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

Monday, November 3

The Neighborhood - "Welcome to Family Value" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Malcolm’s home renovation takes an unexpected turn when Calvin’s cousin Crutch (Tracy Morgan) shows up uninvited to fix his floors. Meanwhile, Dave’s attempts to help around the house and support Grover’s booming T-shirt business lead to more stress than he bargained for.

DMV - "Don't Kill the Job" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
When Colette runs into an old friend at the DMV, she pretends to be a fellow customer rather than an employee in order to save face.

St. Denis Medical - "Aloha, Everyone" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Alex tries to hold on to her peaceful vacation vibes; Joyce faces a design crisis in the birthing center; Matt and Serena reassess their working relationship.

St. Denis Medical - "Mama Bear Activated" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
After Bruce is attacked at the hospital, Matt helps him deal with the aftermath; Alex motivates Joyce to amp up security, while Ron and Serena debate who is more qualified to defend themselves.

TV We Love - "The Honeymooners" (The CW, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Jackie Gleason's creative genius; why "The Honeymooners" continues to resonate 70 years after its premiere.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of November 3)

Monday, November 3

Sean Hayes (Will & Grace/The Millers/Sean Saves the World) - Watch Sean on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Tom Hanks (Bosom Buddies) - Tom appears on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Rickey Smiley (The Rickey Smiley Show) - Rickey is a guest on Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen at 12:37am on CBS.
Isla Fisher (Wolf Like Me/Arrested Development) - Andy Cohen interviews Isla on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 9pm on Bravo.
Patti LaBelle (Out All Night) - Patti and Nona Hendryx perform on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
Rami Malek (The War at Home) - Rami talks about Nuremberg on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am and on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
Lacey Chabert (Still the King/Baby Daddy/Family Guy) - Lacey dishes on She's Making a List on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
John Slattery (Maggie/Ed) - NBC's Today catches up with John in the 9am hour.
Tig Notaro (One Mississippi) and and Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/One Day at a Time) - Drew is hitting the headlines with her co-pilot Ross Mathews, Valerie Bertinelli and Tig Notaro on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings. Tig talks to Drew about executive producing the documentary Come See Me in the Good Light.
Erika Alexander (Run the World/Living Single/The Cosby Show) - Erika tells Drews about her show Invasion and her podcast ReLiving Single on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.