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

Friday, November 22

Happy's Place - "Happy's House" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Bobbie agrees to take Isabella to Happy's house in search of a connection to their late father, leading Bobbie to worry about what they may find; Gabby hopes to strike it rich by searching through Happy's penny collection looking for a rarity.

Lopez vs Lopez - "Lopez vs Orlando" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
When Rosie's spoiled nephew Orlando visits, Mayan sets out to expose Rosie's cultural gender bias; George wants to teach Chance the value of hard work, but, instead, helps him create a toxic work environment.

Bob Hearts Abishola - "Whacking the Mole" (The CW, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
After Abishola has a romantic dream about Bob, she tries to suppress her feelings for him and pays the price.

Bob Hearts Abishola - "Ralph Lauren and Fish" (The CW, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Bob and Abishola finally go on a proper date, which is interrupted by Dottie's medical emergency.

Bob Hearts Abishola - "Tough Like a Laundromat Washing Machine" (The CW, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Bob hires Abishola to take care of Dottie in his home while she recovers; Dottie has a hard time dealing with her limitations and takes it out on Abishola.

Bob Hearts Abishola - "Useless Potheads" (The CW, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
With Abishola only helping part-time, Bob, Douglas and Christina struggle to take care of Dottie.

Wizards Beyond Waverly Place - "Wiz-Taken Identity" (Disney Channel, 8:00PM ET/PT)
When Billie struggles with a spell, Roman says he could do it if he was a wizard: to prove him wrong, Billie uses a Power Glass to transfer her powers to Roman.

Wizards Beyond Waverly Place - " Ain't Gnome Party Like a Wizard Party" (Disney Channel, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Justin embraces mortality to live with his family; his new challenge arises when Alex introduces Billie, a wizard-in-training, seeking Justin's mentorship.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of November 18)

Friday, November 22

Kerry Washington (UnPrisoned) - Watch Kerry on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Jimmy O. Yang (Interior Chinatown/Space Force/Silicon Valley) - Jimmy is a guest on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Ariana Grande (Sam & Cat/Victorious) - Ariana appears on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Andy Richter (Andy Barker, P.I./Quintuplets/Andy Richter Controls the Universe), Thomas Lennon (The Odd Couple/Sean Saves the World/Reno 911!) and Aparna Nancherla (Lopez vs Lopez/Search Party/Corporate) - Andy, Thomas and Aparna are guests on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
Keke Palmer (Scream Queens/True Jackson, VP) - Keke talks about her new book Master of Me: The Secret to Controlling Your Narrative on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Andrew Rannells (Girls/The New Normal) - Drew is joined by the hilarious Andrew to celebrate all things Thanksgiving on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Rosie Perez (Human Resources/Search Party) - Rosie tells Sherri about her new Apple TV+ psychological thriller Before on Sherri, so check your local listings.
Candace Cameron Bure (Fuller House/Full House) - Candace will be on New York Living on WPIX in New York at 10:15am.