SitcomsOnline Digest: Looking Back at the Upfronts; Fresh Off the Boat and Last Man Standing DVDs Arriving on Tuesday

Saturday, May 19, 2018

SitcomsOnline Digest: Looking Back at the Upfronts; Fresh Off the Boat and Last Man Standing DVDs Arriving on Tuesday

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! It should come as no surprise that all of the big news this week is about the upfront this week, including fall lineups, cancellations, and even some series getting a new life on another network (or streaming service as is the case in 2018). Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

The broadcast networks all announced their plans for the 2018-2019 season this week, and we have a brief summary and analysis for the sitcoms. (SitcomsOnline)
Does the new fall lineup remind you of 1988? It should. (Deadline)
The CW's Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (notorious for being the lowest rated series to be repeatedly renewed, thanks to being so popular on Netflix) and Jane the Virgin will be returning next season, but both will also end next season. (AV Club)
It has been widely speculated that the twelfth season of The Big Bang Theory would be the final season, but CBS has absolutely no interest in letting go of their biggest comedy hit and is hoping it will not be the final season. (TV Guide)
ABC has cancelled Designated Survivor, but could Netflix save it? (Deadline)
Joseph Campanella, who has appeared on numerous series as both a regular and guest star, died this week at age 93. (Hollywood Reporter)
As always, MeTV is bringing back their Summer of Me lineup, and The Jeffersons and Charlie's Angels will be part of that lineup this year. (SitcomsOnline)

HOME MEDIA RELEASES (MAY 22)

Fresh Off the Boat - The Complete Second Season (DVD, $29.95) and Fresh Off the Boat - The Complete Third Season DVD, $29.95): Two seasons of the ABC series arrive in these MOD releases.
Last Man on Earth - The Complete Second Season (DVD, $29.95) and Last Man on Earth - The Complete Third Season DVD, $29.95): Fox may have recently cancelled it, but they are (sort of) getting caught up on the releases of DVDs with these two sets, available as MOD releases.

WEEKLY PLANNER (MAY 19 - MAY 25)

The first season of the new episodes of Roseanne, which turned out to be a much bigger deal than anybody anticipated, will come to an end on Tuesday on ABC (not to worry, it will return for a second new season in the fall).
Meanwhile, The Middle, a staple of the ABC lineup for nearly the past decade, comes to an end with a series finale immediately after Roseanne on Tuesday.
The current cycle of The Voice will wrap up Monday and Tuesday night on NBC.
The season finale of Saturday Night Live, featuring Tina Fey (and hopefully her 30 Rock co-star Alec Baldwin will appear as well), airs tonight on NBC.
You can binge on Hawaii Five-O on Decades this weekend.
It has already been airing for a few weeks now, but in case you missed it, you can catch Benson on OWN every Sunday.

Sitcoms Airing Tonight

Friday, July 3

The Dick Van Dyke Show - Now in Living Color! - (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
CBS will honor the memory of legendary actor, producer, director, writer, comedian and Emmy Award winner Carl Reiner with THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW – NOW IN LIVING COLOR! A SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO CARL REINER, featuring two colorized back-to-back classic episodes of the beloved 1960s series, Friday, July 3 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. As series creator and co-star, Carl Reiner personally supervised the original colorization of the episodes.

The special features “Coast to Coast Big Mouth,” which ranked #8 on TV Guide’s list of the “100 Greatest TV Episodes of All-Time,” and “October Eve,” which Mr. Reiner considered to be one of the series’ funniest episodes. Both were written by Bill Persky and Sam Denoff.

In “Coast to Coast Big Mouth,” Laura Petrie blurts out a top secret on a national television quiz show, revealing that comedian Alan Brady wears a toupee. The episode, which was the show’s fifth and final season premiere, was originally broadcast on Sept. 15, 1965. “Coast to Coast Big Mouth” won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series in 1966.

In “October Eve,” a painting of Laura returns to haunt her when, despite her having posed fully clothed, the artist (played by Carl Reiner) takes the liberty of “undraping” her. The episode was first presented on April 8, 1964, during season three.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of June 29)

Friday, July 3

Kevin Hart (The Big House/Undeclared) - Watch Kevin on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 12:35am on ABC.
Tina Fey (30 Rock) - Tina appears on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Laura Dern (Enlightened) - Laura is a guest on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Mark Duplass (Togetherness/The Mindy Project/The League) - Mark appears on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Melissa McCarthy (Mike & Molly/Samantha Who?) - Melissa guest hosts a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Brett Gelman (Camping/Fleabag/Love/Married/Go On) - Brett appears on a repeat of A Little Late with Lilly Singh at 1:35am on NBC.
Tika Sumpter (mixed-ish/The Game) - Tika talks about the season finale of mixed-ish and her latest project helping new moms on a repeat of Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
Peter Gallagher (Grace and Frankie/The Secret Lives of Men) - Peter talks about Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist and Grace and Frankie on a repeat of Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.