Saturday, May 19, 2018
SitcomsOnline Digest: Looking Back at the Upfronts; Fresh Off the Boat and Last Man Standing DVDs Arriving on Tuesday
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 / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows
Wednesday, May 21
Tyler Perry's House of Payne - "The Talk" (BET, 9:00PM ET/PT)
House of Payne is the hilarious comedy about Retired fire chief Curtis Payne and his lovely wife Ella.
Tyler Perry's Assisted Living - "Dyna Woman" (BET, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Anastasia relives her childhood and springs into action to combat criminal activity; the family must prepare for the increase in crime.
The Ms. Pat Show - "The Guilt Trip" (BET, 10:30PM ET/PT)
When the family gets derailed on their way to Atlanta for Pat's big show, they wind up at an unusual resort where they all learn a powerful lesson about listening and learning from the past.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of May 19)
Wednesday, May 21
- Henry Winkler (Barry/Arrested Development/Out of Practice/Monty/Happy Days) - Watch Henry on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Tina Fey (The Four Seasons/Only Murders in the Building/30 Rock) - Tina appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Ronny Chieng (Young Rock/Ronny Chieng: International Student) - Ronny hosts Comedy Central's The Daily Show at 11pm.
- John Krasinski (The Office) - E! News has an interview with John at 11pm on E!.
- Kristin Davis (And Just Like That.../Bad Teacher/Sex and the City) - Kristin talks about And Just Like That... on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
- Howie Mandel (Good Grief) - NBC's Today catches up with Howie in the 10am hour. He also talks about NBC's America's Got Talent on Access Hollywood with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
- Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/One Day at a Time) - It's Drew's big 50th birthday show an entire show filled with surprises as Drew celebrates this big milestone on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
New on DVD and Blu-ray
01/28 - Wait Till Your Father Gets Home - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/04 - The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series
03/11 - Frasier (2023) - Season Two
04/01 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season
05/13 - The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* (missing 4 episodes and some music has been replaced or altered)
06/06 - Shoresy - Season 2
06/17 - Looney Tunes - Collector's Vault - Volume 1 (Blu-ray)
07/08 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD and Blu-ray Releases / TV Shows on DVD, Blu-ray and Prime Video / DVD Reviews Archive
Recent SitcomsOnline.com News Blog Posts