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.

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Monday, April 20

The Neighorhood - "Welcome to Purse Dog" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Calvin reluctantly agrees to dog-sit a glamorous little companion, only to face an awkward twist when someone else lays claim to it. Meanwhile, a joint celebration prompts Malcolm to question whether he and Mercedes are moving too fast. Amber Stevens West guest stars as Mercedes, Malcolm's Girlfriend.

DMV - "Drive-ory Tower" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Colette tries to bridge a growing divide at the office by bringing the driving examiners and counter clerks together. Meanwhile, Vic stubbornly avoids seeing a doctor after an unusual injury, forcing Barb to get creative to help him.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of April 20)

Monday, April 20

Kal Penn (The Santa Clauses/Sunnyside/We Are Men) - Watch Kal on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Quinta Brunson (Abbott Elementary) - Quinta appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC. She also talks about Abbott Elementary on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
Don Cheadle (The Wonder Years/Black Monday/House of Lies/The Golden Palace) - Don is a guest on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Henry Winkler (Barry/Arrested Development/Out of Practice/Monty/Happy Days) - Henry stops by Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC. He also talks about Hazardous History with Henry Winkler on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
Lea Michele (The Mayor) - Lea appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Aaron Tveit (Schmigadoon!) - Aaron is a guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
B.J. Novak (The Office) and Jim Parsons (Young Sheldon/The Big Bang Theory) - Andy Cohen interviews B.J. and Jim on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 9pm on Bravo.
William Stanford Harris (Abbott Elementary) - William talks about Abbott Elementary on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
Ramy Youssef (#1 Happy Family USA/Ramy/See Dad Run) - Ramy chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Laurie Metcalf (Big Mistakes/The Conners/Roseanne/The McCarthys/The Norm Show) - Laurie talks about Big Mistakes on ABC News Live Prime with Linsey Davis at 7pm.
Jane Fonda (Grace and Frankie) - NBC's Today catches up with Jane in the 9am hour.
Christopher Briney (Hacks) - Christopher talks about Hacks on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
Blair Underwood (Fatherhood/The New Adventures of Old Christine) - Blair tells Sherri about his new memoir A Soldier's Wife: My Mother, the Marvelous Mrs. Marilyn A. Underwood on Sherri, so check your local listings.
Phoebe Dynevor (Younger) - Phoebe is telling Drew about her new movie Thrash on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Dan Bucatinsky (The Comeback/Marry Me/Web Therapy) - Dan appears on New York Living on WPIX in New York at 10:05am.