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 / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Sunday, December 22

Bob's Burgers - "The Nightmare 2 Days Before Christmas" (Fox, 7:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When the power goes out two days before Christmas, The Belchers must spend the holiday at Mr. Fischoeder's family's old hunting lodge.

Krapopolis - "Krapocalypse" (Fox, 7:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Tyrannis is stuck in a time loop trying to save the city.

The Simpsons - "The Man Who Flew Too Much" (Fox, 8:00PM ET/PT)
The new and improved Pin Pals travel to Capital City for their first ever state bowling championship.

Universal Basic Guys - "The Devil You Know" (Fox, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Mark insists on teaching his son Darren how to throw a handmade boomerang that was gifted to Darren by his father; the two soon find themselves on a trek deep into the Jersey woods; David is the recipient of a sex doll that he swears he didn't order.

The Great North - "The Lies Aquatic Adventure" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT)
While Beef is away, the Tobin fishing boat goes missing; the Tobin siblings wildly speculate on what could have happened.

Krapopolis - "National Lampoon's The Odyssey!" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
The family takes a vacation to Storgos for Shlub's mother's birthday.

Bob Hearts Abishola - "Full-Frontal Dottie" (The CW, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Excited by her physical therapy progress, Dottie insists she is ready to return to MaxDot, much to Bob, Douglas and Christina's dismay.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of December 16)

Friday, December 20

Jason Bateman (Arrested Development/George and Leo/Chicago Sons/Simon/The Hogan Family/It's Your Move/Silver Spoons) - Watch Jason on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Sharon Horgan (Bad Sisters/HouseBroken/Catastrophe) - Sharon is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Dwayne Johnson (Young Rock) - Dwayne appears on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Colton Dunn (Superstore) and Diona Reasonover (Clipped) - Colton and Diona are guests on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
Zachary Quinto (Big Mouth/So Notorious) - NBC's Today catches up with Zachary in the 9am hour.
Billy Eichner (Friends from College/Difficult People/Parks and Recreation) - Billy talks about Mufasa: The Lion King on NBC's Today in the 10am hour. He can also be heard on The Morning Mash Up on SiriusXM.
Kerry Washington (UnPrisoned) - Kerry talks about The Six Triple Eight on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am and on Sherri, so check your local listings.
James Marsden (30 Rock) and Ben Schwartz (The Afterparty/Space Force/Parks and Recreation) - James and Ben talk about Sonic the Hedgehog 3 on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Jamie Lee Curtis (The Sticky/Anything But Love/Operation Petticoat) - Jamie Lee chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Whitney Cummings (Whitney) - Whitney talks about Max's Fast Friends on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
Henry Winkler (Barry/Arrested Development/Out of Practice/Monty/Happy Days) - Access Daily with Mario & Kit has the best of Henry and Kit Hoover, so check your local listings.
Howie Mandel (Good Grief) - The Talk celebrates 15 seasons with a special finale episode; friend of the show Howie Mandel makes his 21st appearance on the show when he stops by one last time with a surprise for the hosts on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.