SitcomsOnline Digest: Pilot Season at Amazon to Come to an End?; CBS Plans "Winter Games" with Celebrity Big Brother

Saturday, December 02, 2017

SitcomsOnline Digest: Pilot Season at Amazon to Come to an End?; CBS Plans "Winter Games" with Celebrity Big Brother

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! This week, we're hearing that an annual tradition at Amazon may be coming to an end, we're learning of what plans CBS has for their "winter games," and Hulu is about to get a lot better. Plus, it's a busy week of DVD releases for Tuesday! Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

Pilot season at Amazon has always been unique, but it seems that changes may be coming, including no longer doing the one thing that makes their pilot season unique: giving their audience a chance to view the pilots and decide which ones they want to see more of. (Deadline)
While NBC will have their own "winter games" soon with the Winter Olympics, CBS will be counter programming with Celebrity Big Brother, which will air for 13 nights straight. (Variety)
Hulu just keeps getting better and better, and now some more favorites from the ABC library will be added. (SitcomsOnline)
We just couldn't go one week without another big shakeup on TV due to sexual harassment scandals, and this week, it is one of the biggest ones of them all as NBC abruptly fired Matt Lauer. (Variety)
We apologize for mentioning this, but Jersey Shore is coming back. (Hollywood Reporter)
Nicollette Sheridan has been (almost very fittingly) cast in the role of Alexis on the reboot of Dynasty. (Romper)

HOME MEDIA RELEASES (DECEMBER 5)

Alice - The Complete Sixth Season (DVD, $34.99): Warner Archive moves ahead with this series on DVD in this release.
One Day at a Time - The Complete Series (DVD, $129.99): This is probably one of the most surprising releases of the year from Shout! Factory as they bring the entire season of this classic series to DVD.
The Simpsons - The Eighteenth Season (DVD, $49.98): They said it wouldn't happen again, but it did, Fox is finally going back to their annual December tradition of releasing The Simpsons on DVD (but no Blu-ray).
South Park - The Complete First Season (Blu-ray, $39.98): "The Simpsons did it" cannot be said here, as Comedy Central is doing something with South Park that Fox failed to do with The Simpsons, by releasing the early the earlier seasons on DVD. Also available: Season 2, Season 3, Season 4, Season 5.

FOLLOW ME

Who to Follow: Taylor Spreitler (Twitter)

Claim to Fame: Taylor Spreitler is no household name, but if you've been watching TV (and you have been, or else you wouldn't come to this website), then you've probably seen her. Currently, you can see her on the CBS series Kevin Can Wait. But that isn't her first role by any means. She got her start in a role on Days of Our Lives that she played for 139 episodes starting in 2009. She then went on to be a regular in the series Melissa & Joey. After that, she appeared in several episodes of Casual before landing in her current role. In other words, she has had steady roles on TV for almost a decade now, so we don't see her going away anytime soon, and perhaps something even bigger will come in the future.
Pick of the Tweets: "Far out #tbt" (pic) (March 9, 2017)

Sitcoms Airing Tonight

Wednesday, October 20

The Goldbergs - "An Itch Like No Other" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
With Beverly’s encouragement, Mr. Glascott moves in next door to the Goldbergs and slowly goes from friendly neighbor to cluelessly intrusive. Adam and Murray become increasingly disgruntled while Beverly comes up with a plan to occupy Mr. Glascott’s time with a new friend, Mr. Woodburn. Meanwhile, Barry lands in urgent care with a case of poison ivy in a compromising area – his rear end. Erica and Geoff are called to task to take care of Barry and his ridiculous demands – inadvertently testing their parenting skills and patience with one another.

The Wonder Years - "The Lock In" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Dean is reluctant to attend the annual church lock-in until Kim tells him it’s where she got her first kiss. He enlists his friends to help him pair up with Keisa, but his plans are thwarted when he instead gets paired up with the pastor’s daughter, Charlene.

The Conners - "Trucking Live in Front of a Fully Vaccinated Studio Audience -- East Coast" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Lights, Camera, Action: “The Conners” is going live for both the East and West Coast broadcasts of the season four premiere episode. This iconic TV family continues to deal with the current pandemic while navigating breakups and newfound sobriety, all while planning an upcoming wedding.

Home Economics - "Giant Jenga, $120" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Tom spirals when Connor dates a woman who broke his heart at summer camp. Then, family game night becomes an all-or-nothing competition between Marina and Denise.

Superstar - "Robin Williams" (ABC, 10:00PM ET/PT)
The new episode recounts his life through Robin Williams’ own voice, describing “the spark of madness” which defined his life. From his early days in the San Francisco Bay Area comedy scene to his meteoric rise on “Mork & Mindy,” the one-hour special explores the experiences that made Williams into a one-of-a-kind talent and reveals what gave voice to the characters in his mind. It also chronicles the creative force driving critically acclaimed films like “Good Will Hunting” and “Dead Poets Society,” as well as fan favorites such as “Aladdin.” The special explores his personal struggles, including substance abuse and depression, and his battle with Lewy Body Dementia before his tragic death in 2014. “Superstar: Robin Williams” features interviews with famous comedians and actors who knew and admired Williams, including Margaret Cho, Howie Mandel, Lewis Black, Jimmie Walker, Paula Poundstone, Gina Hecht and Pauly Shore, as well as Barry Levinson, director of multiple films starring Williams including “Good Morning, Vietnam.” The program also contains interviews with Williams from the ABC News archives, in which he opens up about his life and the highs and lows of his distinguished career.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of October 18)

Wednesday, October 20

Rami Malek (The War at Home) - Watch Rami on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Issa Rae (Insecure) - Issa appears on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Billy Bob Thornton (Hearts Afire) - Billy Bob is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Jamie Foxx (Dad Stop Embarrassing Me!/The Jamie Foxx Show) - Jamie appears on The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation) - Nick is a guest on Comedy Central's The Daily Show with Trevor Noah at 11pm.
Leah Remini (Kevin Can Wait/The Exes/Family Tools/The King of Queens/Fired Up) - Leah guest hosts The Wendy Williams Show, so check your local listings.
Debra Messing (Will & Grace/Ned & Stacey) - Debra talks about her latest project: how self-care can change the world on Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
Ron Howard (Arrested Development/Happy Days/The Andy Griffith Show) and Clint Howard (Gung Ho) - Ron and Clint discuss their new book, The Boys: A Memoir of Hollywood and Family, on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Amy Sedaris (No Activity/BoJack Horseman/Strangers with Candy) - It's a TV exclusive with sister and brother duo Amy and David Sedaris appearing together for the first time on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Jeremy Sisto (Suburgatory) - Jeremy talks about FBI on Rachael Ray, so check your local listings.
David Eigenberg (Sex and the City) - David talks about NBC's Chicago Fire on NBC's Today in the 9am hour.
Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation) - Nick talks about Where the Deer and the Antelope Play: The Pastoral Observations of One Ignorant American Who Loves to Walk Outside on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.