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

Thursday, January 22

Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - "A Will and a Dead Man’s Wife" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Georgie’s not ready for his mother to start dating again. Meanwhile, Jim and Audrey struggle to make their wills.

Ghosts - "Kyle" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Sam and Jay’s relationship is tested when Kyle (Ben Feldman), a handsome living who shares Sam’s ability to see ghosts, arrives at Woodstone B&B.

Animal Control - "Dragons and Dognappers" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Rob Gronkowski returns and asks the team for help rehoming a zebra; Emily and Shred's first date goes awry when they unexpectedly run into Daisy and Patel on their night out; Frank must defend Templeton when Templeton is accused of dognapping.

Going Dutch - "Farmer's Mark-tet Offensive" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT)
After a messy breakup, the Colonel and Katja find themselves going to war between the town and the base; Capt. Maggie tries to de-escalate the tension between the two ex-lovers and negotiate a truce.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of January 19)

Thursday, January 22

Mike Epps (The Upshaws/Uncle Buck/Survivor's Remorse) - Catch Mike on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Anthony Anderson (black-ish/Guys with Kids/All About the Andersons) - Anthony appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC. NBC's Today catches up with Anthony in the 10am hour.
Sean Hayes (Will & Grace/The Millers/Sean Saves the World) - Sean is a guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Jessica Williams (Shrinking/Love Life/Just for Kicks) - Jessica talks about Shrinking on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
Michael Urie (Shrinking/Krapopolis/Partners) - Michael talks about Shrinking on ABC News Live Prime with Linsey Davis at 7pm.
Craig Robinson (Killing It/Ghosted/Mr. Robinson/The Office/Lucky) - Craig talks about Broadway' All Out on NBC's Today in the 9am hour.
Deon Cole (grown-ish/Angie Tribeca/black-ish) - Deon joins Sherri to discuss hosting this year's NAACP Image Awards on BET on Sherri, so check your local listings.
Heidi Gardner (Shrinking) - Heidi tells Sherri about her star turn in the new Broadway comedy All Out: Comedy About Ambition on Sherri, so check your local listings.
Kyle MacLachlan (Carol's Second Act/Sex and the City) - Kyle tells Drew about the latest season of his thrilling hit show Fallout and plays a round of memory bank dishing on his biggest moments and roles revealing which Sex and the City character he identifies most with on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Jackson White (Mrs. Fletcher) - Jackson tells Drew about the newest season of the hit show Tell Me Lies, how he started dating co-star Grace Van Patten, growing up on set with his actress mom and more on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Howie Mandel (Good Grief) - Howie talks about Netflix's Best Guess Live on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.