SitcomsOnline Digest: So Now What for Roseanne?; ABC Contemplating Sue Heck Spinoff for The Middle

Saturday, June 02, 2018

SitcomsOnline Digest: So Now What for Roseanne?; ABC Contemplating Sue Heck Spinoff for The Middle

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! Well, it's been a fascinating week of sitcom news this week (normally the week of Memorial Day is the kick off to our slow season, but not this time!), to say the least. This week, Roseanne made history by dethroning Bridget Loves Bernie as the highest rated series to ever be canceled. We're also hearing about potential replacements for Roseanne, including a spinoff of the series as well as the spinoff of a completely uncontroversial ABC sitcom about a midwestern family. We promise, nothing that we're reporting this week is being reported under the influence of any sort of prescription sleep medication, so let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

We're sure everybody knows the whole story about Roseanne by now. But is anybody seriously surprised that Roseanne ended up going down because of a controversy with the star, or are we just surprised it happened so soon? (People)
Meanwhile, it seems that a Roseanne spinoff starring Sara Gilbert's character of Darlene may be under consideration, although there are some obstacles, including concerns that Roseanne would still receive residuals. (Vulture)
If a spinoff about Roseanne's daughter doesn't work out, could 2019 finally be the "year of Sue Heck?" Maybe, as ABC is contemplating a spinoff of The Middle starring Eden Sher. (Deadline)
Speaking of The Middle, that series recently ended after nine seasons, and Vox is asking the exact same thing that we've been asking all of these years: why didn't the series ever get the level of love and attention that it deserved? (Vox)
It seems that the TV adaptation of Heathers has been talked about forever, and was even given a premiere date on Paramount Network (after originally being planned for TV Land), but now it seems it has been scrapped completely. (Deadline)
Antenna TV is going to celebrate Father's Day with a Silver Spoons marathon. (SitcomsOnline)

HOME MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

Warner Archive is stepping it up on the TGIF shows, and here is one that we seem to have overlooked last week: Perfect Strangers - The Complete Fourth Season will arrive on June 19.

HOME MEDIA RELEASES (JUNE 5)

South Park - The Complete Twenty-First Season (DVD, $29.98; Blu-ray, $39.98): All of these seasons later, and Comedy Central is still cranking out more seasons of the popular Comedy Central series.

WEEKLY PLANNER (JUNE 2 - JUNE 8)

Every channel that was airing Roseanne has pulled the series, but if you absolutely need your Roseanne fix, it seems it is still streaming on Amazon Prime for the time being.
While we're at it, The Cosby Show (side note: why is it that Carsey Werner has this sort of luck with their stars?) is still on Amazon Prime too.
Younger and Teachers both return to TV Land for new episodes on Tuesday.
This weekend's binge on Decades is Here Come the Brides.
The last half of the final season of Nashville begins Thursday on CMT.