Roman about Pumpkin Belly, a ghoul who eats anyone whose house isn't spookily decorated; Justin, Milo and Giada defend the home from pranksters.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of October 28)

Wednesday, October 30

Sheryl Lee Ralph (Abbott Elementary/Fam/Instant Mom/Moesha/It's a Living) - Watch Sheryl on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Salma Hayek Pinault (The Sinbad Show) - Salma appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Kieran Culkin (Solar Opposites/Go Fish) - Kieran is a guest on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Tom Hanks (Bosom Buddies) - Tom stops by Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Emily Osment (Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage/Young Sheldon/Young & Hungry/Hannah Montana), Tien Tran (How I Met Your Father) and Vinny Thomas (Platonic) - Emily, Tien and Vinny are guests on 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.
Adam Pally (Mr. Throwback/Indebted/Making History/The Mindy Project/Happy Endings) - Adam appears on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 3:30am on Bravo.
Keri Russell (Running Wilde/Daddy's Girls) - Keri talks about The Diplomat on ABC's Good Morning America some time between 7-9am and on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
Matty Matheson (The Bear) - Matty talks about improvising scenes on the hit show The Bear and how he started his career in restaurants on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Anna Kendrick (Love Life) - Anna is chatting with Drew about directing her first film Woman of the Hour, the crazy serial killer case the movie is based on, finding boundaries in her life, turning 40 and more on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Mayan Lopez (Lopez vs Lopez) - Mayan discusses her sitcom Lopez vs Lopez on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
Blair Underwood (Fatherhood/The New Adventures of Old Christine) - Blair is a guest on PIX11 Morning News on WPIX in New York at 9:30am.
Marissa Jaret Winokur (What We Do in the Shadows/Retired at 35/Stacked) - Marissa appears on New York Living on WPIX in New York at 10:05am.
Melissa Peterman (Happy's Place/Young Sheldon/Baby Daddy/Working Class/Reba) - Melissa talks about NBC's Happy's Place on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.