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 / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Thursday, March 12

Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - "A Big Birthday and Tequila Shots" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Mandy struggles to celebrate Georgie’s 21st birthday after hitting a rough patch in her career.

Ghosts - "St. Hetty’s Day 2: The Help" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
A St. Patrick’s Day staffing emergency gives Hetty the chance to step into an unlikely role at the restaurant as she regains her once-a-year ability to be seen and heard by the living. Meanwhile, Kyle returns to watch over the ghosts and finds himself caught in an amusing supernatural dynamic.

Animal Control - "Squirrels and Fat Cats" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Frank uncovers Emily and Shred's secret romance during a break-in at city supply; Victoria and Patel confront his daughter's school bully.

Going Dutch - "Tinker, Tailor, Colonel, Spy" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Rick takes a sabbatical from the CIA and returns to the base, hoping to rekindle his strained relationship with Capt. Maggie; paranoia runs high when a mole is suspected to be operating inside the base.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of March 9)

Thursday, March 12

Will Forte (The Four Seasons/HouseBroken/MacGruber/The Last Man on Earth/The Cleveland Show) - Catch Will on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Minnie Driver (Emily in Paris/Speechless/About a Boy) - Minnie is a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Wanda Sykes (The Upshaws/The New Adventures of Old Christine/Wanda at Large) - Wanda appears on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Robert Smigel (Let's Be Real) - Robert stops by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Kristin Chenoweth (Stumble/Trial & Error/Kristin) - Kristin is a guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Jennifer Tilly (Out of Practice) - Andy Cohen interviews Jennifer on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 10pm on Bravo.
Nathan Lane (Mid-Century Modern/Only Murders in the Building/Modern Family/Charlie Lawrence/Encore! Encore!/One of the Boys) - Nathan talks about Broadway's Death of a Salesman with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Ariana DeBose (Schmigadoon!) - Ariana joins Tamron to talk about her fashion evolution and her role in the all-star cast of the new series Scarpetta on Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
Lauren Graham (The Z-Suite/M.Y.O.B./Conrad Bloom/Townies/Good Company) - Lauren talks about Reminders of Him on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/Cafe Americain/Sydney/One Day at a Time) - NBC's Today catches up with Valerie in the 10am hour.
Phil Rosenthal (Creator of Everybody Loves Raymond) - Phil and Lily Rosenthal join Drew for a taste test of weird foods and talk about their children's book Just Try It! Someplace New! (A Phil & Lil Book) on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.