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

Wednesday, March 22

The Conners - "Of Missing Minds and Missing Fries" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
It’s Thanksgiving at the Conners and Jackie must come to terms with her mother, Beverly, becoming ill. Meanwhile, Darlene is on the job hunt which proves to be more difficult than anticipated.

The Conners - "Crumbs and Couch Surfers" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Darlene, Ben, Becky and Beverly Rose move into the new house, where Darlene implements a new set of rules. Meanwhile, Harris welcomes a guest at Dan and Louise’s.

Abbott Elementary - "Fight" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
During a day of touchdowns and missed plays, the Abbott Elementary faculty find themselves learning lessons in teamwork. Two of Janine’s students aren’t getting along in class, leading her to seek advice from her colleagues on how to help repair their friendship. Meanwhile, Melissa and Ava plot to bring down Mr. Johnson in fantasy football.

Not Dead Yet - "Pilot" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Nell attempts to restart her life in a new place with a new job and a new roommate. She begins writing obituaries at the local paper and starts getting life advice from an unlikely source.

Tyler Perry's House of Payne - "Like New Money" (BET, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Curtis suspects his food truck was blown up intentionally, and he starts investigating the incident; Calvin must get to the bottom of Calvin Jr.'s mischievous deeds.

Tyler Perry's Assisted Living - "I Believe" (BET, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Philip learns about being accountable for one's actions and putting life's obstacles in perspective; Reginald must pick himself up out of his slump and find the strength to believe in love again.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of March 20)

Wednesday, March 22

Molly Shannon (I Love That for You/The Other Two/Divorce/Kath & Kim) - Watch Molly on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Giancarlo Esposito (Bakersfield P.D.) - Giancarlo is a guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Fred Armisen (Los Espookys/Forever/Final Space) - Fred appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Al Franken (LateLine) - Al guest hosts Comedy Central's The Daily Show at 11pm.
Jennifer Aniston (Friends/Muddling Through/Ferris Bueller/Molloy) - Jennifer chats about the highly anticipated sequel Murder Mystery 2 on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
Mae Whitman (Up Here) - Mae catches up with the hosts to talk about her role in the upcoming Hulu series Up Here on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
Zach Braff (Scrubs/Alex, Inc.) - Zach chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Jameela Jamil (The Good Place) - Jameela chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Jerry O'Connell (We Are Men/Do Not Disturb/Carpoolers/My Secret Identity) - Jerry will be on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Coco Jones (Good Luck Charlie) and Skai Jackson (Bunk'd/Jessie) - Coco and Skai are guests on The Jennifer Hudson Show, so check your local listings.
Max Greenfield (The Neighborhood/New Girl/Modern Men) - Max talks about his children's book on a repeat of Rachael Ray, so check your local listings.
Drew Barrymore (Santa Clarita Diet) - Drew discusses the mystery of menopause on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
Melanie Lynskey (Two and a Half Men/Togetherness) - Melanie talks about Yellowjackets on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
Kelly Hu (In Case of Emergency) - Kelly discusses her roles on two television series BMF on Starz and East New York on CBS on Sherri, so check your local listings.
Kyra Sedgwick (Call Your Mother) - Kyra discusses the film Space Oddity on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
Keegan-Michael Key (Schmigadoon!/Reboot/Friends from College/Playing House/Gary Unmarried) - Keegan-Michael talks about The Super Mario Bros. Movie on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am. Keegan-Michael and Cecily Strong talk about Schmigadoon! in the 9am hour.
Sophia Hammons (Up Here) - Sophia talks about Hulu's Up Here on WPIX in New York at 8:50am.