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

Sunday, October 2

The Simpsons - "Pixelated and Afraid" (Fox, 7:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Homer and Marge are lost in an icy wilderness, they must push themselves to their limits to survive.

Bob's Burgers - "Frigate Me Knot" (Fox, 7:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Linda encourages Teddy to attend a farewell ceremony for the ship on which he served in the Navy, but it means confronting his Navy pals and his past.

The Simpsons - "One Angry Lisa" (Fox, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Lisa gets called for jury duty; Marge becomes obsessed with her exercise bike.

The Great North - "Cillian Me Softly Adventure" (Fox, 8:30PM ET/PT)
During Lone Moose's Disaster Day event, Wolf and Honeybee have their very first fight.

Bob's Burgers - "The Reeky Lake Show" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT)
The family's Labor Day lake trip takes a turn when the Belchers find themselves trapped in their cabin, hiding from what lurks outside.

Family Guy - "Bend or Blockbuster" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Resolved to enjoy a family movie night, the Griffins take a road trip to Bend, Ore., to rent a VHS from the last Blockbuster in existence.

The Villains of Valley View - "Havoc-Ween" (Disney Channel, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Amy brings her mischievous body-snatching Grandma to a party. Vic and Eva scam kids out of their candy untill they come across a villain even bigger than themselves.

Raven's Home - "The Girl Who Cried Tasha" (Disney Channel, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Alice uses a spell to bring her doll, Tasha, to life; when Tasha refuses to return to being a doll, Alice must enlist the help of Booker, Ivy and Neil.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of September 26)

Friday, September 30

Jason Bateman (Arrested Development/George and Leo/Chicago Sons/Simon/The Hogan Family/It's Your Move/Silver Spoons) - Watch Jason on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Lea Michele (The Mayor) - Lea is a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Phil Rosenthal (Creator of Everybody Loves Raymond) - Phil appears on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Quinta Brunson (Abbott Elementary) - Quinta is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Kevin Hart (The Big House/Undeclared) - Kevin appears on The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Alison Brie (GLOW/Community) - Alison will be on The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Mario Cantone (And Just Like That.../Sex and the City) - Mario chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
David Alan Grier (Dad Stop Embarrassing Me!/The Cool Kids/The Carmichael Show/Bad Teacher/Life with Bonnie/DAG) - David appears on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
Topher Grace (Home Economics/That '70s Show) - Topher is a guest on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
Billy Eichner (Friends from College/Difficult People/Parks and Recreation) - Billy stops by to chat and play a rousing game of Never Have I Ever with a twist on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Jim Rash (Community/Help Me Help You/Thanks/Katie Joplin) - Jim appears on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Jason Alexander (Seinfeld/Bob Patterson/Listen Up!/Hit the Road) - Jason shares stories from his hit sitcom on Rachael Ray, so check your local listings.
Alfonso Ribeiro (In the House/The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air/Silver Spoons) - Alfonso dishes about the new season of Dancing with the Stars on Disney+ on Sherri, so check your local listings. He will also be on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
Nick Kroll (Big Mouth/The League/Cavemen) - Nick talks about Don't Worry Darling and Little Big Boys on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
Drew Carey (The Drew Carey Show/The Good Life) - Drew is a guest on Sherri, so check your local listings.